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by By Cpl C. Alex Herron and Cpl Rocco DeFilippis

Sergeant Wesley A. Trawick II, an aviation ordnance technician with HMLA-775 Coyotes' AH-1W Super Cobras, signaled a fellow ordnance technician to arm the gunship's weapons system prior to a May combat mission over Iraq. (Photo by Cpl Rocco DeFilippis)

The quiet air of the camp is broken by the whop-whop of two AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter gunships taking to the sky over Iraq.

The "Coyotes" of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775 are off again to support the Marines on the ground.

"We are here to support Marines along the Syrian and Jordanian borders," said First Sergeant George J. Blackham IV of Gibsonia, Pa., senior enlisted Marine of the squadron detachment at Camp Korean Village. "We are their primary means of close air support for convoys, raids, casualty evacuation and other ground operations."

With infantrymen from the Second Marine Division manning remote outposts and conducting ground operations against foreign fighters along the borders, close air support remains vital to their success.

"We serve as a deterrent force," said Major Michael H. Ward, a Super Cobra pilot and native of Columbus, Ohio. "In the event we are needed, we have the firepower to serve as an offensive force for those Marines on the ground."

With only a fraction of the Marines of the squadron's main body, which is currently serving in Al Taqaddum, the Korean Village Coyotes are working each day to ensure their Cobras' ability to strike.

"Our 'birds' are dedicated around the clock to support the ground mission," said Lance Corporal Nathan G. Minarchick, a flight-line mechanic and native of West Decatur, Pa. "We need to have all the aircraft up so that when we get the call, we are ready to go."

Marine reservists, both inactive called to active duty and active Reserves, along with regulars from Camp Pendleton, Calif., united to make HMLA-775 an effective aviation combat squadron in Iraq, and they are doing it again.

The squadron is into its second deployment to Iraq in two years, performing the same missions from the same place and at the same time of year, but this time they also have a detachment at Camp Korean Village.

"This is nothing new to us. We just picked up where we left off last fall," said Lieutenant Colonel Karl F. Frost, the Coyotes' squadron executive officer.

The only difference the Coyotes and their AH-1W Super Cobra gunships and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters have experienced is a reduced insurgent activity.

"We have experienced a big reduction of insurgent engagement of our aircraft and a big reduction of our 'troops under fire' missions," said Maj Mark C. Voelker, an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot.

A majority of the Coyotes' tasks are casualty and medical evacuation missions where the squadron provides security for the UH-60 Black Hawks of the Army's 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) and the CH-46E Sea Knights of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364.

"Casevac and medevac missions are a big part of our job, but we also respond to troops on the ground when needed and serve as convoy escorts by providing close air support to units throughout Iraq," Frost said.

"The ground Marines really like having us around," said Voelker of Pittsburgh. "They ... don't get shot at or mortared when we are around. A lot of times we get tasked with security missions that seem simple but are a big help to our ground units because our sheer presence is enough to deter any attacks the insurgents may attempt on our ground forces."

One Coyote flight-line mechanic, Corporal Rick Villani of Las Vegas, has a unique perspective on how air power can help ground units. He is a former mortarman with 3d Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment, who deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, for six months during Operation Enduring Freedom. He has experienced firsthand what good air support means to ground-pounders.

"We had a few instances where insurgents were probing our lines, trying to see what our weaknesses were," Villani said. "Whenever the Cobras were in the air patrolling the surrounding areas, we … had a sense of calm over us, like we were being watched over by a big brother. We almost wanted to dare them [the enemy] to do something to us so they would [give up their position] and the Cobras could go after them."

Helicopter sections scheduled to fly each day have to be airborne within minutes of a call. The Coyotes always have three sections of aircraft ready to pull the chocks. Missions can be organized at a moment's notice while coalition forces continue to search for and apprehend any insurgents operating within Iraq's borders.

The reduced amount of insurgent activity is a sign of success. For the Coyotes, the less they are needed, the more Iraq seems to be stabilizing. The Coyotes often think of how much it has improved since their last deployment to Iraq a year ago.

"The fact that the whole country is a lot less hostile than when we arrived last year is a great testament to the work we do here," Frost said. "It is totally a team effort for us. It is great to know we have the ability to bring a unit together that is geographically separated back in the U.S. and operate like a team that has been together for years."

With more than 2,000 flight hours and 1,300 sorties, the Coyotes are proving they know how to get the job done. Between escort missions and providing close air support to those fighting on the ground, the leathernecks of HMLA-775 have a lot to be proud of as they continue to build on past successes.

Editor's note: The article was compiled from stories by Cpl C. Alex Herron and Cpl Rocco DeFilippis, combat correspondents, assigned to 2dMAW in Iraq.

© 2005 Leatherneck Magazine. All rights reserved.