History is a bit more personal to CH-46 crewmembers and maintainers.  We work with a piece of it every day.  Each "Phrog" is more than just a 40-year-old airframe with thousands of hours of flight time.  It ia a daily reminder of a legacy of excellence, bravery, and compassion.  At Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364) we celebrate that legacy every time we fly.  In fact, the aircraft that then LtCol. Eugene R. Brady flew during his Navy Cross winning casualty evacuation (CasEvac) mission in May 1969, Swift 00, is still flown by our squadron today, along with Swift 06, another "Phrog" that has been with HMM-364 since Vietnam.  With thoughts like that in mind, each crewmember knows that heroes have flown their aircraft - and they are still watching. Joseph P. Donovan and Col. William D. McSoreley III ended their article, "Aura of the Purple Foxes," with our motto, "once a Purple Fox, always a Purple Fox."  One can hear it used around our squadron all the time.  There is a brotherhood and closeness here that is forged in time, blood, emotion, and experience.  Our heritage is a proud one, and we carry it with us, along with the spirit of all Marines and sailors who have fought and served under this squadron's colors in the past.

After returning from the float in June 1999, the Marine Corps made the decision to remove HMM-364 from the Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) deployment cycle in order to support the I Marine Expeditionary Force's (I MEF's) major theater of conflict operational plans.  Under the command of Col. Michael W. "Bobo" Scott, the squadron aggressively sought training opportunities and found one in Korea.  Reception, staging, onward-movement and intergration/FOAL EAGLE 2002 provided the squadron the opportunity to deploy on both C-5s and a Russian built AN-124 aircraft - the latter lift being a first in Marine Corps aviation history.  The squadron deployed again in January 2003 as I MEF executed one of those plans in the Middle East.  LtCol. Ronald B. "Link" Radich carried on the Purple Fox legacy and led the squadron to Ali Salem Air Base, Kuwait, and ultimately into Iraq.

All 12 CH-46Es were flown from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton to Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, CA, shrunk-wrapped, and craned into the hull of the USNS Pollux (T-AKR 290), a Military Sealift Command fast sealift ship - another first for transportation of CH-46Es in Marine Corps history.  Several squadron Marines were assigned as the security force for the vessel, while the main body was flown to Ali Salem Air Base.  By the end of February the Pollux had reached Kuwait, been offloaded, and all 12 helicopters flown to Ali Salem.  In conjunction with Marine Aircraft Group 39 and its augments, HMM-364 began training, mission planning, and rehearsals for the expected combat operations in Iraq.

While the 1st Marine Division (1st MarDiv) was preparing to charge north through Iraq, the Purple Foxes were tasked with supporting a variety of missions.  As expected, HMM-364 would fly traditional assault support missions such as troop insertion and resupply.  The squadron was on 24-hour per day assault support request standby in order to bring critical equipment, personnel, food, and water to the forward arming and refueling points and forward operating bases.  The Foxes flew missions in support of Special Operations Command forces, as well as transporting thousands of pounds of mail for Marines fighting throughout Iraq/  No doubt the most critical mission that the Purple Foxes supported from the beginning of the war and until the last Marine was out of Iraq was CasEvac for 1st MarDiv.

During the major combat operations period, HMM-364 was in direct support of Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT-7) as they gallantly charged the enemy all the way to Baghdad.  The Purple Fox maintenance Marines painted our mascot, "Swifty" - a sly purple fox, on the aft pylons of the aircraft so the grunts would know that it was HMM-364 coming to support them.  The squadron logged an immense amount of flight time as they supported the division and I MEF 24 hours a day in the harsh and austere desert operating environment.  This high operational tempo presented an opportunity for all Purple Fox crewmembers and maintainers to live up to the legacy that our Vietnam Foxes so proudly established.

