Chief of staff lauds evacuation teams

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jennifer Lovett
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) --  The Air Force chief of staff said 19 Airmen here provided an “awesome” example of what Airmen do in wartime.

Two critical care teams were just doing their job when they escorted 12 battlefield-wounded patients, six in critical condition, on a mission from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

But on this routine mission in November, the father of one of the critical patients happened to be on board.

“It is not uncommon to have family members on board the channel missions that escort patients from (the medical center) to Andrews,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Hill, the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron director of operations.

“A lot of times the government will pay for family members to come over so that they can fly back with their sons or daughters or spouses,” he said. “It’s comforting.”

But it is uncommon when the father is an Army three-star general who happens to know the Air Force chief of staff.

Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp’s son was one of the six critical patients on the cargo plane. The aircraft was full of patients bound for Bethesda Medical Center or Walter Reed Army Hospital, U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials said.

The general sent a note to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, letting him know how much he appreciated the overall effort and professionalism of the aeromedical evacuation doctors, nurses and technicians on the flight. He added the names of the Airmen, members of the 791st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

During a visit to Ramstein Dec. 5, General Moseley met the 19 Airmen to give them his thanks. He also presented them a coin to show his appreciation.

“You are the most professional, competent people I’ve ever seen,” General Moseley said. “The Air Force and Army have a solid relationship and it’s more solid now.

“You represent so much more that the few of you up here,” General Mosley said. “You are representative of what we do in the Air Force during a time of war.

“So as a chief -- and as a dad -- let me thank you,” he said. “You are the backstop of taking care of people, and you are absolutely awesome.”

The squadrons’ Airmen know they will take part in more such missions. They have a vital role in the huge air evacuation mission that stretches from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to stateside medical facilities.

“Sadly there are more and more of these types of missions,” said Senior Airman J.T.C. Chevront, of the 791st. “But with modern medicine and technology, we are able to provide them (patients) the very best medical care -- and remarkably it’s in an airplane.”