Posted on 12/30/2005 5:34:57 PM PST by SandRat
12/30/2005 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- The C-130 Hercules aircraft here have routinely hauled more than one million troops and 76,000 tons of cargo in and out of Iraq.
But today the mission was not routine.
At about 4 p.m., a C-130 from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing touched down here carrying Baby Noor, her father and grandmother on their way to the United States for medical treatment.
Baby Noor was born with spina bifida and was given one month to live by doctors in Iraq, said Maya Dietz, vice consul for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Georgia National Guardsmen found the baby during operations in the Abu Gharib neighborhood of Baghdad. While the troops were searching the house, the baby’s grandmother took the infant to the Soldiers and asked for their help, Ms. Dietz said.
The guardsmen contacted their congressional representatives and formed an elaborate coalition of humanitarian assistance. A surgeon in Atlanta offered his services free. The commercial flights to the United States were donated by airlines and a non-profit organization in Atlanta will pick up the additional costs for the trip.
U.S. Embassy officials met the family and took them to a local civilian airport.
The C-130 crew on this mission was from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and originally had the day off.
“We weren’t scheduled to fly, so to get alerted to fly something like this is pretty darn satisfying,” said co-pilot Capt. Raul Ochoa of the 738th Expeditionary Air Squadron. “We’ve had the opportunity to take part in a lot of missions but this is probably the most rewarding.”
The crew flew 71 troops and their gear into Iraq and flew Baby Noor and her family out.
“We’re just fortunate to be able to fly them out, it was an honor,” said pilot Capt. Craig Hinkley. “I’ve never done a humanitarian mission quite like this.”
U.S. Embassy officials in Kuwait coordinated with the Kuwaiti minister of interior to allow a smooth passage to the U.S.
“They were very helpful, allowing these three Iraqis to transit though without visas,” said Charles Glatz, a consul at the embassy.
While the story of Baby Noor now moves to the United States, members of the aircrew won’t soon forget the flight.
“[This was] one of the best missions I’ve ever done,” said loadmaster Tech. Sgt. Dave Rea. “It’s not often we get to help someone like that.”
Flight engineer Tech. Sgt. Bill Thomas summed it up best.
“[This flight] makes it worth getting up in the morning,” he said. “I was pretty excited to do something this important.”
Prayers for Noor.
Prayer heavenward for baby Noor.
I believe that "Noor" means "light." Let us hope that the magnanimity of the US military and the American people will be a light to the people of Iraq and to their religion.
FNC followed the story for quite a while today. There was a soldier holding the baby and giving her her bottle. I melted right into the floor.
I remember other articles on Baby Noor. It was the granny who boldly approached the guardsmen with the child while the rest of the family was cowering in a corner as they searched the house. Judging from the photo she's definitely the one who wears the pants in THAT family.
Oh no, here I go again. Have you ever seen anything so dear!
Yet another story of just what our American GI's are made of.
And all came about because of one of those midnight raids our soldiers execute, terrorizing women and children. Just ask Kerry...
Liken their character and mode of operenda to how the Ali Babba stay in a crowd then when lest expect, jump out and fire on US troops, while they use little kids and women as shields. Their profile appear to closely match the goons's methods.
A beautiful picture
Thank you. I cannot get enough of these pictures.
Where is the baby's mother? Anyone know? I didn't hear anything about her in this today.
Still in Iraq, it's that Arab/Islam thing.
BTTT
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