Media Moment

While our Tactical Operations Officer was being interviewed for Stars & Stripes, his trusted Flight Engineer could not resist the temptation to sabotage his Hollywood debut...with a bowl of Froot Loops cereal.

Patches & Dust

The Army is the only military service that authorizes a soldier to wear the unit patch of a wartime element as a right shoulder sleeve insignia on the uniform. The combat patch is based on a unit actively participating in or supporting, overseas ground combat operations against hostile forces for a period of at least 30 days--during which they were exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, either directly or indirectly. The combat patch confirms our status as OIF veterans and when combined with a DD 214, Discharge From Active Duty form, qualifies unit members for a variety of VA benefits upon our return home. The D Company, 126th TAC, Combat Patch Ceremony was conducted on January 16th, by the Commander, 159th Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.
Conducting flights in Iraq during January has proven to be a challenge. We have needed to adjust our flights around heavy rains, low cloud ceilings and areas of poor visibility. We also experienced our first dust storm--I now have a new appreciation for the harmful effects of dust and a bandana or mask becomes essential. Once the winds get above 20 knots, the sand kicks up and starts to roll along the desert floor. If the winds are sustained, a huge wall of dust forms and just blankets the area dropping visbility to near zero. One of our crews reported the tops of the dust cloud at 6,000 feet...needless to say landing the aircraft is no longer routine. I figured the desert to be warm and dry, but for the last couple weeks, the norm has been cloudy skies, cool temperatures and mud.

Supporting The Troops

In response to the question, “what do you do?”…The best answer is that we support the troops involved in the war fight. For every flight we complete, there is one less convoy on the road vulnerable to an IED attack. The motto around here is, if you are not actively fighting the war--you had better be helping.

In Iraq and Kuwait, we are the equivalent of a UPS or FedEx--except that we also haul passengers. We prioritize our missions around Blood, Medical Supplies, Ammunition, AOG Parts and Force Protection Equipment. When scheduling missions, we do not cater to rank…the focus is on priority cargo or personnel who have a need to support the troops in the field.

We fly under the radio call sign “BoxCar”. Due to our unusual flight tactics and the hard work of our predecessors, our Sherpa unit has inherited a legacy as THE workhorse aircraft in Iraq. When soldiers spot our ugly plane, view our unit patch or hear “BoxCar”, the reaction is typically one of the following; “You guys are crazy!” or “I love flying with you guys!” or “Man…did I get sick!” Although humbled by the positive response, we’re also amused by the perception that we fly reckless or with a “cowboy” attitude. The reality is we are conducting business in a professional manner when consideration is given to the threat.

Often our passengers travel “Space A”, which means unscheduled and load permitting. During fuel stops, we get a chance to mingle with our passengers and their stories cover a wide spectrum of the day-to-day duties in Iraq; soldiers transferring units or going on leave, traveling for medical procedures, interpreters, military lawyers, doctors, mechanics, inspectors, accident investigation teams, escorts transporting Iraqi Nationals, security personnel, engineers, civilian contractors, and my personal favorite—The Jingle Run—or bringing home the money. Since we travel all over the country, we get a unique perspective on the scope of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

The “BoxCar Guys” are no spring chickens—we are senior National Guard soldiers who have been around aviation awhile and are nearing the end of our military careers. For many unit members, this deployment serves as an opportunity to finally “do our part”. If you could see what we see…you would be impressed with the work ethic and conduct of the young American soldiers, some who must endure the stress of urban combat on a daily basis, and you would be very proud of the USA.

Cradle Of Civilization

The New Year finally brings some semblance of a routine for Company D. We are now solely responsible for the C-23 mission. Our time is spent flying, planning and passing along our individual experiences and “lessons learned”. Our previous training, combined with a solid hand-off from the 249th Aviation Regiment, has made for a smooth transition.

What a privilege it is to fly over an area of the world that has been called the “Cradle of Civilization”…a place where farming, irrigation and writing first developed, where villages first grew into cities, cities into kingdoms, and kingdoms into empires. In ancient times, the area was referred to as Mesopotamia, an area of land that bordered the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Mesopotamia gave birth to many great civilizations (Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian), but was also home to the biblical figure Abraham, a uniting person in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. In addition, a case could be made that the Garden Of Eden was located in Iraq (Genesis 2:10-14).

The climates of northern and southern Mesopotamia differ in terms of geography and climate. The dividing line between the two areas is roughly near modern Baghdad. The northern portion consists of rolling hills and fertile lands, while the southern area is flat and desert-like. When flying along the Tigris or Euphrates Rivers, it appears almost tropical. Future posts will contain pictures that capture the contrast.

As the New Year begins, I want to thank you for your support…most recently, my friends in Chicago—you’re in my thoughts.