C Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment (Air Ambulance) is an Army National Guard aeromedical evacuation company headquartered at the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at the St. Paul downtown airport. C Co flies the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to provide aeromedical evacuation support during federal deployments and state active duty missions.
At 7:27 p.m. on the night of August 1st, 2007, one C Co
UH-60 Blackhawk medevac helicopter was deployed from the AASF in St. Paul to conduct hoist and personnel rescue operations at the site of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
The crew on call that night included Chief Warrant 4 Jeffrey Pratt, Chief Warrant 5 Steve Shoemaker, Sgt. 1st Class John Dickison, and Staff Sgt. Rudy Gomez.
Photo courtesy 5 EYEWITNESS News / KSTP-TV
OIF/OEF Deployment
In August 2008, C Co, 2-211th Aviation Regiment (Air Ambulance) mobilized for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. To begin their deployment, C Company supported the U. S. Marine Corps out of Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq.
C Company, “Northstar Dustoff,” MEDEVAC mission in support of the Marines in western Iraq was a unique and autonomous mission. With the primary mission of providing lifesaving aeromedical evacuation services throughout Al Anbar Province, C Company’s pilots, medics, crew chiefs, and support personnel demonstrated incredible dedication and resourcefulness throughout the deployment.
As of April 1, 2009, C Company had performed approximately 300 MEDEVAC missions, providing lifesaving evacuation services to over 500 patients. Through a combined effort of aircraft maintainers, aircraft fuelers, flight operations personnel, and flight crews, over 1,700 flight hours had been executed. C Company’s fuelers provided support to the Marine’s helicopter fleet as well, delivering over 200,000 gallons of fuel to aircraft. Finally, in April one Forward Support Medical Team was forward deployed to Afghanistan to support the developing fight.
C Co. proudly served their country in the efforts to stabilize Iraq and dedicated themselves to mission success on two fronts until returning home in late July. The adaptability and dedication demonstrated by every Soldier in C Company was a true testament to the outstanding Soldiers of Minnesota, Iowa, Georgia, and Arizona.
“When We Have Your Wounded”
Accomplishments:
— 300 MEDEVAC missions
— Lifesaving evacuation services for over 500 patients
— Over 1,700 flight hours
— Delivered over 200,000 gallons of aviation fuel
In April 2009, one of the unit's MEDEVAC teams was re-missioned to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
C Co will return to St. Paul in July 2009.
