First in - Last out: Members of first RED HORSE squadron back in Iraq

Published May 17, 2010
By Master Sgt. Darrell Habisch
407th Air Expeditionary Group

ALI BASE, Iraq -- Déjà vu all over again - something several members of the 200th RED HORSE Squadron from Camp Perry, Ohio Air National Guard can say.

In 2005, the 200th and 201st RED HORSE (Rapid Engineering Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer) Squadrons from Ohio and Pennsylvania Air National Guard were members of the first RED HORSE squadron to stand up in Iraq, the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron.

And in a twist of scheduling fate or perhaps design, the 200th RED HORSE has arrived to draw down the 557th ERHS from Iraq. As they complete the last construction and engineering projects and pack up their equipment and materials in the yard, they are the last RED HORSE rotation operating under Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2010.

Several 'Horsemen' currently at Ali Base were part of the original 2005 rotation charged with constructing the infrastructure necessary to conduct and sustain operations throughout Iraq, including Ali Base.

"We were the first 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron in 2005 and we'll be the last ones leaving Iraq in 2010," said Chief Master Sgt. Richard Bressler, Chief Enlisted Manager, 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron.

A RED HORSE squadron is a self-sufficient Group, with its own Headquarters, Logistics and Operations branches consisting of mostly civil engineering skillsets, including supply, vehicle maintenance, medical and finance personnel, their own cooks, security forces and even a chaplain.

"We're a huge construction company, including a full RED HORSE equipment package, dedicated to the Central Command Theater of Operations," explained Chief Bressler.
And as the Air Force's 'military general contractor' in Iraq since 2005, the 557th ERHS constructed airfield parking ramps, roads, fuel berms, tactical operations centers, electrical distribution centers for power production and much more throughout the Iraq Theater of Operation.

At Ali Base today, a small sampling of the RED HORSE projects will include a new airfield lighting system, post office relocation project, grading work sites for proper drainage, erecting Large Aircraft Maintenance Shelters (LAMS) and much more.

Although the Iraqi terrain remains the same, there are major differences in this deployment from the first deployment in 2005, according to Chief Bressler.

"Back then, we did our usual construction work and pulled extra duties, like convoy operations, inspecting loads of crushed gravel delivered to the main gate, guard tower duty on the Base perimeter and twenty-four hour Dining Facility security at entry points," he explained.

The Horsemen were at war.

Small arms fire was not uncommon with frequent mortar and rockets attacks every other day a constant reminder of where they were.

The differences between the two deployments are evident to the Horsemen, commented Senior Master Sgt. Craig Boston, Site Supervisor. "In '05 we worked alongside contractors and shared the base with the Iraqi military at Camp Taji," he said, "and they carried weapons too."

According to Tech. Sgt. Thomas Davidson, Pavements and Construction Craftsman, he remembers his first night in Iraq in 2005 well. Sergeant Davidson, a senior airman in 2005, explained, "I slept in an open bay billet with seven other guys. The first night we didn't know if the indirect fire was incoming or artillery rounds going out, so we just slept in the bunkers."

Another Horseman, Tech. Sgt. Clayton Heimert agreed. "We went everywhere together back then. To chow, the gym, we were very tight. Today, everyone has their own living space, most with internet access and other amenities. Now we're more isolated during off-duty time. I don't like it as much."

Another difference in the earlier deployments is the amount of war materiel in the area. "There were hundreds of Iraqi tanks and armored personnel carriers lined up in rows at Camp Taji in 2005," Chief Bressler said.

Construction did not come without a cost. "We had three purple hearts from convoy operations and two from indirect fire in our bed-down area," he said.

In spite of the hazards, RED HORSE did their duty and continued to build throughout Iraq, handing the responsibilities from one RED HORSE group to the next until the wheel turned back to the Horsemen from the 200th RHS.

Fast forward to 2010 and the 200th RHS is again a part of the 557th ERHS operating on a hub and spoke configuration, with people working at multiple sites throughout the AOR.

Chief Bressler explained that today, the 557th ERHS is drawing down and redistributing equipment sets and RED HORSE assets elsewhere in the AOR.

"When RED HORSE Guard, Reserve and active duty members come together, we are extremely productive," the chief said.

Members of RED HORSE are a special breed according to Sergeant Boston. "We all want to do something to leave a place better than we found it," he said. "Just give us some material to work with and we're happy."

Chief Bressler summed up with, "It's nice to take part in so much progress; from everything we did back in '05 to seeing how much the operating bases have changed for the better."

"There are other places throughout Central Command we're needed now," he said.

RED HORSE was created in 1965 during the Vietnam War to support Air Force heavy construction needs. In 1966, RED HORSE was placed under command of theater commanders to prevent diversion of RED HORSE assets from essential projects.

The 557th RED HORSE Squadron was originally activated in April 1968 in direct response to the USS Pueblo incident. The unit was headquartered at Osan AB, South Korea, and deployed to Kwang-ju, Taegu, Suwon and Kimpo. The number designator had not been used since the 557th RHS deactivated in the early 1970's.

The 557th ERHS stood up in Iraq in honor and memory of the 557th RHS in 2005. It was reinstated to support combat operations in the Global War on Terror.

"Standing up the 557th RED HORSE Squadron in 2005," commented Chief Bressler, "just seemed like the right thing to do."