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3rd Herd succeeding in Haiti

  • Published
  • By Darren D. Heusel
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  It didn't take long for members of the 3d Combat Communications Group from Tinker to prove their worth in Haiti.

Within 26 hours of hitting the ground Feb. 2, the 31 Airmen from the 3rd CCG, or 3rd Herd, had established a communications headquarters and soon began providing deployable communications capabilities to other U.S forces in the earthquake stricken area.

"It was pretty rough when we first got here," Maj. Kenneth Bratland, 32nd Combat Communications Squadron commander, said recently via telephone. "The communications that were available when we first got here were spread out all over the place."

Major Bratland, whose deployable communications team also includes members of the 34th Combat Communications Squadron and 3rd Combat Communications Support Squadron, said his team arrived just before midnight and most worked through the night marshalling equipment, coordinating with base civil engineering and preparing their communications site.

Major Bratland said for weeks his team worked 16- to 20-hour days, often times well past midnight, providing communications to a very large Army unit. His list of "customers," kept growing by the day "because we brought more communications gear into the country than anyone," referring to the two C-17s they used to transport 94 tons of equipment, he said.

"The guys have been great. I've heard nothing but praise for what we've brought to the fight," he said.

In addition to providing communications capabilities, Major Bratland said his troops have gone above and beyond by volunteering to assist with recovery efforts at the Hotel Montana, where many U.S. military members were staying at the time of the earthquake.

"We had a regular rotation going to the Hotel Montana, where we would provide four guys for several weeks," he said. "Some of them couldn't handle it after a while because it was very difficult when remains were found."

Many of his Airmen also volunteered to work shifts at the local medical facility, providing medical care to the wounded.

"We have many volunteers going to the University of Miami Hospital's temporary facility," Major Bratland said. "Our guys volunteered during their off-duty hours in the neonatal intensive care unit. For some reason, the nurses down there like to see our guys holding babies."

One of those volunteer troops is Airman 1st Class Benjamin Bowles, a 22-year-old 32nd CBCS member from Coffeeville, Kan.

"Because of all the training we received back home, we knew exactly what to do as soon as we got here in regards to setting up communications in a bare-base environment," said Airman Bowles

Of his experience thus far, Airman Bowles said he's definitely enjoyed it. Although the 3rd Herd has deployed to austere locations around the world for years, Airman Bowles is experiencing his first deployment since joining the Air Force a little more than two years ago.

"Being able to help the Haitian people has been fantastic. They all seem real happy to have us here. They've all been very kind and polite. They thank us a lot," Airman Bowles said.

Col. Thomas "Tank" Byrge, 3rd CCG commander, said he's extremely proud of the Airmen who are continuing the proud 3rd Herd tradition.

"Their expeditionary excellence was obvious and noted by everybody they supported," he said. "Throughout the deployment, they have constantly added customers and extended services.

"All in all, this has been an outstanding deployment, rewarding for both the Airmen who deployed and those we supported," Colonel Byrge said.