"Chief Warrant Officer-4 Kevin Purtee and Chief Warrant Officer-2 Allen Crist, two Apache helicopter aviators flying their last combat mission, are credited with assuring a Soldier of Company A, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor, of prompt medical care by their actions. The Soldier had been shot in the face and the arm, and needed to be evacuated from a raging battle near Donkey Island in Ramadi.
The pilots learned that more than 40 minutes had elapsed since the ground unit had called for the medical evacuation aircraft to transport wounded Soldiers to the hospital at Camp Ar Ramadi. Chief Purtee, from Houston, Texas, was the pilot, which is commonly referred to as the "back-seater." Chief Crist, from Warrensburg, Mo., was the copilot/gunner, or "front-seater." Chief Purtee asked Chief Crist if he felt comfortable giving up his seat for the critically-wounded Soldier for the quick flight back to the camp.
"Absolutely," Chief Crist emphatically answered. Chief Purtee made the decision that to save the Soldier's life, Chief Crist would fly on the wing of the aircraft on the way to the hospital.
Chief Crist and three other infantrymen lifted the wounded Soldier up into the Apache's front seat. Chief Crist strapped him in.
"He was bandaged up, and blood was all over him," Chief Crist recalled.
Chief Crist then went to the left side of the aircraft and ran a tether to the aircraft and hooked it on his air warrior vest. He sat on the small wing of the Apache and placed his feet on a narrow walkway lining the fuselage. He knocked on the window to let Chief Purtee know that he was in position and ready for the flight.
Chief Purtee said that he felt more nervous than Chief Crist did during the flight.
"I had my copilot strapped to the side of the aircraft and a critically-wounded Soldier in the front seat, and we were leaving a very dangerous area," Chief Purtee said. "It wasn't a long flight, but it felt like it took forever."
Chief Crist said flying outside the aircraft was similar to "sitting in the back of a truck going down the highway." The flight to Camp Ar Ramadi lasted just a few minutes. They reached the medical pad, and Chief Crist stayed with the wounded Soldier while medical personnel waited for the ambulance to move him to the hospital."
Yes, I understand. It just seems to me flying into the midst of a stronghold with fully prepared Taliban low on fuel and getting out of the cockpit to redirect RMs running in the wrong direction with bullets and RPG zipping by deserved the VC.
History teacher in high school was an Army infantryman in Korea. He mentioned the absurdity of the Marines using their trucks to move bodies and making their exhausted riflemen walk in the freezing cold after a battle.
He told an absolutely mental story of their position about to be overrun and his lieutenant taking off his field jacket, wrapping it around the barrel shroud of the 30 cal, and proceeding to mow down over 50 Chinese soldiers.
As a non-military guy who was introduced to your sub-stack by military family members and enjoys reading it. I would ask you don't use acronyms w/o first spelling them out..... Tnx
In about 2007, while a Student of Architecture at Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold MD, I was in almost daily contact via YAHOO with Turkish Warrant Officer Dursun Ir’Ibas and Iraqi paid NGO Wisssm al-Muzhir.
I was given photos, on ground intelligence by these two people, one paid by Turkish Air Force, the other paid for my American Dollars carried by American Air Force on pallets … Yes, I followed the Money Trail!
In addition, I was raising my son as a Divorcee, in 2007, he was only nine (9) years old!
I was working 32 hours per week in Locked Down Psychiatric Units at Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland!
I was searching for physical evidence of the where about of Osama bin-Laden, photos received from Pakistan air space!
Texts received from Uzbekistan ground operations!
CDR Salamander, in 2007 I had to find communications and I drove miles to access Wi-Fi for tiny brief 15 minute windows of “Communication”!
CDR Salamander, how you you think I felt seeing photos of suitcases filled with American Dollars going into Afghanistan?
I was able to down load every free Russian Video filmed inside Afghanistan! In this way I learned to “Respect” the Taliban!
