(Maj. W. Chris Clyne/Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Donald Ford, right, and Capt. According to a news release from the Oregon Military Department, the flights are part of a broader Oregon National Guard response to the state’s 2026 wildfire season. Aircrews completed 44 water bucket drops that day, delivering approximately 50,070 gallons of water on the fire. 2 in Pendleton, home to the Oregon Army National Guard’s CH-47 fleet, after the unit received its State Active Duty activation order and completed Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration July 28. Fry said the biggest challenge of sustaining the mission isn’t equipment or coordination, but people, Oregon Army National Guard members balancing the activation with civilian jobs and families during peak summer months.