WEBVTT 00:00.340 --> 00:04.210 Daniel smith V . A N . I E . L . 00:04.220 --> 00:05.910 S . M . I . T H . 00:05.920 --> 00:09.660 Okay . And 00:09.670 --> 00:12.180 um just kind of , you know we're just 00:12.180 --> 00:13.958 gonna start kind of at the very 00:13.958 --> 00:16.069 beginning , you know , what exercises 00:16.069 --> 00:18.236 are you doing right now , What did you 00:18.236 --> 00:21.290 do right now to repair to go over to 00:21.290 --> 00:24.930 the Middle East ? Uh Right now we 00:24.930 --> 00:27.660 have paramedical training going on 00:27.670 --> 00:31.310 uh potentially the 1st , 2nd F Smt for 00:31.310 --> 00:33.540 support medical team units . Uh 00:33.550 --> 00:35.661 actually charlie company , second one 00:35.661 --> 00:39.440 35th to have us validating um with 00:39.450 --> 00:43.260 75th guys . And basically what we do is 00:43.270 --> 00:45.103 they give us scenarios , medevac 00:45.103 --> 00:47.159 scenarios with injured people on the 00:47.159 --> 00:49.214 ground . And we actually go out with 00:49.214 --> 00:51.214 our medevac aircraft and pick those 00:51.214 --> 00:53.381 individuals up and just make sure that 00:53.381 --> 00:56.950 we're already for Iraq . And 00:56.960 --> 00:59.510 you know when you do this , this is the 00:59.510 --> 01:02.440 very first one . How did this position 01:02.440 --> 01:06.210 this opportunity even come to you ? 01:07.280 --> 01:11.200 Um You mean uh when I first started out 01:11.200 --> 01:13.311 like when I was working as a civilian 01:13.311 --> 01:16.620 or just . Yeah , I mean I mean how , I 01:16.620 --> 01:18.787 mean this is just following your lab . 01:18.787 --> 01:20.953 I mean this is the first time this has 01:20.953 --> 01:22.564 ever happened . So where you 01:22.564 --> 01:26.380 specifically um in there to do this 01:26.390 --> 01:28.460 one position ? How did it all come 01:28.460 --> 01:32.270 about ? Uh long story , I 01:32.270 --> 01:34.214 joined in 2000 and three . I was a 01:34.214 --> 01:36.381 flight and struck out attack Air Omaha 01:36.381 --> 01:38.910 and flew charter part time and uh the 01:38.910 --> 01:41.260 whole war started and I joined . Um 01:41.260 --> 01:44.030 actually enlisted and then the pilot 01:44.030 --> 01:46.197 slot kind of opened up and I went with 01:46.197 --> 01:48.300 the 24th med deployed . El Salvador 01:48.300 --> 01:50.510 went to new Orleans and then we 01:50.510 --> 01:52.454 switched over to charlie company , 01:52.454 --> 01:54.454 second one 35th and they told us we 01:54.454 --> 01:56.621 were going to Iraq , which we expected 01:56.621 --> 01:58.510 because uh , medevac , we kind of 01:58.510 --> 02:00.566 deploy every about year , year and a 02:00.566 --> 02:02.566 half , Uhh , somewhere . So we were 02:02.566 --> 02:04.566 expecting to go to Iraq . It wasn't 02:04.566 --> 02:08.060 really a big surprise . And how does it 02:08.060 --> 02:10.890 feel to be one of the first people to 02:10.890 --> 02:14.660 be able to do this ? It's an honor . I 02:14.660 --> 02:16.827 mean there's people who go their whole 02:16.827 --> 02:19.104 career in 20 years and not go anywhere . 02:19.104 --> 02:21.271 So it's pretty much just like training 02:21.271 --> 02:23.271 for the big game but never actually 02:23.271 --> 02:25.327 getting to play . So this is a great 02:25.327 --> 02:27.271 experience . One of those things , 02:27.271 --> 02:29.438 people want to do their whole life and 02:29.438 --> 02:31.660 I'm actually getting , being able to do 02:31.660 --> 02:33.827 it . So I'm very honored to be able to 02:33.827 --> 02:36.770 go over and you're for Lincoln right , 02:37.700 --> 02:41.020 Omaha Nebraska , you're from 02:41.020 --> 02:43.730 Omaha . Okay , cool . 