High Flying Couple Above it all in Skies over Iraq

BALAD, IRAQ

08.31.2004

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Master Sgt. Jack Gordon

LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, BALAD, Iraq -- To make a marriage work, it's usually better if both husband and wife have a good grasp of the challenges and pressures facing each other. With Brian and Julia Ward, both chief warrant officers 4 in the Army Reserve, that battle is fought and over, and happy as a storybook ending, since both are Army Reserve pilots. The Wards are both here in Iraq serving with the 6/52nd Aviation Regiment from Los Alamitos, Calif.

"We're fortunate that we get to fly together quite a bit," Brian said. "It's a good relief for us as aviators. We're able to sit down in the morning or at the end of the day and discuss what's happened."

Brian retired from his job as a pilot for the California Highway Patrol and was serving as an Active-Guard soldier in the unit before both he and his wife were both mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"It's great," Julia said. "Actually, we're able to spend more time together here than at home since I'm a commercial airline pilot and Brian travels a lot too."

Although they reside in Corona, Calif., Julia's job with Atlantic Southeast Airlines is based at Dallas/Fort Worth. She said she always looked forward to the monthly drills as a dedicated time when they would be together.

Now, for the first time, they'll be together for at least a year.Brian and Julia initially met through their military service, and although they served together as friends for a few years, a mobilization and deployment to Bosnia cemented their mutual intentions. But even with love "in the air" the Wards take flying seriously.

"When we're flying it's strictly aviator to aviator," said Julia, adding that they each perform different functions depending upon the mission. She said they never argue about who's doing what or who is in charge.

"If we're doing a flight with multiple legs, we switch legs on who flies and who talks or does commo," she said. "Each flight has a pilot in command -- sometimes it's him and sometimes it's me."

Brian said that flying in Iraq is quite different from his former job with the highway patrol."I used to think that flying for the highway patrol was exciting but this is a lot more exciting," Brian said. "Obviously the missile threat is one thing we didn't have in California, or if we did I was unaware of it."

Sometimes though, things on the ground are not much safer. "We have our earthquakes, fires and an occasional riot [back home], but nothing like this [mortar attacks]. We average about one a day."

Flying skies that, while safe today, nevertheless could begin posing new threats to aircraft at any time is something both have considered. "It's war," Julia said. "I'm not sure whether I like being on the air or on the ground.

You can't worry about it -- you just deal with it mentally. You try to be as safe as you can -- you take all the precautions."In their unusual situation, however, the Wards see more pros than cons. Both are proud to be serving in the Army and feel they are becoming stronger in this deployment."It's a good thing we have each other â?¦ for each other," said Brian.

"It's been more than what we expected but it has not been what we didn't expect â?¦ so it's been good." Julia said they had heard that things might go slow in the air so they prepared for stretches of lesser activity by bringing along books, movies on DVD and language courses.

"It's been pretty busy though," Julia said, "and it's all worthwhile.

Our compatibility is great and we're lucky enough to be deployed together. I feel for people who had to leave their spouse behind, but on the flip side, they don't have to worry about their spouse flying over Iraq in the middle of the night. They know they're at home in the living room with the kids."

Neither has any doubt about the professional attitude and ability of the other, so the Wards are in smooth air flying as pilot and co-pilot.

"I have comfort in that he [Brian] is a very professional pilot and we communicate and work well together," said Julia. But merely getting themselves home safely encompasses other responsibilities and aspects of flying too.

"We fly a lot of soldiers here," Julia said, "and I know it's important for the senior leaders to get to their meetings, but I especially like flying "Pvt. Smith" because he's the one working really hard in the field here. We see a lot of happy faces when they [soldier/passengers] know they don't have to convoy -- they really appreciate being in the air."

Most of the unit's, and the Wards", missions are flown in seven-seat, Beechwood C-12 prop jets, ferrying troops from spot to spot, and both share pride in their part of supporting soldiers."Our hearts really go out to the troops on the ground," Brian said.

They are the backbone of what's going on here. They're the ones doing the job and we're proud of them."

Brian said that most of their flights are operational in nature but occasionally they get a soldier heading home or on R&R (Rest and Relaxation).

"Even if we were here just for that purpose --that's good enough!"

• Date Taken: 08.31.2004
• Date Posted: 08.31.2004 15:36
• Story ID: 313
• Location: BALAD, IQ