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ARMY AVIATION 8 JUNE 30, 2007

Today s Aviation Heroes

The Legacy Lives OnBy MG Virgil L. Packett II

From TheAviation Branch Chief

This years AAAA Convention atGeorgia World Congress Centermarked another incredible suc-

cess with record attendance. Onbehalf of all Aviation Soldiers, wepass on our compliments and appreci-ation to our association past president

retired BG Tom Konitzer, ExecutiveDirector Bill Harris, and the entireassociation team for their tremendouseffort and enthusiasm.

I also want to thank Tom and JudyKonitzer for their leadership duringthe past two years and welcome Jimand Marcy Snider as they strive tolead the association to greater heights.

The entire convention was a fittingtribute to celebrate 50 years of dedi-cated support to the U.S. ArmyAviation Community and its Soldiers.Special thanks as well to our distin-guished guest speakers, panelists andassociation members in attendance.

The convention gave us an oppor-tunity to highlight the many ways thatThe Legacy Lives On in ArmyAviation, while celebrating the fantas-tic industry partnerships that are socrucial to our success.

More importantly, it was also theideal setting to reflect on one thingthat has remained constant in thisextremely volatile, complex andambiguous world over the decades

the incredible passion, energy andtenacity of our Aviation Soldiers.

While simultaneously undergoing amonumental transformation thatincludes comprehensive reorganiza-tion, restationing, Preset/Reset, andmodernization, your Aviation Branchremains focused and on-target.

First and foremost, we are in thepeople businesseverything startswith the Soldier.

With that in mind, we are stayingtied to the field, adapting organiza-

tions, integrating new aircraft, devel-

oping strategies, leveraging resources,and exploring the possible.

With Soldiers like the ones that Iwill describe shortly, along with themodernization and fielding of severalnew aircraft occurring, this is a greattime to be an Army Aviator and yourBranch Chief.

We also enjoy an unparalleled levelof teamwork, cooperation and syner-gy between me, MG Jim Pillsbury,MG Jim Myles, BG Steve Mundt and

Mr. Paul Bogosian.Even though there are a number of

significant obstacles and challengesthat we are facing, the indomitablespirit, strength of will, and settled pur-pose of our Soldiers, families, leadersand industry partners will clear thepath ahead.

Aviation HeroesI would like to share several

vignettes presented during my open-ing remarks on May 10 at the conven-

tion that capture the essence of our

Aviation Soldiers and highlight theWarrior Ethos that exists in ourbranch.

These Soldiers have displayedcourage and gallantry under hostilefire, as well as the tenacity to continu-ously get the tough jobs done, set theexample, mentor and develop, inno-vate, and set themselves apart as greatrole models.

Their stories warrant deeper studyand will provide you with significant

inspiration.

Establishing the LegacyLTC (Ret.) Bruce Crandall

A true American hero and leg-endary Army aviator, retired LTCBruce Crandall is the standard bearerfor courage, effective leadership,devotion to Soldiers, and tactical andtechnical proficiency.

On Nov. 14, 1965, Crandall distin-guished himself by extraordinaryheroism in the Ia Drang Valley in

Vietnam and you are all familiar with

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Following the presentation of this years Aviation Heroes, the AAAA audience gave a rous-ing standing ovation to the seven honorees.


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the details of that day.Even beyond that day though,

Crandall is a shining example of thebest that the officer corps has to offer.

A skilled aviator and selflessleader, Crandall was the kind of leaderSoldiers wanted to be aroundtheywanted to be in his unit. And throughit all, he has maintained an incrediblesense of humor and sharp wit.

I asked Bruce to participate onstage because he truly represents theincredible legacy of excellence, pas-sion and tenacity of many generationsof our Aviation Soldiers.

SSG Michael J. Holliday

A battalion standardization instruc-tor, master gunner and platoonsergeant in 3rd Bn., 4th Avn. Regt., 4thCbt. Avn. Bde., SSG Michael Hollidayis a consummate professional.

From pre-deployment preparations,to Hurricane Katrina support, toOperation Iraqi Freedom and rede-ployment, Holliday established one ofthe best non-rated crewmember stan-dardization programs in the Army.

His leadership, values and workethic were the foundation for 3-4thAvn.s successes during the train upand subsequent deployment to OIF05-07.

His focus on standards and unwa-vering dedication led to the successfuland safe completion of over 200 airassault and air movement missions

with conventional and special opera-tions forces.Concurrently, Hollidays battalion

provided dedicated air support forlogistical and personnel movementsthroughout the Multi-NationalDivisionBaghdads area of opera-tions, moving in excess of 115,000people and over 500,000 pounds ofcargo.

Holliday conducted countless eval-uations and examinations, andenforced strict standards of flight dis-

cipline that ultimately led the battal-ion to complete over 21,500 combatflight hours without a single Class A,B or C accident or incident.

He also looked well beyond rede-ployment and assessed the impacts ofpersonnel losses due to reassignmentsand moves.

