Wyoming Guard begins medical evacuation operations in eastern Afghanistan

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Spc. Morgan Graham, a flight medic with Company C, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Tigershark, a Wyoming Army National Guard unit, puts on her flight gear as she responds to a medevac call March 25. Cowboy Dustoff, based in Cheyenne, Wyo., took over medevac operations Forward Operating Base Salerno March 24. (Photo by U.S. Army Pfc. Michael Syner, Task Force Falcon)  

KHOWST PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

03.24.2011

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 101

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Soldiers of the Wyoming Army National Guard took over medical evacuation missions in Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, March 24.

“Cowboy Dustoff,” Company C, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, replaced Company C, 2nd Bn, 104th Avn. Regt., a West Virginia Army National Guard medevac company, who completed a year-long deployment.

The Wyoming Guardsmen are providing helicopter medical evacuation support to Task Force Tigershark, which provides aviation support throughout the Khowst province and surrounding areas in eastern Afghanistan.

This is third deployment to Afghanistan, according to U.S. Army Maj. Dane E. Rodgers, commander of the Cheyenne-based medevac company.

The company, made up of pilots, flight surgeons, flight medics, crew chiefs, communication specialists and helicopter mechanics, already performed several medical evacuations and expects to do many more as the weather warms up, said Rodgers.

“We’re here to save lives,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Adam Roberts, a communications non-commissioned officer and native of Cheyenne. “When our helicopters go out, they come back with patients.”

• Date Taken: 03.24.2011
• Date Posted: 04.19.2011 17:08
• Story ID: 68994
• Location: KHOWST PROVINCE, AF