DUSTOFF New Home

Photo By Bob Harrison | BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN (Nov. 9, 2016) - U.S. Army Col. John M. Cyrulik, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade commander, and Col. G. Shawn Wells, Jr., Area Support Group - Afghanistan commander, cut the ribbon on the newly constructed MEDEVAC headquarters for the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion here. Photo by Bob Harrison, U.S. Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs.  

AFGHANISTAN

11.10.2016

Story by Bob Harrison 

U.S. Forces Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN (Nov. 10, 2016) – To many who may walk, or drive, on Disney Street here, building number 960 is an old, dilapidated, hangar that probably needs to be torn down. They may not know that this hangar has been the operational home for U.S. Army medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) units since 2004.

Yesterday, Company C, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division relocated their headquarters, operations, and aircraft hangar to new facilities recently completed.

Col. John M. Cyrulik, 1st CAB commander, and Col. G. Shawn Wells, Jr., Area Support Group – Afghanistan commander, thanked all the teams, including the U.S. Air Force 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group (EMSG), 389th Engineer Company [Iowa Army National Guard], that pulled together to complete the new project.

Cyrulik presented awards to several individuals who played key roles in getting the job done.

Wells and 455th EMSG leadership, U.S. Air Force Col. Bradford D. Coley and Chief Master Sergeant Eugene Elking, also congratulated each of the award recipients.

“A job very well done, very well done, thanks very much to all of you,” said Cyrulik. “Everything we do here, everything, it’s multi-compo, it’s Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Reservists, National Guardsmen, from all the compo’s, from all the services.”

“That’s the only way we get work done around here,” he added, “It’s by consummate teamwork.”

“I sincerely appreciate all your hard work and collaboration.”

“Each and every day our engineer community do phenomenal things here. Whether it be Coyote Creek or working at the ECPs [Entrance Control Points],” said Wells. “But, I’ll tell you, you’ve gone to a new level of excellence with this [project].”

The new hangar is dedicated to retired Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady who earned the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a MEDEVAC helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Brady, and his boss at the time, Maj. Charles Kelly, are considered to be leading advocates in the early years of helicopter air medical evacuation. Brady designed the unit emblem still in use by C-2/1 GSAB. Kelly was killed in action in Vietnam.

Building 960 was originally built by the U.S., in the early 1950’s, for the Afghan government. The Russians occupied the hangar throughout the 1980’s. The Taliban used the hangar from 1990 until they were ousted by American Forces in 2002.

The original hangar was named the ‘Evan W. O’Neill Hangar,’ as a dedication to the 10th Mountain Division private first class infantryman who was killed in action in 2003. 1st CAB has relocated the memorial stone and rose bushes to a place of honor near the new facility. The plaque commemorating the dedication disappeared some years ago, however, the Soldiers here researched and found an old photograph online and are having a replica of the original plaque made.

Cyrulik and Wells both spoke of the history of the old hangar but stressed that time and age have pushed the original hangar well beyond refurbishment. Safety and operational needs have long required a new facility. Building 960 is slated for demolition later this year.

After the ribbon cutting on the new facility, Cyrulik and Wells wielded sledge hammers to ceremoniously take the first demolition swings that will finally retire an old giant that had long served American fighting forces by providing a home for DUSTOFF.

DUSTOFF is the traditional communications call sign for helicopter MEDEVAC. It was originally a nickname derived from the prop blast that scatters dust and dirt as the aircraft ascends from a landing zone taking the wounded to medical care or taking the fallen home to their final resting place.

DUSTOFF: Dedicated, Unhesitating Support To Our Fighting Forces

• Date Taken: 11.10.2016
• Date Posted: 11.10.2016 02:07
• Story ID: 214331
• Location: AF