New York Guardsmen stay on alert to save lives [Image 1 of 10]

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

04.20.2009

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

First Lt. Brent McCall, 101st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron combat rescue officer, and Tech. Sgt. Jedediah Smith, 101st ERQS pararescueman, load up their gear for a training mission in Northeastern Afghanistan, April 20. In addition to an M-4 assault rifle, combat medical gear and body armor, Sergeant Smith also packs his four-year-old daughter Mia's pre-school class teddy bear. The seven-year New York Air National Guardsman said he brings the little guy along with him on all his missions and writes letters to her school on behalf of the bear. "He pretty much goes everywhere I go," Sergeant Smith said, including the eight combat search and rescue missions he's done since he deployed here.

• Date Taken: 04.20.2009
• Date Posted: 04.25.2009 05:00
• Photo ID: 167720
• VIRIN: 090420-F-8570L-004
• Resolution: 1400x903
• Size: 1.06 MB
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF