VFA-86 Sidewiders Combat Cruise Plaque for 2006
See more US
Navy Cruise Plaques HERE
Navy Cruise Plaque Delivered to VAW-117
"The Wallbangers"
VAW-117 "The Wallbangers"
The squadron was established at NAS North Island, CA on 1
July 1974 as part of Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing, U. S. Pacific
Fleet. In 1981 the Wallbangers joining Carrier Air Wing Eleven for
WestPac on board the USS Enterprise. The Cruise Plaque notes the
interesting deployment of VAW-117 during 2005.
Deployment Plaque for HMLA-369 -
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Story by Cpl. Jonathan K. Teslevich
THE GUNFIGHTERS
AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (May 1, 2006) -- More than 100 years
have passed since the fastest pistol-drawing gunfighters dominated the
saloons and streets of the American West. Halfway around the world, a
different kind of gunfighter is leaving its own mark on insurgent forces
in Iraq's own wild west, the Al Anbar province of Iraq.
Known as the Gunfighters, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369,
Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, have
been patrolling the Iraqi skies with UH-1N Huey and AH-1W Super Cobra
helicopters for nearly seven months, ready to fire their deadly suite of
weapons on insurgent forces.
HMLA-369 Marine Corps, part
of 2nd MAW (FWD), MAG-26(FWD), The Gunfighters - recently took delivery
of 3 large deployment plaques and over 100 smaller personal deployment
plaques.
The helicopters' weapons, ranging from mini-guns to missiles, would be
simple window dressings in Iraq, if not for the swift efforts of the
Gunfighters' ordnance division Marines.
At the sound of the alarm, like colts bolting out of the gates at the
Kentucky Derby, ordnance Marines race from their bunker-like trailers to
the line of Hueys and Cobras to prepare for battle.
"When the alarm goes off, we're on the run. A four-man team runs out to
get the helicopter ready for the pilot," said Lance Cpl. Nick W. Molthen,
an aircraft ordnance technician and Seattle, native. "This saves a lot
of time because two separate Marines can arm the weapons on each side
while the others inspect, making sure everything is safe."
Less than thirty seconds passed when the last weapons' safety pins were
pulled and the helicopters were ready for take off.
"Back in the United States, it's common for the arming process to take a
few minutes, but we're not in a training environment here, so we
instituted a new system to speed things up," said Master Sgt. Alan W.
Jones, the ordnance division chief. "Our goal was to get the birds out
safely and as fast as possible without cutting any corners. Five days
into the deployment I sat down with the team leaders, took their input
and (the new system) has worked ever since."
The world record arming time is not why the ordnance Marines perform
their jobs with such urgency. They do it to save lives.
"Every second saved in the arming process means we give the guys on the
ground a better chance of making it," said Jones, a Taylorville, Ill.,
native. "We hear back from the ground commanders expressing their
appreciation for the quick support we give them."
This image show the HMLA-369's
SNCO Deployment plaque
The photograph above shows some
of the 100 plus personal plaques that were presented to the members of
HMLA-369 deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
According to Molthen, the Marines hear rumors coming
back to the squadron from ground units that whenever the Cobras and
Hueys show up on the scene, the shooting stops from the enemy.
"That's why I love this job! Arming the birds, doing what I'm trained to
do, and getting the mission done," he said.
It is that zeal for their role in the fight against insurgent forces in
Iraq that has made it possible for the ordnance Marines to work long
hours, and still stay focused on the task of arming the helicopters
throughout their deployment.
"These Marines have done an outstanding job over the past six months.
Their performance has always been at the highest level," said Jones.
"There is no doubt in my mind that I have the best Marines in the Corps,
and I have been doing this for 22 years.
