News 3 Special Assignment: Iraq

Jan. 20-21

Posted: 9:05 am CST January 21, 2004Updated: 1:17 pm CST January 22, 2004

Anchorman John Karcher and Photojournalist John Wacker spent eight days in Iraq. They kept a daily online journal on Channel 3000 and sent back digital photos. Their packages will begin airing on News 3 on Feb. 1. You can send them a message, using our online forum here.

Date: Jan. 21, 2004
From Madison

A roadside wild rose growing amongst the weeds just yards from a terrorist attack reminds me that yes, Baghdad is a hell hole ... a bombed out mess ... but someday it will be beautiful.

A city torn by war and poverty that's being rebuilt by love from the 32nd. It is their mission. It is the mission of the all the troops here. Making the city secure and safe is the No. 1 priority of the USA.

In that regard, there is no duty more important than that being performed by the 32nd MP unit of the Wisconsin National Guard. They were first on the scene of Sunday's deadly terrorist attack. They are rebuilding an Iraqi Police Force teaching them that muggings and beatings of suspects won't be tolerated any longer. All the while 150 MPs ... our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters are in harm's way.

If and when Iraq is rebuilt you can thank the 32nd. They have leveled the playing field for the people here.

I salute and pray for our soldiers. I praise their families. I come home with new found respect and admiration for the Wisconsin National Guard.

-John Karcher, News 3

Date: Jan. 20, 2004
From the air

BANK ANGLE ... BANK ANGLE: The words blared from the "3rd pilot" inside the cockpit of the C-130. The words came from the warning system alerting Capt. Robert McCallum that his tactical turn was nearing the maximum allowed for the aircraft.

I heard the words shortly after wheels up leaving Baghdad International. I was riding on "Combat Airlines" ... what McCallum, Co-pilot Dan Santoro, Navigator Capt. Mike Dodson and, MSGT Don Morrison call their C-130.

Based out of Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, North Carolina the plane shuttles people, gear and bullets where ever they have to go in Iraq. Santoro, Dodson and McCallum (pictured) are based in Qatar and on this mission flew John Wacker, myself and 51 others from Baghdad, to Mosul in Northern Iraq ... then South to Kuwait. It was my military "hop" to Kuwait International and Northwest Airlines.

It was "the" flight of the trip! The C-130 and all other aircraft that arrive and depart Baghdad International do not make nice smooth straight in approaches or takeoffs. This is a war zone with surface to air missiles and small arms fire pilots face regularly. In order to dodge the enemy who hides near the airport ... you try to get in and out as fast and elusively as possible which means SHARP turns, STEEP dives and takeoffs that bury you in your seat.

When I approached the pilots in Baghdad I asked if they'd allow Wacker and me in the cockpit so I could experience first hand a Tactical take off. ( I told them "mom" would see their picture on the Internet!)

The takeoff roll was got us to 130 mph quickly and after liftoff we immediately pitched to the right ... I could feel the G forces on my bod .... later learning.. we "pulled" about 3 times the rate of gravity. We weren't safe from incoming attack until we reached 15,000 feet. And every set of eyes scanned the countryside watching for missiles along with the electronic gear on board that's capable of alerting the crew of any hostile action. Loadmaster, Senior Airman Scott Reed was with the passengers in the rear of the plane looking out a window doing the same thing. It seemed like an eternity until we reached the safe flight level but I looked at the climb rate ... .4,000 feet per minute and I knew we'd be there shortly.

The object is to "get into the clouds as soon as possible" according the McCallum and to "avoid areas around the airport" where aircraft have taken shots. The C-130 is also capable of sending out "flares" to attract the attention of any heat seeking missiles. They are launched manually or automatically. I felt reassured.

Our first stop today wasn't Kuwait ... we were flying North to Mosul to drop off 11 people and pick up 3. Mosul is a hotbed of anti-American sentiment ... I thought will we be safe coming in?

Baghdad to Mosul is about 200 airmiles/1 hour flight. The approach to Mosul was indirect ... bobbing and weaving ... turning and pitching ... never maintaining the same route. It struck me upon landing that these guys aren't fooling around. Along side the aircraft during our 15 minute layover were troops armed with 50 caliber machine guns scanning the tarmac.

The cargo change went quickly ... these guys feel safest above 15,000 feet and approaching that altitude Lt. Santoro remarked ..."OK, we're at 11,000 and nobody shot at us today ... it's a good day". On previous trips, I learned Santoro has taken fire.

The cockpit was roomy enough for the six of us. I spent the entire trip standing next to McCallum with a headset on monitoring conversations and offering the pilots Beef Jerky to keep them alert. Morrison was burning pizza in the oven. Dodson spent his time monitoring a high-tech GPS system, aircraft data and radar. Wacker spent much of the trip catching up on Z's. I learned this was a typical day for these Air Force pilots. They had gotten up at 3 a.m. .... started flying at 6am and would touch down in Qatar about 8pm. After a day of rest ... "Combat Airlines" would be up again. McCallum is 28 years old with 2,500 hours flying C-130's. Santoro is 26 with 600 hours. Dodson is 27 and Morrison is 43.

"Glide 63" ( their call sign) Thanks for the hop ... thanks for your Service ... thanks for the sandwich ... and thanks for allowing me to learn about another facet of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

-John Karcher, News 3

SLIDESHOW: Inside The Cockpit Of C-130