Unorthodox rescue by Huey crew saves soldiers life
Nov. 9, 2006; Submitted on: 11/10/2006 02:33:50 AM ; Story ID#: 2006111023350
By Cpl. Brandon L. Roach, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Nov. 9, 2006) -- While
deployed to Iraq, the mission of a UH-1N Huey helicopter pilot and his
crew is to provide support to ground units with heavy firepower and an
extra set of eyes, but for one pilot and his crew, a mission of
escorting convoys Sept. 25, turned into one of the most unforgettable
days of their lives.
The UH-1N Huey pilots, Capt. Clint R. Marshall and 1st Lt. Ryan N.
Harshman, and their two crew members, Staff Sgt. Mark Pipasquale and
Sgt. Samair Alyassini, were conducting a convoy support mission in the
Al Anbar Province of Iraq when they were redirected to provide cover
for a disabled aircraft Sept. 25.
"We knew there was an injury when we arrived to the site," said
Marshall, assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167,
Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
(Forward). "All we could do at that point was listen to the updates
over the radio to find out what was happening and make sure that the
crew on the ground was safe."
After an update on the injured soldier, the Marines knew what they had
to do. They needed to evacuate the injured soldier to a medical
facility.
With limited landing space available at the location, the Marines would
have to hover over the disabled aircraft and hoist the soldier into
their helicopter.
"As Marines we take chances sometimes," said Pipasquale, UH-1N Huey
crew chief, HMLA-167. "This was a maneuver that we don't usually do,
but we had to in order to help that soldier."
With his co-pilot, Harshman, watching the gauges and manning
communication, and Alyassini directing him where to go, Marshall
brought the Huey in close enough for Pipasquale to physically reach the
injured man.
"This was a very dangerous situation because we were trying to hover
over people within close proximity to them," said Alyassini, helicopter
airframes mechanic UH-1/AH-1, HMLA-167. "I guided the pilots in above
the disabled helicopter so that we could grab hold of the wounded
soldier."
Once the Huey was in position and the hover was held, the Marines tried
to get a gunner's belt around the soldier so they could hoist him
inside of their helicopter.
"The soldiers were on the rotor head of the disabled aircraft when we
began our hover above them. The rotor wash from our Huey started to
spin the rotor the soldiers were on," said Pipasquale, native of
Rochester, N.Y. "When this happened, it made it hard to secure the belt
around him, so we had to try it a different way."
When the belt idea didn't work, the Marines repositioned their Huey and
got in close so Pipasquale and Alyassini could grab a hold of the
wounded man and pull him aboard their aircraft.
"The soldier was a very big guy," said Alyassini, a Cupertino, Calif.,
native. "But we had no problem pulling him up into our bird."
The Marines then headed back to Al Asad with their wounded soldier so that he could get the proper medical treatment.
"Good teamwork made this mission a success," said Harshman, a native of
Jacksonville, N.C., and UH-1N Huey pilot, HMLA-167. "We analyzed the
situation and made it work right. The directions from the crew put
Marshall right on target."
Although their heroics were just another part of a day in the life of
pilots and crewmembers with HMLA-167, they walked a little taller
knowing that their actions had saved a man's life.
"This was my first time flying with Marshall," said Harshman. "It is a mission that I will never forget."
A few days after the daring rescue, the soldiers with 82nd Medical
Company, MAG-16, surprised the Marines early in the morning with a
token of their appreciation.
"I was really surprised by the soldiers awarding us the (Army
Commendation Medal)," said Marshall. "I honestly felt better knowing we
saved that soldier than I did getting a medal."
Although as prestigious as it is for the Marines to be awarded a medal
by a different branch of the military service, Marshall and his crew
knew that there was no medal that could instill the sense of pride they
got after saving the soldier's life.
"I got a more honorable feeling from knowing he was okay, than any
award could ever give me," said Alyassini. "It was great for the Army
to do that, but we would do it for anyone, anywhere."
"We have gained a greater respect for the jobs that the soldiers of the
medical evacuation units do," said Marshall. "The feelings you get
knowing that your actions saved someone's life, is by far the best
feeling anyone could ever have."
Disclaimer -- Photos associated with the article can be found at the following links:
1 - http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2006111023733
2 - http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2006111023623
