Every second counts as Greyhawks save lives

Marine Corps News ^ | Oct 31, 2005 | Cpl. Cullen J. Tiernan

[SandRat]

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Oct. 31, 2005) -- The golden hour is the amount of time they have to save life, limb or sight. Every second faster they move could mean the difference between life and death.

With this mentality, the Greyhawks of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 constantly strive to improve the speed with which they respond to urgent casualty evacuations at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, near the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi.

After three deployments in as many years, the Greyhawks are becoming experts at moving fast to get their CH-46 Sea Knights in the air and save lives, said Col. Robert E. Clay, the airboss of Al Taqaddum and Pensacola, Fla., native.

“As soon as they rolled in, they were the fastest moving squadron I’d ever seen,” said Clay. “The casevac alarm goes off and these guys are professionals, moving with a real sense of urgency. A couple of minutes may not seem like much, but try not breathing or bleeding for that amount of time.”

Clay stressed that as soon as the Greyhawks arrived, they set the bar for how urgent casevacs are conducted.

The Greyhawks took control the mission Aug. 15, nine days ahead of schedule. As of Oct. 28, they have moved 442 patients.

He said it has taken less than four minutes from notification to launch for these Marines and their Navy corpsmen counterparts. The standard operating procedure calls for 30 minutes.

“Every time we get a call, we know lives depend on us,” said Lt. Col. Robert M. Brassaw, the commanding officer of HMM-161 and Cape Corral, Fla., native. “These Marines understand their mission and are consistently launching birds in under five minutes. They are doing that routinely and safely.”

Brassaw said each Greyhawk experiences something different daily and every day they know they are making a difference.

“When the casevac alarm goes off, they don’t know if they are going to come under fire,” said Brassaw. “They don’t know if they are going to the point of injury or moving someone who has already received medical attention, but they move with the same speed and intensity for every mission.”

The Greyhawks’ missions include flying wounded and sick U.S. service members, Iraqi soldiers, civilians and insurgents. They fly with the same speed for the lives of anyone they can help.

“If someone needs to be rescued we’re there for them,” said Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Burman, an airframes technician with HMM-161 and Brentwood, Calif., native. “Civilians in the city of Baghdad aren’t hostile. They are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are there for them, to save their lives.”

Burman’s duties include inspecting the aircraft’s hydroelectric systems, ensuring they are safe to fly.

“It’s amazing how fast we spin these rotors,” said Lance Cpl. Joseph P. Berry, a crew chief with HMM-161 and Missoula, Mont., native. “It gets everyone’s blood pumping. That’s what sets off our speed. There are different squadrons that have done this mission, but we strive to be the fastest ever. There is nothing better than flying in Iraq and saving people’s lives.”

In the month of September, Berry flew in CASEVAC missions for more than 100 hours, the most in the squadron. He said from the commanding officer to the lance corporals, the Greyhawks are all focused on their mission of saving lives.

“Every day, I have something to wake up for,” said Lance Cpl. Adam Timar a crew chief and Tetonia, Idaho, native. “Being out here has been very eye opening. Every day you are doing something for someone. I’ve seen a lot of people with a lot of medical gear hooked up to them. I know my job is important and that every second counts.”

[SandRat]

pictures at source

[SandRat]

Marine Combat MEDEVAC

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!