Spring 2000 Photo by TSgt. Todd Cramer, 179th Airlift Wing Survival of the fittest Readying himself to parasail, Michigan Adjutant General Maj. Gen. E. Gordon Stump participates in Century Shark 2000, a combat water survival exercise for C-130 aircrew members of the Ohio, Michigan and Missouri Guard. For more, see pages 14-15. Contents IGUARD Spring2000 Volume 24, No. 2 FEATURES 7 The Hawk has landed The Buckeye Guard is published quarterly by Company A, 1-137th Assault the Public Affairs Office, Ohio Adjutant General's Department, 2825 W. Dublin Helicopter Battalion, gains Granville Road, Columbus, Ohio 43235-2789, 'Black Hawk' helicopters to (614) 336·7000. The views and opinions meet dual mission tasking. expressed in the Buckeye Guard are not necessarily those of the Departments of the Army and Air Force or the Adjutant General of 1 0 Living the Dream Ohio. The Buckeye Guard is distributed free Pilot CW2 Pat Durbin to members of the Ohio Army and Air achieves childhood goal National Guard and to other interested persons at their request. Circulation is 19,000. of flying helicopters.

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPTARTMENT 12 Braving Snow Covered Trails Ohio National Guard State Commander-In-Chief Gov. Bob Taft Biathlon Team competes

Adjutant General at Camp Ripley, Mi nn. Maj. Gen. John H. Smith

Assistant Adjutant General, Army Mansfield's 179th Airlift Wing Brig. Gen. Ronald G. Young retains unit history by bringing home an F-100 fighter jet from Assistant Adjutant General, Air Maj. Gen. Paul J. Sullivan Arizona's 'boneyard.' See pages 18-19. Command Sergeant Major, Army Photo by TSgt. Randy Dunham, 179th Airlift Wing Command Sgt. Maj. Michael 0. Howley DEPARTMENTS Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Command Chief Master Sgt. Earl Lutz 2 Command focus CCMSgt. Lutz prepares to retire, PUBLICATION STAFF reflects on 25 years with ONG. Director, Public Affairs Capt. Neal E. O'Brien 3 Feedback from the field Deputy Director, Public Affairs Ms. Denise Varner 4 National news Associate Editors Mr. Steve Tolh Staff Sgt. Diane L. Farrow 6 Citizen spotlight Editorial Assistant Guardmember claims state high Ms. Mimi Myers school wrestling championship. Photo by Steve Toth, Adj. Gen. Dept. Public Affairs Office Contributors Ohio Army Guardmember and Army/Air National Guard Journalists Marysville High School wrestler Ben ANG Visual Information Specialists 23 Guarding against drugs Rings (arms raised) celebrates after Unit Public Affairs Representatives winning the OH SAA Division 1189- 24 Buckeye briefs pound state championship match. Guardmembers and their families are See page 6. encouraged to submit any articles meant to inform, educate or entertain Buckeye Guard 26 All about people readers, including stories about interesting Guard personalities and unique unit training. 28 Guardmember benefits E-mail us at [email protected]. Deadlines are: ABOUT THE COVER: SSG Clint Byington guides a UH-60 'Black Winter, October 15 Spring, February 15 Hawk' into landing zone. Photo by Summer, May 15 SSG Diane Farrow, HQ STARC (-) Fall, July 15 Log on to the Ohio National Guard website to learn more about the organization. Command focus My 25 years in the ONG: many great memories

s my military career comes to Chaplain John Ellington. He was Ohio's first Honorary Chief. A an end, I have been refl ect­ The advice, support and friendshi p I received from him is ing on many of the people and another cheri shed memory. Another individual who supports events that have made my 29 the acti vities of the enlisted force is Maj. Gen. Paul J. Sullivan, years so meaningful. current assistant adjutant general for Air. He is also an Although my fo ur years with Honorary Chief and a great fri end of the enlisted. the acti ve Air Force were an This position also has allowed me to work with our national interesting part of my career, they SEAs. Chiefs Richard Moon, Ed Brown and now Gary can ' t compare to my 25 years with Broadbent all have been strong supporters of Ohio. I appreci­ the greatest military organi zation ate their support and friendship over the last nine years. in the world- the Ohio National In recent years, the SENCCM position has been added to Guard. all of the fl ying wings in the Air Guard. In Ohio we have four BY CCMSGT EARL LUTZ Yes, I wear the blue suit of the wing-level CCMs. Working together has helped the five of us COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SGT, AIR Air Nati onal Guard, but I have to accomplish more for our units and state. had the opportunity to work with I have been so impressed with the strength of our enlisted two great state command sergeant majors and a variety of other members. Their educational level, dedication and professional­ Army friends who have made my appreciation of the purple ism have brought great respect to the enlisted ranks-the concept stronger everyday. We are the Ohio National Guard­ backbone of the military. In 1999, we celebrated a successful Army and Air- and we are proud. "Year of the Enlisted." This year we recognized the family, and We all have worked fo r some great leaders who helped us next year we honor the employer. Where would we be without progress through our careers. But we also have worked with and support from our families and employers? supervised others who have had a variety of impacts on our The people have been great. There also have been many careers. Isn' t that one of the great things about the Guard ? events that will remain with me always. With this being the Coming together in that team environment, everyone brings year of the family, I'll start with mine. I remember how proud I something that helps us meet those everyday and future goals­ was of my daughter when she became a distinguished gradu­ and as a result, the Guard keeps improving. Our people have the ate of the NCO Academy in Knoxville, Tenn . And last year, I reputati on of being dependable and getting the job done, which was proud when my son became a member of the Ohio ANG. I has brought us a great deal of respect. That need to recognize my wife, Patricia, for respect has generated a great amount of pride in supporting my Guard activities and those of our members and in their participation. "My unit train­ our two children. What kind of feeling do you get when the I don' t think any of the cermonies I've alarm goes off and you know another d ri ll ing assemblies attended over the years can compare to last weekend is upon you? Are you anxious to get year's Order of the Musket ceremony. there and meet the challenges awaiting you? have always been during which the enlisted men and women Chief Master Sgt. Paul Lankford, a survivor of the of the OHANG presented the first Order of Bataan Death March during World War fl and a something which the Musket Award to our leader, Maj. Gen. past commandant of the NCO Academy, once John H. Smith, state adjutant general. It was said, "We need to make our drill weekends so I look forward to a job well done. rewarding for our people that the best part of th " In the last three years, I have witnessed their drill weekend won' t be the image of the base every mon . our unit fi rst sergeants build their annual in their rearview mirror as they are leaving on a state conference to a successful profes­ Sunday aft ernoon. " Have you ever felt that way? My unit sional forum for all of them. In February, I had the honor to train ing assemblies have al ways been something whi ch I look attend a first sergeant graduation and see Master Sgt. Michael fo rward to every month. Spillman of Springfield receive hi s diamond. What a great job In my 17 years at Springfi eld, I saw a lot of people come and first sergeants do for us. My thanks to all of you, both Air and go. But, I believe I learned something from each of them. I hope Army, in these positions. some of them feel th at way about me. As I enjoy my retirement, I will remember my years with In 199 1, I was appointed the state senior enlisted advisor (SEA) great pleasure and appreciation fo r having the opportunity to and transferred to Headquarters, Ohio Air National Guard, in serve. It has been an honor to say I am an Ohio Guardmember. Columbus. l left the position in January 1995 and joined the l 80th I look forward to hearing of the great successes the Guard will Communications Flight , Toledo. I returned to state headquarters achieve in the years to come. in June 1996 for my second appointment as the SEA (now known Good luck to you all.• as the state command chief master sergeant position). In my 7 l /2 years overall at headquarters, I have had the opportunity to work EDITOR'S NOTE: Lutz will retire June 30. Command Chief with countless great Ohio Guardmembers. Master Sgt. Richard Smith of the 179th Airlift Wing, During my first term , I had the great fo rtune to work with Mansfield, will be the new state CCM.

21B UCKEYE GUARD SPRING 2000

L Feedback from the field

Researcher seeks to interview proved their superiority in hard-fought vic­ Hot weather safety espedaily tories, won at a price, but each a major American Indian WWII vets achievement toward ultimate peace. important during AT season I am a person of American Indian de­ The divi sion, which served the nation in Service members all over the world scent. l am looking forhelpwith my research World Wars I and II, as well as Korea, are called upon to operate in a variety of for the Indigenous Peoples During World returned to Ohio National Guard state sta­ strenuous conditions. In particular, War II History Project. I want to correspond tus in 1954andremainedsuchunti1Feb. 15, many have to cope with heat on a daily with any National Guard retired veteran of 1968 when it was deactivated. The 37th basis. A va1iety of medical conditions World War II who is of an indigenous served its country and state for more than may plague these fo lks, including heat ethnic heritage. This would include Ameri­ 50 years. Currently, the lineage forthe 37th illnesses and overhydration. can Indian, Native Hawaii an, Chamorro, is entrusted to the 37th Armored Brigade, Evaporation of sweat is the body's American Samoan, Metis, Inuit/Eskimo or while the di vision artillery lineage is with major mechanism for heat dissipation Hispanic descent veterans. This also in­ the I- I 34th Field Artillery Battalion. while exercising. Sweat is composed cludes women who served in the National We are confident that the men trained by mainly of water, with a small amount of Guard as nursing, clerical or support staff. the 37th and assigned to other units, proved sodium. Dehydration robs the body of In addition, I wane to correspond with to all concerned that the Buckeye Division its ability to cope with heat stress, and National Guard WWII veterans who en­ trained its men well. By the same token, increases the risk of heat illness. Heat countered or had buddies who were of there is li ttle doubt that the 37th distin­ cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke indigenous heritages. I'm also interested in guished itself in accomplishing the mis­ are all varying conditions of water and National Guard WWII veterans of any sions assigned when the chips were down, often sodium loss. ethnicity (men or women) who have memo­ some with their li ves. The flip side of dehydration is ries to share. If there are any current Na­ Lest we forget. .. the 37th Division Veter­ overhydration, or simply drinking too tional Guard veterans (now near retirement ans Association has for 8 1 years perpetu­ much water too quickly. When sodium age) who had childhood memories of the ated the heritage and legacy of the division is lost in sweat, and water is drunk as a 1940s, I'd li ke to hear from you. and for40 years has awarded college schol­ replacement fluid , the sodium remaining Did any WWII National Guard veterans arships to its direct descendants (children, in the blood can be diluted. This can work with animals during the war, canine grandchildren, etc). To be eligible for the lead to ti ssue damage in the body. units, mounted (horses) or messenger pi­ scholarship awards, an applicant's spon­ Changes are most noticeable in the ner­ geons? Did anyone have pet mascots? sor must be a member of the 37th Infantry vous system, where seizures, coma and Any response is greatly appreciated and Division Veterans Association. even death can result. can be sent to me at the following address: As a result of old age, its membership is Remember that hydration is an ongo­ P.O. Box 315,GraniteCity,Ill. 62040. diminishingatan alarming rate, and younger ing process. Waiting until exercise has ROBERT J. CLARK members are needed to fill its ranks. begun to begin drinking is a little like PROJECT DIRECTOR Soldiers who served in the division dur­ jumping out of a plane and then think­ ing any of its three periods of acti ve duty ing, "Well. I really ought to put on a 'Lest we forget/ association (WWl, WWlland/or Korea)areeligiblefor parachute ... It's too late. Good hydra­ full acti ve membership. tion is indicated by urinating a full blad­ exists to remember 37th ID Help us preserve the 37th's legacy by der four times a day, urine that is light Meuse-Argonne, Verdun, Flanders, New passing this information to any qualified yellow (unless using vitamin or mineral Georgia, Bouganville, Munda, Lingayen former division soldiers you may come in supplements, which can darken the Gulf, Manila, Baguio and Cagayan Valley. contact with, so that they may become urine) and lack of thirst during exertion. All were famous battles of two great world members of the 37th Veterans Association. Exertio nal heat illnesses and wars in which men of the Ohio National COL (RET.) CYRIL L. SEDLACKO overhydration remain a threat for any­ Guard's 37th Infantry "Buckeye" Division VICE PRESIDENT, 37TH ID VETS ASSN. one who must work in hot conditions, but they are very much preventable. r---- ~ ---~~E~~mLICATION------, These simple guidelines go a long way 37T11 DIVISION VETERANS ASSOClA TION toward safe operations in the heat: Drink enough water throughout the day to 65 S. Front Street Annual Association Dues $15.00 Columbus, Ohio 43215 cause the bladderto fill fourtimes. Drink (For Year Ending December 31, 2000) a full quart an hour (plus or minus a D New Member D Renewal D New Address quarter quart) during heavy exercise in hot conditions, never more than a quart and a half an hour, and never more than I 2quarts a day. Do not skip meals if you can help it. Drink a sports drink when­ ever doing strenuous work in the heat State Zip Code for over an hour or if unable to eat Served with Company/Baneryffroop & Regiment ______regular meals. And put on a parachute before exiting an airborne plane. Dates of Active Duty Service ______a.eek: 0 World War I 0 World War ll D Korean War MAJ (DR.) ERIC M. CHUMBLY 59TH MEDICAL WfNG, USAF

