• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Texas Guard deploys to serve

Air Combat Command News

Release Date: 8/13/2003

By Tech Sgt. Gregory Ripps Texas National Guard Public Affairs

8/12/2003 -CAMP MABRY, Texas (ACCNS) -- The job of providing services to the thousands of military members stationed at or passing through a base in the U.S. Central Command area of operation during the early months of 2003 fell to a team of airmen used to answering the call of duty.

With Operation Enduring Freedom continuing and Operation Iraqi Freedom about to begin, the base that was set up to support 2,000 military personnel suddenly needed to support more than 7,000 personnel.

Part of the team serving the masses included members of the 147th Services Flight of the Texas Air National Guard's 147th Fighter Wing from Ellington Field, Houston. They were attached to the 332nd Expeditionary Support Group near the Iraqi border, for four months beginning in February.

"We knew something was going to happen when we deployed," said Senior Master Sgt. Priscilla Malone, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the flight. "But we soon became so busy, we had no time to worry. We got only about three hours of sleep a night for the first three weeks we were there."

This base that "never sleeps" was living up to its reputation, she said. The Services people procured more than five million pounds of food and served more than a million meals, averaging 15,000 meals a day during an 80-day period. They also handled the fitness and recreation programs for the base, oversaw $30,000 in resale operations and maintained 175 lodging facilities during their time there.

Sergeant Malone said their task was to enable the troops to "eat, sleep, work out and call home."

"It was amazing," she said. "Never in my life did I expect such an experience - Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines all together."

The experience intensified when Operation Iraqi Freedom began, she said. The occupants of the base had many rehearsals in donning their chemical warfare ensembles.

"Then the alarm went off at about 10:45 p.m. March 17," she said. "They didn't say this was an exercise." Services people wore their "chem gear" for 21 of the next 24 hours.

The Army Patriot missiles intercepted the SCUDS, and the Marines secured the ground, Sergeant Malone said. When 332nd Services had troops to transport to the airport and had to inspect food facilities, the Marines ensured Services people reached their destinations and returned safely.

Fortunately, one task 332nd Services people didn't have to perform was opening a mortuary for a 24-hour operation, she said.

"We knew what it would mean if we opened a full-time mortuary," Malone said. "It would mean several fathers, brothers, sons, mothers, sisters and daughters would not return home to their loved ones.

The 147th Services Flight proved it could not only accomplish its mission but that it could also get along well with others, including coalition forces.

"It was just awesome," Sergeant Malone said. "All the branches came to realize what they brought to the fight."

Before her team's rotation ended, British, Australian and Lithuanian military members had become part of the base's family.

Sergeant Malone said she developed a new appreciation for the Air Force.

"The Air Force is blessed when it comes to comforts," she said. "We were fortunate to sleep in fixed facilities while the other branches slept in tents.

"But we were also blessed to be around the other branches, and to have their support," she said.