Dyess Air Force Base, Texas is formally known as a military hub for the famous B-1 and C-130 aircraft and for being an active part of the Global War on Terrorism. From December 2003 until April 2013, the base was a vital part of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom and was deployed consistently for almost 3,400 days during that time. Dyess Air Force Base, located 4 miles west of Abilene, has valued and contributed to the community of Abilene throughout its history. Formerly named Tye Army Air Field, Abilene Army Air Base, and Abilene Army Air Field, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas has been “dropping warheads on 
foreheads” in the name of freedom for over seventy years. Although only remnants of Tye Army Air Field exist …show more content…
Plans to shut the base down or keep it running circulated the nation, from Abilene, Texas to Washington, DC. Luckily, for many military families and the fate of our 
nation, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas was kept afloat.
In the fall of 1993, the former commands were replaced by the 7th Wing, which had been previously part of what used to be Carswell Air Force Base of Fort Worth, Texas. At this point in time, the 7th Wing brought the Dyess B-1Bs and C-130s to Abilene, which are the two main 
aircraft found on and heard around Dyess Air Force Base in present day. The Wing established the 317th Airlift Group as an overseer of the C-130 squadrons on Dyess and shortly thereafter, the 7th Wing was appropriately and finally renamed the 7th Bomb Wing, as used today.
September 11, 2001 shook the nation as whole, including the military bases around the world, and in this case, Dyess. Therefore, the 7th Bomb Wing was a large part of America’s 
efforts overseas. B-1s deployed to Southwest Asia, while the B-1B Lancer provided eliminating specific targets during precision strike missions. The B-1B Lancer was a key component to many 
successful missions overseas after September 11th, …show more content…
On the bright side, in 2003, the base became the first Department of Defense installation powered solely by renewable wind energy, contributing to the “Go Green” cause. Shockingly, much of the energy the base 
receives is from various sources of renewable energy, like biomass. Dyess Air Force Base has been recognized by the United States Air Force as one of its greenest bases.
Dyess, the 7th Bomb Wing, consists of multiple units which contribute to its mission, which is to “provide world class Airmen and airpower for the warfighter.” Each unit is part of the 7th Operations Group, 7th Medical Group, 7th Mission Support Group, or 7th Maintenance Group.
Finally, Dyess Air Force Base has contributed not only to wars from World War II to the Global War on Terrorism, but also to the surrounding communities, namely Abilene. It has 
become a vital piece of the puzzle that is our National Defense system all while contributing over $239 million and 1,563 off-base jobs to the local economy, recorded in 1989. Dyess is believed to have survived a call for base realignment and closure because of large amounts of community support. To this day, the great city of Abilene and the great base of Dyess in the great state of Texas work hand-in-hand to continue a long line of history that has proven to be