SPRING 2000 BU CK EYE G UARD 3 National news

Some captains' tury, it was the GI- the American citizen­ soldiers-who left hearth and home, put his DOR to change or her personal plans on hold, and traveled Army officials an­ to every corner of the world to save the nounced they will review concept of democracy and preserve the the records of about value of freedom," said supporter Rep.Jim 5,000ArmyReserveand Kolbe of Ari zona. AMERICAN FORCES Army National Guard PRESS SERVICE officers over the next yearto adjusttheirdates of rank to captain. Air Force Marathon on track The action affects re­ for September at WPAFB serve component offic­ The fourth Air Force Marathon is set for ers who were consid­ Sept. 16 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, ered for promotion from Ohio, and all finishers-including relay team U.S. AirForcephotobySSgt. Angela Stafford November 1997 to the members- receive a marathon medallion, present and found them­ patch, T-shirt and other souvenirs. Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters, shown here selves subjected to pro­ Besides the full marathon distance, there during his Senate confirmation hearing in 1999, says the motion time-in-grade will be an Ekiden-style relay for runners increased reliance on the reserve component has led to policy changes. who do not wi sh to run the entire course. new missions, such as the scheduled transition of the Depending on what The relay has four legs- five miles, seven 178th Fighter Wing, Springfield, to an F-16 training unit. mandatory promotion miles, 7.5 miles and 6.7 miles. The team's selection board consid­ total elapsed time determines the winners. ered them, an officer's date of rank may be Registration fees postmarked before July Air Guard, Reserve help adjusted by anywhere from two weeks to a I are $35 for marathon entries and $ 120 a overcome personnel year or more earlier than what it is now. team fo r Ekiden entries. Prices go up after Army officials are administering the pro­ July I, and the final entry deadline is Aug. shortages, EAF transition gram in phases over the remainder of the 3 1. For more information on the marathon, The shortage of trained active-duty calendar year and into next year. Affected call (800)467-1823.Entryformsareavailable aircrews and the current operations officers in the first phase were scheduled to on-li ne at http://afmarathon. wpajb.afmil. tempo have increased the Air Force's receive notifi cation by early June. AIR FORCE PRINT NEWS reliance on the Air National Guard and Phases two and three of the program­ Air Force Reserve to help accomplish affecting those officers originally consid­ Regular-sized nametapes on the mission and make the transi tion to an ered under boards conducted from Novem­ expeditionary aerospace force, said Sec­ ber 1998 through February 2000-are ex­ Army parka get cold shoulder retary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters. pected to begin later this year. A change in regulations standardizes the "Weare an integrated Total Force and The issue prompting the date of rank size and type of cloth nametapes and ranks rely on the critical contributions of our review originated when the Army revised authorized for the Extended Cold Weather Guardsmen and Reservists," Peters said. reserve promotion policies. Clothing System parka. "We have been moving a lot of what had The revised date of rank will affect any The change to Army Regulation 670-1 been active-duty requirements into the pay and allowances received during the applies to regular Army, National Guard Guard and Reserve to free up resources adjusted timeframe. It will also affect when and Reserve soldiers wearing the ECWCS for other tasks." offi cers will be eligible to be considered for parka, more commonly called "GoreTex" Peters said the Guard and Reserve promotion to major and for promotions among the ranks. have been moving into less traditional during the remainder of their military ca­ According to new Army guidance, roles at home. The ANG is transitioning reers. Officers who believe they are eligible nametapes attached to the ECWCS will be to F-15 training at Tyndall Air Force under the fi rst phase of thi s program onl y, 1/2-inch wide and 3- 1/2-inches long, with Base, Fla., and to F-16 training mi ssions and do not receive their application packet 1/4-inch block lettering. The nametapes will at Kelly AFB, Texas, and Springfield­ by June 15, should contact: Office of Pro­ hold up to 14 characters and be attached to Beckly Municipal Airport, home of the motions (Reserve Components), ATTN: the pocket flap on the left side of the parka. OhioAirGuard's 178thFighterWing. TAPC-MSL-N (DOR), 9700PageAvenue, Cloth insignias of grade with Velcro fas­ Both Guard and Reserve instructor St. Louis, Mo., 63132-5200. ARMY NEWS teners are no longer authori zed for wear. pilots are contributing to the primary SERVICE The only authorized cloth rank insignias are pilot-training mission at specialized un­ those that are sewn closed (like shoulder dergraduate pilot-training bases. House declares American GI bars). The loops slipoverthe front tab of the "Each of these forces-active-duty, parka the same way that shoulder boards Guard and Reserve-have unique and 'Person of the Century' slip over the epaulets on the green shirt and complementary characteristics that make House representatives voted 397-0 April sweater. Soldiers may use pin-on insignias the Air Force a strong and versatile I 0 naming American Gis as the "Person of of grade if they desire. team,·· Peters said. AIR FORCE PRINT the Century" in their Concurrent Resolu­ After Sept. 30, no othersizes ofnametapes NEWS tion 282 with the Senate. will be authori zed for wear on the ECWCS "Throughout this sad and bloody cen- parka. ARMY NEWS SERVICE

4 I BUCKEYE GUARD SPR I NG 2000 MANSFIELD Faces in the Guard Command

Pvt. Taylor C. Watson profile Avenger Missile Crew member Battery B, 2-l 74th Air Defense Arti llery, McConnelsville Watson, of Crooksville, got his first taste of the mi litary from a unique perspecti ve. As a high-school junior last year, he was sente nced by a j uvenile court to allend the Ohio Guard's TEAM (Teen Education and Motivation) camp for at-risk youth. The disciplined camp changed Watson's attitude; he contacted a recrui ter and was sworn into the Ohio Army National Guard on Feb. 8. He'll attend basic training this summer.

Col. Richard Green Airman 1st Class Camille R. Gaskins 179th Airl ift Wing Information Managment Specialist l 79th Airlift Wing, Mansfi eld Age: 51 . With the help of the Ohio National G uard Sc holarshi p program, Occupation: Commander, Gaskins, a freshman at the Uni versity of Toledo, is majoring in pre­ 179th Airlift Wing, Ohio ANG. business/accounting, and a lso plays violin in the university orchestra. 1grew up in: West Patterson, N.J. A lifelong resident of Mansfield and graduate of Madison Comprehen­ When I was little I wanted to be: sive High School, Gaskins joined the Ohio Air Guard in July 1998. She an architect-like my dad. is an avid runner, and has participated in c ross country and track. Friends and classmates in high school thought 1was : Pfc. Melissa Thompson an athlete and a competitor. Medical Specialist My favorite time of year is: spring. Company C, 237th Forward Support Battalion, Columbus The one thing I treasure most is: A resident of Columbus, Thompson currently attends Ohio State my family. University, where she studies animal science. She also works as an My favorite junk food is: associate in a pet store. Thompson enlisted in the Guard in 1998, and Oreo cookies. utilizes the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program, which pays 100 My biggest pet peeve is: percent of a guardmember's tuition costs at a state college or university, disorganization. or an equivalent amount at a private institution. My favorite recreational activities are: golf and playing Frisbee with my dog , Shep. Chief Master Sgt. Jim Hickman Systems Telecommunications Engineering Management Technician If I could travel back in time, I 220th Engineering Installation Squadron, Zanesville would: like to have been an explorer like Lewis and Clark. In April 1999, the 4 1-year-old Hickman reached a milestone in his Ohio Air Guard career, attaining the esteemed rank of chief master If I won $20 million in the lotto I sergeant. However, Hickman may have been more proud when he would: turn one of my welcomed his daug,hter, Janelle, 17, into the Ohio Air Guard last ideas into a business. November. Janelle joined the same unit her fat her had joined more than The older I get, the more I: 20 years ago, becoming a member of the 220th's ground radio section. appreciate family, friends and good health. When I retire, I want to: Spc. Jason C. Luna Combat Engineer be healthy, enjoy my family, A Company, l 12th Engineer Battalion, Wooster travel and finally pursue some of those hobbies I enjoy. A member of the Ohio Army Guard since 1997, Luna was born in Lewisburg, Tenn., and currently lives in Mansfield. A beneficiary of the If I could leave today's Ohio Natio nal Guard Scholarship Program, Luna received his associate's guardmembers with one piece of degree in computer programming from Bradford Business School. In his advice it would be: Pursue your civilian occupation, Luna is a data e ntry technician for American dreams and be a good friend, Freightways. His hobbies include hiking, rock climbing and rollerblading. parent and partner.

SPRING 2000 B U CKE Y E GU A RD 5 Citizen spotlight

LEFT: Marysville's Ben Rings (right) squares off against Erik Jones of Liberty Township Lakota East in their Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I 189-pound championship match, which Rings eventually won 4-3. ABOVE: Rings (left) prepares to escape from Jones.

Rings is just one of 42 high-schoolers Winning contbination: (three school-size divisions, 14 weightclass­ ifications) crowned state champion each Wrestling with rigors of basic training helps year in Ohio. "It's what all wrestlers dream of," Rings said after claiming his title. guardmember to top of his sport, championship This summer again will be a busy one for Pfc. Rings, who will attend Advanced Indi­ "Idefirutely(joined the Guard) forthe 100 vidual Training at Goodfellow Air Force Story and photos by Steve Toth Base, Texas, at a joint-service school to Adj. Gen. Dept. Public Affairs Office percent tuition," Rings said. "But I like it. It's fun ... after the basic training." become a firefighter/crash rescue specialist. It was during basic training that Rings StaffSgt. Linda Young, 5694th readiness o finish in second place isn't the NCO, said many unit members have kept up worst thing that can happen. But went through a demanding physical regi­ men that would cause him to lose weight with Rings' wrestling exploits the last couple T it's not as good as first place. years, and the unit leadership has allowed Just ask Ben Rings. and become leaner, and in turn improve his cardiovasular fitness. He also was exposed Rings to make up monthly drills on some Last year, as a Marysville High School occasions when weekend wrestling tour­ junior, Rings was runner-up in Division to significant psychological stress cour­ tesy of hi s basic training drill instructors. naments were on the same dates as drill. 11atJ89 pounds at the Ohio High School "If he's that good at something and it's Athletic Association State Wrestlino "(Basic training) last summer helped me b prepare for this season, definitely men­ that important to him, it's in our best interest Tournament held at Ohio State to support him," Young said. "He's a terri fie University's Schottenstein Center. It was tally,"Rings said, "and it helped me keep my weight down." kid, very mature for his age. He's a respon­ an impressive feat, but, it was short of his sible soldier, and very dependable-and of goal of winning a state championship. Rings' wrestling coach, Len Andrews, said in previous years, Rings would come course, he's very physically fit. I think he Rings went on with his school year­ represents the National Guard well .''• going to class, participating in spring into football conditioning in the summer sports, and attending monthly drills with overweight and not in the best shape. "He the Ohio Army National Guard. came in 190 (pounds) this year, ready to It was not just another summer vaca­ play," Andrews said. ''That Army training tion for Rings. He enlisted in Mans­ was perfect for Ben. It may not be perfect for field's 5694th Engineer Detachment everyone, but it was just right for him." (Firefighting) in January 1999, and be­ At the 63rd Boys State Wrestling Tour­ ginning last June attended basic training nament, held March 2-4 at OSU, Rings got at Fort Knox, Ky. hi s chance to claim the title that had eluded Rings, looking for a way to help fund him a year before. This year, competing in his future college education, enlisted to Division I (the large-school division), again reap the benefits of the Ohio National at 189 pounds, Rings won all four of his Guard Scholarship Program, which pays matches in the tournament, capping a 38-4 100 percent of tuition costs at state col­ season with a 4-3 decision over Erik Jones leges and universities. With other Guard of Liberty Township Lakota East in the benefits, and the possibility of a partial c~amp i onsh ip match. In the quarterfinals, A match earlier in the tournament is athletic scholarship, he could also pay ~n~~ defeated the once-beaten defending halted momentarily for Rings to be treated for hi s room and board, books and fees. Dt v1s1on I 189-pound champion, Alexander for a cut on the bridge of his nose, as his Lammers of Huber Heights Wayne. coach, Len Andrews (right), looks on.

