FIRST AMERICAN AIRCRAFT LANDS IN KERMAN, IRAN

CENTCOM ^ | Dec. 28, 2003

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

	NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

December 28, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-70


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


FIRST AMERICAN AIRCRAFT LANDS IN KERMAN, IRAN

COMBINED AIR OPERATIONS CENTER, QATAR: Just after midnight local time, the first American aircraft landed in Kerman, Iran, with 20 pallets of humanitarian aid destined for the earthquake-stricken residents of Bam.

Five pallets laden with such medical supplies as intravenous fluids, bandages, gauze, and surgical equipment, plus food and purified water comprised the first load of American relief support.

American airmen and Iranian soldiers worked side-by-side forming a human chain to unload the 20,000 pounds of badly needed material into waiting trucks. The supplies were then trucked into Bam a little more than 100 miles away.

In addition to the humanitarian aid, the Peoria, Ill. Air National Guard C-130 carried aerial port operations and support agency experts to assess the operational and equipment needs for follow-on aircraft. The assessments are vital because the Air Force is loading C-5 and C-17 aircraft for follow-on relief flights.

The humanitarian mission was the first American flight into Iran since the Iranian hostage crisis ended in January 1981.

Photos of the mission are available on the U.S. Central Command website at www.centcom.mil. The photos are located in the "Galleries" tab at the top of the homepage.

[Miss Marple]

What a vile comment! Iranians read this site. I am going to hit the abuse button on your post.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Good afternoon, Miss Marple. (^:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More from CENTCOM today:

COMBINED AIR OPERATIONS CENTER, QATAR

Story by Master Sergeant Jeff Bohn

At 5:41 p.m. Saturday, a United States Air Force C-130 with 15 airmen aboard took off from a desert base located in Southwest Asia to implement President Bush’s promise of assistance to the Iranian people rocked by Saturday’s pre-dawn earthquake in Bam, Iran.

In this, an international call for assistance, American forces mobilized to give aid to tens of thousands of Iran’s citizens stricken by disaster.

After a short stop in Kuwait City, Kuwait, by the Peoria, Ill. Air National Guard crew to pick up 20-thousand pounds of cargo, the C-130 and crew were headed for Iranian airspace.

Five pallets laden with such medical supplies as intravenous fluids, bandages, gauze, and surgical equipment, plus food and purified water comprised the first load of American relief support.

In addition to the cargo, there were several experts from fields of aerial port operations and support agencies to assess the operational and equipment needs for follow-on aircraft. Among them was the Col. Bret Klassen, a United States Air Force logistician and senior member of the first flight’s crew, who normally works short-term logistical issues for immediate action at the Combined Air Operations Center.

“I’m going to do some additional assessing to see what may be needed, get a review of the airfield we are going into, and see what equipment is needed,” Col. Klassen said.

Col. Klassen said the Air Force is loading C-5 and C-17 aircraft Saturday for follow-on flights and they will be awaiting his reports to ensure they can be scheduled in, have a place to ramp up and unload, and have adequate equipment available to safely unload the aircraft.

Aside from logistical elements, Col. Klassen said, “I think it’s a great opportunity to open up dialogue. It’s unfortunate that it’s under these circumstances with such a large loss of life.”

Touching down at an airport in Kerman, Iran -- about 180 kilometers from Bam – the aircraft taxied to the end of the ramp near a French-flagged Boeing 747. Aircraft of all sizes from several countries littered the flight line. French, Chinese, Russian and a host of other flagged carriers were packed into the concrete tarmac in no specific order.

Initial contact was with the Iranian military who deferred the unloading process to the civilian airport authorities. Using an Air Force linguist, the needs of the Iranians and the Americans were discussed at length with broken phrases of American English and Iranian Farsi – on both sides.

Eventually it was decided by necessity the Iranian military would unload the aircraft by hand. There was no fork lift or mechanized cargo loaders available.

Approximately 30 Iranian soldiers clad in khaki and green stood patiently in a tight military formation while a tractor-trailer truck backed a large open-topped boxed bed up to the cargo aircraft’s loading ramp. The soldiers leaped into action.

Pallets were stripped down and a joint, 45-person human chain was formed to transfer the cargo into the first and then a second waiting truck. Americans and Iranian servicemembers worked side-by-side for nearly two hours unloading all of the relief supplies.

An Iranian air force colonel looked on and made several greetings to the U.S. Air Force officers and enlisted members.

“Thank you,” the Iranian colonel said. “Thank you very much for helping.”

As the cargo was moved, smiles appeared and grins were exchanged. Many Iranian officials on the ground showed their thanks by giving many handshakes and warm greetings in broken English.

Aircraft on the ramp would finish their download and depart, seemingly replaced by another jet in short order. Then, as quickly as it had started, the soldiers were done transferring the cargo from the American plane. In a matter of minutes, the soldiers had formed up and marched off to yet another aircraft in need of off loading.

In all, the operation went well from the Air Force’s perspective.

“Overall, I think it went smoothly even though it was a short notification and not much time to coordinate with the Iranians,” Col. Klassen said. “I’m very pleased to find the Iranians were grateful for the humanitarian aid.”

Aboard the C-130, 15 Americans were weary from a long, and unexpected day. Shortly after clean up, the aircraft was airborne once again, but heading away from Iran toward home for a well-deserved rest. On the ride home some slept, others wrote, but all seemed very satisfied with a job well done; a job that is only the start of an international relief effort.   http://www.centcom.mil/CentcomNews/Stories/12_03/12.htm

[Pan_Yans Wife]

God bless our troops!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Amen.

Hugs to you, PYW. Hope you're having a joyful Christmas season. (^:

[RightWhale]

Would we be doing this to North Korea

Aid has been sent to N Kor for years. Is being sent right now.

[F14 Pilot]

Thanks to USAF~!

[boris]

"What a vile comment! Iranians read this site. I am going to hit the abuse button on your post."

Be my guest. Evidently you did.

Please note: every Iranian who dies today is one more we will not face in battle tomorrow. Iran is on the list.

If I had said, "I think we should demolish their reactors," would you have hit the "abuse" button?

Why are we giving aid and comfort to our sworn enemies?

Would it have been OK just to ignore their earthquake and hope for a bigger one? Or send the aid to, I dunno, North Korea, which we are also going to have to take on?

War is war. It is an ugly business and if you don't have the stomach for it you are just fixing to lose.

Hit the 'abuse' button on this, you lemon-pussed prude.

--Boris

[Miss Marple]

From this lemon-pussed prude: You are a Class A Jerk.

The mullahs are our enemies. The Iranian people are desperate for democracy and getting rid of the mullahs. If you don't know this, you are obviously ignoring the many posts which demonstrated it, from their candlelight vigil for the USA on 9/11/2001 to their MANY demonstrations (with loss of life) against the mullahs.

And to wish a plague of AIDS upon an entire nation, and to suggest that this is what our nation should do, is vile and contemptible. Your post was flat-out evil, and I am glad it was pulled.

[boris]

Oh, and who gives a flying you-know-what if IRANIANS do read this site?

Your tenderness and solicitation for the feelings of the enemies of the U.S. is truly heartwarming.

Know what? I DON'T CARE HOW IRANIANS FEEL.

--Boris

[Miss Marple]

Obviously. Even though there are many Iranians who are helping the US and are American citizens, even though there are a majority of Iranians who want the US to invade and rescue them, you don't care how they feel.

Bully for you.

I don't care about YOUR opinion or feelings, for you are the segment of conservatism that embarasses us all. Go pound sand.

[boris]

"And to wish a plague of AIDS upon an entire nation, and to suggest that this is what our nation should do, is vile and contemptible. Your post was flat-out evil, and I am glad it was pulled."

Every dollar they spend on AIDS or any other disease is a dollar they cannot spend on nuclear weapons, tanks, terrorists, guns, chemical weapons, etc. You know: the necessities of life in a terrorist state. YOU would prefer they have lots of money (aided by US, no less) to divert to these goodies. This is--as I said--giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the U.S., and THAT is known as "treason". Is there a "treason" button I can push?

--Boris

[The Mayor]

Is this part of your sons group?

God Bless them, and protect them on their journey..

[Miss Marple]

The idea is to overturun the mullahs and get the Iranian people to be our allies. Wishing an AIDS plague is evil. I refuse to let you get away with this. I am not a traitor because of disagreeing with your contemptible opinion.

On the other hand, one could think that you are perhaps a disruptor here to make conservatives look like morons.

[ThePointer]

I have to go with Miss Marple on this one. This is a gesture that is not costing us a lot of money but could reap huge dividends in the long run because of potential subversion.

I think you are ok Boris. I would want you on the front line. But not at CENTCOM looking at the big picture. Cheers.

[boris]

"On the other hand, one could think that you are perhaps a disruptor here to make conservatives look like morons."

Had I not been here since 1998, eh?

--Boris

[stboz]

"Kerman is 15 miles east of Fresno."

No it ain't. It's west of Fresno.

[boris]

"I refuse to let you get away with this."

You're gonna get a blister on your "abuse hitting finger".

[RottiBiz]

Our military makes me so proud to be an American!

Up to 40,000 possibly dead . . . so sad.

I'm glad we are helping the survivors.

[blackie]

The first step of freedom for Iran ~ maybe?

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe ~ Molon Labe!

[F14 Pilot]

Thanks to USAF~! BUMP!