Red Air: America’s Medevac Failure
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And so while Chazray was dying, his Dustoff medevac was sitting idly on the runway down at Kandahar Airfield. Since there was no available Apache, the Dustoff was not cleared to depart. The Air Force Pedros have no red crosses marking their helicopters. Instead, they have .50-caliber machine guns. The Pedro helicopter teams are parked right there on the same runway and they could have been dispatched, but for some extremely sorry reason the Pedros are not allowed to come into 4-4 Cav battlespace unless there is “red air.” Red air means the weather is too bad for Army helicopters to come. From my experience Dustoffs are not averse to extreme danger, but there are conditions during which they are not allowed to fly during which Pedros will go.
And so the armed Pedros, which could have flown to us in about 13 minutes, sat on the runaway twenty-five miles away, doing nothing. I know first-hand the skill of the Pedros having flown with them in 2009.
Specialist Chazray Clark was dying due to politics, and the Army and Air Force pilots are very angry about this. Chazray’s is not the only such case. Army medevac helicopters fall under the Medical Services Corps, who mark medevacs with red crosses. Officers will tell you face-to-face that the Medical Corps does not want to give up its helicopters because senior officers want their own helicopters to shuttle them from here to there.
It is important to be absolutely clear--this is not about the Dustoff pilots and crews, who are incredibly courageous. They have earned enormous respect. They’ll fly into hell to get one of our wounded troopers. This is about politics getting in the way of saving lives.
Yet despite everyone here knowing we are perpetually short on helicopters in Afghanistan, and while Pedros would have had Chazray to the hospital less than 35 minutes after the blast, Chazray lay dying. There is no doubt in my mind—after seeing Pedros in action many times—that Chazray would have been at the trauma center in less than 35 minutes if the Pedros team had been scrambled. Instead, it took 65 minutes for Chazray to get to the hospital. Chazray was fully conscious when he was finally put on the bird. But he died at Kandahar Airfield. The General in charge of this fiasco needs to be fired.
Unarmed Army medevac helicopters are not even allowed to go into certain combat areas because they may get shot up and have no way of defending themselves. And so if the air is too dangerous due to bullets or bad weather, Air Force Pedros are sent because they fly in all weather and they shoot back with .50-caliber machine guns.
I asked Colonel Patrick Frank, the 4-4 Cav brigade commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Mike Katona, the squadron commander, if they have any discretion about which birds are called. Can we request Pedros instead of Army Dustoff? No. The answer is simple, clear and ultimately disastrous: There is no discretion.
Marking the landing zone. Chazray is fully conscious and talking in the darkness waiting for an Apache escort.
Finally a courageous Army Dustoff crew lands.
Because of his proximity to the bomb blast, Sergeant Carroll was stone deaf. He was put on the bird with Chazray.
The Apache is orbiting in the darkness.
Chazray is loaded.
Now loaded with the two casualties, the Dustoff medevac heads to Kandahar Airfield. The Dustoff is wheels down at the hospital approximately 65 minutes after the blast. Specialist Chazray Clark died at the hospital while we continued the mission.
This is not the only time that medevacs have been delayed in responding to 4-4 Cav requests, or had to switch landing zones due to heavy enemy fire. If the Pedros were dispatched they would come right in because they can shoot back.
After ten years of war, the Army has had every opportunity to fix this problem. If the Army intended to right this wrong it would have been improved years ago. Clearly, the Army lacks the will to address this issue. We need courageous leadership. This issue should be elevated to the level of the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, who needs to shake the Army’s political tree and fix our medevac issue before more troops die.
We continued the mission. There was another KIA the next day from another IED. No helicopter was called this time because the Afghan Soldier was killed instantly. He was zipped up in a body bag and carried out that night.
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Comments
One comment, I'm not sure who through you the comment about Medical Service Corps being the issue.
"Medical Corps does not want to give up its helicopters because senior officers want their own helicopters to shuttle them from here to there."
This is a red herring. The Medical Corps don't own MEDEVAC A/C other than the Maj who is the company commander. He works for the same Combat Avation Brigade commander as the Apache crews. He/She has nothing else to do with the Medical Service Corps while deployed for recieving thier instructions.
Other than that hoped for correction in that statement, I agree. If you and yours are going to elevate it to the Sec Def, then at least have the basis of your argument correct.
Restated sometning like, "change Policy interptation X of the Hauge Accords to allow Army Aero-Med Evac A/C and their crews to be armed similure to and in accorance with the policy applied to the AF Pedros."
In the old days of OEF, we had on more than one occassion Army MEDEVACs conducted without Attack A/C support (for one we had five unarmed ARMY MEDEVAC 60's arrive without escort)and conducted at least one non-standard MEDEVAC onto A/C which were simply passing by when we needed them. So while I know things have changed, make sure you are throwing stones at the RIGHT point of failure.
The Army should not call themselves Combat MEDEVACs, you should be renamed "Lifeflight". Give me Air Force or Marine Birds any day. I have also seen Kiowas land to get guys before your guys will, so YOU and YOUR Community are to blame, not the AO Commanders, YOU.
