Great Americans
We got back to Besmaya on December 6th, having been gone for about 10 days. The 1st Cav cancelled our air movement so we had to convoy across Baghdad and the bad-lands in up-armored HMMWVs.
The convoy team, “Rough Riders”, did a fantastic job and ensured we arrived safe and sound. The cross country ride gave me a ground view of the neighborhoods I fly over so often. And yes, it looks as if God has forsaken these poor people. Let’s pray He has not.
The Rough Riders are led by good friends of mine, Captain Nelson and First Sergeant Hogendorn. They trained with my team when we were back in the states. My TC (vehicle
commander) was SFC Findley. SFC Findley was in my battalion and is one of my favorite Soldiers of all times. It was good to know my old friend was in charge of my ride. Our convoy was commanded by 1LT Shields. Captain Kangaroo and 1LT Shields are from the same unit back in Texas. They were cross-leveled to the 108th Division (my unit) for this deployment. 1LT Shields is a SUPERIOR officer and gave us the most detailed Mission Briefing that I’ve had since Ranger School. He covered every contingency, reviewed SOPs and made sure that each of us (Cherries) knew our places if the stuff hit the fan. Here is 1LT Shields giving us our brief: 
You know, every time I ride on a Black Hawk or observe our young Soldiers, like 1LT Shields, in action, I wonder in amazement. How could any country think they could do combat with us? Our young guys and gals, most just a few years out of high school, do the most technical and dangerous jobs with near perfection. They maintain and operate the most high tech avionics, communications, and weaponry in the world. They do jobs that command top dollar in the civilian sector for less than you would believe in the Army. And, I feel safer on a Black Hawk maintained and flown by a bunch of 25 year olds than I do in a 757 maintained and flown by a bunch of 50 year olds making five times more money. Our kids are MAGNIFICENT!
Because of my rank, whenever I get on a Black Hawk (and when I rode with the Rough Riders) I’m always offered a CVC (commo head set) so that I can talk and listen to the crew. Amazing…you should hear the exchanges. These guys (pilot and crew) constantly ribbing and teasing one another - all the while entertaining me, monitoring and calling in on two separate frequencies, communicating with the other bird, monitoring instruments, manning machine guns, and watching with eagle eyes for possible threats. As calmly and relaxed as a walk in the park. Oh, by the way, all this happens as they chew on beef jerky and drink Gatorade at 200 MPH, in black-out drive (total darkness) at 500 ft. AGL (above ground level). No sweat.
I watch these kids do their thing and it moves me. You can’t tell them how proud you are of them because they’d just blow it off. Really, to them it is nothing. They’re good, and they know it! What a privilege to serve with these great Americans. I wish you could see them in action.
We got back to Besmaya on December 6th, having been gone for about 10 days. The 1st Cav cancelled our air movement so we had to convoy across Baghdad and the bad-lands in up-armored HMMWVs.
The convoy team, “Rough Riders”, did a fantastic job and ensured we arrived safe and sound. The cross country ride gave me a ground view of the neighborhoods I fly over so often. And yes, it looks as if God has forsaken these poor people. Let’s pray He has not.The Rough Riders are led by good friends of mine, Captain Nelson and First Sergeant Hogendorn. They trained with my team when we were back in the states. My TC (vehicle
commander) was SFC Findley. SFC Findley was in my battalion and is one of my favorite Soldiers of all times. It was good to know my old friend was in charge of my ride. Our convoy was commanded by 1LT Shields. Captain Kangaroo and 1LT Shields are from the same unit back in Texas. They were cross-leveled to the 108th Division (my unit) for this deployment. 1LT Shields is a SUPERIOR officer and gave us the most detailed Mission Briefing that I’ve had since Ranger School. He covered every contingency, reviewed SOPs and made sure that each of us (Cherries) knew our places if the stuff hit the fan. Here is 1LT Shields giving us our brief: 
You know, every time I ride on a Black Hawk or observe our young Soldiers, like 1LT Shields, in action, I wonder in amazement. How could any country think they could do combat with us? Our young guys and gals, most just a few years out of high school, do the most technical and dangerous jobs with near perfection. They maintain and operate the most high tech avionics, communications, and weaponry in the world. They do jobs that command top dollar in the civilian sector for less than you would believe in the Army. And, I feel safer on a Black Hawk maintained and flown by a bunch of 25 year olds than I do in a 757 maintained and flown by a bunch of 50 year olds making five times more money. Our kids are MAGNIFICENT!
Because of my rank, whenever I get on a Black Hawk (and when I rode with the Rough Riders) I’m always offered a CVC (commo head set) so that I can talk and listen to the crew. Amazing…you should hear the exchanges. These guys (pilot and crew) constantly ribbing and teasing one another - all the while entertaining me, monitoring and calling in on two separate frequencies, communicating with the other bird, monitoring instruments, manning machine guns, and watching with eagle eyes for possible threats. As calmly and relaxed as a walk in the park. Oh, by the way, all this happens as they chew on beef jerky and drink Gatorade at 200 MPH, in black-out drive (total darkness) at 500 ft. AGL (above ground level). No sweat.
I watch these kids do their thing and it moves me. You can’t tell them how proud you are of them because they’d just blow it off. Really, to them it is nothing. They’re good, and they know it! What a privilege to serve with these great Americans. I wish you could see them in action.
posted by AWE, COL, USA | 12:10 AM
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