TF Thunderbird logisticians deliver lifeline to Soldiers

Photo By Master Sgt. Joseph Bicchieri | A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes off with a sling load of water and supplies for the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, as U.S. Army Spc. Laura A. Lyles of Co. A 700 Brigade Support Battalion and U.S. Army Spc. Adam G. Cole of Co. E 700 BSB (Forward Support Co.) wait for a second helicopter with another load. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Bicchieri)  

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

08.12.2011

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 1 - Afghanistan

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When called upon to support the largest air assault operation of their unit’s history, elements of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Thunderbird, came together in eastern Afghanistan.

Hand-picked from each company, Thunderbird supply logisticians came to Combat Outpost Xio Haq and prepared supplies for the companies of 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry, 45th IBCT who would need food, water and ammunition during operations in the Galluch and neighboring valleys in Laghman province.

Individuals like supply assistant Spc. Adam G. Cole, Company A, 700 Brigade Support Battalion, 45th IBCT jumped at a moment’s notice to fly to COP Xio Haq. Like others in the chosen crew, it would be his first experience with an air assault operation.

During training, his supervisor Sgt. William Nation, Company A, 700 BSB, 45th IBCT asked, “You don’t have a phobia of large aircraft flying over your head, do you?”

Cole claimed such fears didn’t develop until after he found himself hooking up sling loads under a descending UH-60 Black Hawks as they buffeted him with rotor wash.

However, once trained by experienced non-commissioned officers, this supply soldier transformed tangled lines into orderly nets around pallets of critical supplies. Once loads were set, their mission was far from finished. Supplying an air assault means waiting for aviation assets gathered on the landing zone. Unexpected changes meant the whole team needed to come running any time of day or night, whenever they heard the sound of incoming helicopters.

The second day of operations began with troops in contact with the enemy. The unplanned but not unexpected exchange meant that scouts from the 1st Bn.,needed to be resupplied, and they needed it quickly.

“You can plan and hope it goes according to plan but it never works out that way,” said Capt. John Fagan, logistics officer for Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 1st Bn.“But, we’re prepared for that.”

According to Master Sgt. Jeffery Patterson, logistics NCO in charge for Headquarters, Headquarters Co., 45th IBCT, the solution is known as a “speedball”, a quick resupply load of approximately 450 pounds. Each speedball is quickly filled with emergency supplies of water, food and ammunition then loaded onto Black Hawks for rapid delivery. Sometimes emergency resupply missions include a laundry list of additional necessary items. Patches and uniform items were scrounged and Patterson said Soldiers are quick to give up their clean clothes if it means helping a buddy in the field.

Fagan credited pathfinder- qualified 1st Lt. Jason A. Smith and the volunteers from throughout the brigade with the success of the mission.

“Resupply is the lifeblood of the operation,” said Fagan.

• Date Taken: 08.12.2011
• Date Posted: 08.11.2011 20:43
• Story ID: 75218
• Location: LAGHMAN PROVINCE, AF