Holliday developed and imple-mented a training plan that ultimatelyqualified three additional standardiza-tion instructors and six flight instruc-tors. This phenomenal effort ensuredthe battalion will remain filled wellinto 2008.

A model NCO and great mentor,

Holliday embodies the best qualitieof the NCO Corps.

SSG Andrew W. QuenA flight instructor and platoon

sergeant in 542nd Medical Company

(Air Ambulance), 6th Bn., 101st AvnRegt., SSG Andrew Quen supportedMulti-National CorpsIraq (North) asa flight medic.

Flying over 200 hours and transporting over 80 urgent care patientshe was the lead medic on the scene of15 point of injury missions.

Quen recently finished second inFort Campbells Expert Field Medicacompetition and represented the 101sAbn. Div. at Fort Sam Houston in the

Army level Expert Field Medicacompetition.An accomplished leader, Quen rep

resents professionalism, passion andcommitment, and the great contribution of our MEDEVAC units aroundthe world.

Army MEDEVAC achieves anunprecedented 93 percent survivability rate and its because of Soldiers andleaders such as Quen.

SGT Andres Colon

A mission qualified MH-47 flighengineer, SGT Andres Colon enlistedless than 3 years ago in August 2004

He has deployed five times in support of Operation Enduring Freedomand has a total of 875 flight hours(500 combat and 625 under NVG).

Colon was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry onJuly 10, 2006 for extraordinary valorous achievement during aerial flighas part of a joint strike force inAfghanistan.

This operation was conducted in anextremely austere environment againsa well trained, highly motivated, competently prepared and proficiengroup of over 500 heavily armed andbattle hardened Taliban fighters.

As 41 (chalk 1) and 42(Colons aircraft and chalk 2) cameout of the landing zones, eachencountered heavy enemy fire fromall sides at distances less than 15meters, instantly resulting in the shoo

down of 41. Colon performed all crewduties and being the only gun on theright side with ammo continued toreturn fire.

Seven individuals were singled out as Aviation Heroes for recognition by the AviationBranch Chief during the 2007 AAAA Convention and included (l to r): retired LTC BruceCrandall, CW3 Lori Hill, SSG Andrew W. Quen, CW4 Matthew L . Brown, SSG Michael Hol liday,SGT Andres Colon and CW4 Robert C. Perantie.

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His superb airmanship, attention todetail and aerial gunnery marksman-ship led to the emergency recovery ofall friendly forces from the objectivewhile under continuous enemy fire.

The friendly forces that were extract-ed, without a single casualty, includedthe downed MH-47 aircrew and thepreviously inserted ground force.

By announcing threats, he assistedevasive maneuvers to evade as manyas six rocket propelled grenades firedat the aircraft during exfiltration,while avoiding several small arms andheavy machine-gun positions.

Colon embodies the Warrior Ethosand is living proof thatNight StalkersDont Quit!

CW3 Lori L. HillAn OH-58D pilot in command with

2nd Sqdn., 17th Cav. Regt., 101stCAB, CW3 Lori Hill heroically dis-tinguished herself by exceptionallyvalorous conduct in the face of theenemy in Iraq.

On March 21, 2006 at 0600 hours,Hill was executing PIC duties in thetrail OH-58D helicopter en-route to AlMuqdadiyah city in support of atroops-in-contact (TIC) call.

Approximately two kilometers

from the location of the TIC, thescout weapons team triggered a com-plex attack on nearly 100 insurgentswith AK-47s, belt-fed machine-guns,RPGs, a vehicle borne IED, and 10confirmed IEDs established to attackground elements responding to ananti-Iraqi force attack in AlMuqdadiyah.

As the lead aircraft performed eva-sive maneuvers to avoid enemy fire,Hill fearlessly positioned her aircraftto draw fire away from the lead air-craft and also provided immediatesuppression while maneuvering toavoid rocket propelled grenades.

Hills aircraft received a hit whichcaused both multi-functional displaysto go blank forcing her to fly the air-craft on standby instruments.

After assessing the aircraft damageand determining that she could contin-ue to support the ground forces, Hill

maneuvered to the south to establishcommunications with Rock 16, theunit in contact with enemy forces.

As the team arrived, the entire areaerupted with machine-gun fire.

With total disregard for her safety,Hill again maneuvered her aircraft toprotect her lead and continued toengage the enemy with close combatattacks from various directions, whilereceiving heavy enemy fire.

On her third pass in support ofRock 16, Hills aircraft was hit by

three additional rounds, one of whichentered through her right heel andexited above her ankle.

Wounded and bleeding, Hill againassessed her aircrafts condition, not-ing that she had lost hydraulic pres-sure and was losing transmission pres-sure, concluding that her aircraft wasno longer mechanically capable ofsupporting the engagement.

