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.