the mustang leader

The Mustang Leader
Vol. I, Issue 12
For members of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade deployed in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08
July 23, 2007
36th Combat Aviation Brigade units work
together for an outstanding Operation
Iraqi Freedom 06-08 deployment
Story by Maj. Gregory T. O’Connor
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LSA ANACONDA, Iraq
– The friends and family members
of 36th Combat Aviation Brigade
(CAB) Soldiers have every right
to be happy and proud of their
loved ones soon returning from a
year-long deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. The 36th
&$%EHFDPHWKH¿UVWIXOO\WUDQVformed Army National Guard CAB
to mobilize and deploy in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In
less than seven months, the 36th
CAB transformed, mobilized, was
validated, and then was deployed
to a combat environment. Once
deployed, it took every Soldier’s
hard work and professionalism
within the 36th CAB to successfully
meet and even exceed all mission
requirements. The 36th CAB’s Soldiers consisted of more than 2,600
National Guard Soldiers from 46
Army National Guard states, plus
more than 200 Soldiers from the
Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)
and 11 U.S. Army Reservists. Each
unit, from the Headquarters and
Headquarters Company (HHC)
to the six subordinate battalions,
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make this deployment successful.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
The 36th Combat Aviation Brigade Command team has excelled in its mission as the
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To make this happen, it took every
Soldier and all of the brigade’s
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working together during continuous 24 hour combat operations.
The 36th CAB, located at LSA
Anaconda in Balad, Iraq, had the
distinct honor of directly supporting the Multi National Corps - Iraq
(MNC-I) as the Corps Aviation
Brigade. Those continuous combat operations included more than
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more than 10,500 combat missions. The brigade executed more
than 160 air assault missions in
support of Other Coalition Forces
- Iraq (OCF-I), and hundreds of
VIP missions that also included
transporting the Vice President of
the United States, the Secretary of
Defense, the British Prime Minister, the Iraqi Prime Minister, along
with more than 7,000 other distinguished passengers. The brigade
pumped more than 8,000,000
gallons of fuel and more than
5,000,000 meals were served in the
brigade’s dining facilities. In total,
more than 330,000 passengers and
more than 22,000,000 pounds of
cargo were transported throughout
the Theater saving countless lives
and untold amounts of equipment
and supplies. Our MEDEVAC assets transported more than 6,600
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point of injury missions saving
even more lives.
Page 2
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July 23, 2007
1st Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment
The 1st Battalion, 149th
Aviation Regiment (Attack)
was the first battalion to be
mobilized for OIF 06-08 and
arrived at Fort Hood with 374
Soldiers and units from both
Texas and Mississippi. During their 11 months in country
which ended in July, they flew
more than 18,400 hours on
24 airframes. They expended
more than 30,000 rounds of
30 millimeter ammunition,
400 rockets and 40 Hellfire
missiles during more than
120 engagements in support
of Coalition Forces throughout Iraq. The battalion had
to overcome the challenges
of operating at remote bases
throughout the deployment
and was able to operate continuously and smoothly in that
aspect.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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Battalion, 149th Aviation
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July 23, 2007
449th Aviation Support Battalion
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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The 449th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB) started this deployment
in February 2006, and reported to Fort
Hood with more than 550 Soldiers
from Texas, another 146 Soldiers from
18 National Guard states and 64 Soldiers from the IRR. The 449th ASB was
tasked with providing support to the
entire brigade to include medical, food
service, and ground maintenance along
with Forward Arming and Refueling,
operation of the Class IX (Air) Supply
Support Activity, both Aviation Intermediate and Unit Maintenance (AVIM
and AVUM) and a signal company that
provided communications for the entire
brigade. The “Stallions” during their 11
months of deployment in Iraq executed
eight Downed Aircraft Recovery Team
(DART) missions at non-secure sites,
completed or assisted in more than
250 phase inspections (150 – UH60,
69 – AH64 and 37 – CH47), delivered
more than 1.2 million liters of water,
pumped in excess of 4 million gallons
Courtesy photo
of fuel and expedited more than 900
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ity parts.
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Page 4
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July 23, 2007
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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Headquarters and Headtheater of operations, including
brigade Soldiers had new equipquarters Company (HHC), 36th
2 U.S. Army Divisions, 1 Marine ment, occupational clothing and
CAB provided the Command,
Division, 2 Multi-National Divipersonal protective gear. MainControl and Communications for sions and the Combined Joint
taining communication systems
the brigade. Each section within
Special Operations Task Force.
and networks at LSA Anaconda
the HHC contributed to the total
The S3 developed and executed
and fielding the Joint Network
effort. The S1 section processed
several contingency and quick
Node (JNN) to the brigade relied
more than 2,600 awards, more
response operations in Al Basrah, on the hard work and dedication
than 3,000 R&R passes and leave Ar Ramadi, Diwaniyah, Baqubah of the S6 section. The JNN was
requests, almost 2,000 NCO and
and An Nasiriyah. The S4 section instrumental in supporting CoaliOfficer Evaluation Reports, and
oversaw the completion of more
tion Forces and a split-based brimore than 500 reenlistment and
than 25 major construction projgade task force deployed to and
incentive bonuses. Designing and ects improving the support infra- conducting combat operations
maintaining a MNC-I Surface
structure for the brigade here on
both in Al Basrah and Kalsu,
to Air Fire (SAFIRE) website,
LSA Anaconda as well as ensured Iraq.
the S2 section created the foundation for
enemy aviation threat
Tactics,
Techniques
and Procedures (TTPs)
and predictive analysis
throughout
Iraq. The S3
faced the task
of coordinating the 36th
CAB’s aviation support
with the
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
entire Iraqi
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Page 5
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July 23, 2007
2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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The 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment began this deployment on Feb. 6, 2006 and reported
to Fort Hood with 295 Soldiers
from Colorado, 80 Soldiers from
Minnesota, 92 from Nebraska,
37 Soldiers from Utah, numerous
Soldiers from 14 other National
Guard states, and 41 Soldiers from
the IRR. The 2nd Bn., 135th Aviation Regt. was assigned various
missions to include air assaults
in support of the Other Coalition Forces – Iraq day and night
mission support, the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Logistics Support mission, and
the MEDEVAC mission for LSA
Anaconda, Normandy, Al Asad,
Al Kut, Diwaniyah and Tallil. The
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hours on 44 airframes during more
than 5,300 combat missions. The
“Blackjacks” moved more than
90,000 troops and passengers and
over 12 million pounds of cargo
during their 11 month tour in Iraq.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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July 23, 2007
1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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The 1st Battalion, 131st
Aviation Regiment began this
deployment in late March 2006
and reported to Fort Hood with
more than 252 Soldiers from
Alabama, 59 Soldiers from Arkansas, another 64 Soldiers from
15 National Guard states and
territories and 44 Soldiers from
WKH,55$VWKH¿UVWRIWZRDVsigned Assault Battalions within
the 36th CAB, the 1st Bn., 131st
Aviation Regt. was assigned to
conduct the mission of Corps
aviation support during their
11 months in combat. While
stationed in Iraq, the regiment
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30 airframes during more than
1,800 missions. They moved
more than 150,000 personnel
and almost 260,000 pounds
of cargo during that 11 month
period.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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July 23, 2007
1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment
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The 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment began this deployment in March, 2006, and reported
to Fort Hood with 214 Soldiers
from Kansas, 110 from Texas, 43
from Iowa and another 24 Soldiers
from the IRR. As the second of
two assigned Assault Battalions
within the 36th CAB, the 1st Bn.,
108th Aviation Regt. was assigned
to conduct Command and Control, General Support and Corps
Reserve mission support. During
their 10 months in theater which
ends in September, the “Talons”
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hours on 30 airframes during more
than 2,100 missions. The bat-
talion moved more than 93,000
Coalition Forces and Dignitaries
and more than 925,000 pounds of
cargo helping maintain freedom
of maneuver for the Multi-National Forces – Iraq Commander,
the Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Commander and the United States
Ambassador to Iraq.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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July 23, 2007
Operational Support Airlift Command
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The Operational Support Airlift Command (OSACOM) was deployed to Iraq in November 2006.
Fully taking over the reigns of the
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2006, OSACOM quickly and ef¿FLHQWO\IHOOULJKWLQWRVWHSZLWKWKH
other units and Soldiers of the 36th
CAB. OSACOM provided Multi
National Forces – Iraq (MNF-I)
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support by transporting high priority passengers and cargo within
Iraq, as well as throughout the Middle East, and even Europe. Having
three different aircraft (UC-35,
C-12s and C-23s) OSACOM has
more than 100 Soldiers and units
or detachments based in Virginia,
Missouri, Pennsylvania, California and Alaska – with individual
augmentees and IRR Soldiers from
more than 10 more states. So far
during their deployment to Iraq,
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6,000 hours on 14 airframes during
more than 1,500 combat missions.
They have already moved more
than 19,000 passengers along with
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
in excess of 6.5 million pounds of
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cargo throughout the theater.
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Page 9
July 23, 2007
Fallen Angels remembered
The Brigade suffered a tremendous loss on January 20, 2007,
when we lost an aircrew and aircraft to enemy action.
The fallen crewmembers were
Maj. Michael Taylor, Sgt. Maj.
William Warren and Sgt. 1st Class
John Brown, all members of 1st
Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment
and Capt. Sean Lyerly from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 36th CAB.
We continue to honor their
memories and support their families and keep them in our thoughts
and prayers.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
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Courtesy photo
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Page 10
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July 23, 2007
Have a safe journey home!
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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Every unit that
makes up the 36th
Combat Aviation Brigade has performed
in an exemplary and
professional manner.
We wish each unit
success while at the
same time we wish
our Soldiers a speedy
and safe journey
home. Be very proud
of your Soldiers and
the jobs they have
accomplished while
they were away, for
they have contributed
to the overwhelming
success and achievements that will go
down in history as
the 36th CAB’s contribution to Operation
Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
06-08 deployment
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
and the Global War
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on Terrorism.
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Page 11
July 23, 2007
Commander’s Corner
This marks the last edition of the
Mustang Leader for us. As I write these
comments, the 1-149th ARB has successfully completed its combat mission
in Iraq and has re-deployed home. The
449th ASB, the Brigade Headquarters and
the 2-135th GSAB are completing their
mission and have already started sending
soldiers home to prepare for the arrival
of their main bodies of Soldiers. The 1131st AVN and the 1-108th AVN will soon
complete their missions as well. The
OSACOM battalion is not far behind.
Over the last 10 months, the men and
women of the 36th CAB have sustained
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than 10,500 combat missions in support
of the war.
In looking back over the last 18
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only say how impressed I am at the incredible performance of our Soldiers. No
matter what the challenge, no matter how
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the enemy was or what the enemy was
doing, our Soldiers have supported this
mission exceptionally well. I am honored to serve with such great Americans.
Your Soldiers have made considerable
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Iraqi Freedom and to the Global War on
Terrorism.
As our Soldiers return home, please
be patient with them as they re-adjust to
being home. In most cases, the adjustment will be quick and easy. For some
Soldiers and families, the adjustment
may take longer or may be more dif¿FXOW6ROGLHUVQHHGWRWDONZLWKWKHLU
families and friends about their experiences in war. Families need to talk with
their Soldiers about life at home and
their experiences without their Soldiers.
Remember that your Soldier’s chain of
command, our Chaplains and our Family
Readiness Groups stand ready to assist in
any way to support our Soldiers.
I want to thank our FRG leaders, as
always, for their great and patriotic work
to support us while deployed. I want to
thank our PAO section for the hard work
in producing the Mustang Leader over
the last year
and for sharing
stories about
our Soldiers
in Iraq – the
PAO section
has helped keep
us connected to
our families and &RO9HUQRQ$6HYLHU-U
friends.
I remain humbled by this experience and by the incredible acts of our
Soldiers and families every day. We will
continue the mission here until relieved
in place. We are still conducting combat
operations everyday and will do so until
the end. Our Soldiers must continue to
remain focused on the mission on a daily
basis. I thank every Soldier for his or
her service to our great Nation and wish
every Soldier the best in their future.
Again, to the families and friends
of 36th CAB Soldiers, I thank you for
your tremendous support of the great
men and women of the 36th CAB. TAKE
CHARGE!
CSM’s Corner
This will be my last opportunity
to address the families and the Soldiers
of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade
(CAB). I want to thank the 36th CAB
leadership, the Soldiers and the families
for the honor of being apart of a great
organization as the brigade Command
Sergeant Major during Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF) 06-08.
