commando - Hurlburt Field

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An Iranian Hostage Crisis: 1st SOW – sacrifices remembered by Dr. John Glover 1st SOW chief historian Recently, 15 British sailors and marines were held hostage in Iran. This scenario is familiar to many Americans, and in particular, to members of the 1st Special Operations Wing. In November 1979, Iranian “students” seized the U. S. Embassy in Tehran. The embassy personnel were then held hostage for the return of the Shah of Iran and for other perceived offenses against the new Islamic government led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Over the next 444 days, the “hostage crisis” was a nightly item on news broadcasts and became a factor in the election defeat of incumbent President Jimmy Carter. The hostages were ultimately released at the same moment President Ronald Reagan took his oath of office. For the better part of a year, however, the hostages were paraded on television, and news coverage began to focus on the inability of the Carter administration to free the American captives. The situation was worsened by Iran’s seeming delight at American uncertainty. People throughout the United States began to call for action. On April 24, 1980, highly-trained members of the four armed services made a valiant attempt to rescue the 44 diplomats and servicemembers held hostage in the Islamic republic of Iran. What the vast majority of Americans did not know was that planning for an armed rescue attempt began almost immediately after the embassy was overrun. The code name for the overall operation was Rice Bowl, while the operational portion was known as Eagle Claw. The operation was complex and faced several limiting factors, among which were the relative isolation of Tehran and the available courses of action which involved an increased risk of equipment failure. One critical piece of the operation was a refueling and overnight stay at a mid-desert site named Desert One. When the operation finally launched on the night of April 24, 1980, equipment failures and unpredictable dust storms caused the on-scene commanders to abort the mission. As the rescue force prepared to evacuate Desert One, an H-53 helicopter collided with a C-130. The collision caused a catastrophic fire that destroyed both aircraft. Although there were desperate attempts to save them, three Marines and five members of the 8th Special Operations Squadron died at the scene. At the entrance to the Hurlburt Field Chapel is a memorial donated by the citizens of Okaloosa County to honor fallen members of the 1st Special Operations Wing. The centerpiece of the memorial is a stained glass window that depicts eight diamonds curving upward in a rainbow of color, to a starburst that unites the lives of eight brave men who had the guts to try, men who met their death in defense of their nation and their fellow Americans, men who slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings, men who put out their hands and together touched the face of God. (Above) The members from the 8th Special Operations Squadron who died in the fatal accident during Operation Eagle Claw were (left to right) Capt. Richard Bakke, Tech. Sgt. Joel Mayo, Capt. Lyn McIntosh, Capt. Hal Lewis and Capt. Charles McMillan. (Right) The wreckage that was left after the helicopter and C- 130 collided in the desert during Operation Eagle Claw April 24, 1980. Courtesy photos. COMMANDO April 20, 2007
Senior Airman Tim Stumpf, 1st Special Operations Helicopter Maintenance Squadron works on a helicopter part in a deployed location. Courtesy photo. Staff Sgt. Sean Kasperek, 1st Special Operations Helicopter Maintenance Squadron, works on a helicopter in a deployed location. Courtesy photo. 1st SOMXG celebrates great year by Jamie Haig COMMANDO editor The 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group held their annual maintenance bash April 13 in Freedom Hangar, and this year, two of their Airmen were Air Force-level award recipients. Maj. Abigail Ruscetta, 1st Special Operations Component Maintenance Squadron, won the 2006 Gen. Lew Allen Jr., trophy, and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Poole, 1st Special Operations Helicopter Maintenance Squadron, was the 2006 Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez recipient for technician supervisor of munitions. “I think what we’re doing here day in and day out is phenomenal,” said Col. Socrates Greene, 1st SOMXG commander. “We’re not only supporting the Global War on Terrorism, but we’re training and conducting test missions as well.” In the past five years that the U.S. has been at war, the 1st SOMXG has not left the battlefield once. “We’re working in a battlefield environment on aircraft that are, on average, older than the maintainer,” Colonel Greene said. “The average age of our aircraft is 30 years old, and the average age of our maintainers is 18-24 years old.” The aircraft are also complex; no two are the same. Add into the mix a hostile environment and bad weather, and things could get tough. This is why the 1st SOMXG makes sure their Airmen are taken care of. More than 50 percent of the maintenance group is Airmen who joined the Air Force after Sept. 11, 2001. The colonel understands they’re young, but willing to learn. When not deployed, the 1st SOMXG has a rigid training schedule. Colonel Greene is serious about keeping his Airmen prepared to handle anything at home or deployed. “You cannot buy active-duty experience,” the colonel said. “People respond when they know you care.” The Airmen of the 1st SOMXG feel strongly about their mission and work environment. “I thought the overall ‘excellent’ rating on last year’s operational readiness inspection was definitely a major success,” Sergeant Poole said. “The camaraderie between the deployed personnel was the best I’ve ever seen in my career.” Senior Airman Nate Webster, 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and his coworkers agreed with that opinion. “There is no question that we work around the clock to make sure planes fly. This ranges from workers in the 1st Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron all the way to the 1st SOAMXS, who are actually launching the planes,” Airman Webster said. “When we deploy, we work at least 12 hour shifts, seven days a week for our whole deployment. We must know our jobs up and down because people’s lives are affected by our actions.” Other 1st SOAMXS Airmen agreed that maintenance is a 24-hour operation. They work hard and train hard with little recognition, but add that’s just their job. Despite the intense operation schedule, training at home to prepare them for war, the test missions on modified aircraft and the age of the fleet – the 1st SOMXG has good reason to celebrate. An Airman from the 1st SOMXG works on an aircraft on the Hurlburt Field flightline. Maintainers are the backbone of any flying squadron and the 1st SOMXG just celebrated an outstanding year in all-around performances whether home or deployed. Photo by Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery. Two 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group Airmen perform aircraft battle damage repair to a plane in a deployed location. The 1st SOMXG celebrated a successful year of high operations deployments, vigorous training and test missions. Courtesy photo. COMMANDO
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