Warriors, Commandos team up, continue search for missing Soldiers

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from 3rd "Spearhead" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, sets out on a mission in support of the search for the three missing Soldiers. Their missions include transportation of troops and supplies at all hours of the day and night, said Glasgow, Mont., native Capt. Pat Patrino, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot and commander of Company B, 3-227th Aviation.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.22.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Nathan Hoskins 

1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

By Spc. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – With Soldiers spread throughout southern Baghdad searching around the clock for their missing comrades, it comes as no surprise that they need a constant stream of supplies to keep them going.

Although the 2nd Brigade Combat Team "Commandos," 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) troops are sometimes trucking supplies out to their brothers and sisters in arms, they mainly rely on the 1st "Warriors" Air Cavalry Brigade's aerial assets to get the job done, said Des Moines, Iowa, native Staff Sgt. Darren Larson, a brigade supply non-commissioned officer for the 2-10th Mountain.

"I know everybody down range really appreciates everything (1st ACB) is doing. We couldn't have done it without (them)," he said. "(They're) probably, by far, one of the biggest assets we have."

From sling-loading supplies to carrying them internally, the Warrior air crews make sure their comrades have everything they need to continue their search for the missing Soldiers, said Glasgow, Mont., native Capt. Pat Patrino, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot and commander of Company B, 3rd "Spearhead" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment.

"We're doing raids on targets, insertions, extractions, re-supplies, emergency re-supplies, troop movement ... pretty much anything they ask for that we can do we'll do, to include sling-loads," he said.

The Commando Soldiers behind getting the supplies ready for 1st ACB to transport are from Company A, 210th Brigade Support Battalion. They understand that working quickly and effectively with their aerial partners is critical to keeping the mission going, said Capt. Anita Trepanier, commander of Company A, 210th BSB.

"Our mission, right now, is to support the troops that are on the ground trying to find our fellow comrades with logistics support," she said. "We have come together as a team to support our fellow Soldiers forward."

Along with ammunition, medical supplies, food, and water, the Warriors are also transporting boats which aide the troops having to search in and around the canals, said Clinton, Mass., native 1st Sgt. Todd Harger, the senior non-commissioned officer for Co. A.

"We've pushed boats, so they can cross rivers and search the canals," he said. "Those canals, they don't look deep, but they're very deep. In some cases, 10- to 12-feet deep."

As supplies are flown out to the troops on the ground, the troops on the ground are also transported quickly to search areas or capture insurgents during hasty air assaults, said Patrino.

"It's very hasty planning. They give us some products and we go execute it as best we can. Things change on the fly," he said. "A normal air assault would be anywhere between 48 and 96 hours to plan; these are anywhere between the one to six hours range in terms of from planning to execution."

With all these missions, the Spearhead crews know the extra work hours are for a worthy cause, said Patrino.

"All the guys in the company actually want to be on the team that is supporting this operation," he said. "They feel like they're directly supporting the cause."

These missions are all done on top of their normal workload, Patrino added.

"The guys have all gotten together and they've all put in real long hours and have been flying their butts off. They haven't complained or anything because there's a tangible goal ... to recover those missing Soldiers," he said.

Trepanier said she hopes the missions continue until the Soldiers are brought back.

"It says it in the Warrior Ethos, we will never leave a fallen comrade, and we are not going to leave our fellow Commandos," she said.

"There are three missing Soldiers out there that we're trying to find," Patrino said, "and we're trying to do anything we can to help."

• Date Taken: 05.22.2007
• Date Posted: 05.22.2007 12:59
• Story ID: 10480
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