Reply #30: Just my view [View All]

[Herkdrvr]

Reading these threads, I'm not smiling when people make a joke or political hay about what I personally do while deployed overseas. We airlift many things, from routine (tires, construction supplies, etc) to very important things such as wounded soldiers/civilians, medical supplies, troops coming home and the remains of those who have fallen.

You may think it's something to joke about and sneer about. But personally, whether or not I feel the war is a political mess (it is), the mission of the military airlift in the Middle East is one that saves lives, bottom line. Whether it's saving them directly (ie, aeromedical airlift) or saving them indirectly (delivering supplies on time and saving drivers from having to do it), I'm very glad I get the chance to do it.

Just to let you know, it's not "safe" flying out there. No, it's not the same as being an infantryman in Ramadi either. But to date I've personally watched two IR missiles tracking my aircraft. I've seen small arms muzzle fire that I couldn't really tell if it was directed at us or not many, many times. I've been rolling down the runway at airfields before while the base got mortared. So far I haven't had this problem, but many of my friends have been bunker diving while rounds landed on the ramp. Thankfully our aircraft are equipped to defeat the threats, and our crews are trained to react successfully.