Hi, my name is Al and I’m a Herkaholic…the rest of the team too. So far, we are two pilots, one nav, one flight engineer and a C-130 fanatic journalist. We are Herkaholics Anonymous and we want you to admit your addiction and join the team by sharing your story.
The purpose of our book is to capture the heroics, drama, and follies of the crews flying C-130s in ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Modern C-130 drivers share much in common with their tactical airlift mentors who flew in eras long past. No glory or glamour, only bravery and blissful buffoonery in the face of endless boredom occasionally interrupted by sheer terror…whatever the source. We are brothers and sisters with those of Burma, Normandy, Berlin, Korea, and Vietnam.
This book and these stories come at the expense of nobody else. Combat is different to all parties involved. We tip our hat to Soldiers, Sailors and Marines…and to Airmen who fly other chariots too.
We seek only to capture the unique stories of the Trash Hauler.
The stories hereafter are personal vignettes. The authors are anonymous and referred to only by crew position and squadron. The purpose of anonymity is not to protect individuals or incite controversy, only to be consistent with the book’s title…which we find richly apt and rewarding.
When you fly Herks you learn early of its addicting ways…the plane, the people, and the mission. Like a drug, she will give you highs and lows beyond comprehension. The Herk will carry you safely through tenacious adversity then crush your ego moments later without remorse.
Like any vice worth having, the Herk changes you forever.