By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – An Apache helicopter battalion from Multi-National Division – Baghdad has reached a milestone just four months into their deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Oct. 19, 2008.
Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 4th Aviation Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based out of Fort Hood, Texas, completed 500 aerial reconnaissance patrols while protecting troops on the ground throughout the MND-B area of operations.
"The big thing is 500 ARPs and this early in the game," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Charles Day, an Apache pilot with Company B, who hails from Indianapolis. "With the op-tempo we have, this is just a huge collective effort. Everyone looks at us because we are the pilots, but it is the guys behind the scenes who have made this possible."
One of the guys behind the scenes, Sgt. Ramon Diaz, an Apache crew chief with Co. B, who is from New York City, says it is all about the mission.
"I make sure everything is ready to go and the pilots take-off on time," said Diaz, who is on his third tour to Iraq. "Our job [maintaining the Apache helicopter] is small, but in the big picture, watching them take off to protect the guys on the ground is what it is all about. My small part turns into a huge mission."
The Apache is the principal attack helicopter of the U.S. Army. With a price tag of more than $24 million, the combat helicopters seat only a pilot and a gunner, who are equipped with a 30mm fixed machine gun, hellfire missiles and rockets.
In addition to the arsenal, the helicopter is capable of flying day or night and has a target acquisition system, pilot night vision system, global positioning system and an integrated helmet and display sight system.
Originally designed to destroy Soviet tanks during the Cold War, the Apache was introduced to combat during the invasion of Panama and has seen action during the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The CAB uses the aircraft throughout the MND-B area of operations to protect troops on the ground, engage the enemy and escort air ambulance flights.
"The Apache is a huge morale booster and an assest for troops on the ground," said Day. "In addition, they can be a big deterrent for the bad guys because the enemy is less likely to do something against our guys when we are flying overhead."
Although the battalion completed 500 ARPs in a short amount of time, many see number 500 as just another mission with the same mindset – a friend to the coalition forces and a frightening deterrent to the enemy.
"For us, this is just another mission," said Capt. Heather Newberry, commander of Company G with the CAB's 2nd Battalion, who is also an Apache pilot. "When the Apache's are out on the battlefield, troops like having us overhead. We definitely affect the fight. We are there to help the ground guys and help the Iraqis secure the country. We are their muscle."
| Date Taken: | 10.19.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.20.2008 14:20 |
| Story ID: | 25272 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 123 |
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