61BUC KEYE GUARD SPRING 2000 Indiana. In late 1998, the unit was given an additional mission: augment 5th Battalio n of the JO I st A irborne Division, Fort Campbe ll , Ky. Ohio's Alpha Company was one of six Nati onal Guard units tasked to round out acti ve-duty assault battalions nationwide. Dual-tasking with 101 st Airborne Division has And it's this "dual mi ssion" that required the unit to modernize with Black Hawks, Company A, 1-137th Assault Helicopter Battalion, replacing its Hueys which are no longer modernizing with UH-60 'Black Hawk' helicopters fi elded in the acti ve Army. Enhanced Capabilities By StaffSgt . Diane Farrow en backer Army Enclave in Columbus. According to Company A Commander HQ STARC (-) Though its equipment will change, the Capt. Wayne Thomas, the Black Hawk has unit's mi ssion won' t. several advantages overt he UH- I- includ­ hey sling-load up to 8,000 pounds of "Whether you ride a thoroughbred o r a ing improvements in speed and cargo li ft cargo, cruise at about 173 miles per Clydesdale, the air assault mission remains capability. "It cruises at about 50 knots Thour, wear an armor of Kevlar and are the same." said Lt. Col. Rick Hall, I- I 37th faster than the Huey," he said, explaining vaJued at approximately$1 l million. Aviation Battalion commander and facility thatHueys top out at around 140mph, while While the "Black Hawk" (UH-60) is the commander fo r AASF #2. Hall said the the A model of the Black Hawk can go as standard utility helicopter in the active Anny, primary objective of an aviatio n assault fast as 200 mph. "Its payload capacity is it is a new fo rce to be reckoned with in the company is to insert and extract troops or also considerably higher," he added. Ohio Army National Guard. But by Decem­ equipment into or out of a designated land­ "It will lift a humvee, witham10randcrew, ber 2000, J 2ofthese high-tech airframes are ing zone at the precise time the ground and run with it," affirmed Chief Warrant expected to replace the 15 "Huey" UH- I commander needs them. Officer Brad Anspaugh, Headquarters Com­ helicopters assigned to Company A, I-137th Since its acti vation in 1996, Company A pa ny, l - 137th A viati o n B atta lio n. Assault Helicopter Battalion, located at the has been tasked to support the Army Na­ Anspaugh, a full-time night instructor at Army Aviatio n Support Facility#2 atRick- tional Guard 's 38th Infantry Division in AASF #2, was one of the first pi lots in

SPRING 2000 BU CKEY E GUA RD 17 The Hawk has landed

the battalion to complete the Black Hawk initial quali ficati on and instructor pilot course. He also said that the UH-60 is spa­ cious enough to transport 1 I soldiers and four air crew, and even more when confi g­ ured without seats; the Huey can carry only seven passengers and a crew of three. The warrant offi cer remarked that Black Hawks are much more complex and a lot more systems-heavy than Hueys, noting that everything interchanges from one side to the other. "Everything 's redundant. Everything has a back-up. That's the beauty of this beast," said Sgt. Alan Troutman, who trained on the UH-60 when he served in the Navy. "In other words, we lose an engine, we've got one more; we lose a hydraulic system, we've got two more," Anspaugh explained. "We could fl y on one engine if we had to," Troutman added. A full -time police officer for Columbus, Troutman is one of Company A's standardization instructors and will train many of Company A's crew chiefs. Several of the aircraft's critical compo­ nents are armored to enable it to withstand multiple small arms hits, and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers in the event of a crash. Deployment More Likely Company A's alignment with the acti ve duty not only brought Black Hawks to Ohio, it also increased the possibility of the

unit's deployment. Photo by MSgt. Kim Frey, 121stAir Refueling Wing Thomas, a traditional guardmember and fu ll- time pilo t for MedF light in the ri sks are so much higher. " SSG Ed J enkins (left) and SSG Ed Sells Worthington, said that while the unit was Company A received its first Black Hawk install a hydraulic transfer module on a UH- assigned Hueys, its chances of getting in January from AASF # 1 in North Canton, 60 'Black Hawk' helicopter during new called up were slim to none. "Hueys are where it served as a training support aircraft equipmenttraining conducted by instructors non-deployable. Now that we are getting assigned to Detachment 1, Co. D, 137th from U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School. Black Hawks, they (unit members) are real­ Aviation Intermediate Maintenance. In mid­ Both are f ull-time federal technicians who izing that they may go somewhere other February, the Virginia National Guard flew maintain the aircraft assigned to Army than (Camp) Grayling. in three more of the airframes, and the unit Aviation Flight Facility #2, located at "Once our folks get qualified, we'll spend expects to receive one more each month Ri ckenbacker Army Enclave in Columbus. about 36 months fl ying training missions, until all 12 are fielded. According to State practicing formation flying and meeting Aviation Officer Col. Craig Ceneskie, Ohio Because the quali fication course for both flight ti me requirements before we'd be will receive all UH-60As, but those will be models is the same, no additional traini ng will be seriously considered for deployment," he replaced wi thin the next two years with the required of the pilots, crew chiefs or mainte­ said. "They (the Army) only want to send more advanced UH-60L, which is flown by nance personnel when that transition takes the most experienced to the front because active-duty units. place.

81BUC K E YE GUARD SPRING 2000 Training the Troops Black Hawks need two to conduct pre- and later with the unit's alignment with the Formerly trained on either Hueys or AH-I post-flight checks, monitor fu el levels and JOI st. "Cobra" attack helicopters, most of the pi lots instruments in flight, provide surveillance "We are part of their go-to-war mission," and enli sted members of Company A will be of air space and perform aerial gunnery asserted Hall, "and this unit will bea go-to­ required to take some sort of qualification operations when needed. war unit."• course on the Black Hawk. Thomas expects that by Oct. I, 60 percent For pilots, that means attending a six- to of hi s enli sted soldiers and 40 percent of his seven-week UH-60 initial qualification course pilots wi ll be qualifiedonthe UH-60. By Oct. at either Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., or Fort I, 200 I, he predicts the qual ification level of Rucker, Ala. When they return to Ohio, they the entire unit will be 95 percent. will need to follow up with at least two weeks The captain said his troops are excited of additional training by the instructor pilots about the new mi ssion, training opportuni­ at AASF#2. ties and possible deployment. "They look "Afterthe 'qual' course, they' re qualified to at it like 'why practice all the time, if you fly, but they're not mission-trained," never get to play the game?'" He said Com­ Anspaugh said. "When they come back, we pany A's 60-plus pilots and enlisted per­ train them up for our mi ssions." The 20-year sonnel are "top-notch, true professionals" Guard veteran explained that the pilots have to ready to respond when called. fly the Black Hawk, know its systems and its And, as noted by the battalion com­ limits, know emergency procedures and how mander, that call may come sooner than to react in emergency situations. "Once they meet the readiness levels, they're signed off, BELOW: CW3 Brad Anspaugh (left) and and they go fly." CW4 Terry Worstall run through a UH- According lo Thomas, Company A cur­ 60 preflight safety checklist as they rently has seven or eight pilots qualified on prepare to depart from Ross County UH-60s, including Chief Warrant Officer Lewis last April. RIGHT: SGT Greg Branstool Meyers Jr. Meyers is also the only full-timer checks his gear prior to a t roop for the unit, an Active Guard/Reserve extraction/insertion mission. soldier whose duties frequently ex­ tend beyond his title of training of­ ficer. "Lew is reall y the backbone of the unit," Thomas said. " He often works 12 hours a day-handling everything from payroll, unit admini stration, fil ­ ing-and he still plans for unit train­ ing." And training is a cumbersome issue when reclassifying nearly an entire company of soldiers. ThemajorityofCompany A'screw chiefs have to attend a seven-week UH-60 course, at e ither Fort Indiantown Gap or Fort Rucker. Sgt. Greg "Stooly" Bran stool and Sgt. Ernie Washington were scheduled to go to school in May. Stooly said leaving home is a hard­ ship, but he realizes it's necessary to become a proficient UH-60 "crew dog" (crew chi ef). "The Black Hawk is larger, more high-speed and de­ mands more attention than a Huey," he said. Stooly explained that while Hueys require only one crew chi ef, Pholos by SSG Diane Farrow, HQ STARC( ·)

SPRING 2000 BUCKEYE GUARD 19 Story and photos by Pfc. Haraz N. Ghanbari 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Living the Dream CW2 Pat Durbin realizes boyhood dre of flying helicopters

s an eight iii , hi s dream was to fly helicopters. Now at the age of 34- after hard work, dedication and motivation-his dream has been realized. "My dad and I were throwing the ball out in the yard, and a helicopter came directly over our house," recalled Chief Warrant Officer Pat Durbin, a full -time Ohio Army National Guard helicopter pilot and training officer with Troop D, 2-107th Cavalry, based in North Canton. "I remember looking at it and saying, 'Daddy, I'm going to fly those some day.' He kinda laughed and blew it off." After graduating from Wadsworth High School in 1983, Durbin, then 19 years old, enlisted in the Air Force. He completed basic training and his technical school , becoming a plans and programs administrator, a position he served until the end of hi s three­ year tour of active duty. In 1986, he enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard, where he served as an intelligence speciali st with the I 79th Tactical Airlift Group in Mansfield. It was there that he had the opportunity, as an enlisted airman, to compete for a pilot slot for the C- 130 transport aircraft. "Nineteen people applied, and only two received a slot," recalled Durbin. "I was lucky enough to get one. "When I had the slot to fly C-130s, I knew I was just going to be at an altitude from point A to point B," he said. However, the desire to stop, pop, jump up, hide andjing as a helicopter pilot caused Durbin to tum down the C-130 slot and transfer to the Army National Guard. "In essence, I gave up my Air Force flying slot to apply for the Army's flight program," explained Durbin. " £ left for Army Flight School in Septem­ ber of 1992 and graduated in October ofl9'3." The training and preparation for

IveGUARD SPRING 200_0 ___ "I remember looking at (a helicopter flying overhead) and saying, 'Daddy, I'm going to fly those some day.' He kinda laughed and blew it off"

helicopter pilots is one of intensity. ment of fl ying for Durbin After passing the selection board to and other Guard pilots attend Fort Rucker's pilot training doesn't come without school , the adventure begins. The first constant training. step for enli sted personnel is to com­ In fact, Guard pilots plete a six-week warrant officer must meet the same candidate's course. requirements as their Once a warrant officer, about two to active-duty counterparts. three months are dedicated to learning They mu st maintain basic tasks and instrument panels of the between 60 and 96 hours training helicopters, whi ch was the UH- 1 of flying time per year, "Huey" utility helicopter when Durbin and they are required to attended Rucker in the mid-90s. Then complete an annual test training on the pilot's primary aircraft which is comprised of an (those flown at the pilot's unit) begins, instruments check ride, along with basic and advanced combat standardization ride and a written ski lls training. If assigned an aircraft exam. with firing capabilities, the pilot com­ The in struments check ride is a pletes gunnery skills training as well. test in which pilots fly using only Once Durbin completed his ini tial their instruments. For example, a phase training with the Huey, he began pilot would fly by his instruments training on the AH-1 "Cobra" attack if flying in clouds or no visibility helicopter. weather. On the other hand, on a "You basically branch off into another clear day, a pilot would rely mostly aircraft, and I went the Cobra route," he on hi s visuali zation of the flying said. Durbin explained that Cobras are area. significantly different from Hueys, A standardizati on ride evaluates which he considers the "workhorse of the basic combat and fl ying skills of helicopters." the pilot, for instance, aircraft While Hueys seat pilots side-by-side procedures such as take-offs, in the traditional manner, Cobras are landings and overall maneuverability. designed so that pilots sit ooe in front The written test covers information of the other. "The fu selage is a lot from the aircraft operator's manual, skinnier because it is a gunship," Durbin specifically materi al pilots need to said. "The skinnier it is, the smaller your know to ensure safety. silhouette is when they are firing at you. Despite the rigorous training "The Cobra has a lot of power," he requirements and the demands of added. "It is very maneuverable, and civilian life, Durbin said Guard pilots you get to fire. You shoot 20mm guns, do what it takes to make sure all their TOW (anti-tank) missiles and rockets. It Army requirements are met. "That is a very fun aircraft to fl y. Basically, shows the professionalism of the M­ you get to relive the days when you Day (traditional) soldier. were outside playing Army," grinned "You have to keep the skills top Durbin, who together with his wife Lisa, notch," contends Durbin. But he raises two young children- Brooke, 6, happily accepts this requisite in order and Pat Jr., 3. to keep his childhood dream ali ve. "I "As long as I'm flying, I'm happy," he love telling people I'm a pilot in the said. Durbin started working full -time at National Guard."• the Army Aviation Support Facility# I, North Canton, in 1999. But the enjoy- Story by Steve Toth Adj. Gen. Dept. Public Affairs Office

kiing around a turn at 20 miles per hour with a rifle harnessed to your S back is not the easiest of feats. Moving through a hilly, curvy, wooded course for distances of7 .5-20 ki lometers in the fastest time possible, coupled with stopping at intervals to draw a rifle and shootat4.5-inch diameter targets 50 meters away comprise the sport of biathlon. Competitors are timed during the race; time all owances are not given for stopping to shoot or falling down. A race will have an even number of shots with prone and standing shooting positions. An average race wi ll have five or 10 shots prone then Five or I 0 shots standing. The targets are smaller in size during prone shooting, to make that position more challenging. Com­ petitors are penalized for missing targets, with extra time or by having to ski an extra di stance ( 150 meters), called a penalty loop. The annual Chief, National Guard Bu­ reau Biathlon Championships were held Feb. 12-20 at Camp Ripley, Minn. Teams from more than 25 states, Argentina, Chile, the active Air Force and a group of civilians comprised the fi eld at the week long event, which consisted of 125 male and 27 female biathletes competing in sprint, individual, military patrol and team relay races. The Ohio National Guard Biathlon Team collecti vely fini shed its best ever, placing eighth out of 25 teams that finished the competition without being disqualified for - equipment or rules violations. It was Ohio's SFC Rick Githens (foreground) digs in for a second top I 0 fini sh in the event's hi story. quick start of the men's 10-kilometer race. Team members consisted ofSgt 1st Class

