PDA

View Full Version : VMGR-152 'Sumos' Earn Henry Wildfang Award, Named Refueler Transport Squadron of the



thedrifter
08-31-09, 08:09 AM
VMGR-152 'Sumos' Earn Henry Wildfang Award, Named Refueler Transport Squadron of the Year

8/31/2009 By Staff Sgt. Roman Yurek , Marine Aircraft Group 40

A portion of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 Detachment "A," Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, stationed here won the 2009 Marine Corps Aviation Association's Henry Wildfang Award for Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron of the Year according to Marine Administrative Message 447/09.

The Marines of VMGR-152 "Sumos", originally from MAG 36, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, won the award and currently compose nearly half of the VMGR-352 Detachment "A" here.

The award recognized the unit's mission accomplishments, the types of missions they conducted during 2009 and their impact on the community.

During the 2009 award period, the squadron provided humanitarian aid and disaster relief to Myanmar after the country was devastated by Cyclone Nargis. The squadron also transitioned the remaining "legacy" KC-130R model aircrafts to the new KC-130J model, deployed to a combat zone for the first time since the Vietnam conflict and won the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award.

This award is especially significant because the unit was able to transition all its aircraft, train maintainers and air crew, support III MEF missions and prepare for combat operations while constantly deploying for exercises in the Western Pacific, said Maj. Constantinos Koutsoukos, the Sumos' senior Marine in Afghanistan and the executive officer for VMGR-352 Detachment "A".

The VMGR-152 Marines, including six pilots and two aircraft, joined VMGR-352 Detachment "A" in May. The squadron is slated to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely, but swap personnel throughout the year, according to the unit's senior enlisted Marine, Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Hafer, who currently serves as the maintenance chief for VMGR-352 Detachment "A".

Although this is the Sumos' first combat deployment since Vietnam, the Marines are no strangers to being away from home. Normally the squadron is away from garrison three to six months out of the year due to training exercises, said Koutsoukos.

The unit will be presented their award at the 38th annual Marine Corps Aviation Association symposium in Reno, Nev., Oct. 8-10.

There are five aerial-refueler transport squadrons in the Marine Corps, three active-duty and two reserve units.

"All [refueler transport squadrons] are doing great things and VMGR-152 is honored to be able to participate in this historic deployment to Afghanistan," said Koutsoukos.

The decorated unit has won the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award eight times and the Henry Wildfang Award three times prior to this year's award.

The last time the Sumos earned the Henry Wildfang award was in 2006, which was established in honor of Maj. Henry Wildfang, who served with distinction in the Marine Corps transport community.

Ellie