Mercy Christmas

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shannon Mann
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  For many at the 916th, Christmas 2009 was a time spent with families, enjoying holiday traditions and resting comfortably after a generous meal.

For one eight-man tanker crew, Christmas 2009 was spent flying into Afghan airspace to save lives.

For 12 days in late December, Airmen from the 77th Air Refueling Squadron, 911th Air Refueling Squadron and 916th Maintenance Group made four trips into and out of Afghanistan to carry sick and wounded warriors to safety at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

For many aboard this aero medical mission, this was their first experience flying into a war zone.

"This was the most difficult yet most fulfilling mission I've ever been a part of," said Senior Master Sgt. Tim Clark, boom operator. "When you realize what some of these people are dealing with as they fight this war it makes you realize how insignificant you really are; they are amazing."

But the humble KC-135 crew did some amazing things themselves. The crew logged 73 flying hours over 31,000 miles. They transported 69 aero medical crew members and safely delivered 50 patients, four of whom were in critical care.

The mission almost didn't happen though as a terrible winter storm dumped nearly 15 inches of snow along the eastern seaboard right before the crew's departure overseas. But the crew knew the mission came first, so with shovels in-hand they dug out their own airplane.

"In my 18 years of flying, this was a first," said Sergeant Clark. "We were pretty focused on getting on with the mission though since we knew wounded soldiers were waiting for a ride with us."