Photo by MSgt:;Ret.) BillPifer Rick Githens and Spc. Aaron Rourke, both ofCompany B, 2-I 9th Special Forces Group, headquartered in Chagrin Falls; Tech. Sgt. Greg Rudi, of the 121 stAirRefueling Wing, Columbus; Sgt. Heath Buckley, of Com­ pany B, l- I 48th Infantry, Bowling Green; IJRA Wiii SlllJW and Pvt. Sara Kellett, of the 323rd Military Police Company, Toledo. Maj. Thom Haidet, commanderofHead­ quarters and Headquarters Detachment, State Area Command(-), Columbus, served CllVEREIJ Tl/AIU in the role of team coordinator/head coach, as well as competitor. Master Sgt. Donna Rakes, also of HHD STARC (-), was Ohio's biathlon team shoots, Haidet's assistant coach; retired Master Sgt. Bill Pifer, formerly of the 200th Red Horse Squadron, Port Clinton, assisted as ·skis to best-ever finish the team shooting coach. Pifer previously had cori'rpeted or coached with Team Ohio from 1985 to 1994. Haidetsaid Piferuses his

12J BUCKEYE GUARD SPRING 2000 vacation and other free ti me to support the team. factors forthe team's improvement over Photoby SSgt. RobertTrubia, Capt. Larry Henry, ofCompany B, 2- l 9th SF previous years. 158th Fighter Wing Group, had been on the team previously, but was "The big thing is we had enough snow unable to compete this year because he was to ski in, so we got a lot of snow time serving in Bosnia at the time of the competition. and that really mattered," he said. "In "This year's team excelled due to hard work in previous years, we didn't have the off-season and great support from the ONG enough snow (in Ohio). leadership, including funding," Haidet said. "!also think I kept in better shape Team Ohio had two new competitors in the during the summer, by doing alotof NGB Championships, and both biathletes ex­ bike riding. It put me celled. Buckley placed first in the men's novice in better shape ear- 7 .5-ki lo meter race, while Kellett was second in lier in the season." the women's novice 7.5-km race. She also was In preparation for this year's NGB first in the junior women's 7 .5-and 15-km races. Biathlon, the team went to West The team ofHaidet, Buckley, Rudi and Rourke Yellowstone, Mont., last December, placed ninth out of 23 teams in the 15-km patrol as wel I as spent several weekends train­ race; that same team also was eighth out of 25 ing at Grayling, Mich., and at Chapin teams in the4-by-7 .5-km relay race. Forest, a park in the Cleveland area. Haidet Rudl, who was competing in hi s sixth NGB also built a course on hi s in-laws' farm in Biathlon Championships, attributed better train­ central Ohio, with a competition range for ing and more abundant snow this past winter as team members to practice marksmanship. "It's probably been the most physically .' challengingeventl'vedone in my life," said Rakes, a consistent high-scorer on the Army Physical Fitness Test who competed in the NGB Championships in 1999. "You' re using every muscle in your body. You have to be in great shape. \. . "It was fun training with the team- that's where the enjoy­ ment was for me. Competing last year in the actual event was icing on the cake." Physical stamina coupled with mental toughness is nec­ essary for the biathlon. Endur­ ance sports often can play mind games with even the most sea­ soned veterans. The level of ,. competition al so raises the stress. Several TSgt. Greg Rudi cruises the course during National Guard bi athletes are of world­ the men's 20-kilometer individual race. class caliber, and that fact isn' t lost on Rudl,evenafteryearsofcompeting. "You're Two summer biathlon competitions com­ skiing alongside Olympic-caliber athletes. ing up areJune24 in Dayton and Aug. 26 in That thrill is something you've never expe­ New Philadelphia. Haidet said people rienced before," Rudi said. shouldn't be concerned whether to try out Haidet said one of hi s next objectives as for the team if they have never skied be­ coach is to establish links between recruit­ fore-that can be learned. He said he is ers and units to actively enlist new and looking for good athletes who engage in existingguardmembers to participate in both cardiovascular sports such as running, roller winter and summer biathlon. While it in­ blading, swimming and mountain biking. volves neither snow nor ski s, summer "It's a chance for someone to try a new biathlon embraces the same principles as its sport, improve their marksmanship skills Photos by MSgt. (Ret.) Bill Pifer winter predecessor, sans the season-spe­ and build good esprit-de-corps as a team," ABOVE: PVT Sara Kellett completes her first cific factors. Summer biathlon is a combina­ Haidet said. "My goal is to give everyone prone shooting bout during the women's 15- tion ofcross country running and rifle marks­ an opportunity to excel." kilometer individual race. ABOVE, INSET: After manship. Competitors run without rifles, For more information on becoming part of Kellett finishes one of her races, officials however, leaving them at the shooting Team0hio,contactHaidetat(614)336-7 I 33 check in her Anschutz .22-caliber rifle. range, which iseither25 or 50 meters long. or [email protected]. •

SPRING 2000 BUCKEYE GUARD 113 ------STORY AND PHOTOS BY TSGT TODD CRAMER, l 79TH AlRLJFf WING

The young officer quickly sat upright on the edge of the life raft, surprised by the response from the C-130 pilot to his radio call for rescue. He had not expected a reply and was now some­ what uncertain how to respond. With a little coaching from the raft instructor, the captain guided the C-130 to his location, and the aircraft soon was roaring in low and slow over the three life rafts bobbing in the clear ocean water. On the third pass, the big turbo-prop dropped three pararescue men from the 304th Rescue Squadron, Oregon Air National Guard, who drifted down to the waiting aircrews cramped inside their survival rafts.

hi s was part of Century Shark 2000, a two-day training exercise in combat and water survival forC-130aircrew members of the Ohio, Michigan and Missouri Air National Guard. Organized Tby the 171 st Airlift Squadron, Selfridge, Mich., the exercise was held at Sigsbee Point, near Key West, Fla., Feb. 11-12. The training team consisted of a diverse mix of Air National Guard and active-duty

14 1BUCKEYE GUARD SPRING 2000 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: MSgt. Gregg Anton {left), 164th Airlift Squadron, Mansfield, works with trainees at a firecraft station. OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM: MSgt. Chris Morehead practices shooting an azimuth at the land navigation station. LEFT: MSgt. Tom Jones, 164th Airlift Squadron, helps a trainee adjust his release straps at the 'hanging harness' station.

personnel from seven stales, including six who participated in the exercise. instructors of the I 64th Life Suppo1t Section, "This is the first time a lot of us got to 179lh Airlift Wing, Mansfield, led by Master experience this training in the ocean," said Sgt. Tom Jones. Master Sgt. Chris Morehead, loadmaster for Day one consisted of water survival the I 79th. "My favorite part was being picked training, where aircrew members went up out of the water by a helicopter." through eight training stations which And though Key West brings warm demonstrated the most critical aspects of sea climates to mind, Moorehead said the water survival. During the "canopy crawl," service was still cold during this mid-February members had to find their way out from under exercise-especially after being in it for four a soggy parachute that just landed them to five hours. safely in the water. Though it may not sound The second day of the exercise, combat difficult, this event could go tragically wrong. survival training, got the flight crews out of A more enjoyable part of the training was the water onto dry land for nine additional the parasailing station, which demonstrated training stations. The "hanging harness" proper wear of the harness, and exactly how simulated bailing out of an aircraft and being and when to release a parachute as you near under the canopy; here, aircrew members the water. With the use of a power boat, the practiced going through the descending "parachute drag" gave Century Shark checklist in preparation fo r landing. Other participants the sensation of being pulled stations included land navigation, firecraft, through the water by a parachute if they were sheltercraft, camoflage and signaling. unable to disengage the Koch releases before "The training we have received here in Key hitting water. The station also covered how Wesl is some of the best and most realistic I to free themselves from the parachute safely. have ever witnessed," asserted Stevens. 'Tm Training in the Gulf of Mexico proved to be very confident that as a result of this training, very real is tic for the air crews of the I 79th we are much better prepared to make the best who are used to practicing water survival of a survival situation.''• skills in a swimming pool. "Reali stic training is the key to learning how to apply survival equipment and knowledge," said I 79th Airli ft Wing Vice Commander Lt. Col. Mark Stevens,

SPRING 2000 BUCKEYE GUARD 115 "Soon after our arrival, Japanese bombers attacked at night. We nick­ named these bombers ·washing Fighting war, one Machine Charlies' because of the sound they made," Collins said. "Their engines ran rough, sputtering and popping like the old gas engine-powered washing island at a time machines of our time. One night 1, along with the rest of the men of the Buckeye Division, were treated to a spectacular 1 1 show. An American ni ghtfighter aircraft Buckeye Division veteran had caught a Washing Machine Charlie as the latter was making its nightly bombing run over our perimeter. We shares wartime experiences watched as a red stream of tracers from the invisible nightfighter raked across BY SGT ANTHONY C. MELDAHL, CO. C, I 18TH AREA SUPPORT MEDICAL BATTALION the unsuspecting bomber. The Japanese aircraft burst into fl ames, dropped like a fa lling torch and exploded in the jungle BOUGAINVILLE AND HILL 700 just beyond the perimeter. This was followed by the roar of hundreds of fter the fi ghting on the island when the 3rd Marine Di vision made an soldiers cheering the nightfighter like a of New Georgia and a period amphibious assault on Bougainville at crowd at a baseball game." Aof rest at Guadalcanal. the Empress Augusta Bay. Eight days later By the end of December, the next action Gene Collins was to see the l 48th Infantry Regiment and the Bougainville perimeter had been took place on Bougainville, the last 37th Cav Recon Troop of the "Buckeye established, three airstrips completed major island in the Solomon chain in Division" landed on the beachhead. The and the entire 37th was in place. The 3rd the South Pacific. recon troop was immedi ately put into Marine Di vision was replaced by Army Bougain ville was a significant action reinforcing the perimeter of the troops from the America! Division. The objective because it was located a 148th. Collins spent his first nights perimeter was a semicircular arc six miles mere 200 miles from Rabaul , a major manning a position in the heavily wide and five miles deep, with a terrain Japanese military complex on New wooded marshland of the perimeter. of rugged hills covered with thick jungle. Britain. Up to thi s point, the air The key terrain barring enemy observa­ campaign against Rabaul was tion and direct fire on the airstrips was hampered by a lack of U.S.airstrips Hill 700, located in thecenterofthe close enough to it. It was decided sector. The Buckeye Di vision had the that just enough land and beach­ mission of defending the western half of head could be seized on the perimeter, including Hill 700; the Bougainville to put up three airstrips America! Di vision had the eastern half. and a defensive perimeter. The rest From November 1943 to March 1944, of the island would be left to the Collins and the other men of the 37th Japanese. The airfields would be Recon Troop conducted many long­ used for fighter aircraft escorting range patrols behind enemy lines. They bombers heading to Rabaul ; as spent more than 60 days in enemy emergency airstrips for bombers; and for cargo planes to bring in BOUGAINVILLE 1943-Collins (right) supplies and evacuate wounded. leads-a long-range reconnaissance The operation began Nov. I , 1943. Photo courtesy of Ohio Historical Society archives patrol deep behind Japanese lines.

