Wed, Dec 28, 2011
Jolly Old Elf Helps Deliver Fuel To Remote Bases In
Afghanistan
Santa Claus paid a surprise visit to the 816th Expeditionary
Airlift Squadron here Dec. 23 to assist in an airdrop delivery to
remote forward operating bases in Afghanistan.
"I just wanted to bring a little holiday cheer to the men and
women of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and help out with a very
special holiday delivery," chuckled Santa, portrayed by Tech. Sgt.
Mike Morris, 816th EAS Loadmaster Flight NCO in charge and native
of Charleston, S.C. The delivery - 160 barrels of fuel - was loaded
onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft under Santa's command.
The fuel will be used for generators, vehicles and heaters to keep
service members warm in the frigid mountains of eastern
Afghanistan, said Staff Sgt. Mike Folk, 816th EAS loadmaster and
native of Frazeysburg, Ohio.
"This fuel is going to help keep them warm and let them continue to
accomplish their mission," said Folk. Santa's precision as a
loadmaster comes from years of experience configuring loads for his
sleigh rides across the globe to deliver presents.
"Santa is sometimes a little hard to work for," Folk added. "His
operations are generally more large-scale, so his work ethic
definitely reflects that." The 816th EAS transported about three
million pounds of cargo and personnel to forward locations
throughout Southwest Asia last month.
"It's a huge part of what we do around
here and it's important that we sustain the warfighters," said
Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Kloeppel, 816th EAS superintendent and
native of Sante Fe, N.M. "With the fuel, water, food and supplies
that we drop off, we can sustain their mission."
The 816th EAS works with the U.S. Army 421st Quartermaster Company
Parachute Riggers and the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron
to get the job done.
"The Riggers build the pallets, the 8th EAMS brings the cargo to
the plane, and we deliver the supplies," said Kloeppel. "It's truly
a team effort to get the mission accomplished." [ANN salutes Staff
Sgt. Nathanael Callon, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
for the story]
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