On 23 March 2003, Capt. Mark "Otter" Welch and his section launched from the RCT-7 command operations center (COC) to the 1st MarDiv main COC in order to transport regimental personnel.  While en route the Direct Air Support Center (DASC) tasked the section with an urgent CasEvac in the vicinity of An Nasiriyah.

Just prior to reaching the landing zone (LZ), the DASC passed different LZ coordinates for the CasEvac.  Capt. Welch later added, "It was a city of fire and all I kept thinking was, we are going there!"  Flying at 50 feet and between 100 to 140 knots, the section entered the outskirts of An Nasiriyah still unable to communicate with LZ control.  Marines were securing buildings throughout the city as the aircraft flew to LZ coordinates located some 2 miles beyond secured territory.  Immediately upon crossing friendly lines, both helicopters began taking small arms fire from all directions.  In virtually all instances, the fires came from enemies located in close proximity to human shields.  The helicopters reached the pickup coordinates, but no friendly forces were sighted, and a break turn was executed to the left.  During the turn, the tactical lead aircraft's pilot, Capt. Welch, and his copilot, 1stLt. Phillip "Precious" Peche, noticed a missile indication from their aircraft survivability equipment.  Chaff and flare expendables were launched from the right side of their aircraft.  Dash-2, piloted by Capt. Greg "Dirty" Earnest and Capt. Jon "Ronin" Mackin had already broken right while simultaneously launching chaff and flare expendables.  The man-portable air defense system missile that was launched at them failed to achieve a lock with either aircraft as they performed defensive maneuvers.  Both aircraft continued turning and descending while accelerating and departing the "hot" LZ.  Within seconds the flight noticed acquisition strobes on their respective radar warning receivers.  The crew chief, Cpl. Sam P-Diddy" Putnam, on the lead aircraft spotted a ZSU-23-4 anti-aircraft artillery vehicle along the direction of travel.  The section then descended below rooftop level, and the crew chief in Dash-2, Cpl. Jonathon "Cheddar" Barnes, immediately launched six chaff expendables to break radar lock.  The Purple Foxes then exited the city without further engagement.

Once outside the city, both aircraft increased altitude to achieve solid communications with DASC.  The flight circled and landed on a road abeam a friendly position in order to obtain the correct LZ coordinates and frequencies.  While in the zone, the crew relayed that a group of Iraqi paramilitary operatives were approaching the flight from the rear.  Capt. Welch then lifted the aircraft and "kicked the tail" in order for his crew, if necessary, to engage the group with the .50 caliber machinegun.  The section then launched with the correct grid coordinates and frequency for the CasEvac LZ.

Capt. Welch was able to achieve radio contact with LZ control and called "green smoke," observed in the southeast portion of the city.  As the flight approached the LZ, the section continued to receive sporadic small arms fire.  The flight landed in the LZ, and during the "onload" of casualties, another group of paramilitary Iraqis approached the LZ from the section's six o'clock.  The Purple Fox aircraft commanders directed the three air officers, two corpsmen, and one avionics technician to disembark from both aircraft in order to provide perimeter security with M16A2 rifles.  Once casualties were safely loaded, both aircraft launched for Jalibah, Iraq.

On 30 March 2003, Capt. Kirk "Cowboy" Nelson and his section of Purple Foxes assumed the role of CasEvac for RCT-7.  The section launched on night vision goggles (NVG) that night at 2330 for an urgent CasEvac.  The crew received information that a helicopter had crashed near Jalibah Airfield.  The sole surviving crewmember was reported to have serious head injuries.  Medical personnel had determined that due to the severity of the casualty's head injuries, special monitoring and scanning equipment would be required, which was only available 170 miles away aboard the hospital ship, USNS Comfort (T-AH20).  After approximately 1 hour of flight, the oxygen supply for the casualty began to run critically low.  The section diverted to a surgical company in central Kuwait in order to obtain more oxygen.  The flight then proceeded 80 miles offshore to the Comfort.

