Riggers making their mark in history

Photo By Spc. Michael Gault | A 421st Quartermaster, Detachment 4 soldier, Warrant Officer Philip Hamill, connects anti-oscillation ties inside the aircraft minutes before takeoff for an air drop mission over Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of 421st Quartermaster, Detachment 4)  

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, AFGHANISTAN

03.04.2013

Story by Spc. Michael Gault 

191st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

AFGHANISTAN - The soldiers of the 421st Quartermaster Detachment 4 have been able to make their mark in history supporting numerous units over many drop zones throughout Afghanistan.

“We are becoming a small part of history just like those original riggers did during World War II, doing our part to keep our fellow Soldiers safe and our families back home safe,” said Spc. Eric Heron, a rigger for the 421st.

The 24 soldier detachment is in the middle of its second heaviest month in February, already dropping over 880,000 pounds of supplies. The drops include everything from water and food to lumber for temporary housing during the cold months in the Afghanistan mountains.

“The work is hard and days are long and sure we miss our families and friends back home, but what keeps us going each day is knowing that the guys on the ground are depending on us to keep them supplied with food, water and fuel,” said Sgt. Barry MacDonald, a 421st lane chief.

The detachment continues a tradition of supporting Soldiers who continue their mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Leonard Planer, the 421st noncommissioned officer in charge, said the long hours, days and months are worth it when you have an important job directly affecting the mission.

“By supplying the warfighters on the ground that receive their resupply by airdrop and could not do their job without the supplies we send them, makes us proud to be riggers,” said Planer.

Story by Spc. Adrianne Vinson, 421st Quartermaster Detachment 4

According to http://www.qmfound.com/riggers.htm
Aerial delivery dates back to the war effort in the early 1940’s over treacherous mountains of Cassino, Italy. This was one of the first times that the Army dropped supplies to its troops who were cut off from all normal supply routes.

Quartermaster personnel based in Italy packed food and clothing into empty detachable fuel tanks, normally carried by fighter planes, known as belly tanks. The belly tanks were then flown to Naples attached to the bomb racks of A-36 aircraft bombers and ejected over the stranded units.

During the D-day invasion, the 101st and the 82nd Airborne Divisions are probably the most well known insertion of units into a combat zone in military history. In the week following the invasion, over 60 tons of supplies were dropped to the paratroopers at secure locations behind enemy lines.

During the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944, the 101st was surrounded by German troops at Bastogne. The early parachute riggers were called to action to support their fellow soldiers in need. For five long days the riggers dropped over 976 tons of war fighting supplies. The aerial delivery of the supplies enabled the soldiers on the ground to hold their position and continue fighting until relieved.

Over the next 70 years, riggers evolved, but continue to be a vital part of the war effort. Airdrops enable units to fight deep behind enemy lines, where survival would be otherwise impossible.

• Date Taken: 03.04.2013
• Date Posted: 03.04.2013 03:00
• Story ID: 102856
• Location: UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, AF