Marines Bid Farewell to Fallen Brother
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Celebrating 100 Years of Marine Aviation Vol. 69, No. 40 www.cherrypoint.marines.mil October 6, 2011 Marines bid farewell to fallen brother CPL. BRIAN ADAM JONES 2ND MAW (FWD.) CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – In the wartime chapel here where 1st. Lt. Ryan Iannelli once worshiped, his fel- low Marines gathered to remember him in a ceremony Monday. Iannelli, an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot assigned to Ma- rine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), died Sept. 28 supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. The Marines who served alongside Iannelli described him as a deeply spiritual man who strove to make a dif- ference. “Whether you knew him for fi ve minutes or fi ve years, he impacted you in a positive way,” said Capt. Scott Neideck- er, a Super Cobra pilot with the squadron. “He was the kind of guy who would do anything for anyone.” Neidecker said he had known Iannelli since they met at LANCE CPL. GLEN E. SANTY Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., for fl ight school. John Woleslage with Visiting Aircraft Line directs a UH-1Y Huey to its designated spot on the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point flight line Sept. 28. Three UH-1Y Hueys stopped at Cherry Point on their way to New River “We worked in [operations], writing the schedule togeth- marking the beginning of the transition from UH-1N Hueys on the East Coast. er,” Neidecker said. “After I checked in with the squadron, he came out here too and we still wrote the schedule to- gether. We were really good friends. He was my best friend here.” East Coast welcomes ‘Yankees’ See IANNELLI page A7 New helicopters arrive in eastern N.C., ending UH-1N Huey era JOINT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE add the UH-1Y to its arsenal, Sept. 29. MAG-29. “The ‘Yankees’ have signif- MCAS CHERRY POINT The helicopters made the stop at icantly more power than the ‘Novem- The rotors of the aircraft made the Cherry Point to refuel and for Marines ber’ model. That extra power helps us once peaceful fl ight line a whirlwind to get a fi rst look at the new aircraft. with every mission we (conduct).” of chaos. In true military fashion the “I just wanted to come out and wit- Sise explained the new aircraft have birds fl ew in slow and came to a hover ness the arrival of the aircraft,” said larger engines, a larger fuel capacity, over their designated spots. While still Maj. Gen. Jon M. Davis, commanding a digital display and, more visually hovering, the aircraft turned and pro- general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. noticeable, a four-blade rotor system. ceeded to touch the ground, one at a “I am very excited and can’t wait to These upgrades give the new aircraft time. This landing started a new chap- see them integrated here.” a 125 percent greater payload, nearly ter in East Coast rotary wing aviation. The UH-1Y, also commonly re- 50 percent more range and maximum Three UH-1Y helicopters passed ferred to as the “Yankee” for the letter cruise speed, and increases its versatil- through Marine Corps Air Station “Y” in its designation, is a step up from ity compared to the previous model. Cherry Point, N.C., after a three-day the older UH-1N version and features “The UH-1N Twin Huey has been fl ight from Marine Corps Base Camp many new components. around since the Vietnam War and is Pendleton, Calif. The aircraft’s arrival “The UH-1Ys are an upgraded mod- a tired, old airframe,” said Maj. Jef- marked the end of the UH-1N Huey el of the UH-1N Huey,” said Staff Sgt. fery Coker, the future operations of- era and the beginning of the transition Marty Napier, an aerial observer with fi cer with HMLA-469, MAG-39, 3rd CONTRIBUTE PHOTO 1st. Lt. Ryan Iannelli, an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot with to the UH-1Y Venom, or, as preferred HMLA-167, Marine Aircraft Group MAW. