Flying in Iraq with 'Supermen'

It was supposed to be a regular military helicopter ride back to Baghdad.
The two Blackhawks looked fairly ordinary as they swooped down to land at a US base north of the capital where I had spent the past few days.
At first glance, the crews onboard were also fairly non-descript, dressed in normal army fatigues or beige, all-in-one, pilot jumpsuits.
There was no sense of any special powers as I clamboured onboard one of the aircraft and it took off. Even as we cruised over fields and small villages, bouncing slightly in the wind, there was no hint of superhuman-ness.
It was only when we touched down at an even bigger base that the truth emerged: I was being carted around by a crew of Supermen.
Literally.
The Louisiana-based 1-244 Assault Helicopter Battalion is made up of superheroes.
A-Company, which I was with, is named after Superman, while B-Company is Batman. I am not too sure which comic book hero is associated with C-Company, but D-Company is dedicated to Ironman.

Specialist Cordell Mallory, 24, a gunner on my helicopter, has been a ‘Superman’ for six months.
“It feels awesome,” he said. Asked where his red cape was, however, Specialist Mallory admitted: “I left it back home.”
The ‘S’ logo scrawled across the real Superman’s chest is emblazoned on walls around A-Company’s headquarters at the Balad military base.
There is also an action picture of Clarke Kent in his Superman garb painted on a concrete slab outside a large dining hall.
Next to Superman is a painting of Batman, looking similarly tough.
Reservist pilot Major Randel Gillette, 43, is an honourary Superman.
He said he enjoys his job, piloting a Blackhawk across the country, while joking that he felt “intimidated” being surrounded by so many superheroes.
Demonstrating that even Supermen have to stop for food, the crew and their one passenger (me) headed to the dining hall for lunch before returning to the helicopters.
The guys, having discovered that I am from Britain, asked if I would read out a take-off command over the radio to the control tower in my best Queen’s English.
Surrounded by Supermen, I could hardly say no.
The conversation sounded as though it belonged in a comic book because of the various call signs. I have been asked not to mention them, however, so here is an edited version of the exchange:
Me: [Call sign].This is [call sign].
Control Tower: [Call sign]. This is [[call sign].
Me: [Call sign] is [Call sign]. Up, up and away. Cheerio.
Control Tower: [Slight pause] Er, roger…

[Picture 1: Superman badge on back of helmet worn by Specialist Cordell Mallory, 24;
Picture 2: Warrant Officer One Kelly Gee, 25, poses with the real Superman;
Picture 3: Painting of Batman;
Picture 4: The 'Supermen', left to right, Major Randel Gillette, 43, Specialist Mallory, Chief Warrant Officer Gary Richardson, 34, and Warrant Officer One Gee.]

Comments

[Sherry Wilsher]

Hi there!
Thank you for posting such an uplifting (no pun intended) story.

You see, Gary Richardson, one of the supermen, is my brother.

I miss him dearly.

Thank you again for noticing these wonderful men and their committments~

Kind Regards,
Sherry Wilsher
Texas

[Pamela Gee]

Hi there!

Thank you very much for doing a story on our wonderful Supermen. I was excited to read about my husband, Kelly Gee, one of the supermen.

Thank you also for providing pictures, it is so great to see him.

We are proud of them all and what they do for us!

Pamela Gee

[Martha Richardson]

It was a blessing to see Gary Richardson, he is a newphew to me. He is a Superman to all his family and to Our Great United States of America.

Martha Richardson
Texas

[Jenny]

Proud to hear the Supermen hail from Texas! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and hope for a safe return.

[James Richardson Jr]

Im very proud of my cuz and his acomplishments hats of to you guys.

[Susanna Robertson]

Thank you for the wonderful article and photos. Warrant Officer One Kelly Gee is our son-in-law and we are very proud of him!

[CSM Preston L Gee Jr.]

Thanks so much for the great article about the hero’s defending our freedom. I am so proud of my Son WO1 Kelly Gee. He is definitely a SUPERMAN. I love you Son and be safe.

[Vicky Gee]

Great article and photos...I love them!! I am of course the proud mother of WO1 Kelly Gee. Son you are my Superman Hero!! Son I am so very proud of all your accomplishments in life. This is just one more to add to your growing list. Please stay safe for me. I love you Superman!!

[Kay Merriam]

Reading about a friend's son brings action into greater focus. I think all Americans would benefit from having access to more human interest stories about Iraq and what it means to real people. thanks, Kay

[gloria]

Very cool....

[Luke]

I remember seeing those paintings every time I ate at that chow hall. Keep doing your thing guys. Fly safe.

