By Magen Petit Staff Columnist
YORK COUNTY –
While most people are wrapping up with holiday shopping, Captain Mark C. Stevens and 1st Lieutenant Platoon Leader Brian F. McClellan both part of Charlie Company 1-126th Medevac (C/1-126 Medevac) is thousands of miles away completing critical missions and fighting for their country.
A 1987 graduate of Kennebunk High School, Capt. Stevens never thought he’d be on his second tour in Iraq just 22 years later.
“It goes to show how many surprises life can throw at you,” wrote Stevens in an e-mail interview with The Weekly Sentinel’s Staff Columnist Devin Beliveau. “It’s been a great 22 years and I’m looking forward to the next 22.”
Stevens has been in Iraq for nine months and his deployment is expected to end in about a month. He is currently stationed in Tallil, Iraq with many responsibilities.
“I am the company’s executive officer and I ensure the overall operation for the unit runs smoothly and efficiently,” wrote Stevens in a recent e-mail. “I am also a medical evacuation pilot-in-command of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.”
Eliot native and Marshwood High School graduate, 1st Lt. McClellan has spent about two-and-a-half years in the military and is stationed to the Tallil Air Base as well. He has spent about 10 months in Iraq and his deployment should end by January 2009. McClellan is the flight operation’s platoon leader and officer in charge (OIC) of one of their MEDEVAC sites.
Capt. Katherine Zyla of unit TF 449 interviewed McClellan and wrote a press release regarding the MEDEVAC Company and what their mission is about. During her interview, McClellan told her how he views MEDEVAC.
‘“One of the greatest things about a MEDEVAC unit, whether you’re transporting patients, maintaining aircraft, facilitating logistics, etc., is we work as a team and put our mission first,” said McClellan. “MEDEVAC is based on speed, and it is critical our sites are fully operational at all times, so we can respond to those on the ground.”’
As the OIC, McClellan receives all daily briefs and MEDEVAC status reports as well as requests, mission planning, and launch authority to the requesting party such as the soldier or medical facility requesting MEDEVAC.
“My most memorable moment was a MEDEVAC operation for a Special Forces team that struck an IED (improvised explosive device),” wrote McClellan in an e-mail to Beliveau. “One soldier was killed and the other two were severely injured. The weather was restricting aircraft from flying, but MEDEVAC crews requested launch authority in order to rescue the soldiers. The crews flew in horrible weather conditions to reach the soldiers and bring them to a Combat Support Hospital (CSH). Their decision to fly in weather conditions that would cause most aircraft to be grounded saved the lives of those two wounded soldiers. For their action, the aircrews received Army Air Medals.”
Stevens backs up McClellan’s memorable moment.
“Being in a MEDEVAC unit is rewarding every day,” wrote Stevens. “Our job is to save people’s lives. Everything else is secondary.”
Stevens ensures timely evacuation of all soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, local nationals, civilians, and other patients to a higher level of medical care.
“We also transport medical clinicians, blood, medical supplies and working dogs,” according to Stevens.
Through everything, McClellan and Stevens believe the people in their unit are “great Americans and we couldn’t be as successful as we are without each and every one of them. Teamwork is key.”
Another thought the Captain and 1st Lieutenant have in common when asked what they miss most about home, they both miss their families very much.
“I miss my family and friends the most,” wrote McClellan.
“I miss my wife and kids more than anything in the world,” added Stevens. “It can be very depressing to see how much the kids have grown and to realize how much I’ve missed.”
After the military, McClellan would like to “take a vacation with my family, return to work, and try to regain a normal lifestyle” while Stevens wants to “be a good husband and dad and stay with C/1-126, a National Guard Aviation Unit, out of Bangor.”
Even though the two men will be missing the holiday season, McClellan and Stevens will be home soon, giving their families the best gift they can receive.
The Weekly Sentinel’s Staff Columnist Devin Beliveau conducted the e-mail interviews between Capt. Stevens and 1st Lt. McClellan.
First photo caption: First Lt. Brain F. McClellan, a native of Eliot and Marshwood High School graduate, is stationed in Tallil Iraq and expects his deployment should end by January 2009. (1st. Lt. McClellan photo)
Second photo caption: On the right is Capt. Mark C. Stevens, a native of Kennebunk who currently resides in Biddeford. Pictured with him is his father Mark Stevens Sr. of Kennebunk. Capt. Stevens is also presently stationed in Tallil Iraq but his deployment is expected to end in about a month.. (Courtesy photo)
