Soldier surpasses standard as Black Hawk crew chief

Photo By Spc. Karin Leach | The Company C, 3/238th Aviation (Medevac) out of Concord, N.H., takes off from Al Kut, Iraq on a mission, Jan. 14. The unit is deployed between Tallil, Al Kut, and Contingency Operating Base Garry Owen in Iraq. The group functions as an air ambulance unit, responding to medical evacuation calls needing a helicopter to get patients to a medical facility quickly.  

AL KUT, IRAQ

01.30.2010

Story by Spc. Karin Leach 

114th Public Affairs Detachment

With cat-like movements the specialist climbed up the tail of a Black Hawk to inspect the tail rotor, hardly noticing the distance from the ground.

Spc. Aaron DeAngelis graduated from Concord High School in 2007 and shipped off to Army Basic Combat Training a month after high school to become a maintenance technician for Black Hawks.

DeAngelis deployed with the Company C, 3/238th Aviation (Medevac) unit out of Concord, N.H., Tallil, Al Kut, and Contingency Operating Base Garry Owen in Iraq. The group functions as an air ambulance unit, responding to medical evacuation calls needing a helicopter to get patients to a medical facility quickly.

In Sgt. Carey Atkins', opinion, DeAngelis shows a higher level of responsibility than his specialist rank.

"He's one of the newest members of the unit," Atkins, a crew chief from Lynn, Mass., said. "There's no school to teach someone how to be a crew chief. Normally someone has six years just in maintenance and then they are trained as a crew chief, he only had a few months. He's a very fast learner. He's taken on as much responsibility as a sergeant first class might have and he's been exceptional at it."

DeAngelis misses home, but mostly tries to focus on the mission and remember its importance.

"I don't think about missing home too much because we are needed here," DeAngelis, a crew chief, said. "Last month we helped three Iraqis in a car accident. They would have died if we weren't here. There's no air ambulance in Iraq, it's just us."

DeAngelis has surpassed the expectations of Atkins and gone above and beyond his job's realm.

"Aaron needs a lot less supervision than the typical Soldier, which is why he's here and not at home," Atkins said. "He goes above and beyond what is expected of him," said Atkins. "He's learning medicine as a side hobby to help the medics whenever he can. He is the go-to guy for maintenance and a big part of this team. Even among experienced crew chiefs he's one of the best."

DeAngelis feels the job is rewarding and vital no matter whom the passenger is or the condition they are in.

"I get to help people who are hurt get to where they need to go, and challenge myself to keep my aircraft flying with limited resources. We're saving lives. We'll fly anybody; U.S. Soldiers, foreign contractors, and Iraqi citizens. Our Medevac mission is vital, whether we're at war or peace," said DeAngelis.

After DeAngelis did the preliminary checks on Black Hawk he hopped inside the aircraft ready to help however he could while responding to the call.

• Date Taken: 01.30.2010
• Date Posted: 01.30.2010 18:39
• Story ID: 44659
• Location: AL KUT, IQ