JRTC
On 17 May 2008 I was "KILLED" by indirect fire. I was down on the HLZ waiting to launch for 45 minutes. The OC never gave me the green light. As I was sitting there waiting, a fire marker 4 wheeler drove by (right in front of me). About 30 seconds later the "incoming fire" alarm started sounding. A few seconds after that 3 impacts right on the HLZ where I was at. I overheard the OC’s saying that they wanted a MASCAS, "go kill 10 people". They yelled out to us, "you guys are dead!" So not only did I not get to fly, but they acted as if I was dead…. until we got up to the Motor Pool, then the OC’s brought me back to life so they could see how the medics responded. So my new injury was shot in the chest and neck from "indirect fire"? I was put on a litter and carried into the Aidstation. Poked and prodded on. The Chappy’s assistanst attempted to start an IV on me. Missed me twice. After the first time he missed he broke out into this crazy nervous sweat, sweating all over my arm. After the medics got done with me, they transported me and my "co-pilot" down to the HLZ for MedEvac. After the Blackhawks transported us to the CAS they attempted two more sticks on my arms before the doc could get the IV going. My "Co" had two IV bags, apparently they wouldn’t let him go take a leak and he decided against the cathater, he says he pissed his pants a little. Once they finished poking at us they wheeled us to a staging point where they simulated us being transported to Germany. Then they took us to what seemed like a POW camp while they waited for our units to get us back. No showers, no hygene, pretty dirty. About 30 guys laying around an open tent with about 15 cots. Not the best expirence in the world, but I’m home and alive again.
