SOUTHWEST ASIA –
The lives of four women and their convoy team changed forever Dec. 5.
They were ambushed that night. Insurgents from a village outside of Balad Air Base, Iraq, fired on the convoy, injuring two as they drove back to the base.
Airman 1st Class Nicole O’Hara, a convoy gunner deployed from Langley, said it was “just a normal convoy” when the day started.
Coming back to the base was when things got hairy. Airman O’Hara was manning her 50-caliber weapon.
“I saw all these tracers and I saw tracers coming back at us. I turned my turret more to the left and started laying down suppressive fire so the rest of us and the convoy could get out of the kill zone,” she said.
But before they could get out of the zone, two of the civilian truck drivers in the convoy were shot. Airman First Class Charity Trueblood, a Humvee driver that night, drove up to one of the injured men’s trucks, which was engulfed in flames.
“When we halt the convoy and we get up there to him, he’s been hit,” Airman Trueblood said. “He’s been hit in the shoulder, and it’s a clean entry wound, clean exit wound. We provide security, the truck catches on fire. We tried to put it out to no avail. I did (Combat Life Saver) from there on out, and applied pressure to the wound.”
That night represents the Airmen’s worst memories of their deployments, but ironically, one their best memories as well.
“I was glad that (the truck driver) was OK,” said Airman Trueblood, who is deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.
“Another good day for me was that I got to see him again. We were reunited and I got to meet him officially this time and see how he was doing. He’s doing fine. It’s a good thing.”
“When you come home and everyone’s safe, every day is your best day,” Airman O’Hara said.
Staff Sergeant Charnetta McDonald and Senior Airman Candi Laury, both from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., were also on the convoy that night. Their memories of running convoys on some of the world’s most dangerous highways can’t really be fully explained to friends and families back home.
“You can’t always explain everything to people,” Sergeant McDonald said. “It’s an understanding they have to find on their own. I can sit and explain all day long how important my job is and how important everybody’s job is over here, but to fully understand how important it is, they’d actually have to be here.”
Airman Laury said she’s proud to serve her country in Iraq and hopes her family can relate.
“It’s what we’re proud to do, and that’s why we wear these uniforms,” she said. “So hopefully (in the future) my kids can understand what we do and why we’re over here.”
Another aspect of their deployment for these four Airmen is the sisterhood that developed.
“We do get at each other at times, because we’re always with each other and we never get a break,” Airman Laury said.
Sergeant McDonald said she wouldn’t run with any other crew.
“I couldn’t have asked to work with a better group of people. Everybody looks out for each other,” she said.
“They’re awesome,” Airman Trueblood said. “We have a very fun, energetic crew. Lots of spirit, lots of character. Definitely lots of character.”
Airman Laury said it’s essential to have that close trust.
“The love and caring for each other; you just have to have that. Because if you don’t, what do you have?”