Posted on 08/19/2005 4:33:33 PM PDT by SandRat
AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 19, 2005) -- The Gunrunners of Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 have transferred their mission to the Warriors of HML/A-167. The squadron will soon return to Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C., after six months deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“It’s an honor to be part of the history of Iraq,” said Cpl. Chris J. Henderson, HML/A-269 administrative clerk and Baton Rouge, La., native. “We had a mission set out for us before coming out here and we accomplished it in a way that makes our unit proud.”
With only half of their personnel deployed here, the unit supported operations out of Al Asad, Camp Al Qaim and Camp Korean Village, and flew more than 5,000 combat flight-hours in over 3,100 combat sorties.
“This is one of my best deployments,” said Sgt. Maj. Carl H. Rodriguez, HML/A 269 sergeant major and Boston native. “A lot was accomplished and shows that everyone was qualified for it. From the mechanics to the Marines in the ‘S’ shops they all did a superb job.”
While the aircraft mechanics worked more than 84,000 maintenance man-hours keeping the AH-1W Super Cobras and UH-1N Hueys running, the Marines in the staff sections, generally referred to as the ‘S’ shops, supported the unit by providing everything from combat intelligence to daily mail runs.
“My hat goes off to the mail clerks,” said Rodriguez. “Give a Marine hot chow, cold water, some sleep and mail and they’re ready to roll. These Marines don’t ask for much.”
This was demonstrated while detachments from the unit worked at Camp Al Qaim and Camp Korean Village. With limited equipment and facilities, the mechanics continued to keep the aircraft working properly, sometimes using night vision goggles to conduct maintenance in the middle of the night.
“It amazes me that these Marines did a lot of heavy duty jobs in expeditionary ways without any of the equipment or ‘luxuries’ they usually have,” said Rodriguez. “They performed superbly and made me extremely proud.”
Sergeant Travis W. Storie, aviation ordnance line chief and Abingdon, Va., native, said the deployment provided the junior Marines with valuable experience that will help them throughout their upcoming years in the Corps. “Instead of working toward fast-paced operations they got thrown into them right off the bat and had to learn a lot quicker,” he said.
The Gunrunners achieved two milestones during their stay here; they exceeded 50,000 class ‘A’ mishap-free total flight-hours and celebrated their 34th anniversary as a Marine light/attack helicopter squadron. They leave knowing their hard work made a difference in the lives of many Iraqi citizens.
“We’re happy to see the Iraqi people getting the same freedoms that we as Americans enjoy,” said Henderson. “These people were denied many human rights and thanks to the efforts of the United States and the coalition forces they’re able to have these rights back.”
Known among Marine light/attack helicopter squadrons as “the first and the finest,” HML/A-269 is commanded by Lt. Col. Joseph M. Jeffrey III, a Super Cobra pilot from Hueytown, Ala.
- For more information about the Marines reported on in this story, please contact Sgt. Juan Vara by e-mail at varaj@acemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil -
MARINE PING
Bump-er-roo!
BTTT!!!!!
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