Airmen score triple play on one trip

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cassandra Locke
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
CHAKLALA, Pakistan (AFPN) --  A C-130 Hercules aircrew picked up earthquake relief supplies in Bahrain and delivered them to Pakistan Oct. 15 -- but their mission did not end there.

The crew then flew to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, where it picked up cargo to take to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

By the end of their trip the crew, deployed from the 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, had successfully flown a humanitarian, combat and combat support mission all in one trip.

“We were just doing what we’ve been trained to do,” said Senior Airman Brandon Alonzo, a loadmaster on the flight.

The crew, with the 745th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, delivered about 15,000 pounds of medical supplies, portable restrooms, blankets, sleeping bags and other aid supplies to Pakistan.

“It felt good to help out in a situation where most only people wish they could help,” said Senior Airman Johnny Rivera, another loadmaster.

The crew has flown almost 50 missions since deploying to Southwest Asia. The flight to Pakistan was their first humanitarian missions.

The best part finishing the mission was knowing "your hard work will have a positive effect on people’s lives for many years to come,” said Maj. Tony Bevis, a navigator.

“We are in a position to help out people in need, and this was one of my most satisfying (missions) because we helped out in such a direct way,” he said.