CDR Salamander, I’m a biological woman!
My viewport is different than your viewport because biological men are treated differently in the Middle East.
I’ll read more of this post. Thank you! Nurse Jane from “Forevermore by the Bay”, Deale MD 20751
Heroic. That’s the action of the Apache crews and volunteers. Ed Macy, MC, wrote about this in his 2008 book “Apache”. I first read an excerpt in “Smithsonian Air and Space” that I got at the Exchange, and realized I had to get the book.
If non-US NATO wants to provide welfare to every 3rd World refugee in the world rather than provide for their own defense, that is up to them. The foolishness that we need to worry about is the US defending them or even taking them seriously. That is on us. Now they are trying to drag us into a war with Russia that they admit up front that they can't sustain. Just say NO.
Sunday Morning Wall Street Week Australia, Quantum Technology…
CDR Salamander, please thank “Bear” for his “Like”. He put a smile on my face yesterday, Saturday … I called yesterday a “Lost Day”! In our literature, we have “The Lost Boys” who live on a “Lost Island”, and let’s zero into Peter Pan!
“I won’t grow up! I refuse to wear a tie… if growing up, it means to be…”, music in our Chart Room is good!
However, “Echo underwater feedback” keeps us “Alive”!
I’m a Volunteer! It was true… Military taught us “Newbies” not to volunteer!
No, not anymore!
Recall, those few brave men who carried the flame throwers up toward the Bunkers!
Yes, I’m sorry… see “White Tiger”, third degree burns are awful!
Yes, that Chopper Crew Chief who strapped himself onto the wing (footboard), so a disabled Afghanistan American War Veteran could be carried in his Co/Pilot Seat, to a Triage Facility to a medical doctor, not a Physicians Assistant!
That’s another subject I can guide you on…Physicians Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioners. Oh, btw, AI can replace PA’s but not Nurse, repeat operative word, “Nurse” practitioners.
If a registered nurse wants to earn a pHD, let her!
If a PHD Psychologist is called “Doctor”…
Why such “Blow Back”? Okay for Social Worker Ph.D., not for Nurse?
Actually in a clinical setting, if I yell “Doctor”, I need a medical doctor!
My stomach revolted when this VA Charlotte Hall , MD “Island born” R.N. with her PhD called herself “Doctor” to the staff at the Vet Center, West Annapolis, MD…
A Doctor is a Medical or Osteopath Board Certified “Doctor” who can roll up his sleeve, wash his hands, hold that scalpel and cut…
Naval Ship and Boat Captains know that’s what they, too, need to do… hence, my Nurse Jane Executive Officer position on CDR Salamander’s Volunteer ___.
Jennifer Westacott, KPMG Peat Marwick, my former Employer 1990, oh happy day!
Australian accent touting what Australia needs… you CDR Salamander, can talk loud and clear and spot on, what Australia needs!
Rick Winston, Partner KPMG Baltimore, Merry Land, was sent packing when he let me go, 1991… My hand went up to Volunteer Iraqi Freedom, with my DefAtt 0166, I was given a “Pink Slip”!
We must volunteer to do more than our Job Description!
Very respectfully submitted for posting… prior to Sunday’s Midrats. Thank you! NJ
I was in the military and we all learned to never ever "volunteer."
But yet when it comes to escapades like this, there's never a shortage.
Reminds me of this one I read about the year after I left Iraq (could have sworn there was something similar while I was stationed in BIAP too, but I'm probably conflating stories): https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article-View/Article/573012/apache-pilots-save-critically-wounded-soldier-with-unorthodox-evacuation/
"Chief Warrant Officer-4 Kevin Purtee and Chief Warrant Officer-2 Allen Crist, two Apache helicopter aviators flying their last combat mission, are credited with assuring a Soldier of Company A, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor, of prompt medical care by their actions. The Soldier had been shot in the face and the arm, and needed to be evacuated from a raging battle near Donkey Island in Ramadi.