16 B U CKEYE GUARD SPRIN G 2000 the grenade over the crest of the hill," he 1999-Collins, at his said. "Time seemed to stand still. Instead Columbus home, displays of hearing the anticipated explosion from the Japanese flag he took the enemy position. I was shocked to after the Battle of Hill 700. discover that the enemy had thrown my grenade back at me! It landed with a thud on the hilltop. The Japanese about I 0 feet from me and exploded. I said broke through G Company's line to myself: 'Now, this isn't the way to do and, by daybreak, occupied a it.' Our grenades had a five-second fuse. 70-by-50-yard salient. So henceforth I'd pull the pin and give The 37th Cav Recon Troop the fuse a couple of seconds to bum had been in reserve and now before I threw the grenade. Then the was called into action. grenade would explode right after it "'When the Japanese hit Hill landed. I never got one of them thrown 700 that night. it was the back at me again." heaviest fighting I experienced Each time Collins heard Japanese in the war," Collins said. "'In the soldiers whispering. he would lob a few evening they brought us up a grenades in their direction. After the road the engineers had carved detonation, he said he would often hear out of the steep back slopes of the wounded Japanese moaning. But, at Hill 700 to an assembly area. At the same time, the Japanese had picked midnight things were quiet, and up on the tracer-like trail created from the we laid down to get some rest. sparkling fuses of Collins' grenades. Around one o'clock we were "Soon Japanese grenades started ordered to move up towards the falling all around me. Grenades fell and Photo by SGT Anthony C. Meldahl. Co. C, 11 Bth ASMB crest of the hill. The slope was exploded all night. One landed three feet territory, reconnoitering and steep and climbing it was tough going." from me. I threw all 45 grenades I had with mapping over 270 miles of trails. Collins, with three other soldiers, worked me. It seemed like that night would never "We were expected to find out his way up the hill. and came across an end." By dawn. a company from the 145th where the Japanese were and what infantryman huddled by a tree. "I asked him Infantry made its way up the slopes from was their strength," Collins said. where the front line was," Collins said. "He behind Collins. An officer told him to "The only way to do that is to go replied that he didn't know. Then I asked move back. The infantrymen had fixed out and make contact. We'd start him, 'Well, where are the Japanese?' He bayonets and were ready to counterat­ shooting and see what happened." pointed ahead and whispered, 'Right there!' tack over the crest of the hill. "As I slid The Japanese 6th Infantry Then he left. Suddenly there was some down the hill heading back lo the road, I Division had been moved up into shouting, and the other three guys disap­ could hear them shouting a battle cry as the sector opposite Hill 700 and the peared. One thing I knew for sure was that I they charged over that crest. I always adjacent Canon Hill. On March 4, was there all alone with about 50 yards of regret not having witnessed that charge. more than 90 percent of the cav the front to myself. "Later that day, I was with a squad recon troop was out in front of the "I felt a chill up my spine when l realized from the recon troop helping the infantry perimeter monitoring the mop up. It was an approach of the Japa­ appalling site to see. nese. By March 8, "I yanked out the piti and lobbed the There were hundreds of Japanese artillery grenade.... lnstead of hearing the anticipated dead Japanese littering shelling caused the the steep slopes. Their patrols to be called back explosion ... / was shocked to discover that the dead were stacked up into the perimeter. four to five men deep on The Japanese began enemy had thrown my grenade back at me!" the barbed wire in front their attack against Hill of our (positions)." 700 during a torrential downpour of that I could hear Japanese soldiers. They This is when Collins claimed a Japa­ rain shortly after midnight on were a short distance away whispering to nese flag that he still has today. March 9. The 145th Infantry each other, right over the crest of the hill." The 37th repulsed eight Japanese Regiment, comprised mainly ofOhio Collins reached into one of three bags of divisional attacks on the perimeter March Guard members from the Young­ hand grenades he had with him and pulled 9-23, 1944.Bytheend,Japan's6th stown area, was defending the ridge one out. "I yanked out the pin and lobbed Infantry was virtually destroyed.•

SPRING 2000 BUCKE Y E GUARD 117 Photo by SMSgt. Larry Wilson, 179th Airlift Wong The F-100 sits disassembled on a flatbed truck, flown from Davls-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., to Mansfield in three trips by a unit C-130 transport aircraft. Mansfield welcomes return of the

Story by Tech. Sgt. Randy Dunham Sixteen members of the I 79th, as well as l 79th Airlift Wing a C-130 crew and one retired former crew chief, flew to Davis-Monthan Air Force e four-year marriage between the Base. near Tucson, to dismantle and I 79th and the F-100 fighter jet was transport an F-100 back to Mansfield. over and a new romance began as For most of the Mansfield senior soon as the first two C-130s eased onto enlisted force who went on the trip. it was the Mansfield-Lahm runway in early a chance to relive fond memories. January 1976. "Everyone on this trip, we go way The fighter unit was becoming an airlift back," said Master Sgt. Ray Curatti. a unit, so when the last F-100 taxied down former welder on the F-100 and current fuels section, went along because she the runway one month after the first C-130 first sergeant for the maintenance squad­ wanted to be a part of bringing some history arrived, no one expected to ever see ron. "We have a history with the F-100 back to Mansfield. However. while she was another Super Sabre back on the and couldn"t pass on the opportunity to there. she found some personal history of her flightline. work on it again." own. But another one soon will be greeting The majority of those who went to the "I called my dad from the hotel to tell him I 79th visitors when they drive in the gate "boneyard" were on personal time, either what we were doing." she said, "and he told at Mansfield-Lahm Airport when the F- taking leave from technician jobs at the me he flew F-100s during Vietnam. I never l 00 is placed next to the F-84 now on base or taking vacation from civilian jobs. knew that. I'in checking the tail number to see static display. Master Sgt. Tit Jones, who works in the ifhe flew this one."

18 B UCKEYE GUARD SPR ING 2000 CENTER: Retired and current members of the 179th Airlift Wing work to remove the vertical and horizontal stabilizers from the F-1 00. LEFT: SSgt. Heidi Bunker removes screws from the rear horizontal stabilizer prior to disassembling the aircraft. BELOW: A crane lifts the vertical stabilizer off the fuselage of the F-100 and places It on the ground while members of the 179th steady the section. Photo by TSgt. Randy Dunham, 179th Airlift Wing

PhotobyTSgt. Randy Dunham. 179th Airlift Wing Photo by TSgt. Randy Dunham, 179th Airlift Wing

As it turned out. Mansfield's "new" F- 100 possibility of getting a loaner F-100 to put Cochran placed a few calls to some was not one Jones' father had flown, but alongside the F-84 currently on display to people he knew, including his identical working on the type of aircraft her father had fill the gap in the unit's aviation history. twin brother, Chief Master Sgt. Dan flown meant a lot to her. "It was really cool "Then we decided, 'what the heck, we Cochran. who is with the state Air Guard talking to him about it and then being able to ought not to borrow one, we ought to staff in Arizona. Together, they came up work on the aircraft," she said. have our own,"' said Chief Master Sgt. with an F-100 that had originally been The idea of bringing an F-1 00 to Dave Cochran. an organizer of the trip. "I destined for another base in another Mansfield to put on static display was born got word there was one available at Davis­ state. As it turned out, the Mansfield during a Chiefs Council meeting on base. Monthan. and we put the whole thing in crew was in the right place. at the right The chiefs had been tossing around the progress." time.•

SPRING 2000 BUCKEYE GUARD j 19 LEFT: TSgt. Ralph Downs (third from left), satellite manager with the 121 st Air Refueling Wing, undergoes a monthly hazardous waste inspection by TSgt. Joe Dixon (from left), TS gt. Keith Koblitz and LeRoy Edwards Ill.

Edwards regularl y conducts inspecti o ns throughout the base and in the buildings, look­ ing for possible infracti ons of EPA, ANG and Defense Department regul ati ons. "Successful programs are accomplished by being well-organized and having devoted mem­ bers," he said. "By our constant efforts, we' ve increased our recycling, reduced air pollutio n and hazardous waste." In Gul fport, wing membersSeniorMasterSgt. Michael J . Lewis and Tech. Sgt.JaniceM . Hunt received the Voluntary Environmental Achieve­ ment A ward, for performing environmental ac­ tivities above and beyond their normal work schedules. Hunt is the team manager for the hazardous material pharmacy program. "We've had con­ Doing a clean-up job tinuo us improveme nt no n-stop over the years ... it keeps getting better," she said. "(Be­ fore), the customers on base were just custom­ Nati onal Guard Environmental Training 121st ARW's base ers-now they are pl ayers in the big team effort; Workshop in Gulfport, Miss. There, the they call me fo r training and want to know what recycling plan earns wing received the Annual Recycling A ward is their responsibility." state, national honors for increasing the amount of materials being Master Sgt. Kell y Ruff, bio-environmental recycled fro m less than 20,000 pounds in team manager, also oversees occupational health 1993 to more than 346,000 pounds in 1998. Story by Master Sgt. Ealnor Grey issues for the wing. Ruff works directly with HQ, Ohio ANG Materials recycled at the base include used Hunt in authorizing use of hazardous waste Photos by Master Sgt. Kim Frey batteries, paper, cardboard, metal, wood, materi al and determining if items could possibly ti res, fluorescent li ght bulbs, plastic bead 121st Air Refueling Wing be carcinogenic. blasting medi a, used oil, plasti c compact Ruff said hi s job has become easier over the hen it comes to an issue such diskettes, toner cartridges and antifreeze. years. "I go into the shops (now) and the people LeRoy Edwards flI, a state environmental as recycling, it's OK to use the know what I'm doing, pl us the senior leadership speciali st at Rickenbacker, received two W same idea over and over again. is supportive," he said. individual awards-the ANG Recycling Members of the 12 l st Air Refu eling 'Tm very pleased at the total buy-in through­ Wing, located at Rickenbacker Air National A ward fo r Indi vidualffeam Excellence and out the unit," said Brig. Gen. Lance Meyer, the ANG State Environmental Employee Guard Base in Columbus, have worked dili­ commanderofthe 12 lst. "That's what has made Award. Within fi ve months of when he gently the past few years to execute the the base recycling program so successful." • base recycling plan. A team effort has led to began working in January 1998, Edwards a significant reducti on in hazardous waste effecti vely established a standard operat­ produced while increasing the amount of ing procedure enforcing both the Air Na­ materials that are recycled. ti onal Guard and Environmental Protection "To make a program successful , you need Agency guidelines, according to Jones. a buy-in from everybody that works at the Edwards ensured the continued success wing," said Roger Jones, I 2 1st federal en­ of the environmental program by imple­ vironmental coordinator. "If there was no menting the use of hazardous waste inspec­ support here, there would be nothing spe­ tion teams, which serve as a check and cial about our program. We have about balance system. eight environmental teams." "We have 13 hazardous waste satellite Last year, the unit continued what is accumulation points on base, and each has becoming a regular occurrence-earning an assigned satellite manager," Edwards state and national recognition for its envi­ said. "Each location is inspected mo nthly, ronmental efforts. In October, Gov. Bob by a different inspectio n team, and the team Taft presented the unit with a Governor's members rotate roles between satellite Award fo r Outstanding Achievement in manager and inspector to gain experience. Pollution Preventio n, one of just a few pre­ 'The satellite managers are solely re­ Earl Thompson, an employee of Rumpke sented each year statewide. sponsible fo r the daily and weekl y docu­ Waste Removal and Recycling, Inc., comes The unit and some indi viduals received mentati on, container waste management every Thursday to Rickenbacker Airport to further recognition Feb. 8 during the Air and proper di sposal of hazardous waste." pick up used paper for recycling.

