NATO AWACS IN OKLAHOMA: POSITIVE EXPERIENCES EMERGE FROM THE NEGATIVE
(Interviews with NATO crew members deployed to Oklahoma) (1030)
By Lissa Ann Wohltmann
Special to the Washington File
Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma - NATO personnel who arrived at Tinker
Air Force Base last month were boldly going where no one has gone
before. This group of approximately 180 military and civilians
representing 13 different nationalities had never before been to the
United States for operational support with their Airborne Warning and
Control Systems (AWACS) planes.
"This is the first time NATO AWACs have been operationally deployed"
in the United States, said the Detachment Commander, who asked to be
identified only as Jim. "We've been here with exercises before where
you try new procedures and train people. In operations, you don't try
to be fancy, you just do the job. It's no longer make-believe."
NATO began deploying five of its E-3 Sentry AWACS from Geilenkirchen,
Germany, on October 9 to assist the United States with homeland
defense. The NATO detachment began flying operational missions from
Tinker Air Force Base on October 15 after going through ground
training and familiarization flights.
Johan, a NATO public information representative, said he was surprised
to learn that he would be doing his job in Oklahoma. "We never
expected we had to come to the United States," he said. Based out of
Geilenkirchen, Johan is one of 3,000 men and women who are a part of
the force that assists in providing aircraft and trained aircrews to
deliver surveillance and/or control capability whenever and wherever
needed.
Although some of the crew members have been to the United States
before on exercises, none has had to stay away from their loved ones
for this long. Most of the time, this unit is deployed to Europe.
Jerry, from the Netherlands and the senior civilian in this outfit,
noted that "it's a very long stay. Most of us are usually gone, at the
most, two weeks. We normally assist other European countries."
In order to maintain a high level of experienced personnel, members of
this crew will be rotated out in increments. Sometimes, though, a unit
member must stay longer due to unforeseen circumstances. For example
Claudio, from Italy, was scheduled to replace Jerry, but because of
personal family matters Claudio will be heading back home.
"Although the people here are really, really nice and really, really
friendly, I'm looking forward to going home," Jerry said. "Maybe I'll
be back again -- who knows?"
Mike, from Germany, misses his family but was anxious to be a part of
this command. "I was looking forward to coming to the states for about
a year," he said. "I feel very happy the United States asked NATO to
help."
Thinking Americans were always self-sustaining, Mike was surprised
that NATO was called to help in this situation. "They really must need
us and I'm honored," he remarked.
He said the Germans wanted a way to pay back the United States for
helping tear down the Berlin Wall -- Americans dropped off food and
other provisions during this time when these things were most needed.
In order to stay in touch with home, the NATO crew members use the
on-base Internet cafe. The two computers there are used 24 hours a
day. Use is limited to 20 minutes if other people are waiting;
otherwise, many people stay on line one and a half to two hours at a
stretch.
"It's a good thing we've got Internet," Mike noted.
Johan checks his email two to three times a day. "Our personal lives
are important to all of us," he said.
Although many crew members don't get a chance to go outside the base
very often, they have experienced the appreciation of the local
citizens and military personnel. "The first days we arrived here, the
people were so glad to see us," Mike said. "Even an American colonel
saw my German patch [on my sleeve] and said 'Thank you for being
here.'"
Because of the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York and
Washington, or simply because they were near Oklahoma City, many of
the NATO unit members have visited the Oklahoma Memorial in honor of
the attack victims. "The Oklahoma Memorial is the most impressive
thing I've seen," Mike said. "All the teddy bears on the fence were
something else."
Eddy, a pilot from Belgium, hasn't seen the memorial but plans to do
so before going back home. Being in the Air Force for over 20 years,
he is used to being deployed. However, this deployment is different.
"It's not every year you are invited to do this," he said. "And that's
what we were; we were invited."
His family has become accustomed to this military lifestyle. "I think
they are proud I'm doing this now," he said. "I'm motivated to doing
this because it is a good feeling that you are part of a link in the
big puzzle."
When the members of this NATO team go off base, Americans show their
appreciation by buying them drinks, offering to pay for a meal, or
giving them free tickets to a local sports game. One hockey team held
a "NATO Night," a local church hosted a dinner for them, and strangers
frequently approach them to thank them for being here. Many say they
are praying for the safety of the crew flying the AWACs.
When one woman from Amarillo, Texas, discovered that Jerry was with
NATO, she broke down and cried saying that everyone hates Americans.
She then thanked him and his colleagues for being here.
Perhaps Oklahomans are re-living their own tragedy -- the bombing of
the U.S. Federal Building in Oklahoma City six years ago. Or perhaps
these people in the Midwest are passionately patriotic and want to
show their appreciation for the men and woman in uniform who represent
the friends the United States does have around the world.
Although the members of this NATO team are far away from their loved
ones, they are obviously loved by these Americans.
As Eddy said, while waiting to fly his next mission, "There's always a
positive note to everything that happens."
