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ETV Presents "Always First: The Story of the South Carolina Air National Guard"

"Carolina Stories" Documentary Commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the SC Air National Guard

For Immediate Release
November 16, 2006

Click here for a sneak preview

Columbia, SC...On Thursday, Dec. 14, ETV honors the spirit of the men and women of the South Carolina Air National Guard (SCANG) with the broadcast of the Carolina Stories documentary Always First: The Story of the South Carolina Air National Guard.  The program airs statewide at 9 p.m.

Sixty years ago, on December 9, 1946, South Carolina Adjutant General James C. Dozier founded SCANG.  Steadfast in his convictions, Dozier strongly believed the U.S. should not disarm after World War II, but be prepared to maintain its leadership in the new world order.  Since that time, SCANG has served in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, it has earned a reputation of being “Always First.”

Today, the 169th Fighter Wing is the primary unit of SCANG, flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The 169th is headquartered at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, along with the SCANG’s other two operational units--the 240th Combat Communications Squadron and 245th Air Traffic Control Squadron.

Through archival footage and interviews with pioneering men and women, Always First tells the stories of SCANG and those who faithfully served.  Interviews include:

• Mary McEntire and Lessie McEntire Davis, daughters of Gen. Barnie McEntire, the first base commander for whom the McEntire Joint National Guard Base is named
• Grady Patterson, South Carolina State Treasurer
• John Clifton Watson, the first African American member of SCANG
• Taj Troy, the first African American Fighter Pilot
• Tally Parham, the first female pilot
• Sen. Lindsey Graham, former member of SCANG

Carolina Stories is a weekly series created by ETV producers that spotlights the people, events and interests of South Carolinians. The series airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. Saving Sandy Island, a documentary from the first season, won a 2006 Telly Award.

Always First: The Story of the South Carolina Air National Guard is sponsored in part by The L.P.A. Group, Aviation Consultants.

South Carolina ETV is the state's public educational broadcasting network with 11 television and eight radio transmitters, and a multi-media educational system in more than 2,500 schools, colleges, businesses and government agencies. Using television, radio and the web, SCETV's mission is to enrich lives by educating children, informing and connecting citizens, celebrating our culture and environment and instilling the joy of learning.

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For more information, contact Rob Schaller at (803) 737-6556 or rschaller@scetv.org.