Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Walberto Espinoza poses for a photo with locals during a mission, Feb. 20,...... read more read more
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUSAYNIYAH, Iraq -- Navigating through treacherous, unfamiliar territory to locate and aid those in need is a bold act. Two deployed airmen dominated the battlefield not only once or twice, but 17 times combined before their job was done. With two close calls of danger, the supplies they handed out to others during their missions could have been the same supplies they would have needed for themselves.
Deployed to Forward Operating Base Husayniyah, Iraq, Staff Sgts. Kevin Scott Jr. and Walberto Espinoza knew what they wanted to accomplish together. They wanted to maximize the help they could give to others. They recognized the potential dangers of the job, but nothing kept them from providing support to disabled or underprivileged Iraqis.
As members of the 467th Expeditionary Support Squadron, and the only airmen, the NCOs joined a joint provincial reconstruction team.
The team’s mission was to provide supplies and assistance to the Iraqi population in the Karbala Province. They delivered large amounts of equipment, everything from toys and school kits to shoes and wheel chairs.
“We aren’t just going after the bad guys and leaving everyone else behind,” said Espinoza, a Brownsville, Texas, native. “We also want to help those of all ages who are less fortunate and give them the support they need.”
Within a three month time frame, combining efforts, Scott and Espinoza conducted 17 missions with the Karbala PRT. With donated supplies, they delivered nearly 200 wheelchairs, more than 2,000 toys, 1,000 pounds of food, 800 hygiene and new born baby kits and more than 630 pairs of shoes.
“Handing out the shoes and clothes to the Husayniyah orphanage was the mission that highlighted my deployment,” said Scott, the Magnolia, Del., native. “They loved the shoes. Stuff that we would sometimes take for granted, they take and treasure it.”
On the second to last mission, the airmen and the team were traveling back to base following a mission delivering wheel chairs, toys and other useful supplies. Along the way after successfully brightening the day for a large group of Iraqis, the convoy came across a powerful improvised explosive device.
The blast from the explosion lifted a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle off of the ground and stunned them for a fraction of a second. Immediately the team jumped into overdrive, checked each other for injuries and dismounted to make sure the area was secure.
“When the IED went off, the emotions were mixed,” Scott said. “There’s a lot going through your head once it happens, but your body goes in full adrenaline mode and you’re prepared to do what’s necessary. We’re all thankful nobody got hurt.”
After waiting some time to stock back up on equipment and goodies to deliver and let things calm down, the team went back out on another mission, this mission being their last.
“Even though we got hit on that trip it doesn’t mean we’re just going to stop,” Espinoza said. “We train for this and we’re dedicated to helping these people.”
The team was headed to a local health clinic and brought along more than 40 wheelchairs and hundreds of other items to provide for the patients, when another IED blast rattled the convoy. Quickly and accurately checking for injuries, they recovered from the impact. No one was injured.
“For the second mission in a row we got hit, and thankfully again nobody was hurt,” Espinoza said. “It’s frustrating because we want to complete our mission and help out the population in this area, but we can’t sometimes because there are people trying to hurt us and keep us from that.”
Even though the PRT has been attacked multiple times, Espinoza still enjoys his job.
“This whole deployment has been great,” Espinoza said. “I love what I was able to do here, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
With the missions over and done, both Airmen are glad they were able to lend a helping hand.
“My father-in-law once told me, do not withhold good from those to whom it’s due, when it is in your power to do it,” Scott said. “Seeing how they live is devastating, you can’t help but feel compassionate, and I have the benefit of being part of this team to help these people.”
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2011 11:47 |
| Story ID: | 67607 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUSAYNIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 166 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Airmen fight through danger, help disabled Iraqis, by MSgt Andrew Lee, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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