The end of this long journey is bittersweet to me, longing for the time to
return home to our loved ones, but with
the realization of missing the camaraderie of the outstanding Soldiers that
made up the 36th CAB. It will be hard to
watch as our units and Soldiers depart
Iraq for their return trip back home; the
only solace in this event is that they are
returning home to you, their families
and friends. Once home, I want you and
\RXUORYHGRQHVWRUHÀHFWEDFNRYHUWKH
last 18 months to talk about all that you
have accomplished. You have made hisWRU\E\EHLQJDSDUWRIWKH¿UVWWUDQV-
formed National Guard Combat Aviation
Brigade, made up of National Guard
Soldiers from 46 states, Soldiers from
the Army Reserve and the Individual
Ready Reserve. You have performed
your mission to the highest standards
and received accolades from everyone
that you were in contact with during this
deployment.
If you were asked 18 months ago
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Hood, Texas, or Fort Sill, Oklahoma,
if we could pull off such a complex
combat mission, what would have been
your answer? Now that the mission is
coming to a close, you can now puff out
your chest, hold your head up high and
know that all of you have performed to
the highest standards. Now you can say
“Job well done!”
I want to end by saying that
without your support from home, our
Soldiers could not have performed their
mission to these high standards. I want
to thank you and hope that once your
loved ones arrive home, that your lives
can again quickly return back to normal.
“MUSTANG”
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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36th Combat Aviation Brigade Command
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Page 12
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July 23, 2007
Two Apache pilots save critically-wounded
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Story by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
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LSA ANACONDA, Iraq
– Two pilots from Company B,
1st Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment (Attack), 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, risked their lives in
an unorthodox Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) by transporting
a critically-wounded Soldier in
an AH-64A helicopter during a
firefight in Ramadi, Iraq, on June
30, 2007. CW4 Kevin Purtee
and CW2 Allen Crist, Apache
helicopter pilots who were flying
their last combat mission, saved
the life of Spc. Jeffrey Jamaleldine, Company A, 1st Battalion,
77th Armor. Spc. Jamaleldine
had been shot in the face and the
arm, and needed to be evacuated
from a raging battle near Donkey Island in Ramadi. The pilots
were notified that more than 40
minutes had elapsed since the
ground unit had called for the
MEDEVAC aircraft to transport
four wounded Soldiers to the
hospital at Camp Ar Ramadi.
CW4 Purtee, from Houston, Texas, was the Pilot, which
is commonly referred to as the
“backseater.” CW2 Crist, from
Warrensburg, Missouri, is the
Co-Pilot/Gunner, or “frontseater.” CW4 Purtee asked CW2
Crist if he felt comfortable
giving up his seat for a critically wounded Soldier in a quick
flight back to Camp Ar Ramadi.
“Absolutely,” CW2 Crist emphatically said. CW4 Purtee
Photo by Maj. Gregory T. O’Connor
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made the decision that to save
the Soldier’s life, CW2 Crist
would fly on the wing of the aircraft on the way to the hospital.
CW2 Crist and three other
infantrymen muscled Spc. Jamaleldine, from Fort Smith, Arkansas, up into the Apache’s front
seat. CW2 Crist strapped him
in. “He was bandaged up and
blood was all over him,” CW2
Crist said. He then went to the
left side of the aircraft and ran a
tether to the aircraft and hooked
it on his Air Warrior vest. He
sat on the wing of the Apache
and placed his feet on a narrow
walkway lining the fuselage. He
knocked on the window to let
CW4 Purtee know that he was in
position and ready for the flight.
CW4 Purtee said that he felt
more nervous than CW2 Crist
did during the flight. “I had my
Co-Pilot strapped to the side
of the aircraft and a criticallywounded Soldier in the front
seat, and we were leaving a very
dangerous area,” CW4 Purtee
said. “It wasn’t a long flight,
but it felt like it took forever.”
CW2 Crist said flying outside
the aircraft was similar to “Sitting in the back of a truck going
down the highway.” The flight
to Camp Ar Ramadi lasted just
a few minutes. They reached
the medical pad and CW2 Crist
stayed with Spc. Jamaleldine
while medical personnel waited
for the ambulance to move him
to the hospital. “I eventually had
Page 13
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July 23, 2007
Photo by Capt. Randall Stillinger
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to get a guy at the pad to talk to
him,” CW2 Crist recounted. “I
knew we were going to go back
out [to the battle in Ramadi] and
I wanted to keep my head right.”
Once Spc. Jamaleldine had
been removed out of the aircraft
with no further injury, the pilots
climbed back into the aircraft
and flew back to the battle.
The next day, the crew
found out that Spc. Jamaleldine
had been moved to the hospital at LSA Anaconda, and they
decided to visit him. Spc. Jamaleldine’s jaw had been wired
shut, but medical staff gave him
a pad to write on. “Thank you,”
was the first thing he wrote to
the pilots, and then, “Sorry for
messing up your helicopter.” The
pilots learned the Soldier wanted
to be a helicopter pilot and was
planning to take the aviator test
in a couple of weeks. “We did
a little recruiting to get him to
join the Texas Army National
Guard,” CW4 Purtee said. They
gave him a Company B flight
patch and took some photos.
Spc. Jamaleldine is currently in
stable condition.
Putting a wounded Soldier
in the cockpit while the pilot
rides on the outside of the aircraft is unorthodox, but CW4
Purtee said he would rather do
that than watch another Soldier
on the ground die. “We have
seen the tragedy of watching
Soldiers on the ground waiting
for MEDEVAC,” CW4 Purtee
said. “There is no more hopeless
feeling than watching the guys
who need help not get it, and I’m
tired of that and that’s why we
made our choice to go in and do
what we did.”
These two pilots don’t see
themselves as heroes – the real
heroes for them are the Soldiers
they support everyday. They said
the real hero in this story is Spc.
Jamaleldine, who was shot while
engaging the enemy in one of the
largest battles in Ramadi over
the past few months.
Page 14
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
$SDFKHSLORWHQGV\HDUÀ\LQJ
career with a combat mission in Iraq
Story by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
WK&$%3XEOLF$IIDLUV2I¿FH
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq –
$IWHUDVXFFHVVIXO\HDUÀ\LQJ
career, CW5 Pat Leone will turn
LQKLVÀLJKWKHOPHWDQG0ULÀH
DQGKDYLQJUHOLQTXLVKHGWKHÀLJKW
controls on June 1, 2007, will
retire from the Army following
the deployment to Operation Iraqi
Freedom 06-08. CW5 Leone, with
Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 36th Combat Aviation
Brigade (CAB), has accrued more
WKDQÀLJKWKRXUVLQPRUH
than 20 different types of helicopters – a rare feat not many Army
pilots attain. His favorite helicopter is the agile and formidable
AH-64A helicopter that he piloted
over the deserts of Iraq. A helicopter’s cockpit reminded him of
KLV¿UVWGD\VDVD\RXQJFRFN\
:DUUDQW2I¿FHU$UP\DYLDWRU
who would live most of his adult
OLIHVDWLVI\LQJKLVSDVVLRQIRUÀ\ing in the machines he loves most
– helicopters. When he retires this
October and celebrates his 60th
ELUWKGD\LWZLOOEHWKH¿UVWWLPH
since he was a teenager that CW5
Leone will not be an Army aviator. His daughters, the eldest now
36, have known him their whole
lives as “Daddy, the helicopter
pilot.”
