On the Army’s 243rd birthday, the Connecticut Army National Guard’s Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment is making a historic deployment. The unit, specialized in medical treatment and critical care, has been deployed to its first overseas mission in southwest Asia.
National Guardsmen Staff Sgt. John Harrington describes the work he and his fellow 29 soldiers will be performing in southwest Asia as, “kind of like treating a patient in a hospital, but in the back of a helicopter.”
But Staff Sgt. Harrington has something to take care of first with his wife, Tessa – the birth of their firstborn, Jack.
“It’s kind of nuts for me to have a baby, but we have a really good support system at home, so I’m sure I’ll be OK,” Tessa said.
Ten days after Jack is born, Staff Sgt. Harrington will join the others.
For now, he’s saying goodbye to his unit, which will be responsible for critical care, medical support and emergency responses.
“When there are sick, wounded people needing transportation, we go out and we pick people up and we transport them and provide en route care and take them where they need to be to get the care they require,” Lt. Andrew Seiverson said.
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Lt. Seiverson said the unit has been waiting for the mission after months of practicing through simulations.
“For our unit, this will be the first opportunity we have to go and do our jobs for real, so all of us are excited for it. I’m excited to see what the team does,” Lt. Seiverson said.
The team said goodbyes to their families, friends and our state leaders, each of whom comforted one another on that tarmac.
“They’re the strong ones in it,” Staff Sgt. Harrington said, referring to each of the families wishing soldiers goodbye. “That’s what it takes, is their support to be able to get us through.”
