Angry Birds

It’s been awhile. Going on three months now. Lots going on in that time. Came back from Iraq. Moved. Went a few places. Lounged around. The holidays came and went. Pretty soon the New Year was here. So, here we are.

Before moving on to new stuff I probably should close out on images made in Iraq. So, that’s what this and the next post or two are going to be focused on. Iraq. Seems so far away in some respects, both in the time since I was personally there, but also in the greater public consciousness. For something that caused so much debate, discussion, emotion and turmoil, it’s seemingly vanished from the headlines so to speak. And quickly.

But, these images were from time spent flying with folks from C Company, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment–the “Angry Birds”–whose main mission was ferrying troops from one location to another in Iraq. Helicopters were the Greyhound of Iraq. Often cramped, but they got you where you needed to go and weren’t quite so prone to tripping off roadside bombs.

The day starts early for the aircrew. Mission brief just after 4 a.m. and then it’s off to pre-flight the aircraft.

Chief Warrant Officer Luciana “Spence” Spencer, on ground, and Capt. Nicholas Kiaunis pre-flight a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter prior to flying that day’s mission.

The planning and prep for the day starts well before daybreak, but the sun is up as the crew prepares to take off. Spc. Lawrence Totemeh–dubbed “Total Mayhem” by his crew mates as a take off on his last name–prepares to mount an M240G machine gun to the aircraft. As a crew chief, Totemeh is responsible for all passengers and cargo in the aircraft, as well as manning the defenses for the aircraft should the need arise.

Spencer takes the Blackhawk into the air as the crew gets the mission underway. During the six-hour mission they will criss-cross the skies throughout central Iraq carrying troops and cargo from base to base.

Once in the air, things quickly fall into an easy routine.

During a stop to pick up passengers, Totemeh helps carry a duffel bag and rucksack for one of the troops getting on the aircraft.

Totemeh also helps out with those having trouble with buckling the seat harness.

Back in the air, the day quickly becomes a routine of flying here and dropping troops off, picking up others or cargo and flying somewhere else.

Totemeh keeps an eye out for obstacles that may be unseen by the pilot as they return to the airfield. One on the ground, though, the aircraft must go through a post-flight check and get prepped for the next days’ mission.

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