Posted on 10/05/2009 6:20:36 PM PDT by Saije
Flying into the besieged Afghan base during a nighttime firefight this weekend was a harrowing mix of overwhelming noise, stomach dropping maneuvers and shadows hurrying through the gloom.
When the chopper lifted off moments later with three wounded soldiers, it left behind others who were wounded but refused to be MEDEVACED out of the combat zone so they could return to fight with their buddies.
Fighting raged at two remote U.S. outpostsnear the Pakistan border this weekend, that left eight U.S. soldiers dead and 24 wounded. The battle was fought from Friday night through Sunday as hundreds of Taliban insurgents and their allies tried to overrun the Americans.
During the fighting, the insurgents succeeded in breaching the outer defense of the base at times before being repelled with the help of attack helicopters, fighter jets and drones. It was the bloodiest battle in a year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
During the fight, the MEDEVAC team at a nearby base waited - with both patience and frustration.
MEDEVAC teams are known for flying into some of the most deadly areas in the world to rescue injured soldiers. MEDEVAC helicopters are unarmed so they often need supporting aircraft to protect them, and sometimes the cover of darkness is their only defense...
As we were flying into the attack space, the MEDEVAC team with one medic and a doctor were preparing for the oncoming patients, setting up IV's, pulling out medical equipment...
One of the pilots said that even though he had night vision goggles and ordinarily he can see in that sort of situation, because the fighting was intense there was so much smoke it was actually fogged over and it was difficult for him to see. Fortunately he could make out the landing zone, but it was touch and go.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Amen.
No Mike force
No Hatchet force
No leadership at the highest levels
NO clue at the very top.
Little indig support
Hadjis estimated at (at least) 300
US Soldiers at the outpost - near as I can find, less than 90. Must have had an ETAC/Combat Control or a TACP on site, given the use of CAS in the valley.
Anger> Not hardly, disgust with the Nations leaders doesn’t even cover it.
BUMP
Geese, fire bases fighting it out over the weekend while 0 and Michelle go out on the town, again. Remember now. This was/is (?) “the good” war.
Hey Mr. Community Organizer, you suck.
I say bring them home if they are not going to get the attention and support required from Washington. And right now they are not getting it. We knew this guy was a zero during the election. We told ‘em.
We should head back to Washington with pitchforks and torches.
Washington, you guys suck. Vietnam taught you sh!tbirds nothing.
This kind of behavior is totally beyond the ability of the likes of the ‘bama to even remotely comprehend; Michael Jackson and Roman Polanski are his heroes.
Obama has failed to send more troops recommended by the General in Afghanistan! Meanwhile brave soldiers are dying!
GGGGGRRRRRR!!
They are Americans in the true sense of the word.
Yes. Worthy.
They will continue to fight to protect America and her Constitution.
I agree 1000%... this guy IS the enemy within.
LLS
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.