4. Vietnam II Read Online Free PDF Page B

overhead.
    “Fucker we see you.”  The pararescueman said over the radio.
    “Sorry,”
    “Prepare to confirm identity.”
    The helicopter crew would ask me a series of questions to make sure I was who I said I was.  They were not taking any chances.  For all they knew this could be a trap. 

Staff Sergeant Mike Dolby
    HH-60 Gunner
     
    As the HH-60 went into a hover and I prepared to drop the penetrator, a heavy anchor-shaped device that penetrated the jungle on a cable and worked as a seat, four Vietnamese MiG-21s showed up.
    “We’ve got four bandits inbound to your position.”  Came over the radio from the AWACs search and rescue controller.
    Everybody starts looking hard out the window, heads on a swivel and hoping that the MiGs will just keep going.
    “Abort mission.  Retrograde to base.”  The AWACs search and rescue controller ordered over the radio.
    “What do you think crew?”  Bean asked us again.
    “We’ve almost got him.”  I said.
    “Abort mission.”  Came from the AWACs controller again.
    "Negative.  We’re here."
    We all felt like tough guys, but it was a tough call.  The HH-60 was a sitting duck.  The MiGs would come screaming in at about 300 mph.  If they caught us during the rescue the PAV pilots would have the advantage of firing a missile at the stationary target.  We could only hope the Hornets in the area would run some interference for us.
     

Major Ben Arthur
    F-16 Fighting Falcon Pilot
     
    When the penetrator came down, I scrambled toward it on my damaged feet and no sooner took the seat and strapped myself in when I felt myself hoisted aloft. Clinging to the penetrator, which was still dangling beneath the helicopter, I saw gunfire erupt from the jungle.  There was someone closing in and they were a lot closer than I suspected.
    I had not heard a thing.
    A bullet bounced off the penetrator and more off of the helicopter.
    From above helicopter crew started spraying the jungle with bullets.  The gunner was giving them hell with his big Gatling gun.
    I pulled out my 9 millimeter and fired off the whole clip.  I figured I might as well do something to help.  Whether or not I hit anything was a mystery.
     

Staff Sergeant Mike Dolby
    HH-60 Gunner
     
    We were taking a fair amount of gunfire from the ground.  I responded by firing into the worst of it.  The trees turned to green mist and when mud and dust flew into the air I knew I had punched through the foliage.  Still I had to be careful.  If the minigun hit something solid like concrete it would produce an equal spray of ricochets.  Aircraft had flown into their own stream before with murderous results.
    The ground fire died down and we almost had the F-16 guy into the helicopter.
    Then the MiGs arrived.  Two missiles came streaking across the sky at us.  Fortunately for us the two MiG pilots that threw down had waited too long.  The missiles didn't have time to lock on, and they shot past the helicopter, exploding into the jungle in the distance.  Luckily, the two Hornets were still in the area.  They were on the MiGs right away. 
    We didn’t wait around for them to take another shot.  Bean turned away and flew the helicopter as fast as he could away from the area with that F-16 pilot still dangling from the penetrator.
    Still those two shots were the only missiles we saw fired that day, and the MiGs disappeared after that.
    “I guess that’s why the AWACs called us off.”  Bean said.
    “Thanks for the scoop.”  The copilot responded.
    “We’ll have to buy them some beer.”  Bean countered.
     

Major Ben Arthur
    F-16 Fighting Falcon Pilot
     
    My ankle and feet felt like hell.  Every time the helicopter bounced with the turbulence I felt white hot pain.  The pararescue guys said the burns were bad and they thought my ankle might be broken though I was holding out hope it was just twisted.  They couldn’t get my boot off due to the swelling and the burns.  They said that the docs