&:/HRQHÀHZKLVODVWKHOLFRSWHUÀLJKWDFRPEDWPLVVLRQ
to Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on June 1,
2007. The mission, like so many
others before it, was to support
ground units in search of insur-
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
&:3DW/HRQH+HDGTXDUWHUVDQG+HDGTXDUWHUV&RPSDQ\WK&RPEDW$YLDWLRQ
%ULJDGHVPLOHGDIWHUFRPSOHWLQJKLV¿QDOFRPEDWPLVVLRQLQ,UDT7KH$SDFKHSLORWHQGHG
KLV\HDUÀ\LQJFDUHHUZLWKDFRPEDWPLVVLRQWR$U5DPDGL,UDTRQ-XQH
gents and their weapons caches,
which threaten to undo the hardwon peace that currently prevails
in Ramadi, which once served as
a center of violent insurgent resistance. He is proud to have been
accepted by the younger aviators
in Company B, 1st Battalion, 149th
Aviation Regiment (Attack), who
performed many courageous acts
to help secure the peace in this
region. Emphasizing his respect
for this group of aviators from
Missouri, Mississippi and Texas,
CW5 Leone ranks them among
the best with whom he has ever
ÀRZQ³7KHLUSURIHVVLRQDOLVP
rapport, dedication, focus, ability
to maintain situational awareness,
their knowledge of the aircraft
WKH\À\DQGLWVHPSOR\PHQWRQ
WKHEDWWOH¿HOGFRPELQHWRPDNH
Page 15
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
&:0DUFXV0RRUH5&RPSDQ\%VW%DWWDOLRQWK$YLDWLRQ5HJLPHQW$WWDFNÀHZZLWK&:3DW/HRQH/RQKLVODVWÀLJKWLQ
DQ$UP\KHOLFRSWHU
this a group of incredibly effective attack pilots,” he said.
CW5 Leone began and ended
KLVÀ\LQJFDUHHUWKHVDPHZD\
±LQFRPEDWWKH¿UVWWLPHÀ\LQJ
Huey helicopters 39 years ago
over the jungles of South Vietnam. From his earliest memory,
KHKDGDQDI¿QLW\IRUWKHPLOLtary, but he never envisioned that
he would one day be an Army
aviator. It was while seeking an
appointment to West Point (which
never materialized), that CW5
Leone, inspired by a close friend,
and with draft notice in hand,
went to see an Army recruiter
who, with a little luck, was able
to enlist him directly into the
$UP\¶V:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5RWDU\
Wing Course. Following Basic
Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana,
&:/HRQHZHQW¿UVWWR)RUW
Wolters, Texas and then, to Fort
5XFNHU$ODEDPDZKHUHKHÀHZ
reciprocating engine training helicopters that sported rotor blades
made of wood, until, in the last
WZRPRQWKVRIWUDLQLQJKH¿QDOO\
climbed into the venerable UH-1
+XH\WKHKHOLFRSWHUKHÀHZLQ
Vietnam.
CW5 Leone arrived in Long
Binh to begin his Vietnam War
experience on Dec. 18, 1967.
Based at Camp Holloway in
3OHLNX9LHWQDPKHÀHZ³+´
model Huey helicopters in the
Central Highlands with the 170th
Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd
Combat Aviation Battalion, 17th
Aviation Group, accumulating
PRUHWKDQÀLJKWKRXUV+H
ÀHZFRPEDWDVVDXOWDQGGLUHFW
combat support missions – often
ferrying troops and supplies into
single ship landing zones. AlWKRXJKKLVDLUFUDIWUHFHLYHG¿UH
on many occasions, CW5 Leone
said he credited his skill, and a
“heck of a lot of luck” with the
fact that his aircraft was seriously
KLWE\JURXQG¿UHRQO\RQHWLPH
6RPHRIKLVÀLJKWVFKRROEXGGLHV
weren’t so lucky. He said that
perhaps as many as 10 percent of
KLVFODVVPDWHVGLHGÀ\LQJFRPEDW
missions in Vietnam. “Having
been in the [aviation] community
as long as I have been, this is
what you accept,” he said about
losing friends in combat. “It is a
tragedy, but it is real, and I just
accept the possibility as a fact of
life.”
$VD\RXQJZDUUDQWRI¿FHU
in Vietnam, CW5 Leone excluVLYHO\ÀHZKHOLFRSWHUVEXW
years later, his primary job is
serving as the 36th CAB Safety
2I¿FHUDOORZLQJKLPWKHFKDQFH
to do something equally impor-
Page 16
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
&:3DW/HRQHPDQXHYHUHGWKH$SDFKHKHOLFRSWHUWRLWVSDUNLQJVSRWDIWHUFRPSOHWLQJKLV¿QDOFRPEDWPLVVLRQLQ,UDTRQ-XQH
tant: serve Soldiers. Although he
ZDVDEOHWRÀ\WZRWRWKUHHGD\V
each week, amassing 250 hours
RIFRPEDWÀLJKWWLPHKLVODVWLQJ
legacies will be the speed bumps
installed on Texas Avenue, the
improved lighting and walkways,
DQGWKHPRUHFOHDUO\GH¿QHGURDG
crossings near Dining Facility
#4, as well as an extension to the
Apache parking ramp, which will
HQKDQFHWKHVDIHW\RIIXWXUHÀLJKW
operations there. “The speed
bumps aren’t there for the vehicles – the purpose is to protect the
thousands of pedestrians, military
and civilian alike, who live and
work at, or pass through, the several west side facilities,” he said.
Soldiers also know CW5 Leone
DVWKH³5HÀHFWLYH%HOW.LQJ´
for his diligence in enforcing the
wearing of these belts at night,
allowing Soldiers to be more easily seen, and thus reducing the
likelihood of vehicle/pedestrian
accidents.
Once the deployment is
over, CW5 Leone will return to
Granbury, Texas, where he’ll be
home to celebrate his third wedding anniversary with his wife,
Penny, in July, 2008. His family
will be happy to have him home,
and he has no plans, right now to
FRQWLQXHÀ\LQJDVDFLYLOLDQ³,
am proud to have been an Army
aviator all these years, and I just
don’t know how I’m going to feel
about not being an aviator in the
future,” he said.
