Fisher native hauls U.S. out of Iraq

Photo By Jeffrey Allen | A U.S. Air Force M915 tractor from the 70th Medium Truck Detachment leads a convoy through Iraq with a load of equipment and supplies Oct. 30, 2011. With less than five miles left before crossing the Iraqi border, the convoy of 43 vehicles traveled 1,100 miles in seven days hauling equipment out of the country as part of an effort to meet the deadline for the U.S. military to transition out of Iraq.  

IRAQ

11.01.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri 

United States Air Forces Central       

IRAQ - Senior Airman Ryan Baker, a vehicle operator with the 70th Medium Truck Detachment, recently deployed to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia from the 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Baker, a native of Fisher, Ind., has a job that allows for him to get out and impact Operation New Dawn in a big way - by bringing supplies out of Iraq.

Each day, Baker and members from his unit drive into Iraq to bring cargo, supplies and vehicles out of the country to support the withdraw of U.S. forces in the country.

"I love my job here," said Baker, a professional body builder. "It seems like every week I'm out on the open road, constantly seeing new things here."

During his tour here, Baker is taking advantage of the long days on the road by building friendships with his wingmen.

"There's days where we're on the road for more than 10 hours at a time," said Baker. "When it's just you and one other person in your truck, it's hard not to become brothers."

In recent months, the 387th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, which the 70th MTD belongs to, has increased its amount of missions trucking out cargo from Iraq by approximately 200 percent.

"When we first got here last month, the squadron was averaging about 11 missions per week," said Lt. Col. John O'Connor, 387th ELRS commander and native of Albany, Ga., before going on to say that the squadron is on track to average about 35 missions per month.

Baker is on his second deployment since joining the Air Force and has been selected for promotion to staff sergeant.

• Date Taken: 11.01.2011
• Date Posted: 11.12.2011 05:21
• Story ID: 79942
• Location: IQ