Unforgettable: medics drafted for special mission to bring home former POW - Iraqi Freedom

What began as a routine mission turned into an unforgettable experience for five reservists from the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The medics participated in a flight April 12 to bring home former prisoner of war U.S. Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch and others who had been injured in the war in Iraq.

When they left Wright-Patterson April 10 aboard a C141 Starlifter, the 445th AES crew anticipated a typical return flight, bringing patients to the United States for medical care unavailable at overseas military posts. After all, the unit makes about two trips to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, each month for that purpose.

Upon arriving in Germany, however, the reservists learned about some surprising changes to their itinerary. Five of the medics, possessing the required certification, found themselves tasked for a special mission. Instead of returning to the United States aboard the C-141, they were assigned to the C-17 transporting Lynch and others to Andrews AFB, Md.

Because of the heavy patient load, the mission required an augmented medical crew of three flight nurses and four medical technicians. The 445th team included two nurses, Capts. Jim Kern and Kimm Sandusky, and three technicians, Staff Sgts. Sandi Golden-Vest and Hans Jagow, and Senior Airman Heidi Johnston-Mercer.

Two additional reservists--Maj. Sharon Carlson, McChord AFB, Wash., and Tech. Sgt. Sean Fowler, Charleston AFB, S.C.--rounded out the crew.

From the time the aircraft took off from Ramstein until it landed in Washington D.C., nearly nine hours later, the crew stayed busy. The 46 military and civilian patients on board included infants as well as retirement-age people. Most, however, were soldiers and Marines en route home from Iraq.

Lynch, who the Iraqis held as a POW for nine days before she was rescued, may have been the best-known patient on board, but the crew didn't have time to think about it.

"We didn't have just one hero on board. We had 46," Sandusky said.

In addition to dispensing medication, changing wound dressings, monitoring vital signs and keeping the patients as comfortable as possible, the Reserve medics offered some nontraditional care as well.

"I let them talk. I listened," Sandusky said. "They just wanted to tell their stories."

Hearing the soldiers and Marines "talking about the fighting--the shooting" was an emotional experience, Johnston-Mercer said. "Your eyes just welled up."

She recalled fixing one soldier's bandage and then kissing her fingers and pressing them lightly against the injured arm.

"I told him, 'There, I've kissed your boo-boo and made it all better!'" she said. "He liked that."

The young man called her back several times to retie the bandage.

"I think it was falling off on purpose," she said. Former POW Lynch traveled with three medical attendants. As a result, the 445th medics had minimal direct interaction with her. Also on the flight were Lynch's parents, siblings and a cousin.

"They didn't want her to be treated in a special way," Jagow says. "They felt that she was just the same as all the other soldiers on the plane."

Though the crew did not directly attend to Lynch, each member spoke with her family.

"They're nice people. Mr. Lynch reminds me of my own dad," Johnston-Mercer said.

The most emotional moment of the trip occurred when the C-17 pilots announced that the aircraft had entered into U.S.-controlled airspace. Some of the patients had tears in their eyes.

"I never understood how much it means to come home," Kern said.

Upon landing at Andrews around 5.15 p.m., the medics either carried or escorted the patients, one by one, to waiting ambulances for transport to hospitals and medical centers in the Washington area.

The crew returned to Wright-Patterson by commercial air April 13, since their C-141 was still in Germany, completing another mission. The trip home gave each one time to reflect on the experience. They all agree it was exhilarating.

"To a patient," Kern said, "I think we made a difference in their lives."

"All the patients were so appreciative," Jagow said. "Even without Jessica Lynch on board, it would have been an awesome experience."

(Major Sater is assigned to the 445th AW Office of Public Affairs at Wright-Patterson AFB.)

COPYRIGHT 2003 Air Force Reserves
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