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A missile in his backyard: Vietnam veteran in Medford builds replica of MIM-23 Hawk Veteran will showcase replica of MIM-23 Hawk in Pear Blossom Parade Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 3:08 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 3:50 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 3:08 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 3:50 PM » RELATED CONTENT About the MIM-23 Hawk missile --> Missile Facts Length: 16 feet, 8 inches Diameter: 1 foot, 3 inches Fin span: 4 feet Max range: 25-plus miles Weight: 1,290-plus pounds Warhead: Convention... » Read more X About the MIM-23 Hawk missile Missile Facts Length: 16 feet, 8 inches Diameter: 1 foot, 3 inches Fin span: 4 feet Max range: 25-plus miles Weight: 1,290-plus pounds Warhead: Conventional high-explosive fragmentation The Hawk is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile produced by Raytheon in the early 1960s to destroy aircraft. It later was redesigned to destroy other missiles in flight. It was the first mobile, medium-range, guided anti-aircraft missile deployed by the U.S. Army. At first it was named after the raptor, but later it became an acronym for  Homing All The Way Killer. About 40,000 of the missiles were produced, some in Japan, western Europe and Iran. Although the U.S. never used the Hawk in combat, it has been used numerous times by foreign nations. The Israelis were the first to use the Hawk in combat — on June 5, 1967, the first day of the Six Day War with Egypt. — Sources: United Press International; U.S. Army; Armed Forces International • 5 Things to See at Pear Blossom 2015 » Social News When Ron Bloom of Medford approached fellow members of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association about premiering his replica missile at the Pear Blossom Parade, they had a difficult time wrapping their minds around just what Bloom had built. "It's much bigger than we thought," said Mike Halverson, the Oregon state representative of CVMA, as he stared up at the replica Vietnam-era MIM-23 Hawk missile in Bloom's backyard, along with about 10 local members. Halverson rode his motorcycle from Marion to see the replica in person. "It's built to scale — 16 feet, 8 inches long," Bloom said. "Young or old, they love to look at it." Unlike the real thing's 1,290 pounds, the replica is closer to 30 pounds. In the parade, the missile will be pulled by Bloom's replica German military motorcycle and sidecar. Bloom's motorcycle is such a prized possession that his nickname in the association is "Sidecar." The missile is made of wood, fabric and other lightweight materials. But possessing the spitting image of a homing missile meant Bloom had to alert local, state and national authorities, including Medford police and Bern Case, director of the Medford airport. "Homeland Security knows about it," Bloom said. Building the missile replica began as a way for Bloom to relive some of his military days. He enlisted in the Army in 1969, and served in Germany as a crewman for a Hawk (Homing All the Way Killer) missile unit assisting an engineer unit. "We would protect the skies during construction projects," Bloom recalled, adding that safety was a concern during the Cold War. "One Jeep would pull a radar, and another one would pull a generator." He looked up replicas online and found one in New Orleans that became the template for his project. "I saw that, and I thought, 'Why can't I do that?' " Bloom said. "I love playing Army in my older years." Also making its first appearance in Saturday's Pear Blossom Parade will be the CVMA itself. Halverson emphasizes it is not a club, but rather a national nonprofit association of veterans that does outreach and fundraising to help other combat veterans. "Our charter is 'Veterans Helping Veterans,' " Halverson said. "In order to be a full member, you have to have verifiable combat experience." The association also serves as a way for veterans to bond as they continually readjust to civilian life. "We help veterans, but as for myself ... I think it's helped me more than it's helped others," said Iraq veteran Justin "Jump Start" Williams of Grants Pass. "It doesn't matter what year, they all have the same stories." "You get used to that camaraderie when you're in the military," Halverson said, adding that members watch out for each other like family. "I've got people sleeping on my couch." After making its debut at Pear Blossom, the replica missile won't collect dust for the rest of the year. "We're going to all the parades and making the rounds," Bloom said, including the Rogue River Rooster Crow, Eagle Point Fourth of July parades and six other parades and events. Reach newsroom assistant Nick Morgan at 541-776-4477 or by email at [email protected].   By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 3:08 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 3:50 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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