February 24, 2003
size="5">Westover bridges airlift effort to Southwest Asia
By Master Sgt. Tom Allocco
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. (AMCNS) -- Westover's Air Force Reserve assets again stands at the critical junction of an air bridge across the Atlantic.
Troops in desert camouflage, equipment-laden C-5s on the runway and the "controlled chaos" of aerial port and passenger terminal operations in Hangar 3 testify that Westover is again the closest U.S. point to an overseas crisis.
A long anticipated message from Air Mobility Command came on the first weekend of February. The surge of aircraft was starting, the wing was told. Within hours, the first C-5s landed here and Westover began moving troops and equipment to back up the national will in the Persian Gulf area of responsibility. They were followed by C-130s within the first week.
Twenty-four hour operations to accommodate troops and service aircraft started with teams of volunteers. At the tip of the spear was the 42nd Aerial Port Squadron, augmented by 58th aerial porters. Westover's maintainers worked around-the-clock in 12-hour shifts with the help of 433rd Airlift Wing volunteers from Lackland Air Force Base. Services volunteers were on duty at all hours to feed passengers and prepare flight meals.
"An air bridge operation is a tremendous job for everyone involved. To be a success, everyone has to pitch in together. That's what is happening here. People know that what they are doing is important. Everyone is coming together," said Brig. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, 439th AW commander.
AMC planners at the command's headquarters at Scott AFB, Ill., are channeling the armada of aircraft through Westover. AMC also coordinates aerial refueling over the Atlantic with Air National Guard tankers from Pease AFB, N.H. and Bangor International Airport, Maine.
Ideally, planes arrive at Westover spaced out at intervals and are on the ground for four hours for a "gas and go," including maintenance inspection and refueling.
The schedule can go awry for any number of reasons. Bad weather here or at the destination, missing a tanker over the Atlantic, a delay in diplomatic clearance for an over flight or maintenance delay can stack up planes at Westover. A Friday night New England snowstorm resulted in about a half dozen C-5s on the ground, with troops from all the services in the passenger terminal or provided rooms by billeting.
"If there is a weather or traffic problem over the Atlantic or their destination is 'MOGed' (maximum aircraft on the ground), C-5s can be diverted here, causing more havoc with the schedule. They can be 150 miles over the Atlantic and return here within 30 minutes of the time we get the divert message," said Lt. Col. James P. Carey, 42nd APS commander. His aerial porters are everywhere, from the air terminal operations center to augmenting transportation as volunteer bus drivers. "It never ceases to amaze me how people volunteer. Our people continually step up to the plate and do whatever is necessary to get the job done," he said.
One example is the 439th Services Squadron. "Services came to us on Monday morning and asked what we needed. We gave them a wish list. By Wednesday everything was all set up and running," said Chief Master Sgt. Bruce L. Westcott, 42nd APS ATOC superintendent.
In the hangar are tents, cots, tables and a lounge with TVs, VCR tapes, video games and telephones. Services, with the help of reservists from other bases, offers midnight meals and boxed flight meals at all hours. During the Gulf War, the Patriot Wing set the standard for hospitality towards tens of thousands of troops deploying and returning from the area of operations. The current operation builds on that experience. The 439th Communications Squadron donated computers to e-mail messages home. The Family Support Center donated modems and paid for Internet services. They also donated books, magazines, audio books and writing materials. Troops received calling cards through the VFW's Operation Uplink.
"We try to treat every individual as a welcome guest," said Roy Green, Family Support Center director.
Civilian employees across base pitched in to help. The Base Exchange set up a mini-exchange in which desert camouflage pillows unexpectedly became a fad item among troops who scooped them off the shelves.
Protestant chaplain Capt. William Wiecher walked among the troops offering another kind of support to young men and women going into the unknown. For those who feel a need to talk in private, the chaplain has set aside a quiet area. "They've gone through preparing for deployment and the stresses of leaving. Waiting here, they may start thinking of things a little more. You can train for this, but when you actually do it, it's different," he said.
The centerpiece of the welcome are the volunteers of the Pioneer Valley United Service Organizations. "Coming through the door, they met us with snacks. This has been a great help to us. We get everything we need," said Staff Sgt. Corey Foy from Fort Bragg, N.C. Cookies, pastries, fruit, unlimited USO coffee, a friendly person to talk to and a hug for departing troops add up to a touch of home. "They're my family. That's why I'm here," said USO volunteer Marilyn Spofford of Granby. She was in the hangar with her husband, Air Force retiree Bob Spofford, greeting troops, as they have since Desert Shield.
Spofford snapped Polaroids of Marine Lance Cpl. Chris Jara of Houston who was horseplaying in the first snow he had ever seen in his life. Soon every laughing Marine wanted their picture taken in the New England snow. Just a day earlier they had arrived tired after two and a half days on the road.
During the early days of the surge, the duty of a last assistance to the troops fell to Chaplain Wiecher. After the good cheer and refreshments, he reminded them of the awesome seriousness of their deployment. Standing at the front of a bus next to a C-5 he invited soldiers to bow their heads and join him in a prayer that they be granted the courage and protection for whatever they must face at their destination.
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