Airman gets wounded brother-in-law home

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Nicole Barnum
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) --  Capt. Mike Lentz has always taken pride in his work. As a special-assignment airlift-missions planner at Air Mobility Command's Tanker Airlift Control Center here, Lentz coordinates airlift for dignitaries such as the president, secretary of defense and other high-profile individuals.

The importance of his job really hit home when he had an opportunity to be part of a different kind of mission -- the one bringing his wounded brother-in-law home.

Army Capt. Mark Chaney, Lentz's brother-in-law, is a Bradley Fighting Vehicle commander for the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), stationed at Fort Benning, Ga.

Chaney and his unit, deployed to Kuwait in May 2002, received orders to cross the Iraqi border on March 21.

As Army Apache helicopters secured the Highway 1 bridge over the Euphrates River near An Nasiriyah, soldiers moved an enormous amount of people and equipment in an extremely short period of time.

"This was significant, because it enabled us to gain a foothold in the area, and we went block by block, seizing weapons and military documents and collecting prisoners," said Chaney. "The following day, we arrived in a large metropolitan area and came across a hospital and three children's schools that had been seized by the Iraqi Republican Guard and used as headquarters, storing weapons and ammunition."

He said they removed hundreds of tons of weapons and ammunition from the schools, residential neighborhoods and religious sites.

The next day they received new intelligence -- and a new mission. The closer they got to Baghdad, the more resistance they encountered.

"We ran into 12 Fedayeen soldiers and had to 'clear the area,' capturing and killing the enemy. The entire company, all the Bradleys and Abrams tanks, were part of this battle," said Chaney.

According to Chaney, it was the Fedayeen who were most likely responsible for his injury.

"We were heading down a four-lane road, surrounded by two to three-story buildings, and began taking sporadic fire from Fedayeen snipers perched in and around the buildings," said Chaney. "My team headed down an alley, pursuing the enemy, when the 'golden BB' got me. The enemy fired, and the bullet struck my weapon, tearing it apart. The shrapnel took off the top part of my thumb on my right hand."

Chaney said he was immediately treated by an Army medic and his fellow soldiers. He said he was eventually taken to a hospital near Baghdad for the first of three surgeries.

After doctors in Kuwait completed the final surgery on the captain's hand, all he could do was look forward to going home to his family. He wanted to get home quickly, but Chaney gave up the first-available seat he was offered to a wounded prisoner of war.

Meanwhile, back at the TACC here, Lentz was keeping a watchful eye on his brother-in-law from afar. Everyone assumed that when the war started, Chaney would move north into Iraq, and it calmed a very stressed family being able to track his progress.

But it was not until he saw his brother-in-law's name flash across a computer screen that the reality of the situation truly hit home.

With access to the aeromedical-evacuation cell in the TACC, Lentz was not only able to keep track of his brother-in-law on his journey home, but was ultimately the one who made it happen.

A quick search of the database revealed a path home for Chaney. One of the Scott-based C-9 Nightingale's got the wounded captain halfway here, and another Scott-based C-21 would get him all the way home.

Whether by providence or luck, Lentz was in the right place at the right time.

"As soon as I found out about a C-21 that was on the last leg of its journey home, I got word to Mark," said Lentz. "The C-21 had space available, so he was able to fly home."

Chaney was impressed by the lean-forward attitude displayed by the flight crew, headed by the C-21 pilots, 1st Lts. Robert Magnuson and David Cash, both based here.

"They were very professional the entire trip," said Chaney. "I was just this random Army guy 'thumbing' a ride home."

Over the years, Lentz had thought many times that his job at the TACC was important. He said he is often told stories to friends and family about flying the president. Years from now, bringing his wounded brother-in-law home from war will be the story he is most proud to tell. (Courtesy of AMC News Service)