02:43.900 --> 02:47.330 Okay . So when you're , you know , once 02:47.330 --> 02:49.540 you're over there have a kind of 02:49.540 --> 02:52.650 prepared you and kind of said what your 02:52.650 --> 02:54.706 daily life is going to be like , you 02:54.706 --> 02:56.817 know what things are going to have to 02:56.817 --> 03:00.760 do . Yes , they have given us plenty of 03:00.760 --> 03:03.500 power point presentations and hours and 03:03.500 --> 03:06.680 hours of classes . So we're very 03:06.680 --> 03:08.902 prepared . We've been here three months 03:08.902 --> 03:11.100 and I'm gonna be leaving here pretty 03:11.100 --> 03:13.211 soon . So we've had plenty of time to 03:13.211 --> 03:14.211 train up for Iraq 03:17.880 --> 03:20.240 and can you just kind of explain to me , 03:20.240 --> 03:23.660 you know what it is exactly that you 03:23.660 --> 03:27.630 guys are going to be doing , we'll 03:27.630 --> 03:31.190 be uh 12 ship aircraft 03:31.200 --> 03:33.680 for Medevac . And what we do is we 03:33.680 --> 03:36.160 deploy three aircraft forward to 03:36.170 --> 03:39.470 forward operating bases and uh we'll do 03:39.480 --> 03:41.630 Medevac which is basically like a 911 03:41.630 --> 03:44.360 emergency call to go out and rescue 03:44.360 --> 03:46.970 injured soldiers . We launch , we get a 03:46.970 --> 03:49.081 call and we usually launched within 5 03:49.081 --> 03:51.303 to 7 minutes . We're on station usually 03:51.303 --> 03:53.470 within 12 and we're basically like the 03:53.470 --> 03:57.210 911 for helicopters over in Iraq , 04:01.580 --> 04:03.913 Are you kind of scared going over there ? 04:05.080 --> 04:09.000 No , why not ? It's safer 04:09.000 --> 04:11.056 over there . Sometimes it seems like 04:11.056 --> 04:13.111 it's safer over there sometimes with 04:13.111 --> 04:15.333 the way people drive around here in the 04:15.333 --> 04:19.020 States and it is overnight . Right , so 04:19.030 --> 04:21.308 are you excited about going over there ? 04:21.308 --> 04:23.510 I mean , you're not worried at all ? 04:24.020 --> 04:27.610 No , not even a little bit uh actually 04:27.860 --> 04:29.860 looking forward , it's kinda one of 04:29.860 --> 04:32.082 those things , I wouldn't have got into 04:32.082 --> 04:34.193 the guard if I didn't plan on going . 04:34.193 --> 04:35.971 So I've been looking forward to 04:35.971 --> 04:38.027 actually going . So it's nice that I 04:38.027 --> 04:37.820 get to go over in the leadership 04:37.820 --> 04:40.610 position that I'm in . And Nebraska 04:40.610 --> 04:43.890 Garden also , trainers here at Fort 04:43.890 --> 04:46.001 Hood have been great on training this 04:46.001 --> 04:48.112 up the old 24th med did a good job of 04:48.112 --> 04:49.557 training us Lieutenants . 04:53.220 --> 04:56.320 So , I mean once you're , once you're 04:56.320 --> 04:59.670 over their daily life , you're just , I 04:59.670 --> 05:02.030 mean , you guys just your training and 05:02.030 --> 05:04.197 training and then you get an emergency 05:04.197 --> 05:06.308 call and then you're on your way . Or 05:06.308 --> 05:09.160 is that kind of how it is ? Right . We 05:09.160 --> 05:12.850 do 24 hours a day . We have 05:12.860 --> 05:14.971 phone lines in other ways that we get 05:14.971 --> 05:17.420 uh to get a hold of us for Medevac and 05:17.420 --> 05:19.420 basically a call come in our office 05:19.420 --> 05:21.531 will get it and we'll launch the crew 05:21.531 --> 05:23.531 that's on 24 hours a day . Actually 05:23.531 --> 05:25.698 more than one crew off to the side for 05:25.698 --> 05:28.470 the pickup . And uh we're just the past 05:28.470 --> 05:30.692 response for Iraq . We get them back to 05:30.692 --> 05:32.581 the hospitals to get the soldiers 05:32.581 --> 05:34.692 treated and we're pretty much trained 05:34.692 --> 05:36.803 up right now , we're ready to go . So 05:36.803 --> 05:38.914 over there , we want to be terribly , 05:38.914 --> 05:40.970 too much more training because we'll 05:40.970 --> 05:43.990 pretty much be set . I mean , do you 05:43.990 --> 05:46.300 feel like there's a real need for you 05:46.310 --> 05:50.280 for this unit ? First ones , then 05:50.280 --> 05:52.224 last one's out . Medevac is always 05:52.224 --> 05:55.080 gonna be there . Uh If our aircraft go 05:55.080 --> 05:57.302 down , they shut down all operations in 05:57.302 --> 05:59.302 that whole area of operation ? Just 05:59.302 --> 06:01.413 because uh how important medevac is . 06:01.413 --> 06:04.080 So right without us , nothing moves . 