He won’t be too far removed
from the aviation world, however,
as his civilian job will have him
in a cockpit – though a simulated
one – every day. CW5 Leone is
an instructor pilot with Flight
Safety International at its Fort
Worth, Texas, training center,
which provides ground and simulator training for clients from all
Page 17
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
/WR5&:0DUFXV0RRUH&:3DW/HRQH&:-DPHV1L[&RPSDQ\%VW%DWWDOLRQWK$YLDWLRQ5HJLPHQW$WWDFNDQG&DSW
:LOOLDP+RUQHU&RPSDQ\%ÀHZZLWK&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU/HRQHRQKLVODVWÀ\LQJPLVVLRQWR$U5DPDGL,UDTRQ-XQH
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
&:/HRQHFORVHVWKH$SDFKH¶VGRRUDIWHUVWHSSLQJGRZQIURPWKHDLUFUDIW+HSODQVWRUHWLUH
IURPWKHPLOLWDU\LQ2FWREHU
over the world.
He expects he will
“bump into” one or another
of the Soldiers he served
with in Iraq, to reminisce
DERXWÀ\LQJ$SDFKHVWR
retell the stories of missions
WKH\ÀHZWRJHWKHUDQGWR
talk about how they all participated in this great adventure. “The itch to be close to
the military will always be
there,” he said. “This will be
the thing that we will look
back on with a great sense
of pride and good memories.
The bad memories will fade
quickly, but the good stuff
will stick.”
Page 18
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
6KHUSDSLORWÀLHVKLVODVW
combat mission in Iraq
Story by Sgt. Amanda Solitario
210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq
– After 36 years of flying for the
United States Army, CW5 Thomas Walker had mixed emotions
as he brought his plane down for
the last time over a combat zone.
Having more than 5,000
flight hours and nearly 40 years
in the military, this graying
Soldier said he is ready to relinquish the controls for somebody
else.
“It is time to put it away,”
the Albany, Georgia native said.
“I told my wife that I wouldn’t
extend again, and I am going to
keep my promise.”
A husband and a father
of three, CW5 Walker said his
passion for soaring in the sky
still runs through his blood, but
joked that it is time to start all of
the household projects that have
been mounting over the years.
CW5 Walker is part of the
th
185 Aviation Regiment, attached to Operational Support
Airlift Command (OSACOM).
The unit has already redeployed
to the United States, and the 61year-old Vietnam veteran took
to the skies for one last combat
flight on May 6, 2007.
He said he tried not to dwell
on the fact that this mission
might be his last military flight
altogether. “I just thought about
Photo by Sgt. Amanda Solitario
&:7KRPDV:DONHU2SHUDWLRQDO6XSSRUW$LUOLIW&RPPDQG26$&20ZDYHVWRRQORRNHUV
DIWHUFRPSOHWLQJKLVODVWFRPEDWPLVVLRQÀLJKWRQ0D\
completing the mission, getting
the job done, and bringing the
crew back safely,” he said.
As the seasoned pilot made
the final descent into LSA Anaconda, members of his unit from
OSACOM waited on the landing strip to congratulate CW5
Walker and to say their farewells
to the retiring Soldier. “He has
been a tremendous asset to this
unit, and his Soldiers really look
up to him,” said Capt. Chad
Rose, the Commander of Company I, 185th Aviation Regiment,
OSACOM. “He has been a good
example to the younger Soldiers
over the years.”
When the C-23 airplane
glided gracefully to the ground,
CW5 Walker and his crew were
greeted by a fountain of water
spewed from the mouth of a fire
truck. From there, the group
moved inside for a small party.
CW5 Walker, who graduated flight school at Fort Stewart,
Georgia, in 1970, flew his first
combat mission over the jungles
of Vietnam in 1971.
During his tour, he served
with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Aviation
Brigade in Long Binh, Vietnam.
It was there that he flew the U6A “Beaver,” an aircraft capable
of transporting passengers and
cargo.
CW5 Walker said he also
Page 19
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
Photo by Sgt. Amanda Solitario
$6ROGLHUVWDQGVDWDWWHQWLRQDV&::DONHUJOLGHGKLVSODQHWKURXJKDIRXQWDLQRIZDWHUVSHZHGIURPD¿UHWUXFNWRVKRZUHVSHFWIRUKLVODVW
ÀLJKWDQG\HDUFDUHHU
served with the 221st Recon Aviation Company in Vinh Long,
Vietnam, where he flew the O-1
“Birddog,” a reconnaissance and
observation plane. Both missions
were quite different from his job
in Iraq, he said. “It’s a different
war, different times, and different tactics,” he said.
After his tour, CW5 Walker
continued to serve on active duty
until 1974. He left as a captain
and came back into the National
Guard in 1978 as a chief warrant
officer. He has been flying ever
since. “It has been a tremen-
dous opportunity,” he said of his
flying career. “I want to thank
Uncle Sam for allowing me to
fly and paying me for it.”
Before this deployment,
CW5 Walker was a senior project engineer with General Motors and expressed a desire to
return to his civilian job after retiring from the military. He also
said he would like to rejoin the
Civil Air Patrol. “I am not going to quit flying,” CW5 Walker
said. “I am going to keep doing
it somehow.”
CW5 Walker, with his
boyish smile and wire-rimmed
glasses, is showing no signs
of slowing down. It has been a
long time since that first combat flight in 1971, and the love
of the skies is still present in
his voice as he talks about being in his plane. “The appeal is
still there, the excitement is still
there, the thrill of the flight is
still there,” he said. CW5 Walker
said he has reached the height
of his career, and it is just time
for him to come down from the
clouds and enjoy his time with
the family.
Page 20
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
A moment with the chaplain...
Story by Chap. (Maj.) James Higgins
2nd Bn., 135th Aviation Regt.
&KDSODLQ¶V2I¿FH
I remember watching the
movie when I was a kid even
though I do not remember the
title. It was probably John Wayne
leaving for overseas during
World War II. His girlfriend said,
“Goodbye” and Wayne responded, “G.I.s don’t say goodbye; it’s
bad luck. We say, ‘farewell’”.
And now, it is time for another
generation of G.I.’s to say “farewell”.