All the best
1) There simply is not enough Apaches. In my experience, every single available Apache gunship and its crew was tasked to something every single hour of the day. That is the nature of this war, the Apache is demanded far above the available supply. If you require a gunship from another tasking for this medevac (this being priority) you have to pull it from another mission, wait for it to fly back, refuel, and link up with the med bird. Significant time is lost here.
3) Often times a required sister ship (another, armed Blackhawk) isn't available for any number of reasons. I don't know what the difference is between Iraq and Afg. in this case, but aviation leadership is scared to the bone to send a medevac out for a secured POI pickup without a sister ship. The advantages to a sister ship's presence is obvious, but it was done so often in Iraq for urgent 9-lines and yet so rarely in Afghanistan.
My question- helicopter dustoff came into its own in Vietnam. Veterans, historians, or other knowledgeable people- how have things changed or stayed the same since then? I know that the aviation "fight" between the branches has been going on since the formation of the Air Force, but how has SOP evolved in the last 40 years? Should leadership look to the past for guidance?
To find this page, go to the Facebook search bar and type in medical.service.corps.chief. Please find my comment and sound off!
"Wall Medical Service Corps Chief - Everyone"
You have to click "everyone" to see the posts.
How many Apaches can you build for the price of one F-22 or F-35?
What's the objective of putting the troops in danger? They're not going to occupy the place. They're not going in to arrest the Talibans (at least I hope not). What are they doing there?
And Michael, thank you for your continued work. Stay safe.
Its time we stopped painting red crosses on our helicopters. Let them fire back in self defense. When was the last time we fought somebody who respected the Geneva Convention or gave a rats ass about a red cross. A couple of door guns can make all the difference. We really need to rethink the ROEs.
Politics that costs lives is a disgrace and those in charge need to take a good look at the good men who are dyeing needlessly. What a shame and what's worse it doesn't need to be this way.
My prayers are with the families who have to deal with the death of loved ones and my prayers are with every soldier still out in the field doing his duty. What brave men, we are so lucky because they represent the best of humanity!
If the senior medicos want a helicopter for their personal trips to HQ, then get them one but the Dust Offs aere more important than carryhing their well manicured asses from here to there. The only one who can correct this criminal stupidity is Petreaus's replacement. He can fix it with a direct order to all Army Dust Off units through the medical commander who's putting lives on the poker table for his convenience.
You deserve a medal for what you have done off your own back to report on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I don't know of any other journalist telling these stories.
I have read many stories of patrols and IEDs and sometimes struggle to understand the strategy or tactics. There seems to be no downside to the local people in planting these bombs. If they refuse to plant them, they maybe get killed by the Taliban. If they plant them and US troops get killed, nothing much seems to happen to them.
Also, why go in on foot? Why not go in in daylight in armoured vehicles? Or why go in at all? I suspect that there are no 'hearts and minds' to really be won in villages like these.
Finally, it was me who previously raised questions about the number of troops on the Seal Team 6 helicopter which crashed. Here in this dispatch we see politics and bureaucracy costing lives by delaying the use of available helicopters. That was exactly what my previous comments were about.
You deserve a medal for what you have done off your own back to report on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I don't know of any other journalist telling these stories.
I have read many stories of patrols and IEDs and sometimes struggle to understand the strategy or tactics. There seems to be no downside to the local people in planting these bombs. If they refuse to plant them, they maybe get killed by the Taliban. If they plant them and US troops get killed, nothing much seems to happen to them.
Also, why go in on foot? Why not go in in daylight in armoured vehicles? Or why go in at all? I suspect that there are no 'hearts and minds' to really be won in villages like these.
Finally, it was me who previously raised questions about the number of troops on the Seal Team 6 helicopter which crashed. Here in this dispatch we see politics and bureaucracy costing lives by delaying the use of available helicopters. That was exactly what my previous comments were about.
Bob
First let me express me sadness for the loss of your friend.
Now please allow me a few lines to share some information you may not be aware of and it may be causing some of your anger to be misguided.
I was in KAF in 2006 when ISAF took over as an Apache crewchief. We were ran ring route security, TICs, QRF, MEDEVAC and CSAR cover. Next year I am going back but this time as a DUSTOFF crewchief. Before NATO taking over we could have both a Blackhawk and a 64 in the air in less than 10 minutes from radio alert. We did it several times. Once NATO took over not only did operations change but the cadence changed. 1st up and QRF crews no longer sat waiting on the call in the CP but were given radio and told to go wait in the barracks. Obviously this added to reaction time. We also had to pretty much go though NATO to launch anything outside of the traffic pattern. Frustrating to say the least from our standpoint too.
continued..
What law or treaty obliges you to use red cross labeled vehicles to perform medevac?
Let me also add that my frustrations were first hand with NATO. Obviously in the last 5 years things may have changed but from talking to the crews coming back it seems like it has gotten worse if anything.
I'm sorry that it has take 4 posts to express all fo this.
First let me express me sadness for the loss of your friend.