06:06.840 --> 06:09.420 Uh My impression is that this is the 06:09.420 --> 06:12.620 very first one . Right ? Is that right ? 06:12.630 --> 06:16.610 Very first one is in a very first 06:16.610 --> 06:19.990 unit because I'm not right back over 06:19.990 --> 06:22.157 there . Now there's been bad back ever 06:22.157 --> 06:26.020 since the whole thing started for 06:26.020 --> 06:28.380 this unit is the first time , right for 06:28.390 --> 06:31.070 charlie company uh going over , this is 06:31.070 --> 06:34.190 the first time but we do have 06:34.190 --> 06:36.357 individuals in our unit that have been 06:36.357 --> 06:38.810 over before medics and pilots . So we 06:38.810 --> 06:40.921 have experienced within the unit that 06:40.921 --> 06:43.199 have actually experienced Iraq already . 06:48.040 --> 06:50.810 All right , um 06:50.820 --> 06:52.260 1/2 06:52.260 --> 06:57.060 here . 06:57.640 --> 07:01.330 Okay , so okay , let me just 07:01.340 --> 07:03.650 get this straight year . So this isn't 07:03.650 --> 07:05.750 a very I don't know , I guess I was 07:05.810 --> 07:07.977 under the impression that this was the 07:07.977 --> 07:10.590 very first one that you guys were doing , 07:10.590 --> 07:14.540 but I guess it is for this 07:14.540 --> 07:18.300 unit is for 07:18.310 --> 07:21.420 uh 1 35 . It's our first time in 07:21.420 --> 07:24.550 Iraq . Okay . And 07:24.550 --> 07:28.120 so and so you're one of 2500 07:28.130 --> 07:30.290 people , right , That are doing this 07:30.320 --> 07:33.100 correct ? But they all do different 07:33.110 --> 07:35.020 things . It's not just metabolic 07:37.240 --> 07:40.050 Okay , so it's like a group ever and 07:40.050 --> 07:42.106 you all work together and you all go 07:42.106 --> 07:44.272 with you , but you're all part of this 07:44.272 --> 07:46.439 unit , correct ? There's only about 82 07:46.439 --> 07:48.850 of us that are going over to do Medevac . 07:49.540 --> 07:51.850 It was only 82 07:53.020 --> 07:54.860 80-95 depending on how many 07:54.860 --> 07:58.450 major 08:01.660 --> 08:05.300 Okay , what kind of things prepare you 08:05.310 --> 08:08.740 to go over there ? I mean , have you , 08:08.770 --> 08:10.826 you said that you were in your leans 08:10.826 --> 08:13.048 you know , things like that ? Things in 08:13.048 --> 08:17.040 the past has all of that help you do 08:17.050 --> 08:19.050 what you're about to do over in the 08:19.050 --> 08:23.020 Middle East ? Right , mainly when we 08:23.490 --> 08:27.250 are mission when we're not deployed is 08:27.250 --> 08:29.417 training and we even trained when were 08:29.417 --> 08:31.306 deployed . So pretty much we just 08:31.306 --> 08:33.528 practice our job day in and day out and 08:33.528 --> 08:36.460 constantly improve our basic battle 08:36.460 --> 08:38.670 position . So we were training 08:38.670 --> 08:41.200 constantly the whole time that were 08:41.200 --> 08:43.144 deployed and also back here in the 08:43.144 --> 08:45.033 States to do our mission . Iraq . 08:47.320 --> 08:50.190 Is it exciting for you ? I mean are you 08:50.190 --> 08:52.980 just jumping out of your skin ? How how 08:52.980 --> 08:55.110 does it feel to know that tomorrow 08:55.110 --> 08:57.221 you're going to be on a plane heading 08:57.221 --> 08:59.900 over there ? I've never been out of the 08:59.900 --> 09:01.900 States really other than Mexico and 09:01.900 --> 09:04.460 Alaska and Canada . So it's exciting to 09:04.460 --> 09:07.170 go somewhere new . I wouldn't say 09:07.170 --> 09:09.170 jumping out of my skin because it's 09:09.170 --> 09:11.170 awful hot over there . Kind of like 09:11.170 --> 09:13.059 your hood but I'm definitely said 09:13.170 --> 09:15.840 yeah 09:15.850 --> 09:19.440 okay let's see here one 09:19.440 --> 09:20.050 second . 