Guard medical evacuation unit returns to Central Louisiana

Photo By Master Sgt. Toby Valadie | Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal welcomes home Chief Warrant Officer 3 E. Regan Wilson, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and his brother Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Wilson. The brothers are UH-60 Blackhawk pilots with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, and were welcomed home during a celebration with family and friends at Esler Field in Pineville, March 22. The highly decorated unit received one Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals with Valor and 32 Combat Actions Badges during their deployment.  

PINEVILLE, LA, UNITED STATES

03.22.2011

Story by Sgt. Rebekah Malone 

Louisiana National Guard

PINEVILLE, La. – Approximately 35 Louisiana National Guardsmen from F Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment returned home to Esler Field in Pineville, after completing a year-long deployment to Afghanistan, March 22.

In March 2010, F Company mobilized and deployed approximately 68 troops to Afghanistan as they began their tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These soldiers completed demobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas, before returning to Louisiana. The remaining soldiers will arrive later this month.

Five-year-old Karly Wilson, daughter of Distinguished Flying Cross recipient Chief Warrant Officer 3 E. Regan Wilson of Prairieville anxiously awaited his arrival.

“I’m going to run and give him a big hug!” said Karly. His wife, Claire echoed the sentiment saying, “I’m so ready to have him home!”

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal attended the welcome home and met Wilson and his family.

“We’re so proud of him and thank you for your sacrifice as well,” Jindal told Claire.

Wilson received the award for his heroic actions while piloting a medical evacuation in Panjawey, Afghanistan, to extract a critically wounded soldier from an area where troops were still in active combat, July 2, 2010.

“It was very intense,” said Wilson. “It was very scary, but you just fall back on your training.

“Anyone of our guys would’ve done the same thing,” he said, “I just happened to be the pilot on that particular mission.”

While deployed, the soldiers conducted medical evacuations using UH-60 Blackhawks totaling a combined 2,400 hours, conducted 442 medical evacuations and transported 602 patients. The highly decorated unit received one Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals with Valor and 32 Combat Actions Badges during this deployment.

• Date Taken: 03.22.2011
• Date Posted: 03.22.2011 22:18
• Story ID: 67563
• Location: PINEVILLE, LA, US