Marine helicopter mechanic in Afghanistan saves lives with maintenance discovery

1/17/2012 By Cpl. Brian Adam Jones , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) 

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — A Marine Corps sergeant in Afghanistan who unearthed a never-before-seen maintenance issue in a UH-1Y Huey was recently awarded by the Marine Corps for his potentially lifesaving find.

The sergeant was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in a ceremony at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Jan. 12.

Sgt. Christopher Lemke, a mechanic with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, nicknamed the "Gunfighters,” regularly conducts inspections on the squadron’s UH-1Y Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters.

But during a routine phase inspection of a Huey in late December, Lemke, a native of Macomb, Mich., uncovered something that could save countless lives. Phase inspections are regular checks on an aircraft’s various components to ensure they are safe.

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