No. 3
186th probe continues

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Jan. 1, 2004
No end is in sight for an investigation of wrongdoing at the 186th Air Refueling Wing based in Meridian.
The current investigation follows an earlier probe by the U.S. Air Force Inspector General that resulted in the termination of the unit's commander, Lt. Col. David Weaver, and the retirement of Lt. Col. Thomas Temple.
The probe substantiated 16 allegations of racism, records falsification and corruption. The Air Force investigator turned over 22 more allegations against others in the unit, spawning the current investigation.
In February, Col. Joe Spraggins, commander of the Guard's combat readiness training unit in Gulfport, was named interim leader of the 186th after Weaver was dismissed.
In March, Mississippi National Guard Adjutant Gen. James H. Lipscomb III announced the current investigation into the allegations of misconduct and said he wanted it concluded by the summer.
In August, Lipscomb said the investigation was nearly finished. But the investigating officer, Col. Ken Emmanuel, a staff judge advocate from the Florida Air National Guard, said the probe was not yet finished.
In September, Col. James E. "Erik" Hearon, former operations group commander at the 172nd Airlift Wing in Jackson, replaced Spraggins as commander of the 186th.
And the latest word from officials at the 186th is that the investigation continues.