[section9]

This was, iirc, a night training mission practicing insertion.

We civilians have absolutely no freaking idea how dangerous this stuff is, though still officially at peace, we're up by the Badlands and at the cusp of a major battle in the War on Terror.

God Bless these fine, departed gentlemen, and keep their families.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Ramius]

We civilians have absolutely no freaking idea how dangerous this stuff is...

Having been in a couple of helicopters where the pucker-factor began to zoom nonlinear, I can vouch for that. ...and mine were just Coast Guard and Marines helos. Things sometimes got plenty scary without also having to worry about being shot at.