12th CAB Headquarters building named for fallen soldier

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ondirae Abdullah-Robinson | The daughter of fallen aviator Chief Warrant Officer 5 John C. Pratt, Emma Pratt, shows the key to the newly-named Pratt Headquarters building to 12th Combat Aviation brigade commander Col. Jay Voorhees to during a ceremony renaming the brigade headquarters on U.S. Army Garrison Katterbach, Germany, in honor of her father Nov. 2, 2012. (Photo by SPC Ondirae Abdullah-Robinson, 12th CAB Public Affairs)  

KATTERBACH, BAYERN, GERMANY

11.02.2012

Story by Capt. Michael Barranti 

12th Combat Aviation Brigade

KATTERBACH, Germany – The 12th Combat Aviation Brigade honored Chief Warrant Officer 5 John C. Pratt, the brigade’s first senior warrant officer, in a ceremony Friday renaming the headquarters building here for the fallen aviator.

The distinguished visitors for the event included Pratt’s wife Nicola and daughter Emma, Maj. Gen. James C. Boozer, acting commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, and Lord-Mayor Heinrich Forster of Illesheim Germany.

A native of Washington, D.C., Pratt had been a helicopter pilot for nearly 30 years. In his career, Pratt served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pratt was killed in action along with his co-pilot Capt. John Brainard May 28, 2012 when his AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopter was shot down near Kabul, Afghanistan. He was interred with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery June 21.

The American and German flags were flown at half-staff the morning prior to the ceremony, which was held at the brigade headquarters building on Katterbach. Hundreds of soldiers gathered out of respect for the fallen warrior. Two of Pratt’s favorite songs, “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2 and “Rocket Man” by Elton John played as soldiers and guests gathered.

Following the invocation, brigade commander Col. Jay Voorhees delivered remarks. He honored Pratt’s memory while reminding all present of those Griffin soldiers still deployed.

“At this very moment, we have 12th CAB aircrews flying combat missions. And one of the reasons they continue to operate at the highest level is because of John Pratt, and the way he went to great lengths to make sure that all of our soldiers were trained and ready to execute the very missions they are flying as we [are] here today,” said Voorhees.

“John’s enduring legacy lives, and will forever live through all Griffin soldiers and all Army Aviation soldiers every time they jump into a helicopter. We are prepared to meet mission requirements because of John Pratt’s efforts in training all. And our thoughts and our prayers are will all Griffins spread throughout Kuwait, Germany and Afghanistan,” Voorhees said.

As one of the most experienced Apache pilots in the Army and the most experienced warrant officer in the brigade, Pratt occupied a new named position in the command group of brigade senior warrant officer, at the behest of brigade commander Col. Jay Voorhees. In this position, Pratt was the commander’s adviser as well as the representative of the warrant officers in the brigade within the command team.

“John is very much still here in the hearts and minds of his friends and colleagues. The dedication of this building, especially this building which Emma and I visited so much, will mean that he will be remembered for so much longer,” said Nicola Pratt.

“I have struggled to find words to express the depth of my appreciation and thanks that I have for many of the people here. There are debts I can never repay.”

“He always described himself as a back of the bus kind of guy. And now he’s got a camp in Afghanistan, this building and a dedication plaque, when all he ever really wanted was the parking spot,” she said.

At the conclusion of remarks, Pratt’s wife and daughter, along with Voorhees, unveiled the plaque on the wall of the headquarters building honoring Chief Warrant Officer 5 John Castle Pratt. With the unveiling complete, the ceremony ended with brigade executive officer Lt. Col. John Broam presenting Emma Pratt with a key to “Daddy’s building."

The headquarters building was originally constructed in World War II to house soldiers of the German 52nd Combat Aviation Squadron. When Katterbach was occupied in April 1945, the building served as enlisted barracks for various units until 1969. From 1969 until 1983, a series of renovations were completed to convert the building from barracks, to administrative offices and finally, with the addition of an air traffic control tower, it became the headquarters for the 501st Aviation Regiment, later the Aviation Brigade of the 1st Armored Division, the 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, and in 2006, the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. From Nov 2, 2012, the building will henceforth be known as Pratt Headquarters.

“We are extremely proud that John’s legacy will be known to everyone who passes through these doors,” said Voorhees.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the national anthem was played as the flags were raised to full-staff as the crowd rendered a salute to the memory of John Pratt.

The dedication reads “In memory of John Castle Pratt, CW5 US Army, 4 May 1961 – 28 May 2012. CW5 Pratt was renowned for his expertise and knowledge on helicopter operations. When John spoke, people listened.”

• Date Taken: 11.02.2012
• Date Posted: 11.07.2012 04:15
• Story ID: 97405
• Location: KATTERBACH, BAYERN, DE
• Hometown: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US