HMM-161 Action

I read this article on www.military.com in November.

Every Second Counts as Greyhawks Save Lives
Marine Corps News | Cullen J. Tiernan | October 31, 2005
AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - The golden hour is the amount of time they have to save life, limb or sight. Every second faster they move could mean the difference between life and death.
With this mentality, the Greyhawks of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 constantly strive to improve the speed with which they respond to urgent casualty evacuations at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, near the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi.
After three deployments in as many years, the Greyhawks are becoming experts at moving fast to get their CH-46 Sea Knights in the air and save lives, said Col. Robert E. Clay, the airboss of Al Taqaddum and Pensacola, Fla., native.
“As soon as they rolled in, they were the fastest moving squadron I’d ever seen,” said Clay. “The casevac alarm goes off and these guys are professionals, moving with a real sense of urgency. A couple of minutes may not seem like much, but try not breathing or bleeding for that amount of time.”
Clay stressed that as soon as the Greyhawks arrived, they set the bar for how urgent casevacs are conducted.
The Greyhawks took control the mission Aug. 15, nine days ahead of schedule. As of Oct. 28, they have moved 442 patients.
He said it has taken less than four minutes from notification to launch for these Marines and their Navy corpsmen counterparts. The standard operating procedure calls for 30 minutes.
“Every time we get a call, we know lives depend on us,” said Lt. Col. Robert M. Brassaw, the commanding officer of HMM-161 and Cape Corral, Fla., native. “These Marines understand their mission and are consistently launching birds in under five minutes. They are doing that routinely and safely.”
Brassaw said each Greyhawk experiences something different daily and every day they know they are making a difference.
“When the casevac alarm goes off, they don’t know if they are going to come under fire,” said Brassaw. “They don’t know if they are going to the point of injury or moving someone who has already received medical attention, but they move with the same speed and intensity for every mission.”
The Greyhawks’ missions include flying wounded and sick U.S. service members, Iraqi soldiers, civilians and insurgents. They fly with the same speed for the lives of anyone they can help.
“If someone needs to be rescued we’re there for them,” said Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Burman, an airframes technician with HMM-161 and Brentwood, Calif., native. “Civilians in the city of Baghdad aren’t hostile. They are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are there for them, to save their lives.”
Burman’s duties include inspecting the aircraft’s hydroelectric systems, ensuring they are safe to fly.
“It’s amazing how fast we spin these rotors,” said Lance Cpl. Joseph P. Berry, a crew chief with HMM-161 and Missoula, Mont., native. “It gets everyone’s blood pumping. That’s what sets off our speed. There are different squadrons that have done this mission, but we strive to be the fastest ever. There is nothing better than flying in Iraq and saving people’s lives.”
In the month of September, Berry flew in CASEVAC missions for more than 100 hours, the most in the squadron. He said from the commanding officer to the lance corporals, the Greyhawks are all focused on their mission of saving lives.
“Every day, I have something to wake up for,” said Lance Cpl. Adam Timar a crew chief and Tetonia, Idaho, native. “Being out here has been very eye opening. Every day you are doing something for someone. I’ve seen a lot of people with a lot of medical gear hooked up to them. I know my job is important and that every second counts.”

Sent the following letter to Lt.Col. Brassaw.

11/5/2005
Lt. Col. Robert M. Brassaw
HMM-161 Commanding Officer
UIC 41066
FPO AP 96426-1066

Lt. Col. Brassaw

As a fellow Marine and former member of HMM-161, I would like to pass on a huge Bravo Zulu to you and HMM-161. I just read an article about HMM-161 launching in five minutes or less on CASEVAC missions. I have to tell you it brought back memories of us doing the same, on S&R and Medivacs out of Chu Lai in ’69-’70. So it is the proud tradition of HMM-161 that carries on to get the mission done.

Please pass on the support from all of us to the squadron and all the fine work they are doing, and if there is anything you need or we can do back in the states let us know.

In addition, I wanted to mention a great organization that you and other squadron members might be interested in. The USMC / Combat Helicopter Association at www.popasmoke.com It is a group of fellow Marines past and present that have served in combat (all theaters) and with helicopters. We share all kinds of information, war stories, and photos. We also have a reunion every two years, to renew old friendships.

Once more, pass on a “Well Done” to the squadron, It makes me and your fellow Marines proud. Keep up the good work, and I pray that you and the squadron return safely.

Semper Fi

Bruce “Howdy” Mayor (Sgt.)HMM-161 ’69-‘70

Copy of Lt.Col. Brassaw’s reply.

04 December, 2005
Howdy

Thanks for your motivating letter! I’ve posted it for all the Marines to read. It’s good to hear from former squadron members and we do our best every day to maintain the proud legacy of “The First.” We take our mission here very seriously because we know our ground brethren’s lives depend on us getting them to medical care as quickly as possible. What we have seen here is that many of our CASEVACS are for injured Iraqi Forces. They are picking up a large share of the fighting and are performing well. We are looking forward to the National Election on the 15th of December as another opportunity for the Iraqi people to embrace democracy and thumb their noses at the insurgents.

I invite you to visit our 2nd MAW webpage listed below to keep abreast of what we are doing out here in Iraq. Feel free to pass information from our webpage along to your Pop-a-Smoke counterparts.

Semper Fidelis,

LtCol Mike Brassaw
HMM-161 Commanding Officer

http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/FamilyReadiness/MAG26/hmm161KVN.asp

Semper Fi

Bruce “Howdy” Mayor HMM-161 ’69-‘70