Determined to save the aircraft andher copilot, Hill recovered to ForwardOperating Base Normandy approxi-

mately 10 kilometers away.Despite her wound and the severedamage to the helicopter, Hill safelyperformed an abbreviated run-onlanding without hydraulics to a 300-foot refueling pad, saving the crewand aircraft.

Hills bravery under fire and rapidassessment of the enemy situationwhich saved the lives of countlesscoalition forces, serves as a testamentto her heroism.

A model Soldier and great mentor,Hill embodies the Warrior Ethos and

Retired LTC Bruce Crandal, an Americanhero and legendary Vietnam era Armyaviator, was recognized alongside si x otheryoung aviation warriors for their service tothe Army and the nation on May 10.

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all of the best qualities of the WarrantOfficer Corps.

CW4 Robert C. PerantieChief of the maintenance test flight

section in the 277th Avn. Support Bn.(ASB), 10th Cbt. Avn. Bde., CW4

Robert Perantie was assigned to theunit just five months prior to theirOEF deployment.

One of his prolific contributions tothe 277th ASB was the training anddevelopment of the CH-47 phasemaintenance team.

Because the ASB had been recent-ly activated and there had never beenChinooks assigned to the 10th CAB,the CH-47 phase maintenance teamwas composed of almost entirely newpeople with little or no maintenance

experience.Perantie took it upon himself to

train, mentor and develop theseSoldiers daily.

Their first phase inspection was inAfghanistan and the phase team leaderwas a newly assigned specialist.Ironically, this young specialist wasrecently selected as a Cargo Heli-copter Users Conference SuperSoldier Award Winner for 2007.

Perantie performed over 200 main-tenance test flights, all in a combat

environment. One particular missionwas a shining example of Perantiesimpact.

A downed CH-47D required recov-ery out of hostile territory inAfghanistan. Perantie determined thatthe C-box was beyond repair andincapable of sustaining a one-timeevacuation flight.

Recovery was complicated by aneed to lift a 500 pound transmissionto the top of the aircraft with no avail-able lifting devices.

Through his leadership, the DARTteam was able to replace the C-box,and Perantie completed the requiredmaintenance operational checks andflew the aircraft under night visiongoggles back to Bagram Airfield.

Whether troubleshooting and testflying CH-47 helicopters, teachingand mentoring junior warrant offi-cers, or developing junior aviationSoldiers, Perantie consistently gives100 percent and refuses to quit untilthe mission is complete.

He is the consummate professional

that all commanders dream of havingand is a model for all Soldiers toemulate.

CW4 Matthew L. BrownCW4 Matt Brown is an AH-6 pilot-

in-command and flight lead with Co.

B, 1st Bn., 160th Special OperationsAvn. Regt. (Abn.), and is an excep-tional aviation Soldier fully represent-ing the ideal of selfless service.

On May 14, 2006 Brown had com-pleted his mission for the day whenhe was called to respond to troops incontact.

Never questioning the mission norwaiting for details, Brown and hiswingman launched their Little Birdsto help their comrades.

The two AH-6s entered the fray

directing effective fire on enemyforces despite receiving heavyground fire. In the course of theengagement, Browns wingman andbest friend was shot down.

Brown could see the enemyadvancing toward the wreckage andimmediately engaged the hostileforce. He reported the situation to thetactical operations center and thedecision was made to insert a groundforce near the wreckage with MH-60sto secure the site.

Brown, now flying a battle-dam-aged aircraft, escorted the MH-60s tothe site and provided covering fire fortheir insertion.

He stayed over the objective,killing numerous enemy fighters,until finally his aircraft had taken somuch damage that it was no longerairworthy, forcing him to land in thetarget area near the ground force.

Brown was committed to reachingthe embattled ground force on the tar-get to render assistance despite thedaunting enemy situation and greatrisk to his own life.

His actions allowed the groundforce to consolidate on the objectiveand establish defensive positions,while operating as the pilot of a loneaircraft in a high threat area, ultimate-ly assuring the security and survivalof the ground force.

His actions that day truly wentabove and beyond the call of duty andwere inspirational to all who wit-nessed his bravery in the face of avery determined enemy.

In recognition for his braveryunder fire, Brown was awarded theSilver Star for his actions.

SummaryThese Soldiers represent audacity,

passion, determination and courageand are vivid examples that TheLegacy Lives On!

This past year has been a greatexample of what we can accomplishas a cohesive Aviation Team. Andwith a Branch full of Soldiers like theones mentioned above, the sky trulyis the limit. We all look forward tothe 2008 AAAA Convention inWashington, D.C.

Army Strong Army AviationStrong!

MG Virgil L. Packett II is the Army Aviation branch chief and the com-manding general of the U.S. ArmyAviation Warfighting Center and FortRucker, Ala.



SGT Andres Colon, left, is spotlighted andhonored on stage for his aviation service.Colon followed SSG Andrew W. Quen, SSGMichael Holliday and retired LTC BruceCrandall to be recognized by MG Virgil L.Packett II.

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