Probably not found in the Washington Post!
**************************COMBINED AIR OPERATIONS CENTER, QATAR

Story by Master Sergeant Jeff Bohn

At 5:41 p.m. Saturday, a United States Air Force C-130 with 15 airmen
aboard took off from a desert base located in Southwest Asia to
implement President Bush’s promise of assistance to the Iranian people
rocked by Saturday’s pre-dawn earthquake in Bam, Iran.

In this, an international call for assistance, American forces
mobilized to give aid to tens of thousands of Iran’s citizens stricken
by disaster.

After a short stop in Kuwait City, Kuwait, by the Peoria, Ill. Air
National Guard crew to pick up 20-thousand pounds of cargo, the C-130
and crew were headed for Iranian airspace.

Five pallets laden with such medical supplies as intravenous fluids,
bandages, gauze, and surgical equipment, plus food and purified water
comprised the first load of American relief support.

In addition to the cargo, there were several experts from fields of
aerial port operations and support agencies to assess the operational
and equipment needs for follow-on aircraft. Among them was the Col.
Bret Klassen, a United States Air Force logistician and senior member
of the first flight’s crew, who normally works short-term logistical
issues for immediate action at the Combined Air Operations Center.

“I’m going to do some additional assessing to see what may be needed,
get a review of the airfield we are going into, and see what equipment
is needed,” Col. Klassen said.

Col. Klassen said the Air Force is loading C-5 and C-17 aircraft
Saturday for follow-on flights and they will be awaiting his reports
to ensure they can be scheduled in, have a place to ramp up and
unload, and have adequate equipment available to safely unload the
aircraft.

Aside from logistical elements, Col. Klassen said, “I think it’s a
great opportunity to open up dialogue. It’s unfortunate that it’s
under these circumstances with such a large loss of life.”

Touching down at an airport in Kerman, Iran -- about 180 kilometers
from Bam – the aircraft taxied to the end of the ramp near a
French-flagged Boeing 747. Aircraft of all sizes from several
countries littered the flight line. French, Chinese, Russian and a
host of other flagged carriers were packed into the concrete tarmac in
no specific order.

Initial contact was with the Iranian military who deferred the
unloading process to the civilian airport authorities. Using an Air
Force linguist, the needs of the Iranians and the Americans were
discussed at length with broken phrases of American English and
Iranian Farsi – on both sides.

Eventually it was decided by necessity the Iranian military would
unload the aircraft by hand. There was no fork lift or mechanized
cargo loaders available.

Approximately 30 Iranian soldiers clad in khaki and green stood
patiently in a tight military formation while a tractor-trailer truck
backed a large open-topped boxed bed up to the cargo aircraft’s
loading ramp. The soldiers leaped into action.

Pallets were stripped down and a joint, 45-person human chain was
formed to transfer the cargo into the first and then a second waiting
truck. Americans and Iranian servicemembers worked side-by-side for
nearly two hours unloading all of the relief supplies.

An Iranian air force colonel looked on and made several greetings to
the U.S. Air Force officers and enlisted members.

“Thank you,” the Iranian colonel said. “Thank you very much for
helping.”

As the cargo was moved, smiles appeared and grins were exchanged. Many
Iranian officials on the ground showed their thanks by giving many
handshakes and warm greetings in broken English.

Aircraft on the ramp would finish their download and depart, seemingly
replaced by another jet in short order. Then, as quickly as it had
started, the soldiers were done transferring the cargo from the
American plane. In a matter of minutes, the soldiers had formed up and
marched off to yet another aircraft in need of off loading.

In all, the operation went well from the Air Force’s perspective.

“Overall, I think it went smoothly even though it was a short
notification and not much time to coordinate with the Iranians,” Col.
Klassen said. “I’m very pleased to find the Iranians were grateful for
the humanitarian aid.”

Aboard the C-130, 15 Americans were weary from a long, and unexpected
day. Shortly after clean up, the aircraft was airborne once again, but
heading away from Iran toward home for a well-deserved rest. On the
ride home some slept, others wrote, but all seemed very satisfied with
a job well done; a job that is only the start of an international
relief effort.
*********************************************

Nice, huh?

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!