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| News > December mission highlights what Airmen bring to the joint fight |
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Tech. Sgt. Stanley Thompson, Senior Airman Justin Smith and Tech. Sgt. Harold Horton, 466th Air Expeditionary Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, pose for a picture Dec. 31 during a dismounted mission in Panwa’i, Afghanistan. The EOD members were embedded with a U.S. Army unit during a three-day mission to clear compounds of any improvised explosive devices. (Courtesy photo)
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Operation Rising Sun: What Airmen bring to the joint fight
Posted 2/25/2013 Updated 2/26/2013
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by Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
2/25/2013 - KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- When people think of Dec. 31, they think of celebrating, having a good time and spending it with family and friends to bring in the New Year. Normally, people don't think about watching where to step, explosions or improvised explosive devices hidden on the ground.
For about 40 U.S. Army and Afghan National Army troops and a handful of Airmen, those terrible thoughts were their reality on Dec. 31, 2012.
The Airmen included a three-man Explosive Ordnance Disposal team with the 466th Air Expeditionary Squadron and a Joint Terminal Attack Controller with the 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group.
It was the second day of a three-day mission, Operation Rising Sun. The 40 troops made up two platoons tasked to clear out compounds potentially rigged with explosives.
Upon arriving at one of the locations they were to secure, the platoons separated and each split into two elements.
Tech. Sgt. Harold Horton, a 466th AES EOD technician who is deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, said it was just a typical day for his team.
"After we got there, we split up," said Horton, who hails from Dallas, Texas. "We conducted searches of compounds of interest and suspected homemade explosives labs. While we were walking, we heard an explosion from where the other element was."
The explosion Horton and his element heard was from an IED stepped on by an ANA soldier from the other element.
"When it happened, we didn't freak out," Horton said. "Situations like this are what we're trained for."
The medic from the other element immediately began first aid while the platoon leader radioed in a request for a medical evacuation.
"While he called in the nine-line, we cleared an area so the aircraft could land and pick up the casualties," Horton said.
As events on the ground were unfolding, pararescuemen with the 59th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron here were already gearing up for a medevac. The rescue squadron - made up of PJs and HH-60 helicopter crews - specializes in combat search and rescue.
"We had intel and heard about the explosion before the nine-line was finished, so we were able to get everyone together and have the bird ready," said Capt. Brian Dicks, an HH-60 Pave Hawk pilot and the aircraft commander for the mission. "Initially we heard there were three casualties and enemy forces from the west to the east of the LZ (landing zone)."
During the seven-minute helicopter ride, the Pedro crew was trying to gather as much information as possible about the status of the casualties and the terrain they were approaching.
"We try get to as much information as possible to expedite the rescue," Dicks said. "The constant communication with the grounds troops helps build a bigger picture for us and lets us know what we're getting ourselves into."
In the cleared LZ below, members of the platoon were signaling the helicopter, callsign "Pedro 61," with a large, brightly colored panel.
"When we landed, they brought up the first casualty and we checked his injuries," said Capt. Ronnie Maloney, a combat rescue officer. "The first guy was in really bad shape. So when I told them to get the other casualty on board, they looked at me like I was crazy."
Maloney, however, knew the first casualty would be better off on the second aircraft that was less than 30 seconds behind, because there were three fully trained medics on board that helicopter.
"We began to treat the second patient while the more seriously injured casualty got on the second bird," Maloney said. "Our patient was stable, with a head contusion and some shrapnel wounds. We gave him an IV and something for the pain during the trip back to the Kandahar Regional Medical Hospital."
In the second helicopter, PJs were treating the other casualty with IVs, blood thickener, antibiotics and pain medication.
As the Pedros took off, Horton and his EOD team were requested to clear the site of the explosion.
Horton immediately identified another IED at the entrance to the compound. The team rendered the IED safe and destroyed the explosive hazards.
As for the Pedros, an ambulance was waiting for the helicopters when they landed and the victims were rushed to the hospital. The time from the explosion to ambulatory care was less than an hour.
"This is what we do," Dicks said. "We're trained to go out and get the job done."
Lt. Col. Joshua Hetsko, 466th AES commander, said the events that day highlight the unique capabilities Airmen bring to the joint fight.
"These operations are typically considered Army or Afghan National Army centric, but our Airmen bring critical skills to every fight," he said. "I'm very proud to serve with them."
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