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Combat Search and Rescue traditions live on in combat zone

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar
  • U.S. AFCENT Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  The motto "These Things We Do That Others May Live" rings just as true at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, as it does in locations seeing more intense combat missions.

The motto holds a tradition of collective unit beliefs and values lived by all combat search and rescue servicemembers, to include members of the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at JBB.

"As far as our motto goes, it becomes very personal," said Staff. Sgt. Andrew Peña, a 64th ERQS aerial gunner deployed from the 55th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. "We all sacrifice so much to pull people off the battlefields."

The combat search and rescue mission comprises a unique community mixed with various career fields. They unite toward the common noble goal of providing 24/7 personnel recovery and casualty evacuation for U.S. and Coalition forces, as well as local national civilians, security forces and police in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Still, my most memorable mission is my first one back in 2004 in Afghanistan," recalled Capt. Jay Humphrey, 64th ERQS helicopter pilot and team lead. "We were launched within the first 24 hours of being on alert after we got into country. I thought it was an exercise."

"I looked over to my pilot and the flight lead and asked what the heck we were doing. It really was a real launch and we were going to get an Afghan baby who was about a month old and had a really bad case of pneumonia," he said.

Many could not fathom having such a memory etched in their minds - of searching for a one-month-old Afghan girl in the midst of their country's turmoil or hauling an injured servicemember from the fight so he may either return to combat or to his family.

It may also not be comprehendible to the average civilian the many sacrifices CSAR crewmembers endure so others have opportunities CSAR folks may not receive themselves. Some of the many freedoms and benefits Americans possess are not possible for these selfless few, to include making it to family holidays or making it to a child's birthday.

"I have a 2-year-old son who I have only seen 6 months of his life," said Sergeant Peña, a Las Cruces, N.M., native on his sixth deployment. "I put my life on the line to help someone else, and I do it because it's the right thing to do. Those same feelings are felt throughout the whole community."

"It's hard leaving the family, but it's the same with everyone in the career field," added Captain Humphrey. "We feel like this is our calling, and we're very proud to do it. So (our families) understand it's something that we need to do."

Just as the HH-60G Pave Hawk crew members contribute time to training and missions, they also carry on traditions distinctive to their trade. Much like family traditions built generation after generation, these crews have built upon a legacy of traditions crew after crew, especially since their time is often dedicated to being around one another.

Other military entities have traditions for various milestones, to include promotion ceremonies, farewells, and retirements; but not one carries the unique tradition involving green feet - a symbol within the CSAR community.

"When we first got here, there was a captain who was on his last flight before he was going to a staff job. And because it was his last flight here, at the end of that flight they painted his feet green and put them on a ceiling tile. Now we have that up in the ceiling of our briefing room," said Sergeant Peña.

Also, every time a CSAR crewmember or pararescueman gets a save, they receive a green-footed tattoo on their rear-ends with varying numbers of toes.

"It's four, five or six toes depending on what squadron they are in," said Staff Sgt. Aron Walton, a 64th EQRS flight engineer on his first deployment from the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

"Mine will have four toes. His will have five," said the Myrtle Point, Ore., native, pointing to Sergeant Peña.

From green-footed tattoos to a life-risking dedication to a mission "that others may live," the enthusiasm the combat search and rescue crewmembers here portray is impeccable. Sergeant Peña brings it all into perspective in believing the CSAR community carries out their mission because "it's the right thing to do."