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UBoat
9 April 2003, 13:44
Hoofureakinyah to the boys from the 301st !!

http://www.af.mil/news/Apr2003/40903774.shtml

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Pararescuemen from the 301st Rescue Squadron talk with a member of the 101st Airborne Division April 6 at a forward-deployed location in Iraq. Air Force pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only Department of Defense specialty specifically trained and equipped to conduct conventional or unconventional rescue operations. A PJ's primary function is as a personnel recovery specialist, with emergency medical capabilities in humanitarian and combat environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo) | High-res version of this photo

Combat search, rescue team saves two soldiers
04/09/03 - OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN) -- A U.S. Air Force combat search and rescue team saved the lives of two critically wounded U.S. Army special operations soldiers despite severe weather conditions April 7 about five miles south of Baghdad.

The soldiers were transferred to a hospital in Kuwait, where it was determined that they have a 95 percent chance of survival thanks to the joint efforts of the Air Force, Army and special operations forces.

After contacting the Joint Search and Rescue Center at a desert air base in the Arabian Gulf region, the Special Operations Command Rescue Coordination Center coordinated and executed the emergency evacuation of the special operations ground troops.

Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs launched from an air base in southern Iraq, and an HC-130P King refueler launched from another air base in the region. The JSRC also had two A-10s, already airborne on a separate mission, roll in to help cover the helicopters. Additionally, U.S. Army helicopters from another nearby base were put on alert status in case backup firepower was needed during the evacuation.

As the team flew to the evacuation site, the aircrew of the Pave Hawk helicopters learned the soldiers were in critical condition. They coordinated with a special operations MC-130E Combat Talon I to meet them at An Najaf, 75 miles south of Baghdad, to set up a patient transfer transload from the helicopters to the aircraft. The MC-130E had a flight surgeon and two medical technicians on board to treat and stabilize the wounded en route to an advanced medical facility.

Everyone involved in the operation was able to overcome the blowing sand and dust, which allowed about a half-mile of visibility, and a flying ceiling of only 3,500 feet to recover the wounded soldiers and transfer them to the MC-130E at An Najaf.

The names of the wounded are not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin.

jojoB375
9 April 2003, 13:52
301st Thank you for bringing two more of our brethren home.

Doogie320
9 April 2003, 14:09
One of our SOCNET members is with the 920th Rescue Group (parent organization for the 301st). Hopefully, he'll be able to share some stories with us when he returns.

BTAR

Rotor Strike please
19 May 2003, 04:06
That was our guys. The aircrew were 301st Guys from Patrick AFB, but the PJ's were from the 304th from Portland. They are the finest PJ team I've ever worked with. They have done superb job over here so far.

Stories have been doubly exhaggerated and medal paperwork has been sent it. Looks like they might get a DFC out of it.