Operation Buyer Net

Under intense fire Slump covered the withdrawal of the ground team, with enemy in close pursuit. Slump sustained injuries, but continued to provide support. This allowed security team and the injured crew of the downed logistics bird to all be extracted safely.

I couldn't show you where we were on a map, but I knew the place like a bad neighbourhood. We were in The Shit. We'd been doing heli supply runs, running security for the cargo helos in a wheezing Huey B slick, dropping into FOBS with the gear they needed to keep going. Now obviously anywhere that needs that much ammo in a hurry isn't going to be totally quiet, but for the most part it was straight forward. Then we ended up running into this place on a river somewhere. Our guys had one side and it looked like half of fucking Cheltnam was coming down the hill on the other side. We dropped out the helo to put security in just in time for the whole thing to get hot. Our line was strung out and I was going hard enough on the 60 keeping the fuckers on their side of the river that I was getting overheat jams. We were on the ground for maybe like 5 minutes, and I'd done 8 belts. Time comes for us to collapse back on the helo and dust off and that's when the cascade hits. Clapman already has one casualty she'd carrying through enemy fire to the bird, another team member is bringing a second up and she'd talking them in calm as you like. She'd already clocked that we had to get everyone on and treat in the air and that saved the day I think. While she'd coordinating getting everyone on board, I'm on the door gun laying down suppression, or at least I was until we got sprayed down and I copped a bullet. I don't remember much but I heard Clapman, cool as you like, make sure everyone was on board and get us airborne before getting all the wounded back on their feet before we'd even got back to base.

Frankly just some damn good flying, bringing the helicopters into some very tight spaces and making it look easy.

Misstep placed the ground team exactly where was needed, often under fire or in challenging circumstances at each location. His piloting allowed the security team to quickly establish a perimeter and bring in the logistics chopper in a timely manner. His accuracy and skill meant that the team on the ground were extracted, often whilst being fired upon, safely each time and the casualties sustained were often fully patched up within minutes due to the speed of his extractions allowing for timely medical treatment in the safety of the help between drops.

Pvt Misstep deserves a commendation for his ongoing support toward my efforts to resolve the ongoing health issues of several platoon members. By the end of the day's operations, I was able to clear every platoon member attached to the Security aircraft who had previously presented with severe constipation or low blood pressure over the preceding week.

The Private's outstanding flying during the ingress phase of each LZ supply mission was truly breathtaking - it was only upon confirmation that both landing skids had made firm contact with the ground that I found myself able to resume normal aspiration.

I have never seen a helicopter do that. Nor do I ever wish to again.

Expert flying and landing in tight LZs!

Excellent helicopter piloting skills, landing in cramped conditions with nearby operating aircraft.

Expert flying and landing in tight LZs