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Combat truckers: A writer's journal -- Day 4: Not a Typical Alarm Clock

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  This is the fourth day in a six-day journal following Airmen and Soldier truckers as they transport cargo across Iraq during the transition. -Editor.

Airmen of the 70th and 424th Medium Truck Detachment are on the roads in Iraq every day, hauling cargo and other items out of the country in support of the December 31st deadline for U.S. Forces to be out of Iraq.

Only a handful of months ago, these Airmen where driving an aircrew bus or the big white bus that takes Airmen from the base exchange to the chow hall -- today they're commanding convoys, driving cargo trucks out of Iraq.

The members of this convoy are a diverse bunch. Airmen on this mission are from the 70th MTD and are on their second or third deployment to the same location, carrying out the same mission. Their partners for this mission are Soldiers of B Troop, 1-94 Cav., Pine City, Minn. Army National Guard. The Soldiers will be providing security for the convoy in the form of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles that are heavily armed.


Day 4: Not a Typical Alarm Clock

Waking up to a gym full of sleeping Soldiers and Airmen is almost comical. Woven between workout equipment, a Solider sleeps on his blue mat with his .50 caliber machine gun next to him. Only hours after the last group of Airmen fall asleep a siren goes off "rocket attack, rocket attack, rocket attack." A nice wakeup after two hours of sleep. Even when the convoy is off the road, danger is all around them. The alarm sounded multiple times including on the way out of the gate.

Heading back to the convoy's original destination of JB Balad, travel isn't so smooth. A contractor's vehicle has two tires go flat..

Any time the convoy halts, breaths are held.

Gunners scan the area for any possible threats as the convoy's mechanic, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Barton, a native of Las Vegas, Nev., goes boots on ground to change the tires. An hour later, both tires are changed and the convoy is moving again.

Only miles from JB Balad, a convoy passes from the opposite direction. Each vehicle has several cracked windows. The dented up passing vehicles serve as a reminder to be vigilant..

Every halt, children approach the convoy.

"What's in their hands, E," U.S. Army Sgt. Arthur Wemhoff, rear gun truck commander, shouts to his gunner, Eaton, wanting to make sure the children aren't preparing to throw rocks.

Finally, the convoy makes its way through the gates and everyone can breathe again. Though the truckers uploaded a few trucks at FOB Warrior, JB Balad is where a majority of their trucks will be loaded. Nearly six hours go by from arrival until the last truck is loaded and the truckers can go to bed.

Day 1: Hi, Nice to Meet You
Day 2: Yeah, I'm on Fire
Day 3: An Added Threat
Day 4: Not a Typical Alarm Clock
Day 5: Bonds are Formed
Day 6: A Team Born in Six Nights