20 IB u c K E y E G u A R D s p R I N G 2 0 0 0 2000 Family Readiness Conference largest ever Story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Bob Mullins HQ STARC( -)

he annual Ohio National TGuard Family Readiness Conference is over for 2000- however, the need for continual preparation and the necessity for family support is not. During amid-April weekend, 351 volunteers came together with one mission in mind: find ways to better support Guard families. This gathering was the largest in Ohio's history, com­ ABOVE: Elisabeth Lehman, a bining both Army and Air Guard 237th Forward Support family support groups for a joint Battalion family support conference. group member, said: "We Since the first shot was fired cannot be successful as a for freedom, military men and family unless we support women have been asked to leave each other." RIGHT: Lillian their families and put their per­ Collins displays her Molly sonal lives on hold while travel­ Pitcher statuette given to her ing throughout the world to as the Adjutant General's carry the torch for democracy. Volunteer of the Year. Being committed to the mission means putting the responsibil­ which in turn assists each unit necessary personnel are in place Master Sgt. Orland Willis, of ity of the household with others. family support group. The pri­ to assist you and your family. Headquarters and Headquarters The modem military now has mary objective of the state pro­ Depend on your family support Company, l-l47th Armor Bat­ realized the importance of pro­ gram and subordinate unit sup­ group and the chain of com­ talion, Cincinnati. received the viding assistance not only to port groups is to make the family mand," said Col. Margaret Adjutant General's Military Li­ the activated soldiers and air­ aware of entitlements and ben­ Skelton. state family readiness aison Award. "Any soldier or men, but also to their families. efits before and during activa­ officer. "Family support groups airman who becomes a member Family readiness has gained tion. departure and return for originate at each unit through­ of the National Guard has to momentum over the last two the guardmember. If problems out the state. plan to become a part of the decades and is now a well-orga­ arise, the family support group Volunteers are always wel­ Guard family, and the rest of us nized program which was tested is a point ofcontact between the come and needed. It must be need to support that," he said. more recently during Operations family and the guardmember. understood that what we all do "Over the past two decades, Desert Shield/Storm and other Family support is an all-vol­ will someday reflect on our own family and community relation­ long-tenndeployment'>, and has unteer organization that spe­ military families." ships have changed enor­ been termed very successful. cializes in caring and giving. Those earning special recog­ mously," said Maj. Gen. John H. "The family support organ­ Elisabeth Lehman is a family nition at this year's conference, Smith, state adjutant general. ization's value is what will keep support group member with the held April 14-16 in Dublin, in­ "It has become increasingly our soldiers and airmen strong 237th Forward Support Battal­ cluded the Adjutant General's clear that we cannot ignore the and helps bring them the best of ion, headquartered in Spring­ Volunteer of the Year Award importance of family readiness what we can do for each other," field. Lehman ha'> a full-time job, winner Lillian Collins, family and its impact on the well-being said Brig. Gen. PaulJ. Sullivan, and cares for her four children: support group chairperson for ofour soldiers, ainnen and units. Ohio's assistant adjutant gen­ Joel, 7; Amandah, 9; Hannah, the 2-174th Air Defense Artil­ "Family readiness is about eral for Air. A supporter offam­ 10; and Daniel, J1. lery (Avenger) Battalion, addressing critical, family needs, ily readiness programs fora long "Helping with the family as­ McConnelsville. Her husband ifor when they (guardmembers) time, Sullivan attended this sistance group is a priority. We is Master Sgt. David G. Collins. are mobilized."• year's conference. cannot be successful as a family The AdjutantGeneral'sFam­ National Guard Bureau bas unless we support each other," ily of the Year Award was pre­ designated2000asthe ..Yearof Lehman said. Her husband, 1st sented to Command ChiefMas­ the Family;• to ·ze the Lt. GaryLehIDan, iscommander terSgt.Bemie H8.gl,ofthe t2lst im of ofComPfUty A. 237tb FSB. Air Refueling Wmg, Columbus. Each uruthastherespoosibtl­ and hiS WJfe; Ila, for their m~ e . d . J.)f,)}1 volvem Ohio ounciJ arion-Franklin High School students needed no paper or pencils for their final exam March 21 at Rickenbacker Airport, Columbus. Participants in the Ohio M National Guard's ethics-based character education program, Higher Ground, the students culminated six weeks of guardmember-led classroom instruction with a low ropes team-building course. Students worked together to conquer exercises including the Boxed Spider Web, Blindfold Walk and Big Foot. For more information on this course and equipment,call I st Lt. Phil McGonagill at(614) 336-6432ore-mail mcgonagillp@oh­ amg.ngb.army.mil. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTME T PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

Photos by Steve Toth Adj. Gen. Dept. Public Affairs Office

22 B U C K E Y E G U A R D S P A I N G 2 0 0 0 Guarding against drugs ing thank you cards Ohio could become satellite to the guard members in attendance. counterdrug training center Members of the The Northeast Counterdrug Training preschool each car­ Center (NCTC), located at Fort ried a letter of the Indiantown Gap, Pa., was established in phrase "thank you," October 1998 to provide a no-cost that is until the stu­ counterdrug training and education cen­ dent with the letter ter supporting the northeastern United "k" decided he was States. The NCTC is managed by the too tired to stand in Pennsylvani a Counterdrug Program. line anymore. Law enforcement and demand reduc­ Young said the tion professionals attend free of charge, ceremony recognized including room and board. The only Photo byOC Don Flowers, HQ STA RC(·) what the National expense to the student is the cost of Sacred Heart Elementary fourth-grader Richard Skelton Guard is all about. transportation to NCTC. Often this cost (right) chose to render a salute to BG Ronald G. Young, "We want to help can prevent students from attending, assistant adjutant general for Army, as a way to thank shape the leaders of therefore the NCTC is working with the guard members for building a new art room at the school. tomorrow," he said. Ohio Counterdrug Task Force to estab­ Smith said he wants li sh a satellite center in Ohio. The most General improvement: citizens to understand the duties of the likely location will be Rickenbacker Air­ National Guard. "We have a federal state port, Columbus. This location offers Guard helps build art room and community mission," he said. ' both Army and Air training facilities at Coshocton-area school This particular day, the Guard was on a ideall y suited to host NCTC training. Some of the top leaders in the Ohio community mission that benefited Sacred Instructor for the courses are nation­ all y recogni zed subject matter experts National Guard visited Sacred Heart School Heart and the future of the art world. LEAH in Coshocton Feb. LO to help welcome a NAIRN, COSHOCTON T RIB UNE from law enforcement and demand re­ little culture to the building. duction communities. Under the char­ Maj . Gen. John H. Smith, state adjutant ONG offers training course ter of the training center, law enfo rce­ general, Brig. Gen. Ronald G. Young, ment officials review all courses. assistant adjutant general for Army, and to mentor at-risk youth The training center is also negotiat­ Co l. Margaret Skelton, state family readi­ To better prepare soldiers and airmen ing with several colleges and universi­ ness program officer, cut the ribbon on who are interested in serving as volunteer ties to provide continuing education the new art room for the school. The art cadre for discipli ne-oriented youth activi­ credits for NCTC courses. Courses of­ room is located in what was an unim­ ties, the Ohio National Guard will provide a fe red include analytical techniques, ba­ proved cell ar. certifi ed training course Aug. 20-Sep. 1. sic Spanish for law enforcement, basic The room was made possible through The Rehabilitation Training Instructor warrant execution, criminal street gang the Adopt-A-School program, through Course (RTIC) is a two-week program taught identification, domestic money launder­ which the Ohio National Guard adopted by the U.S. Army Military Police School. It ing and grant writing. Courses are ex­ Sacred Heart School back in 1992. is designed to assist the National Drug pected to begin in fi scal year 2001. The 2 1 I th Maintenance Company, New­ Control Strategy by providing instructor The Ohio Counterdrug Task Force ark, along with soldiers from Headquarters, training to federal, state and local agencies recently conducted a practice evalua­ State Area Command, Columbus; 737th who have adopted a military-style "boot tion of the New Jersey counterdrug pro­ Maintenance Battalion, Mount Vernon; camp" program, similar to the Ohio National gram at the request of the New Jersey and 73rd Troop Command, Columbus, do­ Guard 's TEAM (Teen Education and Moti­ counterdrug coordinator. The purpose nated six weeks of volunteer time to the vation) camp offered each summer. of the vi sit was to evaluate the New remodeling of th~ cell ar. The purpose is to provide a unique train­ Jersey Program using the same criteria What was once a dark and unapproach­ ing opportunity not available elsewhere in tha t the Nati onal Guard Bureau able area is now a bright and colorful art the country by training selected staff in the counterdrug office uses. The New Jer­ room with restrooms and a tutoring area. art of drill instructor techniques. sey program, while much larger than The guard members dry-walled theentire Training will incorporate principles de­ Ohio, conducts many of the same mis­ basement, fi re-bricked the furnace, installed signed to maintain a constant level of stress sions. The soldiers and airmen of the 700 feet of wiring, replaced heaters, added control and discipline needed to alterunde~ program were all first rate and enthusi­ television and telephone hookups, and put sirable behavior. Topics include counsel­ astic. The "Garden State" counterdrug in a drop ceiling to hide all of the exposed ing, evaluation, leadership, discipline, drill program passed the practice evaluation studs, wires and pipes. and ceremony, physical fi tness, gang aware­ with flying colors. The art room will eventually have its own ness and methods of instruction. The success of this event has spurred kiln, which was donated by the Salvation For more in formati on, contact 1st Sgt. the interest of other states in the region. Army of Mount Vernon. Darrell Carson by phone at ( 614) 336-6381 or Wisconsin requested a practice evalua­ Sacred Heart students thanked the Guard e-mail carso11dw@oh -arng.11gb.army.mil. tion as well, which was scheduled to by singing fa miliar tunes with new words l L T PHIL MCGONAGILL, DRUG DEMAN D take place this spring. LT COL ROBERT expressing their appreciation and present- REDUCT ION OFFICE BAYLOR, COUNTERDRUG OFFICE

SP RIN G 2 000 BUCK EYE GU ARD 123

1 Buckeye briefs

ingannualtrainingin 2001. on diversity. "Senior managers guiding their The unit was last at NTC in organization toward a more prosperous 1997. future are challenged to create a workplace During February drill, 60- climate in which diverse interest group 80soldiers worked with UH­ members feel respected, empowered and i "Huey" heli copters, con­ rewarded for providing quality goods and ducting flight training for service," Betances said. their aerial assault mission About 150 officersandenli stedmembers at NTC. They also practiced attended. "I can safely say it's been nearly exiting the ai rcraft and as­ 15 years since we've had a combined meet­ suming defensive posi­ ing of this magnitude," said Maj. Gen. John ti ons. SPCDAVESCHULTZ, H. Smith, state adjutant general. A COMPANY, 1-I48TH IN­ During the joint session Col. E. J. Tho­ FANTRY mas, vicecommanderofthe 121s t Air Refu­ eling Wing, received the ONGA Distin­ Courtesy photo SGT Robert Rorick, of D Company, 137th Aviation Deadline nears for guished Service Award for helping to Battalion, demilitarizes a UH-60 'Black Hawk' main softball tourney achieve the implementation of the Ohio rotor hub during annual training in Germany. National Guard Scholarship Program while Entries are currently be- he served as the chairman of the House ing accepted for the Ohio Finance Committee in the state Legislature. Helicopter maintainers test Airand Army National Guard State Softball MSGT EALNOR GREY, HQ OHANG skills overseas in Germany Tournament, scheduled for June 24 at Fairfield Park in Fairborn. Nominations being taken for A team of25 personnel from D Com­ Hosted by the I 78th Fighter Wing, Spring­ pany, I 37th A via ti on (A VIM) Battalion, fi eld, cost for Army and Air Guard units to Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame headquartered in Columbus, spent three enter is $ 140 per team. Play will be con­ Since 1992, approximately 20 veterans a weeks, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 19, in ducted in men's and co-ed divisions. year are inducted into the Ohio Veterans Mannheim, Germany, to support the It is requested that entries by sent by Hall of Fame. Those chosen for this honor active-duty 2-502nd Aviation Regiment. June I I. For more information, call Senior have made significant contributions by The active unit's mission is to pro­ Master Sgt. Chris Muncy at (937) 327-2305, achieving excell ence in their selected fi eld vide inte1mediate repairand maintenance Senior Airman Becky Muncy, (937) 327- or profession, or as volunteers for veterans for all Army helicopters assigned to units 220 I or StaffSgt. Tony Morgan at(937) 327- ortheircommunity. in the European Theater, which includes 2 17 1. SMSGT C HRIS MUNCY, 251ST COM­ This Hall of Fame recognizes the contri­ UH-60 "Black Hawks," CH-47 "Chi­ BAT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP butions of veterans following their honor­ nooks" and AH-64 "Apaches." able service in the armed forces of the "The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Joint leadership conference United States. While a person may have maintenance and repair is Company D's had a distinguished record in the military, primary mi ssion," said Chief Warrant breaks new ground that will not qualify them for entry into the Officer William Crossley, who was the It has been more than a decade since the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. officer-in-charge. "This augments well Ohio Army and Ai r National Guard attended If you know of someone who might be with the regiment's workload of Black a combined leadership conference. worthy of consideration for the Ohio Veter­ Hawks. The regiment counts on Guard The Army and Air joined togetherto hear ans Hall of Fame, nomination forms may be units from the States to provide support experts leccureon two common subjects­ requested by calling Coordinator Shannon with their ongoing mission in Europe." anthrax and diversity-at the Defense Sup­ Scherer at (614) 752-8941. All nominations Sgt. I st Class Kirk Kmetko, the non­ ply Center-Colu mbus on Feb. 26. must be postmarked by June 30. SHANNON commissioned officer-in-charge, said It has been tradition that every year dur­ SCHERER, OHIO VETERANS HALL OF FAME "This is the best training one can get­ ing the weekend of the Ohio National Guard working every day with an active Army Association Winter Dinner Dance, both 31th ID Veterans Association unit. Your work results in helping the the Air and Army Guard would have sepa­ soldiers complete their missions in Ger­ rate annual meetings. The Air Guard has a planning annual get-together many, Bosnia and Italy." SSG T.J. senior leadership conference, which in­ The 82nd consecutive reunion of the MILLER, D COMPANY, 137th AVIATION cludes both officers and enlisted members, 37th Division Veterans Association will be BATTALION (AVIM) and the Army Guard has a semi-annual he ld Sept. 1-3 at the Comfort Inn, commanders' call for senior-level officers. Austinburgh (Ashtabula area). The hotel is Unit trains for NTC mission This year, Air and Army officer and en­ located at the intersection of state Route45 listed personnel attended a morning joint and l-90, exit 223. Recent training for Alpha Company, session to hear Dr. Martin Hugh-Jones, To make re ervationscall (440) 275-2711 I - J 48th Infa ntry, Hillsboro, has been in professor of epidemiology at the School of no later than Aug. 15. For more information, preparation for the unit's return to the Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State Uni­ call Secretary Nick Scarpa at (30 I) 843-6352 National Training Center (NTC) at Fon versity, lecture on anthrax and Dr. Samuel or President Don Sanfrey at (330) 898-430 I. Irwin, Calif. Unit members will be part of Betances, seni or consultant at Altshul COL (RET.) CYRIL SEDLACKO, 37TH ID the Red OPFOR (opposing forces) dur- Group Corporation Uni ted Learning, speak VETERANS ASSOCIATION

