Kandahar Airmen fly missions of mercy

Published Nov. 9, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Kapinos
U. S. AFCENT Combat Camera Team

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- They are the "Angels of the Battlefield," medics dedicated to transporting and caring for wounded U.S. and coalition servicemembers and helping locals in need.

"It's our job to take care of these wounded warriors," said Maj. Dawn Rice, a flight nurse and medical director assigned to the 451st Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. "We take great pride in getting people the top-notch care they deserve. Our country, our military will do whatever it takes to get people to the proper medical facilities.

"We want people to know this," added the major, a reservist deployed from Air Force Reserve Command's 445th AES at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "Hopefully it will give them some comfort when they are outside the wire fighting the enemy."

Air evacuation is a detailed process with the aircrew acting as the most visible link in the chain. The process typically begins at a local level.

"The primary mission at the smaller field hospitals is simply stabilizing the patient," said Chief Master Sgt. John Trujillo, 451st AES superintendent. "Once that has been accomplished and it has been determined the patient needs to be moved to another more capable hospital, then it's our job to get them there."

While caring for wounded servicemembers is the primary mission for the crews, they show the same amount of dedication to even the smallest victims of the fighting in the country.

The squadron recently flew a 9-year-old Afghan girl and her 13-year-old brother from a major hospital at Bagram Airfield to a base in southern Afghanistan. The girl had been at the Bagram hospital for two months recovering from injuries received during a mortar attack on her village. Before the U.S. military stepped in to help, her brother cared for her, replacing the bandages on her legs and overseeing her well-being.

As the girl was taken aboard the aircraft for her flight, nurses from Bagram said their tearful goodbyes as the crewmembers gave the children gifts and treats, bringing out their smiles.

Looking at the children, the major spoke about this moment and how it transcended geographical borders and political differences - truly a moment of human compassion. The care that was being given was not just between Americans and Afghans, or adults and children, but human beings taking care of each other.

"This is why we do what we do," said Major Rice softly. "These are the moments we live for."