The pilots learned that more than 40 minutes had elapsed since the ground unit had called for the medical evacuation aircraft to transport wounded Soldiers to the hospital at Camp Ar Ramadi. Chief Purtee, from Houston, Texas, was the pilot, which is commonly referred to as the "back-seater." Chief Crist, from Warrensburg, Mo., was the copilot/gunner, or "front-seater." Chief Purtee asked Chief Crist if he felt comfortable giving up his seat for the critically-wounded Soldier for the quick flight back to the camp.
"Absolutely," Chief Crist emphatically answered. Chief Purtee made the decision that to save the Soldier's life, Chief Crist would fly on the wing of the aircraft on the way to the hospital.
Chief Crist and three other infantrymen lifted the wounded Soldier up into the Apache's front seat. Chief Crist strapped him in.
"He was bandaged up, and blood was all over him," Chief Crist recalled.
Chief Crist then went to the left side of the aircraft and ran a tether to the aircraft and hooked it on his air warrior vest. He sat on the small wing of the Apache and placed his feet on a narrow walkway lining the fuselage. He knocked on the window to let Chief Purtee know that he was in position and ready for the flight.
Chief Purtee said that he felt more nervous than Chief Crist did during the flight.
"I had my copilot strapped to the side of the aircraft and a critically-wounded Soldier in the front seat, and we were leaving a very dangerous area," Chief Purtee said. "It wasn't a long flight, but it felt like it took forever."
Chief Crist said flying outside the aircraft was similar to "sitting in the back of a truck going down the highway." The flight to Camp Ar Ramadi lasted just a few minutes. They reached the medical pad, and Chief Crist stayed with the wounded Soldier while medical personnel waited for the ambulance to move him to the hospital."
Definitely more than one...but this one was also 2007 I think. https://www.denverpost.com/2007/07/03/dramatic-rescue-of-2-downed-pilots-in-iraq/
OOOHHRRRAAA!
I'm surprised none were awarded the Victoria Cross.
Two were awarded the Military Cross, second highest decoration in the British system.
Yes, I understand. It just seems to me flying into the midst of a stronghold with fully prepared Taliban low on fuel and getting out of the cockpit to redirect RMs running in the wrong direction with bullets and RPG zipping by deserved the VC.
I'm a Marine. I HATE not leaving a man (body) behind. That bit of nonsense has cost untold LIVING men's lives. It is facile, pointless hubris.
History teacher in high school was an Army infantryman in Korea. He mentioned the absurdity of the Marines using their trucks to move bodies and making their exhausted riflemen walk in the freezing cold after a battle.
He told an absolutely mental story of their position about to be overrun and his lieutenant taking off his field jacket, wrapping it around the barrel shroud of the 30 cal, and proceeding to mow down over 50 Chinese soldiers.
We are Marines, we do things differently than other branches, The Navy thinks like we do.
It is written in blood, sometimes like Koh Tang Island men are left behind and can't be recovered. It is war.
As a non-military guy who was introduced to your sub-stack by military family members and enjoys reading it. I would ask you don't use acronyms w/o first spelling them out..... Tnx
Good Morning CDR Salamander,
In about 2007, while a Student of Architecture at Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold MD, I was in almost daily contact via YAHOO with Turkish Warrant Officer Dursun Ir’Ibas and Iraqi paid NGO Wisssm al-Muzhir.
I was given photos, on ground intelligence by these two people, one paid by Turkish Air Force, the other paid for my American Dollars carried by American Air Force on pallets … Yes, I followed the Money Trail!
In addition, I was raising my son as a Divorcee, in 2007, he was only nine (9) years old!
I was working 32 hours per week in Locked Down Psychiatric Units at Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland!
I was searching for physical evidence of the where about of Osama bin-Laden, photos received from Pakistan air space!
Texts received from Uzbekistan ground operations!
