Courtesy Photo | SOUTHWEST ASIA (Jan. 3, 2007) - Lt. j.g. Evan "Pooper" Young, a Navy co-pilot with...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Sarah Scully
40th Public Affairs Detachment
SOUTHWEST ASIA (Jan. 3, 2007) - Ducking under seven spinning 80-foot blades and into a hot rush of air tinged with the scent of oil and fuel, Soldiers quickly stepped past the "Righteous Hammer of Death" and entered the helicopter lifting them out of combat and toward home.
The .50 caliber machine gun nicknamed by its operator pointed toward the Iraqi desert, scanning for terrorists.
Nestled within the "Black Stallion" MH-53E helicopter, dozens of Soldiers clutched bags of gear and looked out at their last glimpse of Iraq.
After a year in combat, they got a ride toward safety thanks to a military branch usually dedicated to operations at sea, not desert – the Navy pilots and crew from the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron-4 "Black Stallions" unit at Camp Buehring, Udairi Army Airfield in Kuwait supporting Third Army/U.S. Army Central.
The gunners and crew orchestrated a routine perfected over nearly 12 months of experience ferrying troops and cargo between Iraq and Kuwait.
"Everybody's proud of what they're doing," said Cmdr. Robert Buckingham, HC-4 commanding officer. "There will be a void when we leave."
The Sailors filled in a much-needed request for combat support when the Army asked for help. Usually tasked to support a fleet of ships, the Sailors volunteered to do a unique mission.
"Everybody was gunning for orders to try and get here," said Buckingham. "The Navy is inherently extremely flexible."
That flexibility helped the unit succeed by adjusting to various mission requests and accomplishing them quickly. But soon, another unit will have to learn the same flexibility exhibited by the "Black Stallions."
Later this month, the unit will return to home base in Italy after a year deployed. But until then, the Sailors will keep maintaining the huge helicopters and flying them on combat missions.
"I'm proud of the fact that we're out here actually accomplishing our mission," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Weaver, an aviation structure mechanic. "It's a pretty big effort, but we try and do it with a smile on our faces."
With four MH-53E helicopters constantly operating, the unit has more than 100 Sailors dedicated to maintaining the triple-engine, 55-passenger aircraft.
"I have more respect for these kids now than when we started," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel Erb, maintenance materiel control officer. "This is my best deployment because of what they've done on these helicopters – they make it look easy."
The Sailors not only do their jobs Navy-style, they also do it in the Army tradition by driving Humvees, shooting M-16 rifles and wearing body armor.
With extra training, the Sailors work together to get the missions accomplished – and it all centers around the huge, gray helicopters.
Nicknamed "Bucky" after the squadron's horse logo, the helicopters have carried more than 10,000 troops and 1 million pounds of cargo during the unit's deployment in Kuwait.
"They're great," said Spc. Timothy Tranger, a California National Guard Soldier getting a lift home after a year in Iraq. "They've given me a ride many times."
Other Soldiers gave similar comments of appreciation for the Sailors who risk their lives and aircraft flying combat missions.
Looking out over the desert at clusters of tents, flocks of sheep and lines of camels, the Sailors and Soldiers depend on the pilots to get them safely back on the ground.
Elevated above the passengers, the pilots kept a watch on hundreds of dials and knobs – and on the other helicopter carrying fellow servicemembers.
The troops unbuckled their safety straps and slid across the oily helicopter floor to the sand outside after landing safely in Kuwait.
Streaming out of the helicopter, the Soldiers gave a nod to the Sailor who manned the "Righteous Hammer of Death" and helped them out of Iraq.
"They take care of us," said Tranger.
| Date Taken: | 01.03.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2007 09:51 |
| Story ID: | 8726 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 333 |
| Downloads: | 130 |
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