Once safely on the flight deck, Comfort personnel expeditiously offloaded the injured aviator and rushed him to treatment.  The flight then departed and headed north to Iraq.  The crews removed their NVG as the sun began to rise and transitioned to day flying.  The flight landed at Jalibah to top off on fuel before repositioning to RCT-7.  While receiving fuel, the DASC asked if there was any available assault support for immediate tasking.  Capt. Nelson made the decision not to accept any tasking unless it was an actual emergency.  The DASC informed the section that a Marine force reconnaissance team had become compromised and was in contact with enemy forces.  They requested an emergency extract.  Capt. Nelson coordinated with an attack section of AH-1W attack helicopters to provide armed rotary-wing escort for the mission.  With no time to prepare, Capt. Nelson assumed the lead of the combined flight and briefed all coordinating instructions within the first few minutes of the flight en route to the extract zone.

The extract zone was more than 90 miles to the north, in the vicinity of Al Amarah, Iraq.  Before reaching the initial point for the extract site, the escorts pushed ahead and cleared the zone of possible enemy threat.  The flight then commenced its tactical approach into the zone with GySgt. Ronald D. "Bones" Ulery and Cpl. Caleb M. "Check-Freq" Thompson, the crew chiefs, directing the aircraft into the zone while simultaneously manning their .50 caliber machineguns.  The anxious force reconnaissance Marines quickly boarded the aircraft, along with two enemy prisoners of war (EPWs).  As soon as the reconnaissance team was aboard, the flight departed and proceeded back to Jalibah and dropped off the force reconnaissance Marines and EPWs.  Once refueled, the section transited back to RCT-7 and resumed dedicated CasEvac standby status.  The aircrew had successfully completed a grueling 11.5 hour flight, of which 5.6 hours were conducted at night in low-light-level conditions, over water and featureless terrain, while accomplishing a multitasked mission, flying nearly 600 miles and holding true to the legacy of the Purple Foxes.

On 17 April 2003, the President of the United States declared Operation Iraqi Freedom a coalition victory.  The Purple Foxes had flown 638 combat sorties totaling 865.7 combat hours in support of the war effort.  This was more hours and sorties than any other HMM in theater.  Additionally,, HMM-364 transported 220,450 pounds of cargo and 878 passengers.  None of the daring exploits of the aircrew could have been possible without the long maintenance hours, hard work, and dedication of the Purple Fox maintenance department.  These talented young Marines formed the backbone of the squadron.  Spring turned to summer and with it came new challenges.  Sandstorms, 120-degree heat, and lack of parts could not deter these young warriors from "making it happen."  GySgt. David J. Neal would recall, "Marines would drive around in trucks with cold water, handing it out to anyone who needed it.  They would do whatever it took to get the job done.  They really looked out fore each other.  In terms of mission accomplishment and perseverance they are the Purple Foxes who embody our motto, 'Give A Shit'."

With Saddam Hussein and his regime of terror no longer in control of Iraq and major combat operations complete, it was time to begin rebuilding a fallen nation.  HMM-364 continued to support the coalition forces in newly liberated Iraq by supporting I MEF tasking.  The standard tasking package included a dedicated section for command and control in support of the 1st MarDiv.  Additionally, HMM-364 supported transportation throughout the theater for visiting officials such as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, GySgt. Lee R. Ermey, USMC(Ret), other government agency officials, and various officials from the State Department.  And even though major combat operations were over, a section of "Phrogs" for standby CasEvac was still a 24-hour a day requirement.