CDR Salamander, in 2007 I had to find communications and I drove miles to access Wi-Fi for tiny brief 15 minute windows of “Communication”!
CDR Salamander, how you you think I felt seeing photos of suitcases filled with American Dollars going into Afghanistan?
I was able to down load every free Russian Video filmed inside Afghanistan! In this way I learned to “Respect” the Taliban!
CDR Salamander, I’m a biological woman!
My viewport is different than your viewport because biological men are treated differently in the Middle East.
I’ll read more of this post. Thank you! Nurse Jane from “Forevermore by the Bay”, Deale MD 20751
"Sorry, sir. No aisle seats available. Only window seats."
Heroic. That’s the action of the Apache crews and volunteers. Ed Macy, MC, wrote about this in his 2008 book “Apache”. I first read an excerpt in “Smithsonian Air and Space” that I got at the Exchange, and realized I had to get the book.
Look closely, Any war with RU will be the same shit show. The EU will fold up fast and leave American troops to die yet again for european's.
Lets pull out while we can and let the EU fight the RU in that war they so richly want.
If non-US NATO wants to provide welfare to every 3rd World refugee in the world rather than provide for their own defense, that is up to them. The foolishness that we need to worry about is the US defending them or even taking them seriously. That is on us. Now they are trying to drag us into a war with Russia that they admit up front that they can't sustain. Just say NO.
Sunday Morning Wall Street Week Australia, Quantum Technology…
CDR Salamander, please thank “Bear” for his “Like”. He put a smile on my face yesterday, Saturday … I called yesterday a “Lost Day”! In our literature, we have “The Lost Boys” who live on a “Lost Island”, and let’s zero into Peter Pan!
“I won’t grow up! I refuse to wear a tie… if growing up, it means to be…”, music in our Chart Room is good!
However, “Echo underwater feedback” keeps us “Alive”!
I’m a Volunteer! It was true… Military taught us “Newbies” not to volunteer!
No, not anymore!
Recall, those few brave men who carried the flame throwers up toward the Bunkers!
Yes, I’m sorry… see “White Tiger”, third degree burns are awful!
Yes, that Chopper Crew Chief who strapped himself onto the wing (footboard), so a disabled Afghanistan American War Veteran could be carried in his Co/Pilot Seat, to a Triage Facility to a medical doctor, not a Physicians Assistant!
That’s another subject I can guide you on…Physicians Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioners. Oh, btw, AI can replace PA’s but not Nurse, repeat operative word, “Nurse” practitioners.
If a registered nurse wants to earn a pHD, let her!
If a PHD Psychologist is called “Doctor”…
Why such “Blow Back”? Okay for Social Worker Ph.D., not for Nurse?
Actually in a clinical setting, if I yell “Doctor”, I need a medical doctor!
My stomach revolted when this VA Charlotte Hall , MD “Island born” R.N. with her PhD called herself “Doctor” to the staff at the Vet Center, West Annapolis, MD…
A Doctor is a Medical or Osteopath Board Certified “Doctor” who can roll up his sleeve, wash his hands, hold that scalpel and cut…
Naval Ship and Boat Captains know that’s what they, too, need to do… hence, my Nurse Jane Executive Officer position on CDR Salamander’s Volunteer ___.
Jennifer Westacott, KPMG Peat Marwick, my former Employer 1990, oh happy day!
Australian accent touting what Australia needs… you CDR Salamander, can talk loud and clear and spot on, what Australia needs!
Rick Winston, Partner KPMG Baltimore, Merry Land, was sent packing when he let me go, 1991… My hand went up to Volunteer Iraqi Freedom, with my DefAtt 0166, I was given a “Pink Slip”!
We must volunteer to do more than our Job Description!
Very respectfully submitted for posting… prior to Sunday’s Midrats. Thank you! NJ
Excellent summary. FWIW, the Turks were "constrained" by more caveats than any other NATO "ally."