Firefighters return from Iraq service

Published Oct. 21, 2009
By Angela Cutrer
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Six firefighters from Keesler Fire Department just returned from Balad Air Base in Iraq, bringing back experience, practice and a sense of know-how from dealing with real-life warrior conditions.

The crew - all volunteers for the mission - worked numerous emergencies, fires and medical crises. They took with them top-of-the-line training; they returned with a new-found respect for their flight's mission.

Staff Sgt. Michael Kehoe, 30, Mandeville, La., is a crew chief. "I make the calls on that truck, and it's my responsibility to take care of those who are on there as well as their gear," he said.

He thought the most essential thing he learned during the crew's stay came on Sept. 20, when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed. The UH-60 Black Hawk went down at the Balad Air Base, about 50 miles north of Baghdad, on a night of a fierce sandstorm that included thunder, lightning and rain.

"The crash really opened up my eyes to what we really do as firefighters," Sergeant Kehoe said. "I've always enjoyed helping people, but this (crash) ... we helped rescue 11 people. That's something."

"It was chaos at first trying to find the helicopter crash, but once it was found, everyone immediately went in to work mode and did what we were trained to do," said Senior Airman Mark Born, 21, Wall, Texas, who served as a driver during the crew's mission. He said the group had a lot of other smaller emergencies, too. "We had a higher operations tempo than I expected," he said of the crew's deployment.

"They did what they had to do when the time came," said Keesler Deputy Fire Chief Gary Pierson, himself a retired master sergeant with 24 years military service.

"We get them ready and send them out the door," the deputy chief said, pointing out that our people are deployable within 24 hours, Prime Beef. "They are top-notch - the cream of the crop - as are all the members of the Keesler Fire Department."

Originally a Saddam-era airfield, Balad Air Base was confiscated by American forces in 2003. It has since grown to be one of the largest in Iraq and is home to more than 20,000 U.S. forces, notes U.S. military reports. The base provides air power, logistics and counterterrorism support, as well as training for Iraqi security. It is also a base for Army helicopters and unmanned reconnaissance drones as well as the Air Force's F-16 fighters.

Senior Airman Shawn Edgecomb, 23, Stockton, Calif., said that he was surprised at how fast time went while the crew was deployed. "The time went quickly and we actually had a lot of calls coming in over there in the desert," he said. "And we got to put all of our training to effect in deployed environment."

Airman Edgecomb was also surprised that they "were so busy and we stayed busy," he said. "There was so much stuff we had to do."

The crew didn't work on disasters only, though. Take Staff Sgt. Commie Hobbs, 31, Mobile, Ala. This fire inspector is used to examining fire aftermaths, conducting drills and handling other public education duties, so he jumped right in over in Iraq, volunteering with "Troy's Place," a getaway for warriors.

As its Web site states, "Troy's Place serves as a morale-building site, where military members can find many comfort items such as movies, books, magazines, music, games, stationary for letters, snacks, coffee and drinks. There is no charge to them, but their experience is priceless." The place is named after Maj. Troy Gilbert, who died Nov. 27, 2006, during an aerial combat near Taji. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for his mission to protect others by giving his own life.

"(Troy's Place) is where you can go to boost your morale," said Sergeant Hobbs. "You can watch movies, get on the Internet, relax." But even though soldiers need a little down time, it didn't mean they forgot those who are the smallest in need. "We collected toys, clothing and school supplies for Iraqi children," said Sergeant Hobbs, who's been to Kuwait and Jordan on missions, but said this one surprised him because he got a lot of overseas hands-on experience that he couldn't get at Keesler.

Senior Airman Jeremiah Ramos, 21, San Benito, Texas, served as a driver-operator. He calls his first deployment "a great experience because we had more fires and rescue and medical calls than we thought possible. We got to help people and do more." One of his calls involved a nonresponsive infant. "It feels good to serve your country and help others," Airman Ramos said. "Morale was great over there and we had a great chief. We had no issues - we were just doing our job and loving it."

Another driver, Senior Airman Brian Gunkel, 21, Yakima, Wash., said his first deployment showed him how "it's night and day between here and overseas."
Life in general is different over there, he added. "You start to communicate with the local nationals and you see the little things (you used to worry about) don't matter," he said. "The daily things you just can't take for granted anymore.

But he'd go back if asked. "In a heartbeat," he said firmly. "It's a chance to do your job. It's the only place you can get your feet wet and get your boots to working."

Keesler firefighters return from service in Iraq