Matting: A Little Less Fatigue in Iraq

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One of the most difficult missions American soldiers in Iraq face is to fly aboard the Sherpa cargo planes.

The Sherpas drop supplies to troops on the ground and are often the target of snipers. Because of this, crew members must stand during the entire flight — sometimes more than eight hours at a stretch — to spot possible attackers.

“By the end of their mission, the soldiers are not only tired, but their backs, legs and feet hurt from standing so long,” says Michael Moy, a U.S. Army flight engineer stationed in Iraq.

Interestingly, Moy noticed near the entrance of a Chaplain’s office a mat, which seemed to take the fatigue out of standing for long periods of time. When he asked about the mat, Moy was given the card of a Crown sales manager and told it was Comfort-King Supreme anti-fatigue matting from Crown Mats and Matting.

Realizing this mat might help the soldiers aboard the Sherpas, Moy contacted the company and requested enough Comfort-King mats for every crew member to stand on during the Sherpa flights. Crown shipped the mats to Iraq — at no charge — and heard they were installed as soon as they arrived.

Then the company received a call from Moy saying the soldiers were very grateful for the Comfort-King mats and to show their gratitude they were sending an American flag flown over Iraq and Kuwait during “Operation Iraqi Freedom.”

Further, Crown soon received thank you notes signed by the soldiers. Some of the comments they wrote included: “Your mats make a big difference;” “My feet thank you;” “My 13s are smiling;” and “thanks for thinking of us; we love your Comfort-King mats.”