Black Hawk crews deploy to Iraq from Los Alamitos

[n2doc]

August 9, 2010 | 12:39 pm

More than a few tears were shed as the second wave of 50 troops from the California National Guard said its goodbyes and held loved ones tightly before flying off in formation aboard Black Hawk helicopters from the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos en route to a one-year deployment in Iraq.

Clutching American flags and handmade signs, friends and family snapped photos while their troops flew off into overcast skies.

All of the troops are members of the 1-140th Aviation Battalion (Task Force Long Knife), who fly and maintain the Black Hawk helicopters and will help move troops and supplies during their deployment.

One Black Hawk pilot, Chief Warrant Officer April Sanchez, and her fiance, Kirk Allred, held each other and kissed while they stood next to Sanchez’ helicopter, neither wanting to let the other go and neither wanting the moment to end. Eventually, the motors began to start, Sanchez's crew members began to strap on their helmets and the couple said their final goodbye.

more

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/black-hawk-crews-deploy-to-iraq.html

[Warren Stupidity]

1. these must be those new 'non-combatant' back hawks. nt

[Subdivisions]

2. Yes, those are the ones brimming with lollipops and cotton candy for Iraqi orphans. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Because blackhawks don't get used for things like transport, or medevacs.

Clutching at straws, eh?

[jmowreader]

4. Black Hawks don't come from the factory pre-armed

What they DO come from the factory with, however, is a winch with a hundred feet of cable on it--that is capable of carrying a bag containing nine thousand pounds of anything you want, from ammo to relief supplies. So...these very well could be non-combatant black hawks.