On 2 July 2003, Capt. Charles A. "Lumpy" Lumpkin's aircraft launched from Al Hillah, Iraq as a single aircraft to CasEvac two critically injured Marines and an Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician from a minefield near Karbala, Iraq.  U.S. Navy Capt. Tom Merry, I MEF's chief medical officer, and HM3 Clifford Salviejo, a Purple Fox corpsman, augmented the aircraft's crew on the life saving mission.  SSgt. Michael "Scooby" Reynolds, the aircraft's crew chief, later repeated the landing instructions from the LZ control as, " . . . EOD only had time to do a hasty clearing of an area in the minefield just big enough for one "Phrog."  We had to land right on the spot where they popped smoke."  The crew complied, and upon arrival at the minefield HM3 Salviejo, Capt. Merry, and a Marine EOD technician rushed into the minefield surrounding the casualties.  They rapidly moved over the dangerous ground and evaluated the first Marine who was deceased.  Then they proceeded farther into the minefield and assessed the second casualty, an Iraqi EOD technician, whose injury was not life threatening.  Finally, they approached the third casualty, a Marine, located in a pit farther inside the minefield.  The critically injured Marine with massive life-threatening injuries lay surrounded by numerous explosive devices.  HM3 Salviejo provided critical care to the Marine and assistance to Capt. Merry as they evacuated the Marine.  As Capt. Merry and HM3 Salviejo moved the fallen Marines and the Iraqi out of the minefield, SSgt. Reynolds and SSgt. Anthony "Nasty" Nastelli, the aerial gunner and observer, rushed out of the hastily cleared LZ at great risk to themselves to assist Capt. Merry and HM3 Salviejo with moving the casualties to the helicopter.  For heroic action in fulfillment of his duties and in keeping with the Purple Fox legacy, HM3 Salviejo was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device.

In addition to CasEvac and command and control, the Purple Foxes participated in many humanitarian aid missions.  Some of these missions included delivering urgently needed medical supplies and personnel in support of the Iraqi people.  The Purple Foxes took over 5,000 pounds of coloring books and school supplies to the children of As Sammwah, Iraq as well as 1,000 soccer balls to the children of Karbala.  The Purple Foxes flew missions in support of psychological operations by dropping information leaflets over cities and towns in order to let Iraqi civilians know that the Marines were there to help.  On another mission, Capt. Earnest and Maj. Steven R. "Mojo" Christman delivered over $1.6 million in "seed money" to the interim government in An Najaf and Karbala so they could pay Iraqi civil servants.

As September 2003 began, the mission of the Marine Corps in Iraq was coming to an end, at least temporarily.  However, the Purple Foxes still had a large task ahead of them.  Together with HMM-268, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 and Marine Aerial Refueler Transportation Squadron 452, the Purple Foxes supported the 1st MarDiv retrograde out of Iraq.  The flag was moved to Al Kut, Iraq as the Purple Foxes made multiple runs daily from Al Kut to Ad Diwaniyah and from Al Kut to Al Hillah.  The plan was simple.  The 1st MarDiv was transported by helicopter to Al Kut.  From there, they boarded C-130s and headed for Kuwait.  Finally on 24 September 2003, Maj. John P. "Vegas" Mee led the last division of Purple Foxes across the Iraq-Kuwait border.  The Purple Fox main body triumphantly returned home on 1 October 2003 with an overwhelming sense of mission accomplishment.

With the Purple Foxes home at MCAS Camp Pendleton and post deployment leave complete, it was time once again to celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday, and HMM-364 did it in true Purple Fox fashion.  Our guest of honor was Pat Donovan (coauthor of the previous article), a former Purple Fox pilot, Vietnam Veteran, and two time Navy Cross recipient.  We were also graced with the presence of a former Purple Fox commanding officer, Col. Eugene R. Brady, USMC(Ret), as well as a number of other former Purple Foxes.  "Once a Purple Fox, always a Purple Fox" was a common theme once again as we lifted our mugs and shared stories of the past and memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifce.  The Operation Iraqi Freedom Purple Foxes now understand why we not only have former Purple Foxes who come to visit the squadron, but former infantry Marines and their families as well.  Many of the stories they tell begin with phrases like, "if it wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't be here right now."  This is our mission and our legacy.  It is what links the new and old under the banner of a wily Purple Fox.

1stLt Clifton is a Purple Fox squadron pilot and the legal officer for HMM-364.