24 B U C K E Y E G U A R D S P R I NG 2 0 0 0 OHARNG will sponsor Rebecca Arp were honored with the Artillery Order of motorcycle run for charity Molly Pitcher for their out­ The Ohio Army National Guard wi II host standing contributions to the a motorcycle run Sept. 30 to raise money for artillery community. the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The run Retired Col. Cyril L. will begin in Marion, cover several towns in Sedlacko, an Ohio Guard north-central Ohio and end in Mansfield. World War II and Korea vet­ For more information, contact Sgt. I st Class eran, was the guest speaker. Charlotte Sheppard at ( 419) 534-8595 or Sedlacko was inducted that [email protected]. SFC evening into the Ancient Or­ CHARLOTTE SHEPPARD, DET. 4, HQ STARC der of Saint Barbara. This very special distinc­ Courtesy photo Ohio artillerymen honor tion was the first such award SSG Kevin Colwell, of Company B, 2-19th Special patron saint with banquet in Ohio. CPT RICK NIEHE, Forces Group, engages pop-up targets in Hogan's HHB , 1-134TH FIELD ARTIL­ Alley, an advanced urban combat course at Officers, enlisted members and their LERY BATTALION Blackwater Training Center, in Moyock, N.C. guests from the 2- l 74th Air Defense Artil­ lery Battallion, McConnelsville, and 1-l 34th Buckeye Guard tops in 1999 Blackwater Training Facility is offi­ Field Artillery, Columbus, came together The Ohio National Guard again took top ciall y approved for use by the U.S. Spe­ Feb. 19 to honor the Patron Saint of the honors in the 1999 National Guard Bureau cial Operations Command and regularly Arti llery, Saint Barbara. Media Contest conducted earlier this year. hosts active-duty U.S. Army Special The celebration was held at the Officer's The Buckeye Guard won first place in the Forces teams and Navy SEALs, as well Club at DCSS in Columbus. This occasion as police SWAT teams from around the marked the first-ever statewide celebration magazine category for the second year in a row. The magazine was then forwarded to nation and world. of the "Buckeye Redlegs" as an artillery the Department of the Army's worldwide Company B, 2- l 9th SFG(A) is the first community. All artillerymen with Army Re­ KeithL. Ware journalism competition, where National Guard Special Forces unit to serve and National Guard field artillery or air train at Blackwater. defense artillery service were invited. it placed second in its category. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE During the first week of the course A formal ceremony fo llowed dinner in every minute of every day was spent on which nine attendees were inducted into Special Forces unit trains to the range. SF soldiers fired a minimum of the Honorable OrderofSaint Barbara: Maj. 500 rounds per man, per day through Gen. DavidT. Hartley; Sgts. 1st Class Cully survive in hostile fire zones their M9 pistols and M4Al carbines. J. Cannon and James M. Moore; 1st Lt. "The minimum standard here is simple. Sgt. 1st Class Rick Githens, the team's Wi ll iam M. Anderson; and Capts. John J. Never miss the target. Weare going to teach special operations medical sergeant Erwin, Ralph MacCrum, Michael Y. Draper, you to shoot faster and more accurately said, "It was some of the best training I Robert C. Fenstermaker and William S. than you ever thought possible." have ever received. Fast and furious, Brewster. In addition, Linda Forrider and Those words were from Dale McClellan, but very safe. I am much more confident former Navy SEAL and in my ability to engage multiple targets seni or instructor at the quickly, accurately and consistently." Blackwater Training The big exam at the end of the first Center,inMoyock,N.C. week was held in Blackwater's urban Ten soldiers from the combat complex known as "Hogan's Ohio Army Guard's Alley." Soldiers had to run for ti me Special Forces com­ through a maze of buildings, rooms, pany stood on the range alleys, stairs and rooftops. Junk ve­ and listened. Though hicles littered the streets. Some targets some of them probably could only be engaged by shooting thought, "Easier said underneath or through the car windows. than done, " by the end "The faci lities were state-of-the-art, of the first day they top notch and were far superior to any­ would be believers. thing normally available to us," said Photo by SGT J.R. Lewis, HQ STARC(·) In March, members Staff Sgt. Kevin Colwell, special opera­ Several members of Troop B, 2-107th Cavalry, Lebanon, of Special Forces Op­ tions communication sergeant. including SGT Carl Campbell (second from left) and PV2 erational Detachment­ After their training at Blackwater, Randall Hawley (fourth from left), recently were Alpha, Company B, 2- these soldiers are even more confident presented with Blue Streak checks for amounts up to l 9th Special Forces that they can accomplish their missions $250 for helping recruit new members into the Ohio Group (Airborne), at­ in hostile fire zones. For more informa­ National Guard. Also pictured are Troop B 1 SG Bill tended two weeks of tion on the unit, call (614) 336-6477. SGT Belding (from left), unit recruiter SSG Mike Prows and training at this civil ian­ MARK SEXTON, COMPANY B. 2-19TH CPT Jimmey Todd, Troop B commander. operated, tactical SPECIAL FORCES GROUP shooting school.

S p R I N G 2 0 0 0 B U C K E Y E G U A R D 125 all about People

contingency environment. In "I still don't think I did anything that big. this competition, the 641 st team I was just trying to help out." of team chief Felty, Sgt. Chuck Walker, 24, credits his parents for influ­ Gray and Pvt. Steve Bradley took encing him to help others. "I was told to honors as the best water recon­ always help others as best I can. I'm from the naissance team in the Army old school where it takes a village to raise a worldwide. child. Everyone should help out," he said. "It wasalearningexperience," The Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Felty said. "I was happy with awardedWalkerandBondfor their bravery. how we worked together, and TSGT LORI KING, 180TH FIGHTER WING we really did well at the recon." ARMY NEWS SERVICE/ADJU­ Mansfield airmen honored TANTGENERAL'SDEPARTMENT Photo by MAJ Barb Herrington-Clemens, Camp Perry Public Affairs PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE at environmental confere nee In a ceremony at Camp Perry, Maj. Gen. John H. The I 79th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, found Smith (left), state adjutant general, congratulates 180th airman saves itself in familiar territory at the annual Air SGT Crystal Felty (from left), SGT Chuck Gray and National Guard Environmental Workshop, PV2 Steve Bradley of the 641st Quartermaster boy from assault held Feb. 7-11 in Gulfport, Miss. This year, Detachmentforwinning the ROW PU Rodeo water When a 13-year-old Cincin­ two I 79th members-Tech. Sgt. Mark reconniassance competition at Fort Lee, Va. nati boy walking to school one Heacock and Master Sgt. Randall Johnson, morning was attacked by an both of the wing engine/propulsion sec­ Ohio Guard quartermaster adult male, bystanders watched from their tion-walked away with Environmental apartments and a nearby bus stop. Voluntary Achievement Awards. soldiers among Army's best "No one did anything about it, and I Heacock and Johnson spent countless Liquid Gold. H20. Water. Thirsty sol­ thought there was a problem with that," hours assisting the wing environmental diers gotta have it, and their best bet said Senior Airman Glenn Walker, a stock management office with the collection and rests with teams competing in the an­ controller with Toledo's l 80th Fighter Wing. processing of C-130 engine compressor nual ROWPURodeo. So Walker, and his girlfriend, Tiffany wash water, which is classified as a hazard­ Fort Lee, Va., hosted the John C. Bond, came to the boy's rescue by calling ous waste. This engine washwater has pre­ Marigliano Tactical Water Operations the police, then bombarding the adult at­ sented serious problems and increased the ROWPU Rodeo, where teams from all tacker with bricks, bottles, a broom stick hazardous waste generation for all C-130 components of the Army competed and and a trash can. units within the Department of Defense. tested their working knowledge of Re­ "At first glance, we thought it was two The l 79th was the first organization, DoD­ verse Osmosis Water Purfication Unit roommates fighting, but when I got closer wide, to implement a process to collect and functions Ap1il 10-14. Preliminary com­ and saw it was a little treat this washwater, enabling the unit to petition took place Feb. 28-March 10 at kid, that's when I got reduce its hazardous waste generation by Fort Bragg, N .C., with 31 teams compet­ concerned," Walker 70 percent. Both individuals also were in­ ing, I I from the reserve components. remembered. "I strumental in the planning and coordination Six teams, including one comprised of asked the little kid if of the wing's 1999 Earth Day Celebration. members of the 64 l st Quartermaster he knew the guy. lLT TROY A. CRAMER, 179TH A IRLIFT Detachment, Kettering, emerged from 'No,pleasehelpme,' WING Bragg to compete at Lee. At Bragg, the he said. I told Tif­ 64 l st team ofteam chief Sgt. Tony Stein, fany to call the po­ Employer now sees National Sgt. Crystal Felty, Spc. Dave Nickerson lice. and Pfc. Terry Jaynes placed second "The guy was sit­ Guard in different light among reserve component teams to ting on the kid, Walker A problem that many National Guard mem­ advance onward. punching him in the face while the kid was bers face from time to time is a lack of Today's modern Army relies on the still calling for help. I found a broom handle understanding from their civilian employer. ROWPU to purify brackish water and and came back to the little kid. By that time A citizen-soldier has a commitment to his or salt water. The ROWPU, resembling a Tiffany was behind me, and the guy started her employer, but there is also a serious large trailer, comes in a variety of sizes saying derogatory remarks to her and laugh­ commitmentto Uncle Sam. Recently, mem­ and uses a variety of chemicals and ing at me. I hit him with the stick and she bers of Company E, l-148th Infantry, Ur­ membranes to filter and purify water for threw a bottle, and then she hi t him with a bana, helped educate one such employer consumption. trash can. But the guy kept coming at us. about the Guard. On the first day of competition, par­ "The brick, the bottle and the broom stick Grove City resident Sherrie Perkins, man­ ticipants completed a difficult written didn't affect him. It took three or four cops agerof special programs for the engineering exam and conducted reconnaissance of to contain him after they sprayed him with program management department of Qwest a creek bed at Fort Lee. The soldiers mace," Walker added. Communication in Dublin, was invited to determined water quality and availabil­ Walker, a Toledo native and a l 80th mem­ spend a day at a weekend drill with unit ity, and performed site laboratory tests ber since 1996, admits he's uncomfortable members. Perkins said she did not under­ in the same manner they would in a with the attention he's received since the stand why her employee, Capt. David Baird, heroic incident. also Company E commander, spent many

