This hits particularly close to home for me. These people are from my sister unit. I probably shouldn't even post this here, for fear that it will turn into one of those awful threads getting twisted around into a political debacle about the Iraq war. I sincerely hope that this doesn't happen as it would discrace what these people have given there lives for. I simply want everyone to think of the crew that gave there lives and say thank you.
Here's the email I recieved...
Subject: The Last Full Measure
Dear friends,
I'm sorry that I haven't written in awhile, but things have been really busy here. Let me tell you about yesterday. A warning in advance that this is not my usual email...
I was Top-3, which means that I wasn't flying but was supervisor during the night shift. My shift got off to an easy start with Thunderstorms over the field, our first go cancelled, and I settled in to get some email and paperwork done. The first report came in around 1600 - we had a helicopter down. As you can imagine, that sets off certain bells and whistles that starts to make things happen. As A-10 pilots, we are also trained as Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) pilots, so we scrambled 2 guys airborne to aid in the search and recovery. Not long after the initial report came in, we received the awful news that all 6 crewmembers on board were killed. Worse, it was an Air Force rescue helicopter. Because we are CSAR pilots, A-10 pilots have a special affinity towards rescue pilots and parajumpers (the "PJs" are the ones who will come in and get us if we are ever shot down). I knew 2 of the six, and I spent a day with this particular squadron down in Kandahar only two weeks ago.
A second helicopter that was trailing them was on scene, but had to leave the area as an unknown convoy was approaching the scene. This was of particular concern, because (1) we did not want to lose the classified equipment on board the helicopter, and (2) we did not want anyone to desicrate the bodies (like you are seeing in Iraq now). Fourtunately none of that happened, and I have to leave the operational details out of this email. But what I want to share with you is what happened afterward...
The second helicopter had to come to Bagram to land. We are the only Air Force unit here, so we took the lead in making sure they were met at the aircraft, fed, counseled, etc. As Top-3, I personally met them and escorted them around the base. Obviously, the crew on the second helicopter was fairly shaken up - they had witnessed the accident and had been the first on scene to confirm all 6 were killed. Unfortunately, in times like this the first thing we have to do is all safety related - take statements, interview all the participants, etc. During the interview process we received word that the remains were inbound to Bagram, so I took the second crew out to the flightline to meet the recovery helicopter.
It was pitch black outside, no moon, and the base was in black-out conditions. The second crew and I stood on the flightline as the remains were transloaded from the helicopter into waiting ambulances. Just out small group, saluting, as these 5 brave men and 1 brave woman were carefully and respectfully placed aboard the ambulances. One of the most somber moments of my life.
We followed the ambulances to the hospital, where we allowed the second crew to pay their last respects to their squadron comrades. When they were finished, they sat down with a "stress response" team consisting of a chaplain, psychologist and social worker. While that was ongoing, I was reluctantly tasked with the responsibility of helping remove the personal effects and salvageable equipment from the remains. I will not give you the grusome details, but decceleration trauma yields horrific injuries, and I saw things last night I will never forget. But what struck me was the care and dignity the mortuary team used in dealing with the bodies. The team did not know any of the dead, but they treated each one as you would a friend, relative... or hero. One of the most inspiring things I have ever seen, and exactly how I hope it would be, God forbid, if this ever happens to me. That was the only comfort I could find as I thought of the six wives, husbands, parents and children who would soon be getting the worst phone call of their lives...
You hear many speeches about fighting for freedom, liberty, etc. But in the end, these heroes died not fighting for anything - they were on the way to medical evacuate (medivac) two injured Afghani children. Coverage of their tragedy is overshadowed by the war in Iraq, but "greater love hath no man than this - to lay down his life for a friend."
I ask you all to keep a special thought and prayer for a group of six individuals who lived by the creed of "So others may live..."
God Bless, and may this all be over soon.
Just a quick moment of silence is all I ask...thx.
WD
So Others May Live
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MaineExport
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GirlRacerS14
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Re: So Others May Live
WDRacing wrote:Just a quick moment of silence is all I ask...thx.
WD
:patriot....a moment of silence filled with tears and prayers
Very emotional...i'm forwarding to my 5 family members also in the USAF. God Bless
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nissanrcer240
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nissanrose
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wow. thank sfor sharing that man my toughtsand prayers are with th families of the dead. war is never an easything to go thru, but in my opinion they did not die for anything they are fighting to save other froma horrible man. they give thier lives for total strngers in another country so that they may live like we do now. god bless them and their famlies.
:patriot-
nissanrose
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