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thedrifter
01-03-08, 07:20 AM
Groton native always faithful to saving Marines: Led Iraq copter rescue missions
By Robert Mills, rmills@lowellsun.com
Article Last Updated: 01/02/2008 05:03:28 PM EST


GROTON There were tough days, when even a helicopter couldn t get there fast enough. There was gunfire, up to five flights in a day, and thousands of miles between family and the deserts of western Iraq where Maj. Robert A. Kneeland worked to save lives.

Kneeland, commander of a unit of Army medical helicopters that just spent a year in Iraq, finally got back to that family over the holidays, when he made it back to Groton, the town he left 16 years ago as he began his career in the active-duty Army.

œProbably the hardest part of being deployed, even more than the risk, which you kinda get used to, is being separated from family, he said of the experience.

He got back from his one-year deployment to Iraq a while ago, but went first to New Jersey, where his wife, Wendy, 9-year-old son, and daughters, ages 7 and 2, had moved in anticipation of his deployment.

Christmas and New Year s Day were back home in Groton, where Kneeland was œborn and bred.

Kneeland graduated from Groton Dunstable High School in 1987, and the then University of Lowell in 1991, where he got a bachelors degree in history.

From there, Kneeland went to the Army, starting off in an infantry unit as a medical service corps officer.

He went to flight school later in his career, and while deployed evacuated wounded Marines from nearly all of western Iraq, including hot spots like Fallujah and Haditha.

œThey were very busy while we were there during the upsurge in violence in the Fall and Winter of last year, Kneeland said.

Back here in the Merrimack Valley remained seven brothers and sisters, as well as his father. One brother still lives in the house Kneeland grew up in on Chicopee Row in Groton. Another sibling passed away years ago.

Kneeland had been stationed in Kattervach, Germany. for about three years, but went to Iraq in September of 2006.

He commanded about 140 troops and 15 CH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters.

Kneeland said about a thousand of the roughly 3,000 soldiers the unit evacuated were œpoint of injury pickups. In other words, crews flew right to the action to get the wounded to safety.

œWe came under fire from time to time but we didn t take any casualties, so we were fortunate, Kneeland said. œWe flew almost 5,000 hours.

Kneeland still recalls one day in which he flew five missions in 12 hours.

He said it was very rewarding to be able to get the solders to hospitals and really make a difference to their chances of survival, but that in large part the bad days stick with him most.

œThe toughest thing was when we would get a call for four patients, and when we arrived there were only two, he said. œThat was probably the hardest thing, because two had expired or passed.

Another reward was the camaraderie.

There is often competition between the branches of the military, but since the Marines don t have their own medivac units Kneeland s Army soldiers worked with them hand in hand.

Toward the end of deployment, the commander of the Marine infantry battalion in Haditha gave the unit a plaque and a genuine thanks.

œIt was very rewarding, Kneeland said. œThe Marines we worked for treated us like their own.

Kneeland, his wife and kids are heading back to Delanco, N.J., after New Year s Day because the kids are enrolled in school there and will have classes again.

Kneeland s next post is at Fort Meade, Md., and temporarily out of the pilot s seat.

œI m probably going to be flying a desk for a while, he said.

Kneeland has been selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel, though the actual promotion has not taken place yet. Once that is done, he will get another assignment.

There is no return to Iraq in his œforeseeable future, though Kneeland said that could change if he is made a battalion commander once his promotion comes through.

One of his sisters, Rhonda Buck, said the family is just glad to have the major home. œMy father is very relieved, she said. œWe re just real glad he s back since it s so dangerous over there.

Ellie