Oct 10, 2007 7:52 pm US/Central
Dodging Enemy Fire: MN Soldiers Flying Blackhawks
by Lisa Kiava
(WCCO)
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The 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion is sometimes dodging enemy fire while flying Blackhawk helicopters throughout Iraq.
Minnesota National Guard
While hundreds of Minnesota National Guard soldiers that were part of the largest deployments ever returned home this summer, many people don't realize that more Minnesota soldiers are continuing to deploy to Iraq.
The 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion is sometimes dodging enemy fire while flying Blackhawk helicopters throughout Iraq.
The commander of the St. Paul-based battalion spoke via satellite and the National Guard provided video of the 400 soldiers he leads.
"We fly everyday, both day and night," said Lt. Col. Greg Thingvold, commander of 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion.
After about a month in Iraq, the battalion has been under fire at times and has already seen the enemy change tactics.
"As in the past, the enemy would love nothing more than to bring down an aircraft. It gets a lot of media attention, so we do a lot of analysis on how we fly," said Thingvold.
He said his Minnesota soldiers transport cargo, contractors and soldiers killed in action. There have been six flights of so-called hero missions so far.
"I've personally flown one of these missions and I can tell you there's nothing more important at that moment, on that day when a hero mission comes up. It's an honor for us to be a part of the important process to get that hero, that fallen soldier back home to their family," he said.
Flight crews include several war veterans, including one Vietnam Vet whose son is in the same unit.
"He wanted to serve with his son and serve on this rotation, so he brings Vietnam experience which there's some of that that's very relevant today," said Thingvold.
There's five hours of maintenance for every hour of flight time; and there's plenty of flight time. In one month they have flown what would take them a year to log back home.
"Hopefully we can just get through the next 10 months and not have any significant encounters with the bad guys," said Thingvold.
The guard members have a total of 30 Blackhawks; some choppers went with them from their St. Paul base.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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