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145th AW Keeps "Mission Ready" as 2nd Winter Storm Hits the Carolinas

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Patricia Moran
  • 145th Public Affairs
February is the month known to bring hearts, roses, chocolates, charms and maybe a diamond or two. But for those living in the south there was no southern charm in the forecast as another winter storm sliced through southern and middle-Atlantic states Wednesday and Thursday activating more than 2,300 National Guard troops with the recovery effort from Delaware to Georgia.

At the North Carolina Air National Guard base, Charlotte Douglas Intl. airport, members of the 145th Maintenance and Logistic Readiness Squadrons work through snow and icy conditions to make sure the 145th AW was ready for whatever contingencies they might be called to support.
They continued maintaining aircraft, loading cargo and swapping planes in and out of hangers so that the C-130s that were scheduled to leave on missions would be ready to leave on time.

Master Sgt. Dennis Heidenfeldt, who works in the 145th MXS communication and navigation shop, starts up a power unit to get power to a waiting C-130 Hercules aircraft. "It might be cold outside but the mission continues," Heidenfeldt stated. Heidenfeldt worked with contractors installing a Real Time In Cockpit (RTIC) modification unit as the snow and sleet pelted the outside of the aircraft.

Senior Master Sgt. Chris Amburn, Contracting Officer for the NCANG and several members of the 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron assembled food and cots bunkering down Wednesday night as they worked through the storm. "We can't afford any task to be delayed just because of bad weather." said Amburn. These airmen have a lot of work to do organizing medical supplies and preparing dental kits to support and serve a real world mission called Cajun Care that must leave out on Friday.

As the storm progressed into the night, all stayed vigilant knowing that even as the weatherman promised sunshine and warmer temperatures the mission was not close to being over. On Friday as the storm broke and the sun came out, airmen grabbed shovels and started front end loaders to dig out from a crusty layer of frozen snow and ice.

With enthusiasm and commitment the 145th Airlift Wing is ready to answer the call, to do the job, get to work, keep people safe, and save lives.