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Years of positioning, months of planning, days of preparation and hours of hard work. All lead to the moment when the cargo is released. Down the ramp it slides, out of the tail of a C-17 Globemaster III and into the open sky. A parachute opens and gently lowers the package onto drop zone “Uncle”.
The 204th Airlift Squadron from the Hawaii Air National Guard delivered the inaugural drop on the newly named Drop Zone Uncle on July 14, 2016. The drop zone, located in Hilo, on the island of Hawaii, at the U.S. Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area is named after one of the 204th’s very own, Master Sgt. Henry Chang who passed away in 2013 and was fondly known to many in the HIANG as "Uncle" or "Uncle Henry".
“Uncle Henry helped start the 204th,” says Capt. Skip Saito, a C-17 Pilot for the 204th and project officer for the inaugural air drop. “He helped build the squadron to what it is today. He meant a lot to our unit and everybody knew him as Uncle. It goes to show how much everyone respected and loved him.”
Uncle Henry was a traditional guardsman and performed duties as a Flight Engineer when the 204th flew the C-130 Hercules. He served in that role for 30 years before retiring in 2006. Although he retired before the C-130 was replaced by the C-17, his legacy lays the foundation for the airmen that continue his work.
“My father was one of the original members of the 204th,” says Capt. Brandon Chang, C-17 pilot, 204 AS. “He was the fourth member of the 204th… he had the number four on his unit coin. We each get a coin with a unique member number to commemorate when we joined the unit.”
His legacy continues with his two sons who are now both with the 204 AS; Capt. Brandon Chang currently serves as a C-17 pilot and younger brother Senior Airman Sean Chang, is a loadmaster. Although both have always been a part of the 204th Ohana in support of their father, they have now earned the right to carry the torch as members of the unit.
“We have generations of family in the 204th AS,” says Saito. “Brandon and Sean have been running around the unit since they were little kids, and it’s nice to see them make a career out of something they grew up around.”
The unit wanted to permanently honor an integral part of their ohana and was presented with an opportunity as they developed their new air drop capabilities. Pilots and loadmasters from the unit have been sent through extensive training at Altus Air Force Base to become air drop qualified.
Capt. Chang is amongst the growing number of air drop qualified 204th airman. Younger brother Senior Airman Chang, will be attending air drop qualification school in the future.
The new drop zone dedication and inaugural air drop was planned by project officer, Saito. It was important to have the two brothers involved in the significant event; Capt. Chang was one of the pilots on the flight, and Senior Airman Chang was on hand to witness the ceremony.
Uncle’s story is much like many other guardsmen in the HIANG. He was loved by his extended family at the unit. He called it home. His namesake, drop zone Uncle, will forever reverberate in the halls of the 204 AS.
“The guard was a big part of his life, after drill he hung out with the rest of the guys,” said Capt. Chang. “That’s how I got interested in the guard and I got my passion of flying through him. The whole 204th has pretty much been my family. It was where I grew up. And it is where I want to be.”
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.14.2016 16:53 |
| Story ID: | 217716 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Drop Zone Uncle: A Legacy Continues, by SSgt Robert Cabuco, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