I hope you are proud of what
we have done here. We have
stayed on task throughout the
training at Fort Hood, the mission here, and preparation for
redeployment. We are a part of
bringing self-determination to the
people of Iraq while protecting
our own nation from attack. One
day, Iraqi children will study the
history of their freedom and our
role in it the same way we look
at our Revolutionary War and
look at the French and Spanish.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
&KDSODLQ0DM-DPHV+LJJLQVQG%DWWDOLRQWK$YLDWLRQ5HJLPHQWWDONVZLWK6JW
$OOLVRQ-XVWLFH&RPSDQ\&VW%DWWDOLRQWK$YLDWLRQ5HJLPHQWDWWDFKHGWRQG
%DWWDOLRQWK$YLDWLRQ5HJLPHQWDW&DPS(FKRLQ$O'LZDQL\DK,UDTRQ$SULO
Hold your head high when you
go home and be proud of what we
have accomplished together.
Remembering is an important part of our adventure. We
will remember the crew of Easy
40. We will remember the time of
fun and fellowship, as well as the
times of stress and hardship. We
will remember the camaraderie
we share. We will remember that
we made a difference.
As we remember, we will
sort the good from the bad. We
will forget the sameness of the
food at the DFAC, the petty arguments with roommates, and the
noise and rudeness of neighbors.
We will remember the friends we
made, the good times shared, and
the sense of accomplishment of
fulfilling the mission.
So, it’s “farewell”. Not
goodbye. It is a small Army.
Many of us will be going back
to the same unit and will fly and
work together again. Some of us
will run into each other in future
deployments. Even if we never
see each other in this world, we
know that because of our faith,
we will see each other in the
world to come.
Farewell.
Page 21
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment wins 3rd
Quarter Aviation Maintenance Excellence Award
Story by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
WK&$%3XEOLF$IIDLUV2I¿FH
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq – The
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 131st
Aviation Regiment, earned the 36th
Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) 3rd
Quarter Aviation Maintenance Excellence Award. The award was presented by the 36th CAB Commander
Col. Vernon A. Sevier, Jr., and acting
Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Mills on
July 4, 2007.
Company D, 1st Bn., 131st Aviation Regt. is the battalion’s primary
aviation maintenance company, and
their outstanding maintenance record
from March to May, 2007, helped
earn the battalion the aviation maintenance award. Col. Sevier spoke to
the Soldiers about how great of a job
the aviation maintenance company
has done keeping aircraft in the sky.
“I knew we had a lot of smart Non
&RPPLVVLRQHG2I¿FHUVDQG6ROdiers…You guys have done some
incredible work over the past year,”
Col. Sevier said.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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Judging criteria for the aviation
award were based on the maintenance
standards set by the Forces Command
Aviation Resource Management
6XUYH\&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU'RQDOG
McDonald, the 36th CAB Aviation
0DLQWHQDQFH2I¿FHUVDLGWKHDYLDWLRQ
award required the winning unit to be
in compliance with aviation regulations, technical manuals and standard
operating procedures.
Company D’s primary mission
focus is to maintain the battalion’s 30
Blackhawk helicopters. The unit will
conduct a Relief in Place (RIP) with
the 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade
soon, and Col. Sevier stressed to the
Soldiers that the aircraft maintenance
does not end until the RIP has been
completed. “You have assembled a
great team here, but make sure you
continue to keep doing the right
things that have made you successful
and never let yourself fail the mission,” Col. Sevier said.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
VW6JW7HUU\8QGHUZRRG&RPSDQ\'VW%DWWDOLRQVW$YLDWLRQ5HJLPHQWWHOOVWKH6ROGLHUVDERXWWKHPDQ\DFFRPSOLVKPHQWVWKH
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Page 22
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment receives 3rd Quarter
Vehicle and Ground Maintenance Excellence Award
Story by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
WK&$%3XEOLF$IIDLUV2I¿FH
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq – The
1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment, earned the 36th Combat Aviation
Brigade (CAB) 3rd Quarter Vehicle
and Ground Maintenance Excellence
Award. The award was presented to
the battalion by the 36th CAB Commander Col. Vernon A. Sevier, Jr., and
Acting Brigade Command Sgt. Maj.
Jimmy Mills, on July 4, 2007.
The 1st Bn., 131st Aviation
Regt. earned the award for providing outstanding maintenance on
the battalion’s wheeled vehicles
and other ground equipment from
March to May 2007. Completing the
maintenance and playing a huge role
in helping the battalion receive the
award was Company E, 1st Bn., 131st
Aviation Regt. Leading the Soldiers’
HIIRUWVZHUH&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU
Rickey Chatman and Staff Sgt. James
Sewell, Company E, who accepted
the award from Col. Sevier.
During the awards presentation
on July 4, Col. Sevier told Soldiers
throughout the battalion that the
DYLDWRUVDQGFUHZFKLHIVZKRÀ\WKH
Blackhawk can’t get to the aircraft
without properly working ground
vehicles like the Humvees and gators.
Transporting aircraft parts and critical
equipment operations would come to
a stand-still without properly working vehicles like LMTVs and 5-tons.
Without the HEMTT fuelers, the
helicopters would not have any fuel
to conduct their daily missions. “It’s
critical you continue to do your best
here and know that you have done an
excellent job,” Col. Sevier said.
Lt. Col. Zachary Maner, the bat-
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
7KH6ROGLHUVRI&RPSDQ\(VW%DWWDOLRQVW$YLDWLRQ5HJLPHQWSURXGO\SRVHZLWKWKH
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$ZDUGSUHVHQWHGWRWKHPE\&RO9HUQRQ$6HYLHU-UWKHWK&$%&RPPDQGHURQ-XO\
talion commander, spoke about
how quickly the
maintenance
Soldiers were
DEOHWR¿[WKH
vehicles that had
been damaged
in an indirect
¿UHDWWDFNDIHZ
weeks ago. Most
of the vehicles
were mission
capable within
three hours after
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
the attack, he
&RO6HYLHUSUHVHQWVWKHWK&$%9HKLFOHDQG*URXQG0DLQWHQDQFH
said. “That was
([FHOOHQFH$ZDUGWR6WDII6JW-DPHV6HZHOO&RPSDQ\(VW%Q
an amazing feat VW$YLDWLRQ5HJWRQ-XO\
and I apprecichecklist. The maintenance program
ate everything that everyone here
uses a checklist that evaluates the
has done,” Lt. Col. Maner said. “You
inspected units based on eight Army
all have a direct impact on the unit
Regulations, three Department of
everyday.”
the Army Pamphlets, the individual
The unit received the award for
equipment Technical Manuals and a
having the highest rated score on the
th
pair of general Technical Manuals.
