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Soldiers Praise 'Workhorse' Aricraft

By Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs

Mississippi Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Cliff Long and Texas Army National Guard Sgt. Carlos Melgar transport their gear to a C-23 Sherpa prior to a flight at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs (released)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to fly troops and cargo around, one should Iraq look no further Task Force 38's C-23 Sherpa unit, F Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Tactical Aviation Regiment.

The C-23 Sherpa is twin turboprop, boxy-shaped cargo plane that, according to the unit's Soldiers, is very dependable.

"It's very reliable and because of that (reliability), it's very useful here in Iraq," said Sgt. Carlos Melgar, Austin, Texas, a flight engineer with F Company.

Texas Army National Guard Sgt. Carlos Melgar, Company F, 1st Battalion, 207th Tactical Aviation Regiment flight engineer, secures a pallet on a C-23 Sherpa at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs (released)

The unit's Soldiers heaped praise on the aircraft that flew heaps of cargo around the southwest Asian country.

"This airplane is a workhorse," said Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Dughman, of Anchorage, Alaska, and the senior enlisted Soldier for F Company. "The airplane is so cost effective over here. The engines have been in service a long time and have been refined, and are on a lot of aircraft."

Alaska Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Dughman, Company F, 1st Battalion, 207th Tactical Aviation Regiment's senior enlisted Soldier, moves a pallet onto a C-23 Sherpa at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38, Public Affairs (released)

According to 1st Sgt. Cliff Long, an F Company flight engineer, the 58-foot long C-23 can carry three tons of a combination of fuel, equipment and personnel, which varies depending on mission requirements.

"The Sherpa can carry blood, bullets, weapons, troops like you wouldn't believe," he said of the plane's versatility. "Whatever you want to move," said Long of Gulfport, Miss.

Texas Army National Guard Sgt. Carlos Melgar, Company F, 1st Battalion, 207th Tactical Aviation Regiment flight engineer, points to the exits on a C-23 Sherpa at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs (released)

According to one of the unit's pilots, Chief Warrant Officer Paul Moore, Anchorage, Alaska, the Sherpas were much like the freight companies in the states.

"We've cornered the Army niche of when it positively, absolutely has to be there overnight; the Sherpas deliver," said Moore.

Texas Army National Guard Sgt. Joseph Olleridez, an H Company, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment flight engineer, checks a propeller on a C-23 Sherpa at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs (released)

Mississippi Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Cliff Long, an F Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Tactical Aviation Regiment flight engineer, positions a stabilizing jack under a C-23 Sherpa at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs (released)

Mississippi Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Cliff Long, an F Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Tactical Aviation Regiment flight engineer, checks a C-23 log book prior to a flight at Joint Base Balad, Iraqon. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs (released)

Alaska Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Dughman, Company F, 1st Battalion, 207th Tactical Aviation Regiment's senior enlisted Soldier, throws a securing strap across a pallet on a C-23 Sherpa at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry, Task Force 38 Public Affairs (released)