"Are the war drums beating again? Dozens of Western..."
"Dozens of Western Massachusetts Air Force Reservists Prepare for Major Mission
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Jan 7, 2008 11:10 am
CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS (WWLP) - The military called it a deployment, and the men and women stationed at Westover Air Reserve Base prepared to use their medical training overseas.
Going through what is called the mobility line is a very special time for the airmen from the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover. They are finalizing the necessary paperwork that includes everything from wills to family contacts. It is standard procedure leading up to being shipped overseas.
The men and women said they have got an important mission ahead in another part of the world. "Once I'm deployed I'll be doing general patient care and patient transport for patients coming and going. It's very important, it's one of the best missions in the air force and we take it very seriously" said Staff Sergeant Jason Leonard of Granby.
It is a volunteer mission. The reservists from the aero medical team said how they feel about the soldiers they will be treating during their time away from home.
"It's making sure that the patients, not just physically, but emotionally are as strong as possible. One job is to make sure they're as comfortable as possible. And I feel the patients are the most important people" said Senior Airman Shannon Donnelly of Florence.
That is their mission and as soon they finished going through their mobility line, as so many reservists have before them, they were ready to leave.
Some elements of this deployment remain secret. We can not tell you exactly how many are leaving but we can tell you this is one of the largest Westover deployments in years."