36 CAB’s Maintenance Program
Page 23
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
First unit to deploy with 36th Combat Aviation Brigade
heads home after Transfer of Authority Ceremony
Story by Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
WK&$%3XEOLF$IIDLUV2I¿FH
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq
±7KH¿UVWXQLWWRGHSOR\ZLWK
the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade
(CAB) is now headed home after
serving proudly in Iraq for nearly
12 months. The 1st Battalion, 149th
Aviation Regiment (Attack), 36th
CAB, transferred the Multi National Corps-Iraq attack reconnaissance mission to the 2nd Battalion,
159th Aviation Regiment (Attack),
12th Combat Aviation Brigade, during a Transfer of Authority (TOA)
Ceremony at Hardened Aircraft
Shelter 10 at LSA Anaconda on
July 8, 2007.
More than 50 Soldiers were
in attendance to watch Lt. Col.
Richard Adams and Command
Sgt. Maj. Lorenzo Rodriguez, 1st
Bn., 149th Aviation Regt. (Attack)
case their battalion Colors and Lt.
Col. Kevin Christensen and Command Sgt. Maj. William Sheen, 2nd
Bn., 159th Aviation Regt. (Attack)
unfurl their Colors during the TOA
ceremony.
Presiding over the ceremony
was the 36th Combat Aviation
Brigade Commander Col. Vernon
A. Sevier, Jr. He listed the notable achievements 1st Bn., 149th
Aviation Regt. (Attack) has made
during their 11-month plus deployment in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom 06-08. The battalion has
ÀRZQPRUHWKDQFRPEDW
hours and conducted more than
2,000 missions. “Statistics are not
our method…what mattered was
the quality and the responsiveness
of support to ground customers.
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
/W&RO5LFKDUG$GDPVDQG&RPPDQG6JW0DM/RUHQ]R5RGULJXH]VW%DWWDOLRQWK
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The 1st Bn., 149th Aviation Regt.
has executed their mission here
without a lot of fanfare in bringLQJWKH¿JKWWRWKHHQHP\7KH\
DUHGH¿QLWHO\TXLHWSURIHVVLRQDOV´
Col. Sevier said.
Next to speak was Lt. Col.
$GDPV+H¿UVWFDOOHGXSWRWKH
podium Command Sgt. Maj. Rodriguez. The battalion had seven
Vietnam War veterans serve in
Iraq, and he thanked Command
Sgt. Maj. Rodriguez for his service
to the nation. “He didn’t come
home [from Vietnam] to the kind
of welcome home we’re going to
get. When we get home, I’m going to make sure you get a proper
welcome home. You are coming
home to a nation that loves you,”
Page 24
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
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Lt. Col. Adams said to Command.
Sgt. Maj. Rodriguez.
Lt. Col. Adams also echoed
Col. Sevier’s remarks in that numbers are not the standard to judge
how well a unit does in combat and
that mission accomplishment is the
measure. His battalion awarded
seven Distinguished Flying Crosses, almost 40 Air Medals with Valor, more than 100 Air Medals and
103 Combat Action Badges. “A lot
of people talk, few are ready for
‘the day’,” he said. “The warriors
of the 1st Bn., 149th Aviation Regt.
have been up for ‘the day’ for the
past 18 months, which includes 11
months in combat; you guys mean
the world to me.”
The two battalions have spent
the past two weeks conducting
“left seat, right seat” operations.
This allows the incoming unit to
train with the outgoing unit in all
areas of the mission they have
been tasked to do. Lt. Col. Adams
told Lt. Col. Christensen that he
thought the “Gun Slingers”, the 2nd
July 23, 2007
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Bn., 159th Aviation
Regt., were ready.
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and you are ready,”
he said.
Once Lt. Col.
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speech, Lt. Col.
Christensen took the
microphone, signaling the 2nd Bn.,
159th Aviation Regt.
had taken over the
MNC-I mission. Lt.
Col. Christensen
addressed the Soldiers of the 1st Bn.,
Photo by Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
149th Aviation Regt. /W&RO.HYLQ&KULVWHQVHQDQG&RPPDQG6JW0DM:LOOLDP
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ful for the way you
have trained us and received us
Regt. will now redeploy back to
– we are a better team for what we Fort Hood, Texas, for demobilizahave learned from the 1st Bn., 149th tion, and then return to their home
Aviation Regt., “Lt. Col. Chrisstates. The battalion’s Headquartensen said.
ters are located at Ellington Field,
The 1st Bn., 149th Aviation
in Houston, Texas.
Page 25
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
July 23, 2007
A Job Well Done!
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Page 26
July 23, 2007
36th CAB Awards for June 2007
Awards for July 2007
HHC, 36th CAB
Staff Sgt. Robert Bartmier, ARCOM
Sgt. Eryn Chenevert, ARCOM
Staff Sgt. Faydra Collier, ARCOM
Spc. Jake Kemp, ARCOM
Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick, ARCOM
Spc. Kimberly Larrick, AAM
Maj. Jeffrey Long, CAB
Staff Sgt. Jorge Rodriguez, AAM
Capt. Brian Schumann, CAB
1st Bn., 108th Aviation Regt.
Sgt. Michael Bailey, ARCOM
Spc. Thomas Bean, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU0DUN%UDJJ$5&20
Sgt. Brian Butcher, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5\DQ%XWOHU$5&20
Spc. Jason Drayer, ARCOM
1st Lt. Jeremy Eubanks, ARCOM
Spc. Gaberial Figueroa, AM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-DPHV)XQN$5&20
Spc. Ivan Gomez, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5REHUW+DPPRQ$0
1st Lt. David Janney, ARCOM
Capt. Russell Jones, ARCOM
Sgt. Justin Kaub, AM
Sgt. James Kristinat, AM
Staff Sgt. Derron Lindsey, AM
Sgt. Mark Madsen, ARCOM
Sgt. Heath Martin, AM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-RKQ0DWWVRQ$5&20
Master Sgt. Edward Monteith, AM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5DQG\0RQWKHL&$%
Sgt. Steven Nesbit, AM, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU%UDQG\1LFKROV$0
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU$UPRQ3ROODFN$0&$%
:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-XVWLQ3RZHUV&$%
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU3DWULFN5H\QROGV$0
CAB
Sgt. Kevin Rinke, CAB
Spc. Omar Sanchez, ARCOM
Staff Sgt. Jay Sobtzak, ARCOM
Sgt. Anthony Vancannon, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-RHG\9DQYHO]HQ$5&20
:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5LFKDUG9LFNHUV$0$5&20
CAB
Sgt. Paul Wendzel, ARCOM
Staff Sgt. Ricky Williams, ARCOM
1st Bn., 131st Aviation Regt.