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, and a by the Marines, “Super Huey.” 39, 3rd MAW. “Now we’re able to increase the native of East Greenwich Township, N.J., died Sept. 28 Marine Light Attack Helicopter “This is truly a different aircraft in mission capabilities of the utility supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Squadron 167, MCAS New River, be- everything but the frame,” said Capt. Afghanistan. came the fi rst East Coast squadron to Patrick J. Sise, instructor pilot for See YANKEES page A7 MCCS, Retired Activities Offi ce recognize retirees for their support LANCE CPL. SCOTT L. TOMASZYCKI called in to an offi ce when you retired MCAS CHERRY POINT and were told, ‘you don’t have to sup- Marine Corps Community Services port and defend the Constitution any- and the Retired Activities Offi ce rec- more’? No, it didn’t happen. We just do ognized the contributions of retired it in a different way now and retirees service members with a luncheon at can do that incredibly well. Miller’s Landing on Marine Corps Air “So write, speak up, volunteer, be Station Cherry Point Oct. 1. involved in the community and enjoy The luncheon highlighted two as- a great base like Cherry Point and the pects of retired life; appreciation for facilities we have.” how they continue to support the com- Braaten encouraged the retirees to munity and where they can turn for help be leaders and volunteers in their com- Looking back in retired life. munities. He said when retirees leave Retired veterans are here to support active service they take with them all OFFICIAL USMC PHOTO A UH-1N Huey flies over Camp Lejeune coastal area during a training mission the active duty Marines, said retired the things they learned while in the ser- in 1973. Helicopters were a relatively new sector of Marine aviation during the Capt. Jim Dargan who served from vice. Vietnam War and began as reconnaissance and medical evacuation aircraft. 1950-1974 and represented the Mili- Braaten cited discipline, responsi- tary Offi cer’s Association of America. bility for action, initiative, a desire to Retirees support the Marines when make things better, an understanding Hueys vital during Vietnam War they’re deployed. They’re here to keep of teamwork and more as traits that the church going and to keep the base help retirees improve the communities LANCE CPL. SCOTT L. TOMASZYCKI War. The requirements for helicopter as- going added Dargan. Retired volunteers around them. MCAS CHERRY POINT sault missions weren’t entirely known at provide support functions to the Marine While recognizing the services retir- Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 167 the outset of the war, but technology de- Corps just like groups in the Marine ees have provided the community was was born at Marble Mountain Air Facility veloped when light helicopter doctrine Corps support the ground forces. the focus of the event, another subject in the Republic of South Vietnam, April met reality. The veterans provide support by vol- was the support structures that exist to 1, 1968, in the midst of a foreign civil “The Marine Corps recognized the need unteering for programs like teaching help the veterans. war. Armed with ever-changing helicop- to escort the assault helicopters in and out classes at the training and education Organizations for veterans like Vet- ter technology, the squadron saw the UH of enemy territory, but that job was hand- building. Many of the civilian support erans of Foreign Wars, American Le- designation Huey grow in power, trans- ed to fi xed wing aircraft,” said Benjamin jobs on station are occupied by retirees gion, Marine for Life and others set up forming into the modern war machine it H. Kristy, a curator at the National Mu- as well. booths so the retirees could learn about is today. seum of the Marine Corps. “However, ex- “Most of us may be too old to reach in what opportunities were available from Helicopters were a new sector of Marine perience in Vietnam quickly showed that the cartridge box and kick somebody’s community support structures. aviation that had only begun in the 1950s fi xed-wing aircraft were in fact ill-suited butt for our country,” said retired Maj. These and other organizations keep as reconnaissance and medical evacuation for such work and the armed escort heli- Gen. Thomas Braaten, the director of veterans informed of the rights that aircraft. Helicopters with weapon kits had copter was born.” the Craven County Regional Airport military retiree status affords them. been experimented with, but the Marine An armament kit was developed for the and a former commanding general of Retired Lt. Col. Roy Lawrence and Corps made no commitment to the concept Huey, which would take on both roles as MCAS Cherry Point. “But we’re not his wife, Sandy, said it’s very important of a gunship. The idea of assault transports too old to write letters, we’re not too for veterans to take advantage of wasn’t thoroughly tested until the Vietnam See HISTORY page A7 old to speak out and we’re not too old to lead in the community. 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