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Decorated Vietnam vet back at war
Air Force Links ^
| Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen
Posted on 08/15/2006 5:48:39 PM PDT by SandRat
by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
8/15/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- It may be surprising to hear that the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing has a Vietnam era Purple Heart recipient working at the wing.
It is even more surprising to hear that the combat veteran is actually a C-130 Hercules deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
On the flight deck of aircraft 63-7865 is a plaque telling the story of one of the hardest working aircraft in the Air Force inventory.
According to the certificate, on June 1, 1972, the aircraft was assigned to the 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan, when it took a mortar round through engine No. 3 while sitting on the flightline on Kontum Air Base, Vietnam.
After a maintenance recovery team replaced the engine, the aircraft was once again ready to fly. But just as the pilot Lt. Col. Lyn Mulkey taxied the C-130 for takeoff, the new engine failed to start, forcing a three-engine takeoff. Despite taking even more incoming mortar rounds that punctured the wings and inflicted heavy damage to its other engines, the colonel got the aircraft airborne.
The war-torn C-130 could only reach 1,000 feet due to its damage and had to make an emergency landing at Plieku Air Base, Vietnam, where it was determined that the combat aircraft would need two new wings and four engines replaced.
To many in the air mobility community, it is stories like this that verify why the C-130 is known as the workhorse of tactical airlift. It has proven itself for years and continues to be leaned upon heavily in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
"It's just an awesome aircraft," said Chief Master Sgt. Clement McGrath, superintendent of the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, who is deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. "It can go anywhere at any time, and it's been everywhere around the world."
The aircraft's crew chief here wasn't surprised when he saw the plaque.
"This just shows the reliability of these aircraft," said Staff Sgt. Tim Stahn, who is deployed from Ramstein AB. "Three quarters of the C-130s we have here are from the early '60s and served in Vietnam, and they're still going strong today."
Although it is probably not the only one in existence, no one in the squadron can recall seeing another Purple Heart for an aircraft.
"It's the only one I've ever seen," said Chief McGrath, who has been a maintainer for 29 years. "It's very impressive for sure."
The aircraft's history is not limited to the Vietnam era either. It once again proved its meddle a few years ago when it flew through an ice storm over Europe, according to Sergeant Stahn.
"There are some dents up front, but that's all you can really see from it," said the six-year Air Force crew chief, who is familiar with the aircraft from his home station. "It sure is a tough one."
The decoration is also a tribute to the maintenance crews who continually get the aircraft ready to go on a daily basis in 120-plus degree heat.
"Sure it's hard to keep aircraft that are 40-plus years old flying," Sergeant Stahn said, "but it sure beats working on a computer."
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aviation; back; c130; combat; decorated; iraq; ramstein; supplylines; usaf; vet; vietnam; vietnamwar; war
1
posted on
08/15/2006 5:48:42 PM PDT
by
SandRat
To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
Not the Pilot! The PLANE!!!
2
posted on
08/15/2006 5:49:08 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: SandRat
It once again proved its meddle Meddle - to interest oneself in what is not one's concern : interfere without right or propriety
Mettle - vigor and strength of spirit or temperament : staying quality : stamina
Come on, Staff Sergeant Hansen, you're an Air Force NCO for Pete's sake. Of course - it's real possible your LT did the final proof on it...so that's a break for you.
3
posted on
08/15/2006 6:29:19 PM PDT
by
Tennessee_Bob
("Those who "abjure" violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.")
To: SandRat
I was an air traffic controller during my career in the AF and of all the aircraft I worked in the Rapcon and the tower, the C-130 was my favorite. It could do anything you asked it to do. I remember working one in the pattern over Berlin and he needed to make a tight turn to final to fit inside another aircraft. I gave it a 185 degree turn to final, rolled out perfectly on course. Supervisor didn't like it but the pilot was happy even if during the turn his wings were almost perpendicular to the ground. Hellova airplane!!
4
posted on
08/15/2006 6:30:51 PM PDT
by
ops33
(Retired USAF Senior Master Sergeant)
To: SandRat
"Sure it's hard to keep aircraft that are 40-plus years old flying," Sergeant Stahn said, "but it sure beats working on a computer." Having done both - well, my aircraft were younger - either one beats the living hell out of one I'm doing now. Working customer service sucks, but it pays the bill, and beats living under a bridge.
5
posted on
08/15/2006 6:33:46 PM PDT
by
Tennessee_Bob
("Those who "abjure" violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.")
To: SandRat
One of only two planes I ever felt 100% safe flying, the C141 is the other. When Southwest gets C141's I'll consider flying again.
6
posted on
08/15/2006 6:37:06 PM PDT
by
Feckless
(En Temps)
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