Journeys to and From Iraq's War Zones; for 440th Flight Crew, It's All in a Day's Work

Summary

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Southwest Asia Patrick Welch tries not to talk to the soldiers and Marines who ride in the cargo area of the C-130 planes, where he spends most of his waking hours.

As a loadmaster with the 440th Air Force Reserve Air Wing based in Milwaukee, it's Welch's task to get everyone seated and to quickly move cargo on and off the planes, which fly in and out of war zones.

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Extract

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Journeys to and From Iraq's War Zones; for 440th Flight Crew, It's All in a Day's Work

Welch used to chat with the armed and camouflaged folks sitting on the uncomfortable red seats in the plane. He spent most of one flight last fall talking to a 21-year-old second lieutenant from Illinois who had recently graduated from college and was flying into battle for the first time.

"Then two days later, we brought him out" in a coffin, Welch recalled during an eight-hour flight to a couple of airfields...

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