U.S. Army (USA) SGT. James Gaston (right), a flight engineer from Company H, 171st Aviation Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard, secures equipment inside his C-23B Sherpa cargo aircraft prior to departing for a mission at Balad Air Base, Iraq on Dec. 16, 2004. The Sherpas are transporting coalition troops and supplies throughout Iraq. (USAF PHOTO by STAFF SGT. Shane A. Cuomo) (Released)