The Ever-Supportive Hercules

C-130 tactical cargo aircraft of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, have been hauling supplies—food, water, ammunition, and you name it—for coalition forces participating in Operation Mountain Lion since it began on April 12. Officials say the unit has used airdrop and air-land sorties to deliver thousands of pounds of supplies, often times to isolated Afghan areas, including one sortie with a drop zone on the side of a steep mountain. Lt. Col. Thomas Lawrence, 774th EAS commander, said the unit had never flown such a mission, adding, “We knew if we missed the drop zone, the supplies would fall down into the valley.”