100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Story by Spc. Jeremy Spires

CAMP SWIFT, Texas -- On a cool, crisp, October morning, two UH-60 black hawk helicopters land in a vacant field on the outskirts of Camp Swift. Suddenly, a door slides open, and four Texas National Guard Soldiers rush out of the belly of each helicopter to take up a defensive position in the tall, green grass.

They patiently wait for the maelstrom of wind to cease before making their next move. The Soldiers finally get the word to move out, and quickly fall in line. Walking purposefully, the soldier's enter a teeming area full of cheers and applause from both civilians and other military personnel.

The lead Soldier proudly bears a symbolic German walking stick as he moves to the center stage where the Texas Adjutant General, Major General Jose S. Mayorga, waits for him. This exciting air display, culminating in the handing over of the walking stick, marked the opening ceremony of the 3rd Annual Oktoberfest here at Camp Swift, Texas.

The 143rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment out of Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas, wowed the crowd with an impressive display of seasoned paratroopers doing what they do best: floating silently and gracefully in the clear blue sky. Paratroopers from the 143rd spent two months planning the jump, said CW2 James Hampton, event officer in charge and coordinator for the jump.

"We have always seen the paratroopers making their jumps in the distance, but this is the first time we have seen them up close," said Allen Merten, a 60-year-old native of Bastrop.

Next, the soldiers of the 143rd LRS treated the patrons of Oktoberfest to a fast-paced ground insertion. This demonstration started with two AH-64A's flying in a close formation, which quickly shot across the onlookers. Then two UH-60s landed just a few meters from the gate and deposited soldiers, who performed military tactics. Bearing the walking stick, the Soldiers entered the festival area and headed toward the center stage amongst a gathering of people.

"It was so exciting when they flew in and landed. I was actually jumping up and down with excitement," said Judy Merten, wife of Allen Merten.

Once the soldiers of the 143rd LRS completed the mission, the two helicopters circled back around and landed once again in the open field, allowing the soldiers to re-enter the helicopters before they flew off in a whirling of wind and the beating of rotors into the blue October sky.

At the end of the air demonstrations, a static display of an AH-64A flew by Capt. Stacy Rostorfer of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade during the air demonstrations was set up for the visitors of the day's events to get a closer look.

"[The AH-64A] is their tax dollars at work and its good for them to see up close what that money is actually being used for," said Rostorfer.

The Oktoberfest allows for the community of Bastrop and surrounding cities to build a closer personal relationship with the military personnel that may live in their areas.

"We have always wanted to observe and interact with the military on a closer level," said Allen, "and this provides us with the perfect opportunity."

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