I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with two members, Senior Master Sergeant Danny Gremes, and Technical Sergeant Robert Winkler, of the Air Force Unit.” RED HORSE” this is a nick- name acronym for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers.

This is a 240 man combat engineering unit that is self- sustained for world- wide deployment.

This unit is called upon prior to our troops, as a construction unit to literally build a city.

In this self- sustained construction unit, they have medics, administration, budgets, and finance operations, as well as design engineers, CAD draftsman, electricians, carpenters, metal fabricators, equipment operators, doctors, and supply technicians. They are capable of building a working base anywhere in the world deploying with-in a 3-day notice.

They do not rely on anyone but themselves, an Air Force unit; that constructs roads, buildings, taxi-runways, dining halls, much like a city for our troops as a base. They are able to build virtually anything, even to include water purification.

These guys you never hear about, they are behind the scenes so to speak. They are used over seas for bare base construction and were used for Katrina.

How amazing!! As I spent these 4 days of crane training with them on running and inspecting cranes, we had the opportunity to visit with Parker Rigging. Tim Parker in Charleston South Carolina, the owner of Parker Rigging, spoke with these service men personally and extended to them anything they needed.

We also had the opportunity to visit with Maxim Crane. Leon White of Maxim Crane headquartered in Georgia volunteered to contact their yard in South Carolina, and set up a tour, and informational session of their facility. Their Master mechanic, Robert and Danny exchanged technical views, on the repair of cranes, running of cranes, and all were excited to share their information.

We were met with open arms, from both of these companies. Both Companies basically dropped whatever they were doing to extend time and information with the Red Horse Unit. I can’t say enough about both Parker Rigging, and Maxim Crane on how excited they were to volunteer anything they had to, to not only welcome them, but were willing to extend time, and knowledge to them.

We visited restaurants, and Patriot Park of South Carolina, a site seeing park for a leisure but informative day. Everywhere we went, their good humor brought extreme enthusiasm from each person we were in contact with.

These guys, perform horrific deeds. They stated the training they received was the best they have ever received, because it was not only technical or classroom, but it included hands on.

I was honored to have spent time with them and to have been involved in their training, and enjoyed their enthusiastic manner. In addition Parker Rigging and Maxim Crane were happy to volunteer their time to these Service Men.

They deserve recognition for their talents. They have my admiration.