Okaloosa County, FL, is Military Minded
Eglin Air Force Base plays a key role in shaping commerce and culture.
The largest Air Force base in the world is in Okaloosa County, FL, and its history and growth have shaped the county’s culture and economy for nearly 90 years.
Eglin Air Force Base is located in Northwest Florida, comprising over 640 square miles and home to a cadre of testing and training facilities. It has played a significant role in developing new weapons and technologies and has been used to train pilots and aircrews for every major conflict since World War II.
Eglin’s annual economic impact on the region is $4.1 billion, according to its public affairs office. That includes more than 20,000 direct jobs. The base’s positive economic impact extends beyond its borders. For example, many defense contracting firms are in the area because businesses have a pipeline of veterans eager and equipped to work in this industry after service. Companies in that sector with operations in the region include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, On-Point Defense Technologies, Precision Measurement, Vertex Solutions and Radiance Technologies.
A Look Back
Spanning six wars, Eglin has played a prominent role in airpower history.
In 1931, personnel of the Army Air Corps Tactical School from Maxwell Field, Alabama, were looking for a site for a bombing and gunnery range. A local businessman and airplane buff, James E. Plew, saw the potential of a military payroll to boost the Depression-stricken economy in the local area. He leased to the City of Valparaiso 137 acres on which an airport was established in 1933. In 1934, Plew offered to donate to the U.S. government 1,460 contiguous acres for the bombing and gunnery base. This leasehold became the headquarters for the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base, activated in 1935. Two years later, Eglin Field was redesignated in honor of Lt. Col. Frederick I. Eglin, U.S. Air Corps, who was killed in an aircraft crash on New Year’s Day in 1937.
With the outbreak of war in Europe, Eglin became the site for gunnery training for Army Air Forces fighter pilots and a major testing center for aircraft, equipment and tactics.
“President Roosevelt realized we needed to get the military prepared, and training sites were being established all over the country, including here,” says Tom Rice, a veteran and local historian. “Plew’s runway in the middle of the woods becomes an important training site.”
By the war’s end, Eglin had made a recognizable contribution to the effectiveness of American air operations in Europe and the Pacific and continued to maintain a role in the research, development and testing of air armament throughout the next several decades and conflicts.
Modern-day Eglin plays a vital role for the U.S. Air Force as it tests and evaluates new weapons and technologies, trains pilots and aircrews, and supports other military operations.
Community Culture
Eglin’s impact goes beyond military achievements, jobs and paychecks. The base’s location brings a constant stream of new residents to the region, creating a vibrancy in the communities.
“Those military members who passed through, many repeatedly as conflicts arose around the world, eventually ‘got sand in their shoes’ and made this their home,” Rice says. “They have become a rich part of our community.”
That influx of military personnel and young soldiers would forever change the region for the better, says Rice.
“Tourists have been coming to the area since the 1920s for the beauty and Gulf breeze,” Rice says. “That’s still the case, and that’s good for the economy, but the military pumps the most money into the local economy – and not just the active-duty folks who are paid every month. There’s an old saying about how military folks retire close to the flag pole. That’s what has happened here. People finish their 20 or 30 years and choose to stay, maybe find a civilian job with Boeing or Lockheed, or start a business of their own.”
Rice is a retired Army first sergeant with 27 years of active and reserve duty and lifelong commitment to veterans. Rice and his wife, Peggy, own The Magnolia Grill, a 1910 catalog house on historic Brooks Street in downtown Fort Walton Beach. The business is equal parts museum and dining establishment. The rooms are filled with local history, including some family history like that of Peggy’s great-grandfather, Dr. James Hartley Beal, born in 1861 in Ohio. Beal was a prominent pharmacist, chemist, scientist, lawyer, businessman and educator. Beal, who died in 1945, was a firsthand witness to the initial growth of Eglin Air Force Base.
“These are people who are devoted to service, whether it is to their country or community,” Rice says. “Having so many veterans of all ages in this region is a wonderful asset. Many serve as volunteers and leaders in various organizations.”
Stories Worth Reading
A handful of books have been written about Okaloosa County and Eglin Air Force Base, and for good reason. The published works illustrate the impact of the diverse group of individuals who passed through the region due to their connection with the base. Here are a few recommended authors who’ve touched on the subject:
- Richard Barlow Adams
West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran, Richard Barlow Adams has national recognition for numerous books including his best known, “The Parting.” His latest book, “Charlie’s Ashes,” is a Greatest Generation story about five WWII veterans and one Vietnam War veteran. One of the veterans featured is the late Lt. Col. Sam Lombardo, who passed just a month prior to his 102nd birthday. Veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, Lombardo finished his duties in Nuremberg at the Palace of Justice for the Nazi war crimes trials.
- David Goetsch
One of the most prolific authors with ties to Okaloosa is David Goetsch, a Marine Corps veteran and member of Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. Dr. Goetsch is the author of more than 70 books.
- Walt Richardson
The late Chief Master Sgt. Walt Richardson was featured in Emerald Coast Magazine’s coverage of Eglin’s 75th Anniversary. Richardson published his own book in 2008, “How Great Thou Art.” Richardson was a talented aircraft mechanic and also worked with WWII Special Services as a singer. He grew up in Pensacola with Gen. Chappie James, the first Black four-star general.
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