In Afghanistan’s ‘Valley of Death’

Apache helicopters create a ring of protective fire around medevac missions like DUSTOFF 73. (Department of the Army)

In Afghanistan’s ‘Valley of Death,’ A Medevac Team’s Miracle Rescue -- Daily Beast

The assault targeted a key Taliban training camp in Afghanistan’s Kunar province. The mission was failing. The wounded were dying. The medevac team took off on the perilous mission to save them…

The first bodies came on the first day of the operation. It was a Saturday, hot and quiet, the wind spinning eddies of sand around Forward Operating Base Joyce in eastern Afghanistan. Out of the midmorning silence came the crackle of a hand radio. “Medevac! Medevac! Medevac!” said the dispatcher, and eight camouflaged figures—the helicopter crews of DUSTOFF 73 and DUSTOFF 72—darted out of their tents, a rehearsed riot of belts and straps, buckles and Velcro. Going by the manual, it takes more than an hour to prep a Blackhawk helicopter for flight. But both of these birds were airborne within five minutes, the pilots still blinking sleep from their eyes.

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My Comment: A gripping story of bravery .... read it all.