By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A change of command takes place this weekend as Col. John Cluck hands over command of the 139th Airlift Wing to Col. Barrett Golden, the wing’s Deputy Commander at a special ceremony at the St. Joseph base.
Cluck is a bit worried about being overcome with emotion Saturday afternoon.
“I hope I can hold it together and not turn into a blubbering idiot,” Cluck jokes during an interview with KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s been a long time. I’ve been in the wing command for four years and I was a deputy commander for three-and-a-half before that. So, I think I’ll be pretty emotional to be honest with you.”
Afterall, Cluck has spent his entire career at the Air Guard base located at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.
“I’ve been at the 139th since I was 17-years-old; 39 years.”
Cluck grew up on a farm near Wathena, just across the Missouri River in northeast Kansas. He enlisted in the Missouri Air National Guard in April of 1986 as an Air Cargo Specialist. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Milling Science and Management from Kansas State University.
Cluck says joining the Air Guard changed his life.
“Was sort of a poor farm kid; didn’t have a lot when I grew up,” Cluck says. “The best decision I’ve ever made in my life was going down there at 17 years old, raising my hand, and becoming part of that family; not only financially, but emotionally, and spiritually, and everything else. The way we support our members is really tremendous and I know that we can keep that going.”
Cluck first served as a C-130 pilot for the 180th Airlift Squadron in St. Joseph and quickly moved through the ranks. Cluck is a Command Pilot who has clocked 5,000 flight hours, including 750 combat hours. He served in Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom, among others.
Cluck became Vice Commander of the 139th in July of 2017 and Commander in March of 2021. Cluck officially retires this summer and says he hopes to continue serving, either with the Air Guard or as a civilian.
Cluck has confidence in the leadership ability of his Deputy Commander, Col. Golden.
“I know that the 139th is in good hands,” Cluck says. “I know he’s going to do a great job. I’m excited about the future; a little sad it’s not going to be me anymore, but everybody needs turnover and that’s a healthy thing. I’m looking forward to where he takes the wing.”
A Change of Command Ceremony will be held at 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph which has a dual federal and state mission. The 139th employs roughly 1,000 Guard men and women, flying C-130 cargo planes. The 139th also operates the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center which trains pilot from across the country and around the world in warfighting effectiveness and survivability.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.