Oh no, don't get me wrong. I had a lot of fun in helos and would get in one in a heartbeat. It's just that I am realistic about it. After you make a lot of helo movements, they are just another truck to you. But lots of impressive scenery. And memory invoking instances. Seeing tracers coming at you and hearing that muffled bang as they hit the skin of the thing. watching gunships hosing down a hot LZ. Watching the escort gunships letting loose a volley of rockets along side you. Being in a Huey that hit a telephone line and feeling the deceleration and slight nose down angle until the line broke (fortunately the skids deflected it up near the body so it was nearer the CG and it was third world stuff that wasn't as tough as stateside wire). Watching with joy as your evac bird approached the PZ and you knew you were headed for a shower, clean clothes and decent food. As a unit commander watching the PZ as a dozen helos came in and watching your soldiers doing a semi-orderly rush to them. Or the next time when they landed in the reverse direction as the briefing and watching as your carefully made loading plans go to hell as soldiers are now confused as to which helo they are supposed to get in; watching as two chalks rush to one chopper and then shaking your head as some from each chalk got in and the remainders of both chalks now start running around trying to find one to get in. Seeing a dozen of them flying in eschelon and looking over to see one of your Platoon leaders give you a thumbs -up all the while outlined by a beautiful rising sun. Tracking the flight on your map and then hearing the blade whupps change as the flight lead is preparing for landing and you look at the map and know it isn't the right place; tapping the co-pilot and pointing at your map shaking your head "NO" and all he does is shrug his shoulders. The birds touch down and your troops pile out and you sit there glaring at the flight- lead pilot knowing you either get out with your troops in the wrong place or fly away with the birds leaving them on the ground. No choice; and then gathering up the leaders and doing a FRAGO since everything has now changed. Looking at how far you have to push to get to the right place and knowing that time is against you and you will arrive with a unit too tired to do much useful when you get there. Flying down a river in Central America at night blacked out, NVGs, and your gear secured in and to a rucksack lined with a tough plastic bag so it will float when you hit the water. Thinking the whole time I hope the pilot gets the speed and height right so I don't hit the water too hard; jeez I hope there isn't a floating log in there waiting for me. Then on light just hop off and down into the river. And that is just some of it for starters. By the way I wear the Air Assault badge.


Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

Someday your life will flash in front of your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.