Oklahomans Describe Life On The War Front

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

IRAQ -- SkyNews 6 Pilot Will Kavanagh is one of 80 members of the 2nd Battalion of the 285th Aviation Regiment of the Oklahoma National Guard.

I went to Iraq to see what it's like for Oklahomans on the warfront.

We were embedded with B-Company, a group that flies missions all over Iraq. They are really good at what they do and proud to be doing it.

They picked us up in Kuwait, and then took us into Iraq, south of Baghdad.

Bravo Company picks us up on a Tuesday afternoon and we are first outfitted with mandatory bullet proof vests, and then take off to the Southern part of Iraq to the Tallil base they call home.

The wind, the sound, the flying, it's exhilarating. Along the way, we see miles of desert, highlighted by fires dotting the horizon.

The Iraqis burn off $26 million of natural gas a day because they lack the ability to capture it.

Will Kavanagh is one of our two pilots. There are two crew chiefs manning guns and us, with room for up to 11 total passengers.

They always travel in pairs for security. The Blackhawk carries 2,400 pounds of fuel and burns nearly 1,100 pounds an hour, which makes re-fueling necessary every couple hours.

At our fuel stop, we meet more Oklahomans.

Staff Sergeant Paul Moya is from Sapulpa, Sergeant Marcus Jenkins is from Tulsa and Specialist Adam Tuttle is from Stroud. They fuel Blackhawks, Apaches, Chinooks and Iraqi aircraft.

"We're the heart and soul," Staff Sergeant Paul Moya said. "If these guys don't have fuel, missions can't get done."

"On average, do 10-12, have done 18 aircraft in a 12 hour period," Sergeant Marcus Jenkins said.

They work 12-hour shifts and get one day off every ten. They've been here five months and don't go home for five more. They all miss family most, but other things too.

"There's everything, food, alcohol, just being able to call family whenever I please, text messages, I miss that, it's a long list, I wrote em down," Specialist Adam Tuttle said.

It was evident these Oklahomans are proud to be here, even though it's hard.

PFC Paula Kirchner has a four-year old son home in Tulsa. She records books for him to stay close.

"I read a book on DVD, 18 minutes and send a message home and send the book with the video, so he gets the book too," said PFC Paula Kirchner.

"Sometimes it's an easy, quick day, sometimes a longer day," Johnathan Council, CW-2, said.

Johnathan Council, from Broken Arrow, loves the flying part of his job, as does Staff Sergeant Jonathan LeVoit from Stillwater.

"Coming from a ground guy, being in the air is amazing, a lot of fun," Staff Sergeant LeVoit said.

Specialist Nicole Jones, from Norman, is a crew chief responsible for maintenance of the aircraft and is one of our gunners.

"We have to keep in mind there are still people out there that don't like us, keep that mentality," Specialist Jones said.

In the left seat, manning the 240 is Specialist Matt Wright from Stillwater. He misses his two kids, but is proud of his wife is handling the separation.

"She's being tough, my wife, stronger than I thought she'd be," Specialist Wright said. "She has family to help her and strong heart."

Our interviews take so long, night visions goggles are required for the rest of our trip, as the night turns pitch-black. Once we land, unloading begins.

They can't call it a day until maintenance is done. They must make sure the Blackhawk is ready to fly again in just a few hours.

Everyone pitches in, even pilots wash windows. Only when the bird is tucked in, do these Oklahomans consider their mission over and their 16 hour day, finished.

See many of the soldiers taped messages home to family and friends.

Watch Part Two of Lori Fullbright's journey in Iraq next Wednesday, May 5th at 5 p.m.