26 B U C K E Y E G U A R D S P R I NG 2 0 0 0 hours of hi s "free-time" working on Na­ influence others in the organization. The tional Guard-related issues. military also brings team building skills to the Perkins started her day with a tour of the organization, which is vital to an employer's unit's facilities and a brief history lesson awareness of the importance of the Guard." on the 148th Infantry Battalion. In addition to a new outlook on the Na­ She later learned about the different tional Guard and its soldiers, Perkins was individual weapons and weapons systems given a certificate of appreciation for her used by Army National Guardmembers, visit. SSG RALPH G. ROHNER III, COM­ including the TOW (Tube-launched Opti­ PANY E, l -148TH INFANTRY cally-tracked Wire-guided) missile system, which is the primary deployment weapon Lorain Southview )ROTC used by Company E. After completing a TOW fire mission on cadets march to top of class a computer simulator, Perkins was able to The third annual Junior ROTC Color Guard see that it takes highly developed skill and Competition took place Feb. 19 at Ohio Na­ knowledge to be able to successfully op­ tional Guard Headquarters, Beightler Ar­ erate the equipment. mory, Columbus. Unit members explained the importance Sponsored by the office of the state com­ of employers supporting their employees mand sergeant major, the best high school who serve in the reserve components, drill teams from around Ohio once again vied especiall y during state emergencies when for top honors. Nine schools participated­ guardmembers are called to help with ci vi I Lorain Southview High School (two teams), PhotobyTSgt. Lori King, 1Both Fighter Wing disturbances or natural disasters. Colonel White High School (two teams), MSgt. John Coy displays his $3,534 Perkins said the best part of her day South High School, Western Hills High check for saving the Air Force money. "was four-wheeling in the humvee and the School (two teams), Live Oaks Career Devel­ 90 l ."Humvees arethe military's four-wheel opment Center, Ray en High School, Kenton Savvy Toledo guardmembers drive all -terrain vehicles, and a 90 I is an High School (two teams), Martins Ferry High armored personnel carrier equipped with a School and West High School. save Air Force big money TOW missile system. Defending champion Lorain Southview Two 180th Fighter Wing members re­ "(Dri II) was nothing I ike I thought, every­ High School's A Team-comprised of Ca­ cently saved the Air Force an estimated one was very professional, and I couldn' t dets Michelle Rushinsky, Jessica Tomazic, $47, 116 annually by discovering a $2,500 believe the amount of organization and Amanda Pruchnicki and Edwin Guzman­ discrepancy on a portable weigh sta­ planning that goes into a drill weekend," again took top honors in the competition. tion. Perkins said. "I understand now that this Colonel White High School's B Team Master Sgt. John Coy and Tech. Sgt. isn' t all play and what you are doing is placed second and, not to be outdone by TambraLipperdivideda lumpsumaward serious business. I never reall y reali zed their fellow cadets, Lorain Southview's B of$7 ,068, given through the Toledo unit's the true benefits to the state, but also the Team was third. suggestion program for a Zero Over­ employers. The top three teams earned plaques price challenge. The weigh station is "You' re not only receiving training to shaped like the state of Ohio. Every cadet used to weigh pallets for mobility flights. defend your country and our freedom, but who participated received a certificate of Lipper, a fu ll-time technician and the you also live by a set of values that is excellence, signed by Ohio Army National funds manager for supply, researched brought into the workplace which inspires Guard State Command Sgt. Maj. Michael 0. the item and found a price discrepancy. others-values such as loyalty, integrity, Howley. He and Master Sgt. Tonya Minor, She then turned the item paperwork over and good solid work ethics, which can the event coordinator, personall y visited to Coy, the systems analyst and the Zero each high school to formal ly Overprice Monitor for supply. He then present the plaques and speak to filed the discrepancy paperwork with the cadets concerning their the Defense Supply Center in Richmond, achievement. Va., a government supply warehouse. T he Ohio Army National The warehouse item manager agreed Guard's Southern State Honor the item was overpriced by nearly $2,500, Guard Team suppo1ted the com­ according to the new price list that was petition. The Southern Honor out in February. Then the item manager Guard provided judges for the estimated the number of the portable function. Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Smith weigh stations that would be purchased was in charge of the judges­ this year throughout the Air Force. That StaffSgt. Tony Six, StaffSgt. Keith quantity was multiplied by the net sav­ PhotobyMSGTonyaMinor, HOSTARC(·) Hambel and Spc. Steven Gastin. ings to get the amount of cash the Air State CSM Michael 0 . Howley (third from left), Judges chose top placers us­ Force would save in the following year. presents the Junior ROTC Color Guard Competition ing criteria published in Army Monetary awards are based upon the first-place plaque to Lorain Southview High School Field Manual 22-5,DrillandCer­ amount saved in a one-year period. SSGT CDTs Jessica Tomazic (from left), Edwin Guzman, emonies. MASTER SGT. TONYA JOE POIRIER, I 80TH FIGHTER WING Michelle Rushinsky and Amanda Pruchnicki. MINOR, HQ STARC (-)

S p R I N G 2 0 0 0 B U C K E YE G U AR D 127 guardmember Benefits

Conferences offer business tary and civilian employees the option to veteran did not reside in Ohio at the time of make changes directly to their pay accounts the enli stment, the student must have re­ opportunities to former, in a secure electronic environment. sided in Ohio for the last preceding five current military members "This is a voluntary program that will years. Applicants must be in fi nancial need, Hate your job? In a dead end career? allow members to take control of their pay as determined by the board, and must be Ever thought about working for yourself accounts," said David Gruba, civilian pay recommended by a principal ofa high school and running your own small business? and disbursing analyst at the Air Force that he or she has attended. Ifyou answered yes to any or all of the Accounting and Finance Office in The application dead­ above questions, you may be a candi­ Denver. "It wi ll save the customer line is not later than July date for self-employment. Join your fel­ time, and it wi ll save the finance I of each year, with low veterans at one of the 2000 Veterans people time." funds being disbursed Mean Business conferences. This fall The service will be available beginning with the fall the Governor's Office of Veterans Af­ via telephone and the Internet term to approved fairs will offer its third annual series of 24hoursaday. TheE/MSS will scholarship recipients. conferences. Last year, about 250 veter­ allow members to update fed­ For more informa­ ans attended the Veterans Mean Busi­ eral tax (W-4) withholding in­ tion, contactJoseph R. ness conferences in Cincinnati, Colum­ formation; allotments; net pay elec- Lenhart, veterans service bus and Cleveland. In addition to those tronic fund transfers; and changes in cor­ officer at 201 S. Willli pie St. three locations, this year's conferences respondence and home addresses. SuiteG-7, Wapokoneta, Ohio45895, or call will be offered in Dayton, Toledo and Future services will add the ability to (4 19) 738-28 I 3. OHIO STUDENT AID COM­ Canton-Akron as well. change e-mail addresses; make savings MISSION These one-day conferences will pro­ bond amount and address changes; re­ vide valuable information on business quest reissue of W-2s; request forms and New Air National Guard planning, business financing and busi­ publications; get pay certifications for re­ tuition program available tirees, and provide military pre-retirement ness management. Participants will be The new Air National Guard Tuition As­ requests. AIR FORCE PRINT NEWS connected with a wide variety of re­ sistance Program kicked off April 1. sources to help determine if self­ Some Ohio veterans' children This program is available to any ANG employment is right for them, and if so, member or technician in good standing who what they need to do and what help is eligible for college scholarship has completed initial training and will have available as they prepare to launch their Each year, the Ohio Student Aid Com­ at least one year retai nabi 1i ty upon comple­ self-employment venture. mission (OSAC) offers an educational schol­ tion of applicable post-secondary courses. Dates and exact locations of the con­ arship program for children of deceased or However, the program is not retroactive. ferences will be announced later this di sabled war-time veterans. Proper enrollment procedures must be year. The sponsors of the conferences The program, called the "Ohio War Or­ followed in order fo r members to take ad­ areAMVETS, Small Business Adminis­ phans Scholarshi p," must be used to pay vantage of the program. tration (SBA), Service Corps of Retired for general and instructional fees only. The Qualifying courses include: distance Executives (SCORE), Governor's Office amount of the scholarship is determined by learning courses from schools listed in the of Veterans Affairs, Ohio Bureau ofEm­ which institution of higher learning the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Edu­ ployment Services (OBES) and Depart­ student is attending. cation Support (DANTES) External Degree ment of Veterans Affairs (VA). For a student to be eligible, either parent catalog, DANTES Independent Study cata­ More information is available on the must be a disabled veteran or a deceased log or the DANTES catalog of Nationally VA website, www.vba.gov/ro/centra// veteran at the time of the application. Ifth e Accredited Distance Learning Programs. cleve!index.htm. Links to all the spon­ veteran served only in the Ohio National Courses must lead to a certification, li­ soring agencies are also available on the Guard or organi zed reserves, the veteran censing, associate' s, bachelor's or master's website. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF must have been killed or have become per­ degree. AirGuardmembers may not use this VETERANS AFFAIRS manently and totally disabled while at a program to fund doctorateorsimilarprofes­ scheduled train ing assembly, field training sional degrees. DFAS begins implementation or active-duty for training. If the veteran is Tuition Assistance is limited to $ 1,000 per disabled, but not as a member of the Ohio student per fiscal year, and wi ll be reim­ of electronic pay services National Guard or organized reserves, the bursed to the student upon successful Access to some financial and person­ veteran must have a 60 percent or greater course completion. nel record services is only a click away service connected disability or must be Tuition assistance will be reimbursed for at the Defense Finance and Accounting receiving benefits from the Veterans Ad­ 75 percent of tuition, or $ 187.50 per se­ Service Employee-Member Self-Service ministration for a non-service connected mester hour, whichever is less. The pro­ program. total and permanent disability. gram covers only costs related to tuition; it The DPAS launched the E/MSS ini tia­ Several student eligibility requirements does not cover books and fees. ti vein February for Defense Department must be met at the time of application. The ANG members who are interested in the civilians, retirees and beneficiaries; and applicant must be at least 16 years old but program should call their unit Community this summer wi II do the same for active, has not reached hi s or her 2 lst birthday. College of the Air Force representative or National Guard and Reserve military The student must have resided in Ohio for their base education and training manager. members. The service will provide mili- the last preceding year, or if the parent THE STINGER, l80TH FIGHTER WING

28 B U C K E YE G U AR 0 S P R I N G 2 0 0 0 SPC Andrew Martin (from left), SGT Eric Mathewson, SPC William Latimer and PFC Jude Remy carry a ' casualty' to a landing zone. • Casualty evacuation exercise MEDIC UP • prepares battlefield lifesavers Story and photos by on his wounds, trying to ignore the Medic teams picked up "casual­ StaffSgt. Scott Reynard, crew chief Sgt. J.R. Lewis, HQ STARC bullets that zipjus t above their heads ties"--either life-size dummies or of the Huey used in the operation, said and the shells that shake the earth fe llow medics-and transported the training will help bridge the gap he young private keeps his eyes with thunderous booms. them to a battalion aid station. between medics and aircrews, which fixed on the horizon waiting/or The scene is familiar to any war There, victims received medical at­ would help gel the stressful process of T the sound ofa helicopter's rotor movie buff, but today's National tention from a physician's assis­ medical evacuation in times of need. to cut through the morning sky. Below Guard isn 'texactly fi lled with com­ tant, 2nd Lt. Mark Clutter, who He also noted that it helped the crew of him, lying limp on a stretcher, a young bat-seasoned veterans as the men also quizzed the medics on proper the helicopter get a glimpse of the main man cries in agony-bloody, burned and women who served in Vietnam treatments for various injuries. thrust of their future role. and confused. The wounded soldier drift into retirement and stories of The casualties were then trans­ "We used to be an attack outfit," weakly asks where he is, why he can't D-Day, Guadalcanal and the ported on stretcher by four-man Reynard said. "We just came on-line feel his hands or feet, can he please go Argonne become as distant as medic teams to a designated landing as a lift outfit recently. We're now home. A team ofmedics patiently work Gettysburg, the Boxer Rebellion zone where they were loaded onto pulling a lot of tactical missions." and Concorde. This is why realistic a UH- I "Huey" from D Company, The training also benefited the young training is so vital for soldiers, es­ l-137th Assault Helicopter Bat­ soldiers who had never taken part in a pecially those in charge of saving talion, Columbus. Scouts from military exercise involving different 1r r!. . .,.._~ • lives on the battlefield. HHC, l-l 48th, also participated in types of units working toward a com­ ~ :_ ~ . ,~ Medics from Headquarters and the exercise, calling in the chopper, mon goal, accordi ng to Spc. Joey Headquarters Company, l -l 48th signaling pi lots during take-offa nd Pruett, a field medic. Infantry, Lima, headed to an empty landing, and providing LZ security. "This is great training. Everyone ~ " ~ field near the Allen County Air­ According to Staff Sgt. Urlin wants to be involved," Pruett said. port with that idea in mind. During Matthews, emergency medical "This is invaluable for the new guys. ', I their March drill, the soldiers par­ team NCO and acting platoon ser­ Some of them haven' t even been to ! I ) , ' ticipated in a daylong casualty geant, the soldiers used the train­ basic training yet." - . . : evacuation exercise aimed at sharp­ ing opportunity to improve their Pruett also stressed the importance ening skills most hope they will battlefield medical skills, despite ofh ands-on training as a teaching tool. never have to use- picking up and the fact that such an exercise was "This exercise has combined a lot of treating wounded soldiers in a hos­ new to most of the medics."lt's training with the types of experience -{..... tile environment, safely transport­ rare that we get this sort of training you can't get in a classroom," he said. Using a fireman's carry, CPL Harold ing them to a designated landing opportunity, but it's not going to "You don't realize you're working Strahm extracts a 'wounded' zone and loading them on a helicop­ be a rare thing," he said, alluding to because you get so into it...you actu­ soldier from a transport helicopter. ter for evacuation. the possibility of future exercises. ally are having fun."• Aiming for the top PAGES 12-13

Photo by SSgt Robert Trubia, 158thFighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard

BULK RATE U.S. Postage PAID Columbus, OH IGUARD Permit #3754 The Ohio National Guard 2825 W. Dublin Granville Rd. Columbus, Ohio 43235-2789 OFFICIAL BUSINESS