Club Five Six rooms renamed in honor retired Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman David Owsianka
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The enlisted and officers lounges in Club Five Six were renamed to honor retired Airmen at Luke Air Force Base Jan. 10.

The enlisted lounge was named after Chief Master Sgt. Donald Harlow, the second Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. The officers' lounge was named after Col. Hubert Zemke.

"Although they could not be with us to experience the pageantry and allow us to give back to them for all they've done for us, I am glad we are able to honor them this way," said Chief Master Sergeant Rory Wicks, 56th Fighter Wing command chief.

As the second Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Chief Harlow worked to change the culture for Airmen. When he retired, he went to Capitol Hill and lobbied to take care of young Airmen.

Chief Harlow truly took care of Airmen; he was an "Airman's Airman," said Col. Robert McCutchen, 56th Fighter Wing special assistant to the commander.

Colonel Zemke was one of the greatest fighter group commanders of World War II and the leading Army Air Service Ace.

He was credited with 154 missions and 17 confirmed aerial victories. He received among other honors the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Colonel Zemke was a commander at Luke from 1942 to 1943 when it was the 56th Fighter Group.

Both Airmen were leaders and experienced adversity throughout their careers.
Chief Harlow served during World War II and the Korean War before climbing the ranks and being named CMSAF in 1969.

He was inducted into the military order of the sword in 1980 and to this day he is the only enlisted member to receive this honor.

"I cannot tell you what an honor it is to have a room named after my husband," said Dorothy Harlow. "I never dreamed anything like this would happen."

While flying a P-47 Thunderbolt in 1944, Colonel Zemke was shot down and spent the rest of his time in the war in a German prisoner-of-war camp. He commanded more than 9,000 Airmen when he was in the POW camp.

"He was a great leader," Colonel McCutchen said. "I can't think of anyone greater to name this room after."

Naming a room after an Airman is one of the many ways the Air Force shows appreciation for an Airman's service.

"If I was to receive this honor upon me, I would probably be speechless," Chief Wicks said.

"There is no greater gift an Airman can receive than to have a room named after him or her from his or her Airmen," Chief Wicks said. "It's got to be the highest and probably most prolific sign of respect that we as Airmen can do for our own."