Posted on 02/17/2006 3:26:20 PM PST by SandRat
2/17/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- The lives of four women and their convoy team changed forever Dec. 5.
They were ambushed that night. Insurgents from a village outside of Balad Air Base, Iraq, fired on the convoy, injuring two as they drove back to the base.
Airman First Class Nicole O’Hara, a convoy gunner deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va., said it was “just a normal convoy” when the day started.
Coming back to the base was when things got hairy. Airman O’Hara was manning her 50-caliber weapon.
“I saw all these tracers and I saw tracers coming back at us. I turned my turret more to the left and started laying down suppressive fire so the rest of us and the convoy could get out of the kill zone,” she said.
But before they could get out of the zone, two of the civilian truck drivers in the convoy were shot. Airman First Class Charity Trueblood, a Humvee driver that night, drove up to one of the injured men’s trucks, which was engulfed in flames.
“When we halt the convoy and we get up there to him, he’s been hit,” Airman Trueblood said. “He’s been hit in the shoulder, and it’s a clean entry wound, clean exit wound. We provide security, the truck catches on fire. We tried to put it out to no avail. I did (Combat Life Saver) from there on out, and applied pressure to the wound.”
That night represents the Airmen’s worst memories of their deployments, but ironically, one their best memories as well.
“I was glad that (the truck driver) was OK,” said Airman Trueblood, who is deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. “Another good day for me was that I got to see him again. We were reunited and I got to meet him officially this time and see how he was doing. He’s doing fine. It’s a good thing.”
“When you come home and everyone’s safe, every day is your best day,” Airman O’Hara said.
Staff Sergeant Charnetta McDonald and Senior Airman Candi Laury, both from Patrick AFB, Fla., were also on the convoy that night. Their memories of running convoys on some of the world’s most dangerous highways can’t really be fully explained to friends and families back home.
“You can’t always explain everything to people,” Sergeant McDonald said. “It’s an understanding they have to find on their own. I can sit and explain all day long how important my job is and how important everybody’s job is over here, but to fully understand how important it is, they’d actually have to be here.”
Airman Laury said she’s proud to serve her country in Iraq and hopes her family can relate.
“It’s what we’re proud to do, and that’s why we wear these uniforms,” she said. “So hopefully (in the future) my kids can understand what we do and why we’re over here.”
Another aspect of their deployment for these four Airmen is the sisterhood that developed.
“We do get at each other at times, because we’re always with each other and we never get a break,” Airman Laury said.
Sergeant McDonald said she wouldn’t run with any other crew.
“I couldn’t have asked to work with a better group of people. Everybody looks out for each other,” she said.
“They’re awesome,” Airman Trueblood said. “We have a very fun, energetic crew. Lots of spirit, lots of character. Definitely lots of character.”
Airman Laury said it’s essential to have that close trust.
“The love and caring for each other; you just have to have that. Because if you don’t, what do you have?”
WOMEN WARRIORS!!!!
bttt Charity Trublood. (I love that name!)
Be still within me, My beating heart.
Airman First Class Charity Trueblood, a Humvee driver that night, drove up to one of the injured men’s trucks, which was engulfed in flames.
And who says women can't fight?
Why the arabs of course (:
They all did fantastic. More of America's finest!!
Oh man, what a great name. Charity Trueblood. I love it!
Performance, not gender, is what counts and that's PERFORMANCE!!!
Female Airmen are great--and I am a little partial to Airmen (see my tagline)
YOU ARE INVINCIBLE! GO USAF! I'm so proud of these young USAF women....you all ROCK! We are all praying for your safe return, too.
AIM HIGH!
Tuerblood = Trueblood
Thanks for the ping - great photos and articles!
Thanks for this SandRat. God Bless this Airman's LITTLE SISTERS. They did an excellent job.
A woman with a .50 cal... I think I'm in love!
BTT
Sounds like a name from an old time novel. The heroin who comes through to save the Mountie.
Paws off--I got dibs First! [heh-heh, just kidding of course]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.