Combat Truckers

A U.S. Air Force M915 Tractor from the 70th medium truck detachment leads a convoy through Iraq with a load of equipment and supplies on Oct. 30, 2011. With less than five miles left before crossing the Iraqi border, the convoy of 43 vehicles traveled 1,100 miles in seven days hauling equipment out of the country as part of an effort to meet the deadline for the U.S. Military to transition out of Iraq . (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

Combat Truckers

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman, Ryan Baker, a native of Fishers, IN., looks through his bloodshot eyes while loading a mine-resistant ambush protected on a trailer at Forward Operating Base Warrior on Oct. 27, 2011. After driving 150 miles at night in a 43 vehicle convoy through Iraq, Airmen from the 70th MDS have to complete loading their trucks before getting to sleep. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

1st SOLRS Airmen Haul U.S. out of Iraq

Published Nov. 21, 2011
By Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs

IRAQ -- IRAQ - Staff Sgt. William Clarkson and Senior Airman Ryan Baker, vehicle operators with the 70th Medium Truck Detachment, recently deployed to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia from the 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Clarkson and Baker, have a job that allows them to directly impact Operation New Dawn in a big way - by bringing supplies out of Iraq.

Each day members from the 70 MTD drive into Iraq to bring cargo, supplies and vehicles out of the country to support the withdraw of U.S. forces in the country.

"I love my job here," said Baker, a professional body builder. "It seems like every week I'm out on the open road, constantly seeing new things here."

Clarkson echoed the sentiments.

"My job is unique. I drive thousands of miles each month, constantly getting to see part of another country," said Clarkson. "I'm getting the chance to finally bring us out of Iraq."
During their six month tour here, Clarkson and Baker are taking advantage of the long days on the road by building friendships with their wingmen.

"There's days where we're on the road for more than 10 hours at a time," said Baker. "When it's just you and one other person in your truck, it's hard not to become brothers."

In recent months, the 387th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, which the 70th MTD belongs to, has increased its amount of missions trucking out cargo from Iraq by approximately 200 percent.

"When we first got here last month, the squadron was averaging about 11 missions per week," said Lt. Col. John O'Connor, 387th ELRS commander and native of Albany, Ga., before going on to say that the squadron is on track to average about 35 missions per month.