Deploying to Iraq - 2005

Chinooks over USNS Roy P. Benavides

Well, I guess I've waited long enough to post to the blog. This is my first attempt so I apologize if it does not look pretty. I suppose I should start from the start. Way back in October '05 we flew all of our CH-47D Chinook helicopters from Ft. Hood, Texas to Corpus Christi, Texas where they were loaded aboard Navy ships bound for Kuwait. After returning to Ft. Hood (by bus) we continued to pack for the deployment. On November 13th we flew out of Hood for Kuwait via Shannon, Ireland (no beer or whiskey allowed). Once we arrived in Kuwait it was time to download the boats and bring the helicopters from the port to our staging base up near the Iraqi border. We took buses down to the port and saw some local sights. I think it would be okay if I never saw another camel in person unless it was in a zoo.

Here we are on the bus to the port.
The road sign is for Kuwait City.
Brandon Tipton(L), Dan Langdon(CL), Bill Evans(CR), and yours truly(R)
The port at Kuwait City.
Damaged Blackhawk. Note the missing tailboom.

Once we repositioned all of the Chinooks to the staging base, we began training flights focusing on dust landings and NVG (night vision goggle) desert operations. I will cover that portion of the deployment in future postings. I hope everyone reading this is doing well. I miss you all very much and look forward to seeing you again soon.
-Chuck