Unusual, because crew rest was 12 hrs and I wasn't scheduled for alert. I asked what was going on and was told, "its classified, but turn on the news".
Ten minutes later, I was alerted for a C-141 AE mission to Beirut to pick up injured Marine from the USMC Peacekeeping Force barracks bombing.
Tom Fisher, Susan Rothfuss, Joe Bunker, and others were already there picking up the first 24 injured.
We loaded the Starlifter with as much IV fluids and bandages and supplies and equipment, closed the doors and headed to the active runway at Frankfurt IAP (FRF) in Germany with priority for take off.
With the jet lined up for take off, the sound of the spun up engines cut back and my C-9A crew (2 Flight Nurses and 3 aeromedical evacuation technicians) were taken off the 141, with our bags and medications
That 141 went on to return another 24 patients and a number of KIA in body bags.
Our commander, Colonel Tony Trezza had been a USMC Embassy Guard at Rome Italy when he was a young Marine. This mission held a spot deep in his heart and he made sure we had enough crew and supplies to help the Marines. I went back and remained on alert for any other activity. later I did get some of the Marines back to the States on my scheduled C-141 missions.
These photos are the only photo documentation of that mission, taken by then Captain Sue Rothfuss and the one of Col Trezza was taken by me on a routine C-9A mission. Semper Fi, Marines.
Lest we forget ( I had to wait after the anniversary (when I typically post about the Beirut bombing) for these photos, I bet you understand why it was worth the wait)
Very topical. Just watched Clint Eastwoods "Heartbreak Ridge" on the tele. Although made for hollywood types I could not help but get his portrayal of a decorated front line soldier anything but close to the Australian Govts. despicable treatment of our most highly decorated infantryman(SAS) in history;Ben Roberts Smith,Victoria Cross,++++++++++. Afghanistan,our fkn so called leaders sat in offices in Dubai etc. If they heard a 7.62 whistle by them...well,,batman get me new Yfronts! Similar story to Vietnam and the Aussie action at Long Tan rubber plantation.Nothing has changed here since the Boer War in Sth Africa,125yrs ago.Our blokes,all volunteers,were told to take no prisoners.As usual.the grunts took the fall. The Breaker Morant story is legend in my country. If nothing else,it stopped England executing an Aussie soldier. I wright this with respect to my forbears who fell and all that have put their lives on the line for our freedom.Indeed...Lest we Forget.
ReplyDeleteexactly, upper ranks are isolated from bad results, grunts take the fall. Cover ups, and all that... the Pentagon Papers that the Tom Hanks movie made common knowledge, were so close to disappearing when it came out in the 70s that the US Govt knew it was wasting young soldiers lives in Nam, but it wasn't politically beneficial to pull out of that war... I agree with you, we write from respect, and keep the knowledge alive, lest we forget.
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