Video: MEDEVAC Mission Afghanistan
From November 07.Video released Jan 14/08.A UH-60 MEDEVAC Helicopter evacuates US Army Paratroopers and Afghan Army soldiers who were ambushed near Forward Operating Base Bella.
The team of soldiers, comprised of Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, soldiers from the Afghan National Army, and two Afghan interpreters, had traveled less than 2 miles on foot to a nearby town of Aranas in the mountainous Nuristan Province. They set out early in the morning for what was supposed to be a positive and productive day of Shuras with local government officials and elders from surrounding villages.
The terrain was unforgiving and impossible to pass in vehicles. The distance was short, yet time consuming to navigate, especially on foot and with the weight the modern day soldier carries. After the day’s activities were finished in Aranas, the combined team set out for their return foot march back to Forward Operating Base Bella. The mountains of the area, scattered with cliffs and valleys, offered a hideout for Taliban insurgents who waited for the opportune moment to attack the team of US and Afghan Soldiers returning to base.
As a result of the attack by Taliban fighters, the combined team of Paratroopers and Afghan Soldiers sustained great loses. At that point, and after the area was secured, Dust-off leaped into action, and conducted what ended up being a 31 hour medical evacuation mission consisting of multiple lifts and eight separate air crews. The crews’ undying determination and commitment to their missions would not allow them to give up on their tasks.
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Lost in the great reports comming out of the GWOT is the outstanding efforts by para-rescue crews and medical personel. These are some of the most self-less people on the planet.
Hoo-ah to all who participated in this evac. Dust-off rules!!
January 14th, 2008 at 11:36 amThe Guardians, Guardian Angels!
January 14th, 2008 at 12:18 pm