[PAUL]

Not cool at all. I don't have a clue who's freedom those supermen defend or what they do for us. But I have an idea about what they do a lot of Iraqis. Think of the other side

[Iz]

"I don't have a clue who's freedom those supermen defend or what they do for us."
Paul; What these people do for you is give you the freedom to Post Stupid comments like this one :)

[RiskManager]

Well said Iz.

People like Paul are a stain on our society.

Iraqis are FREE Paul, and unlike you they know the value of that whereas you think it is your god given right, and crucially nothing required in return

Who would spend one penny or shed one drop of blood defending Pauls freedom?

I for one would not.

[BOb]

Ok folks, while Paul is crude and somewhat ineloquent, the point he is making has some merit. First, let me point out that the Americans fighting in Iraq deserve full respect for what they are doing. BUT, to not recognize that most of them were better off before the war demonstrates absolute ignorance.

Freedom of political dissidence is what the Iraqis gained, although I am not even confident that they have that. They have lost the freedom to go outside of their homes in a relativly safe enviornment. Most women have lost the right to work or go to school (under Sadaam the status of women was quite good with many having high ranking positions in society). Now, with religious zelots in control most women can no longer wear western clothing or have a career. They have lost the 'freedoms' of running water, electricity, etc that they had prior to the first Gulf War.

Iraq was a terrible enemy prior to the war (though not a powerful one), a small number of Shites in part of the country were pursicuted terribly (with many being killed for political reasons), but most of the country was far better than what it is now.

The American government under Bush could have done this right (I supported the war), but they mismanaged it terribly. So, I think it is important to recognition that the USA has made Iraq far worse than it was, but that this is mostly due to Bush's incompetence. Most of the soldiers there are doing as good as they can under the circumstances. Which is likely not very good at all.

[stuart xander]

if Paul is free why are you all attacking him for exerting his freedom of speech. I feel your anger is coming from the fact that you are misdirecting your fear that your relatives and beliefs are actually wrong and that you are no different from the families of nazi storm troopers supporting an illegal ideological war, this explains the the contradiction of berating someone whilst at the same time expressing that he is free - you make no sense - just like the war and murder you support, i pray all young men iraqi, american, iranian, pakistani, afghanistian, british all soldiers al over this messed up world i pray they stop killing and GIVE PEACE A CHANCE FOR ONE SECOND FOR ONE MINUTE FOR ONE DAY.

peace and love

stu xander

[Sam]

Peace in this country is primarily achieved through the sacrifice of our servicemen.

These same servicemen are working selflessly every day to provide that same peace to the Iraqi people.

For that, I salute you, as do the people of this fine country.

Keep at it, Supermen.

[Mike]

How noble some of us are, sitting at our comfortable computer consoles, to come here and insult others who are in harm's way.

Glory may indeed be fleeting but the coward will only ever know the silence of lonely ignominy.

Rock on, superheroes!

[David]

Sadaam was inhuman. He killed well over 3 million Iraqis. The civil war that Iraqis have fought with each other is a necessary part of the evolution of the nation just as the american civil war in history. The Iraqi civil war had been created in part by the inhuman subjugation of one group by Sadaam who belonged to the other the group. And don't forget why US invaded Iraq. It was not for oil. God bless America.

[Jesse]

Paul's uncertainty regarding the purpose of the Iraq war sure raised some hackles.

Don't worry people, if you don't want to fight for Paul's freedom, you don't need to. His freedom was never in any danger from Iraq nor anyone in Iraq. Whatever the goals are in Iraq, protecting the freedom of Americans is not among them.

[Adrian]

Soldiers deserve all and more of love and respect as they are doing their best in a hell of an existance. They have all my respect unlike the real motivations for the wars created in the name of freedom or terrorism .How can you trust politicians like Bush and before Blair in telling the truth .If there is no profit involved the BANKRUPT! banks would not be funding it think about it .

[Adam Anderson]

Some of the comments above really show you americans for what you are, simple idiots...
If you cant figure out why the powers that be have lied to us, then I am afraid you are the ones who are a drain on our society Get a life and stop our murderous governments from destroying our childrens future....
and then maybe we can live in peace as human beings ! Just grow up and educate yourselves for gods sake before its too late !

War, what good is it for? Absolutely nothing. Iraq war is about stealing other countries resources, no matter the cost to human lives. Iran will be next. Read revelations and the refer to the things you know and are going on in the world. Repent, Jesus is the truth. Do unto others as you would have done to yourselves. Catholics learn to understand the Bible.

[CMallory]

Cordell Mallory is my son. I am greatful for his honorable service to our country. Those who debate the merits of this war should be especially greatful that their privilage to do so has been defended and preserved by valiant young men like Cordell.

[Richard wicks]

Remind us all again that this mission was to disarm Iraq, and that was accomplished before the war even began, so why am I still paying for this stupid war, and children to fancy themselves after comic books?