[Troy]

*memory that i hadn't thought of in years ... After one battle, when the helicopter came in to bring supplies and take on wounded, we were on the side of a mountain. the helicopter couldn't land, but had to hover while they kicked out supplies and soldiers handed the wounded up to them.

when they were loaded and ready to go, a soldier on the ground in front of the helicopter decided to give the pilot an all clear sign so he would know everyone was away from the chopper underneath him. His action wasn't necessary because we had radio contact with the pilot. In his enthusiasm, the signaling soldier stood up and stuck both arms in the air as the signal to lift off ... and when he did, he stuck both hands into the path of the helicopter blade.

It cut off both arms just above the elbow, spun the soldier around and he rolled down the mountain, and on the radio i heard the pilot scream in horror as the blood hit the windshield of the helicopter. The medics got to the soldier and put on tourniquets. The co pilot of the chopper had to take over, the pilot collapsed *tears, panic... *=(i thought i could tell this)... and the wounded soldier was loaded on the chopper for evacuation.

I'm not even sure why I need to post this story here. This was a tragedy for the wounded soldier, but for the rest of us on the ground, it was another part of the routine. Distribute the ammo and rations that arrived on the chopper. Put it in our packs. Send out patrols. Move out for another destination. Call in by radio later in the day to find out how all of the wounded were doing. Say a prayer for those who died and for those who lived and for those who kept fighting our way through the jungle.

[(JD)]