09:23.340 --> 09:27.290 Yeah . Yeah . Something 09:27.290 --> 09:29.600 here over there you have to you get 09:29.600 --> 09:32.780 over there and you have 24 hours so you 09:32.780 --> 09:34.891 have to stay up for 24 hours straight 09:34.891 --> 09:36.947 and you're on call for 24 hours , is 09:36.947 --> 09:40.690 that right ? Right . You have a you 09:40.690 --> 09:42.857 have a crew that will stay on duty for 09:42.857 --> 09:45.079 24 hours or more at a time but they can 09:45.079 --> 09:47.230 sleep during that time . Um it's not 09:47.230 --> 09:49.397 like you have to be up drinking coffee 09:49.397 --> 09:51.508 the whole time when you're sleeping , 09:51.508 --> 09:53.508 you can still get a call and get up 09:53.508 --> 09:52.750 with your boots on and get to the 09:52.750 --> 09:54.750 aircraft and take off . So it's not 09:54.750 --> 09:56.972 like they're sitting in a chair waiting 09:56.972 --> 10:00.220 to go . Otherwise that would be you , 10:00.230 --> 10:04.000 you get to help people get to help 10:04.000 --> 10:07.830 people and you get to help people . Is 10:07.830 --> 10:09.886 that why you're doing this ? Why are 10:09.886 --> 10:12.219 you doing this best mission in the army ? 10:12.650 --> 10:14.880 Save lives ? Our mission is a 10:14.880 --> 10:16.047 lifesaving mission . 10:18.960 --> 10:21.670 Great . One more thing here . I'm 10:21.670 --> 10:23.837 trying to track down . I don't know if 10:23.837 --> 10:26.003 you have any family members in Lincoln 10:26.003 --> 10:29.930 Nebraska ? No , ma'am . Do 10:29.930 --> 10:33.060 you have any um close to Lincoln ? 10:33.540 --> 10:36.160 Uh , Carney would be the closest 10:36.180 --> 10:39.470 you have any friends in Lincoln ? 10:40.200 --> 10:42.960 A few . 10:43.180 --> 10:47.040 Uh , because what I'm after here is um , 10:47.050 --> 10:49.106 we're kind of put the story together 10:49.106 --> 10:51.820 and I would like to talk to somebody 10:51.820 --> 10:53.820 that knows you're somebody that you 10:53.820 --> 10:55.987 have pictures of , you know , you guys 10:55.987 --> 10:59.520 outside the army or whatnot . And a 10:59.530 --> 11:02.610 uh , and uh , so I can kind of tell 11:02.610 --> 11:04.332 your story , tell you know the 11:04.332 --> 11:06.443 adventure that you're trying to go on 11:06.443 --> 11:09.010 and tell it from somebody who's also 11:09.020 --> 11:11.242 knows you on a personal level . I don't 11:11.242 --> 11:13.187 know if you have anybody in mind . 11:14.820 --> 11:17.380 It might be more trouble than good if I 11:17.380 --> 11:21.240 gave you . That's what I'm looking to 11:21.250 --> 11:23.210 find . I'm just giving , 11:25.770 --> 11:29.510 I can give you a phone number . Great 11:30.120 --> 11:32.398 how you can help . That would be great . 11:32.398 --> 11:35.930 I guess I guess I'll call you with 11:35.940 --> 11:38.107 what's your phone number ? They want , 11:38.107 --> 11:40.080 Your phone number ? Okay . It's 11:40.090 --> 11:48.240 4024362257 11:51.130 --> 11:54.360 and your name again Erica Summers . 11:55.140 --> 11:57.251 And so yeah , just give me a call . I 11:57.251 --> 11:59.418 mean I don't know if you have like one 11:59.418 --> 12:02.620 or two um you know anybody that lives 12:02.630 --> 12:05.960 in Lincoln or you know barely close to 12:05.960 --> 12:09.440 Lincoln . Um that knows you 12:09.440 --> 12:12.090 or knows , you know , that can kind of 12:12.090 --> 12:14.270 describe your personality I guess . I 12:14.270 --> 12:16.270 know that kind of cheesy but that's 12:16.270 --> 12:17.270 what we 12:17.270 --> 12:20.800 do . 12:20.810 --> 12:24.640 Okay . And oh as soon as possible would 12:24.650 --> 12:26.983 be the best thing for me . But you know , 12:26.983 --> 12:30.920 whatever works for you okay . And then 12:30.920 --> 12:32.920 also , I mean , I don't know if you 12:32.920 --> 12:34.809 have anything else to add on this 12:34.809 --> 12:37.031 interview . I don't know if there's any 12:37.031 --> 12:39.810 stories or if there's any facts that we 12:39.810 --> 12:43.580 haven't covered or anything that's kind 12:43.580 --> 12:45.802 of cool . That really sticks out to you 12:45.802 --> 12:48.650 about unit or the whole operation or 12:48.660 --> 12:50.190 just being in the army . 12:50.200 --> 12:53.620 I'm happy for having 12:53.630 --> 12:56.320 we need to finish up for the next 12:56.320 --> 12:58.780 station . All right , well thank you 12:58.780 --> 13:01.140 very very much .