Air Force Reserve cargo plane hauls memories, lightens load for one Airman

Published Sept. 7, 2010
By Capt. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Now that Labor Day has come and gone and Football season is ready for kickof, I can't help but to reflect upon my summer vacation, which I believe embodies the esprit de corps of hard-working Americans in the truest sense, and includes a winning, all-star American team.

It all started when I tried to hail a cab in the middle of the desert during my deployment to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, which ended this summer.

What the desert lacks in this part of the world in the form of a cab company, it makes up for in its searing hot skies. On any given day, U.S. Air Force aircraft buzz the sky lanes with the likes of New York City street traffic to fly, fight and win, which is their motto, in air, space and cyberspace.

As an Air Force public affairs officer deployed to this part of the world, I, and all of my colleagues who were also deployed to Central Command's 27-country area of responsibility, had an important meeting to attend with the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force Director of Public Affairs, Col. Les Kodlik, who traveled all the way from the Pentagon to meet with us.

After our three-day meeting, we public affairs professionals dispersed back to our respective units throughout the theater of war operations - heading back to Afghanistan, Iraq and all the surrounding countries.

Mostly everyone had made it without incident because of frequent Air Force air traffic heading to and fro their respective locations, except for me.

Due to the important work the Air Force was doing, I was bumped from several flights that were loaded down with vital equipment to support the troops, and one mission which was diverted for a medical evacuation of wounded service members.

After three days of being stranded and moving from country to country, I was tired. I leaned upon my camouflaged backpack in the large drab circus-tent like air terminal wearily waiting, until finally a flight was going my way. Eventually, I boarded a bus, which took me to my ride.

The bus passed many different aircraft from many different countries as we moved down the military flightline, but when we finally stopped at the one that would be taking me back to my deployed home unit, my eyes lit up and I was wide awake with excitement.

This aircraft was not only a pirate ship, but an old familiar friend.

The C-130 Hercules was emblazoned with a colorful and skillfully painted Pittsburgh Pirates' baseball team mural. The mural on the aircraft' s nose was literally a ship sailing upon the sea under the moonlight with the Pirates' logo waving on one its sails. Hoards of baseballs were being fired from canons positioned on the painted ship's side.

The aircraft was from the Air Force Reserve's 911th Airlift Wing at Pittsburgh International Airport, Pa; a place where I spent 15 years as an Air Force Reservist earning my stripes as a prior enlisted Airman. I wrote many news and feature stories on the men and women there who helped shape my career and life.

For the past few months, the crew on this ship had been running missions in and out of U.S. air bases supporting the drawdown in Iraq and the build-up in Afghanistan. Not only are they a group of six skilled professionals, they are old friends and fellow Citizen Airmen or Air Force Reservists.

Seeing their friendly faces and the familiar cargo aircraft hauled in a ton of good memories for me of my time growing up in the Air Force Reserve. Running in to them was the biggest highlight of my six-month overseas deployment.

Seeing them while I was so far away from home made me realize how all veterans throughout the last 4 decades of wars must have felt when this same 40-year-old workhorse, brought in loads of much-needed supplies, or flew in to take them home.

Like a big, gray elephant, it sat there in the open with its steel coat absorbing the heat of the desert sunrays like a tin can. It reminded me of a beehive as trucks pulled up to it and people were buzzing all around it filling it with stuff.

As I walked toward it toting my backpack and camera, which are common tools of military public affairs Airman, I beamed with pride when I saw the familiar gold band painted across its tail. The banner depicted its roots of a steel town with a hearty work ethic and friendly people. The words Pittsburgh scrawled in black over the flash of yellow, represents not only a great city, but one of team pride as well as charisma, charm and cultural diversity. A city I call home.

The team pride that was exhibited by the aircraft was also exhibited by its crew members. Like me, they were deployed far away from their families, which is why our chance meeting was Herculean to me. Seeing them raised my spirits.

Team Pittsburgh spent the Spring and early part of the Summer running supplies in support of the ground battle in Marjah, Afghanistan and elsewhere delivering vital assets, ground equipment and personnel - anything and everything needed to support the war. I was their cargo on this particular day and glad of it.

When they invited me to sit with them on the flight deck on the trip back to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing where I was deployed to, I was elated. The Pittsburgh paraphernalia peppered throughout the flying Pirate ship made me grin. I was especially psyched to know as we flew over Southwest Asia, Pittsburgh spirit could be seen brightening the miles of desolation waving its "terrible" yellow tail banner.

Besides me and other service members trying to get somewhere, the crew took fuel bladders, aircraft parts, patients, working dogs, vehicles and you name it, during their four-month deployment.

About one month after running into them, I received an email from them. They were heading my way. I ran out to meet them when they landed on our flightline carrying a box of chocolate bars leftover from a care package that someone couldn't finish. As a thank you, they presented me with a special coin depicting their unit and of course more Pittsburgh esprit de corps.

Another month later, they emailed again. They were scheduled to drop equipment off in Iraq, then come to my deployed location again. I was all set to take more treats, but they arrived early and as I accessed the landing strip, they were lifting off. I watched them fly away with sadness. That was their last mission before heading back home to the steel city.

I was very disappointed I missed them, but my friends can be proud of their support for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, as well as their Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa support. They made an impact during several military milestones in the world's history.

They are credited with hauling 2,700 passengers and 600 tons of cargo, some of which were bandage missions or medical evacuations of injured troops.

Not only did they contribute a lot to the war effort, they lightened my load by hauling me.

I haven't spoken to them since I've returned back home to the 920th Rescue Wing here in Florida, but Team Pittsburgh and America should be proud of these heroes. Hopefully, they are celebrating Labor Day to the fullest and have had time to reflect on the incredible labor they put into supporting Americans everywhere - the largest labor pool I know.

They are: Capt Steven Bear (aircraft commander from Crescent, Pa.); Maj. Ian Primosch (copilot from the Southside of Pittsburgh, Pa.); Lt. Col. Randy Johns (navigator from Beaver, Pa.); Senior Master Sgt. Marshall Martindale (flight engineer from Robinson Township, Pa.); Master Sgt. Mark Weber (loadmaster from Aliquippa, Pa.); and Master Sgt. John Metcalf (loadmaster from Montgomery, Ala.).

They are Team Pittsburgh; America's team. And they are home now.

Thanks guys and thanks to all servicemembers and civilians serving overseas. I wish you all my best and Godspeed for getting back to your families.