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"Greyhawks" Help Take Down Dictator's Regime

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030417-05
Release Date: 4/17/2003 10:16:00 AM

By Chief Journalist William Polson, USS Tarawa Public Affairs

ABOARD USS TARAWA, At Sea (NNS) -- The hard work and effort supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom has come in many forms aboard USS Tarawa (LHA 1), as coalition forces in Iraq have pushed ever closer to ending the regime of Saddam Hussein.

One of the more far-reaching "weapons" embarked aboard are the Harrier pilots of the Marine Attack Squadron 311, Det. A. Nightly, this unit of nine Harrier pilots takes off from Tarawa's flight deck and heads north to support the coalition forces.

On some nights, the number of miles they log can reach into the hundreds. The air-to-ground weapons of their vertical-lift attack jets have provided welcome protection to the Marines fighting on the ground inside Iraq.

"Our pilots contribute greatly to what's going on right now," said Maj. Brad Gering, officer in charge of the six-jet detachment. "They're working non-stop to support the coalition effort and to help liberate the Iraqis."

Gering is among the 60 Harrier jet and helicopter pilots assigned to the larger unit aboard, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 Reinforced (HMM-161), nicknamed the "Greyhawks."

To date, the Greyhawks have flown approximately 400 sorties, and that number will have increased by the end of April.

"The hours are long, but the motivation comes from the Marines when they're calling for our assistance," said Capt. Duane Rivera, the unit's junior Harrier pilot. "It's really no trouble at all to stay motivated to help those guys on the ground."

With the images of Hussein's statues toppling across Iraq on the television behind him, Gering took a moment to look ahead.

"I think this will go down in the history books as one of our brightest moments."

Tarawa currently serves as the flagship for the coalition amphibious forces under Commander, Task Force 51 (CTF-51). The ship's primary mission is to land and sustain U.S. Marines on any shore during hostilities. Tarawa embarks the Marine Corps' AV-8B Harrier, CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopters, CH-46 Sea Knight medium lift helicopters, AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey multipurpose helicopters.