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Pedro 66; an event to remember

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Colin Cates
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --  Sixteen Service members participated in a memorial challenge to honor the fallen from the Pedro 66 crew June 8, 2014 at Al Udeid Air Base.

The crew was hit by enemy fire and during a rescue mission in Afghanistan June 9, 2010, killing five of its seven crew members.

The event was held the day after the three year anniversary of the crash, setting the tone of remembrance for the day.

"We are here to pay respects, to honor their memory and that meant completing the challenge," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Kevin Kirby, U.S. Central Command joint personnel recovery center deputy director.

The three teams competing in the event faced seven obstacles, ranging from pushing a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle and carrying a simulated patient, to a memorization test. The event tested the teams' mental and physical ability with the main component being about teamwork.

"It was an honor to have participated in this event and it will forever be ingrained in my memory," said Tech. Sgt. Alejandro Castillo, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron ramp shift supervisor.

This event gave Service members an opportunity to take a break from the deployment grind to work hard as a team while remembering the members of Pedro 66.

"The important part of the challenge was to never quit, and come together as a team," said Castillo. "We reminded ourselves that the crew of Pedro 66 didn't get to choose their fate. We dug deep and completed the mission in honor of those who gave all 'So others may live'. I believe that was better than winning the event."