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU7LPRWK\$UFKHU&$%
Spc. Nathan Bennett, CAB
Sgt. Constance Davidson, CAB
Sgt. Robert Hunt, CAB
Sgt. Elliott Jones, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU'RQDOG0DFJUHJRU&$%
1st Lt. Christopher Meztista, CAB
Staff Sgt. Albert Nelson, CAB
Capt. Bryan Pike, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-DPHV3RWH&$%
Sgt. Dustin Rollins, CAB
Staff Sgt. Sandy Smith, CAB
1st Lt. Israel Summers, CAB
1st Lt. Chadd Tillman, CAB
Sgt. Johnathan Watson, CAB
1st Bn., 149th Aviation Regt.
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU'HUHN$ERWW$5&20
Staff Sgt. Vincent Andrews, CAB
Sgt. German Ayala, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU%DURQ%XUNHV$5&20
Spc. Jesse Butler, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU6WDQOH\&DOGZHOO&$%
1st Lt. Ernest Carlson, ARCOM
2nd Lt. Derek Carrol, CAB
Staff Sgt. Jacob Carter, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5REHUW(GZDUGV$09
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-RKQ)HIROW$5&20
1st Lt. Charles Fuller, AMV
Sgt. James Fulton, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU1LFKRODV*RGGDUG
ARCOM
Sgt. Mark Hall, CAB
:DUUDQW2I¿FHU1LFKRODV+DUS$5&20
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU)UHGULF+HHU$5&20
Sgt. Christopher Hill, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-DFRE+LOO$09
Staff Sgt. Larry Humphrey, CAB
Staff Sgt. Walter Jackson, ARCOM
Staff Sgt. Brian Johnson, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5RQDOG/HRQDUG$5&20
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU7UHQWRQ/HZLV$5&20
Sgt. Victor Matus, CAB
1st Lt. Brian Meadows, ARCOM
Staff Sgt. James Moore, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU0DUFXV0RRUH$5&20
Capt. Scott Nicholas, AM
Staff Sgt. Ernesto Nieves, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU%ODLQH2XEUH&$%
Staff Sgt. John Pantaleo, CAB
Sgt. 1st Class George Raines, CAB
Sgt. Michel Ratts, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU6WHYHQ5HHVH$5&20
CAB
2nd Lt. Stacy Rostorfer, ARCOM, AMV
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU'DYLG5XVVHOO&$%
1st Lt. Matthew Salo, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU&KULVWRSKHU6PLWK
ARCOM
Spc. Kenon Smith, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5REHUW6WDF\$5&20
CAB
Capt. Randall Stillinger, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU'HDQ6WRQQHU$0&$%
Pfc. William Timmons, ARCOM
1st Lt. Joshua Trapp, ARCOM, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU5RQDOG7\KXUVW&$%
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-DPHV:DOWUHVV&$%
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU*OHQ:HEE&$%
1st Lt. William Webster, ARCOM, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-RVHSK:HHNV&$%
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-DPHV:HOFK$5&20
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU:LOOLDP:KLWH$5&20
CAB
Sgt. Ricky Williams, CAB
Capt. Rawn Wilson, CAB
Capt. Jack Windes, CAB
Capt. Travis Young, CAB
Sgt. Fernando Zamudio, CAB
Sgt. Jason Zeliadt. CAB
2nd Bn., 135th Aviation Regt.
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU3DXO$GDPVRQ$0
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU6FRWW$OOHQ&$%
Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Carrillo, AM
Sgt. Brian Carver, AMV
Staff Sgt. Patricia Clodfelder, CAB
Staff Sgt. Russell Clodfelder, CAB
Sgt. Brian Cooper, AM
Sgt. Jeffry Dixon, CAB
Master Sgt. Mark Ehrle, CAB
Pfc. Neville Escribano, AM
Sgt. 1st Class Brady Fowler, AM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU'DYLG*DWHV$0
Staff Sgt. Matthew Giorgio, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-DVRQ*RGZLQ&$%
Staff Sgt. Brett Graveline, AM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU&XUWLV+DWKFRFN$0
Sgt. Daniel Hicks, AM
Sgt. Larry Johnson, AM
Capt. Robert Lathrop, CAB
Pfc. Jose Martinez, CAB
Sgt. Ryan Mathisrud, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU/OR\G1HOVRQ&$%
Sgt. Joshua Olson, AM
Sgt. 1st Class Tomas Ortiz, AM
Spc. William Pace, AM
Spc. Evan Premer, CAB
1st Lt. Thomas Renfroe, AM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU/DQFH5REE&$%
1st Lt. Wyatt Smith, CAB
Sgt. 1st Class Mark Swedeen, AM
Capt. Micah Tebbs, AM
Staff Sgt. Edwin Thompson, AM
Pvt. Mariano Torres, AM
Staff Sgt. Keith Turner, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU6FRWW8SWRQ&$%
Staff Sgt. Barry Urtel, AM
Staff Sgt. Robert Wilson, CAB
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU-DVRQ:ULJKW$0
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU6FRWW=DVNH$0
449th ASB
Sgt. Jason Greskoviak, CAB
Staff Sgt. Matthew Hehemann, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU'DYLG:LOOULFK&$%
OSACOM
Maj. Troy Harrison, ARCOM
Maj. Matthew Jordan, ARCOM
&KLHI:DUUDQW2I¿FHU'DYLG:LOOLDPV$5&20
Awards Legend
AM: Air Medal
AMV: Air Medal With Valor
ARCOM: Army Commendation Medal
CAB: Combat Action Badge
Page 27
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHU
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHUwelcomes, columns, commentaries, articles
and letters from our readers. Send submissions or comments to Staff
Sgt. Lorin T. Smith at [email protected] or
[email protected] reserve the right to edit for security,
accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space.
July 23, 2007
36th CAB Commander: Col. Vernon A. Sevier, Jr.
36th CAB CSM: Command Sgt. Maj. Glenn L. Peterson
36th CAB PAO: Maj. Gregory T. O’Connor
36th CAB PAO NCOIC: Staff Sgt. R.A. Steele
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHUEditor: Staff Sgt. Lorin T. Smith
7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHUis an authorized publication for members of
the U.S. Army. Contents of 7KH0XVWDQJ/HDGHUare not necessarily
RI¿FLDOYLHZVRIRUHQGRUVHGE\WKH86*RYHUQPHQW'HSDUWPHQW
of Defense, Department of the Army or the 36th Combat Aviation
Brigade. It is published monthly by the 36th CAB Public Affairs
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