SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A freshly painted mural sits directly in front the 407th Air Expeditionary Group building at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.
Depicted in paint on a giant cement wall, which resembles an upside down “T”, are the names of all past 407th AEG commanders.
Hundreds of t-walls adorn with murals can be found all over 407th AEG’s base as well as every other base in the Levant, making painted t-walls a staple in the deployed environment.
Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Pollock, 407th AEG superintendent, had the idea to paint the new t-wall, but it was Senior Airman Adam Huckabee, 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fire and refueling truck maintainer, who brought chief’s idea to life.
“He trusted me enough to paint something that’s right outside his building,” Huckabee said. “That’s a pretty big trust to give to an Airman you just met.”
The wall lists the names of all 42 407th commanders dating all the way back to March 28, 1943, when 1st Lt. William Garland first took command of the then-407th Bombardment Group at Drew Field, Florida. It also reflects the names of the group superintendents starting from 2015 when the group aligned under the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.
“They have gone back through the archives and found the name of every commander that’s been in charge of the 407th (AEG),” Huckabee said. “I put every name on that wall and we will be able to continue to add to it … so it will be a continuing history of the base.”
Huckabee spent hours pre-planning the design and layout, which included meticulously printing out the words and cutting each letter out with a razorblade.
“I had to gage where and how all of the spacing needed to be so we can continue to add names on it for years to come,” Huckabee said.
Huckabee has spent more than 40 hours in the in the sun painting this t-wall.
“It’s been a challenge for sure, especially with the heat and how it effects the paint, but I like the concept of it and how it keeps up with the history,” Huckabee said.
Huckabee normal does some sort of art project or design element at every base he has been stationed at, he said.
“Everybody wants to do a new t shirt design or a new wall mural, or just something that they have contributed to on a wall,” Huckabee said. “I’m normally the one that ends up doing it and I don’t mind it; I enjoy doing it and I get to leave my mark at every base I go to.”