Now please allow me a few lines to share some information you may not be aware of and it may be causing some of your anger to be misguided.
I was in KAF in 2006 when ISAF took over as an Apache crewchief. We were ran ring route security, TICs, QRF, MEDEVAC and CSAR cover. Next year I am going back but this time as a DUSTOFF crewchief. Before NATO taking over we could have both a Blackhawk and a 64 in the air in less than 10 minutes from radio alert. We did it several times. Once NATO took over not only did operations change but the cadence changed. 1st up and QRF crews no longer sat waiting on the call in the CP but were given radio and told to go wait in the barracks. Obviously this added to reaction time. We also had to pretty much go though NATO to launch anything outside of the traffic pattern. Frustrating to say the least from our standpoint too.
Continued
Continued...
Thank you for the stories and wonderful photos you have provided. It is amazing and infuriating that the issue with the army medevac helicopters exists and lives of our soldiers are being lost.
I have contacted my Senator, Bill Nelson from Florida, asking for his help regarding the issue and provided him the information in this stroy along with the link to the story and your website. I hope others do the same!
My experience is that the only way a policy change will occur - that removes those crosses on those army helicopter go away - will be if a congressional hearing is called at the request of Spec. Clark's congressman or senator. Then a day or two before the hearing, probably on a Friday afternoon as the Pentagon 'takes out the news trash', it announce a policy review and change and as quickly the hearing will be canceled.
I love my son more than life itself.
He came home safe from 2 tours by the Grace of G*d as I pray for your son and all who fight this good fight.
There is much shame and blood upon those that made these rules that allowed Chazray to die waiting for a ride.
You give the majority of people a little bit of power and its amazing the harm they do.
Shame on you in Army Command.
Thanks for the update, My prayers go out to his family and all those in harms way. I find some of your stuff very hard to read because it makes me full of rage. I joined the Army Reserve a few years back when I turned 39 and I was all set to leave and my recruiter was transferred to utah so he acted like a child and shredded all his work. Due to this I aged out as they say because my new recruiter would not guarantee me my MOS which was to be MP. I scored a 97 on the ASVAB which took alot of work after being out of school so long. This is not about me, Just wanted to share the feeling of helplessness of not being there to help in some way. Keep up the good work and stay safe. I know you had published a number for people who wished to volunteer their time and skills to their local VA. I live on Long Island about 35 miles from NYC and would be happy to do something.
J.
Warning: You may undergo a good bit more scrutiny, if you expect to embed with Army again. If I recall, you don't have any problem with that and that's okay with me. Keep up fighting for the truth and honesty. I was a Medic for six years and had a tour in Nam. I can say how much I would appreciate someone exposing this type of serious flaw in the system. If our Commanders can't get it together to form a TRUE fighting unit...then maybe it's time for some new leadership. What are they, in High School?
This story will be shared with all of my contacts just as soon as I can copy the hyperlink and Email the story.
Shame on all you selfish SOB's in the Army Command.
There is not one excuse that can be set forth.
Many thanks for your reports. Please let the soldiers of all branches know that we, the American people, truly appreciate their dedication, sacrifice and service. Yes, this is a very sad story to read and I am sure there are others that are like it. The fact that the men and women around you Continue The Mission even after events such as this is a testament to their status as real heroes. Thank you for bringing this story out so we, too, can understand the situation.
The new HH-60M does have these things along with some other new toys. my unit got to field the first 12 in the army
HOOAH!
For the U.S. Army to allow this Medevac situation to fester and cause U.S. KIAs for nothing more than internal turf wars calls for courts martial, lots of them and the higher the rank the better.
Thanx Mike for doing the reporting no one else is doing.
Iran is a very young country whose people when given the chance express nothing but love for the US and its people. I have had the pleasure to meet and know many Persians and they are a generous and kind people that always express great love for the US people. . The very few mullahs and Kuds and Revolutionary terrorists that slaughtered a generation while Obama vacationed this spring need to go and the Middle East and Double dealing Saudi's will be a much easier palce.
I am a Pedro pilot. I can tell you from first hand experience that this happens way more often than it should. It is important to not that not only do the Pedros carry .50s, we also have full medical capability on both aircraft. That means that we have more hands to treat the wounded. There are few things worst than bringing back a hero instead of a patient because of poor leadership/decision making at the higher levels.
I have nothing but respect for my Army helo brethren, and I firmly believe that both sides (Army Dustoff and the USAF Pedros) want nothing more than to do what is best for the patients.
P.S. There are ways that the PEDROS can be requested.
But there is something gravely ill in modern medicine in this Obama era. There are likely statistics coming from the major university medical schools which have pointed out that battlefield wounded who would otherwise die during the first post-injury hour without major medical intervention are also those with wildly expensive post-injury expenses. The Progressive medical professional has already decided the badly wounded have no right to an extended life because the cost doesn't justify it. The arrogance and ambition of these treacherous university vermin cannot be underestimated.
God Bless you all, and the bravery and the good you represent.
Our soldiers are treated by professional military medical units. Both US and Coalition doctors are stationed in KAF and else where in Afghanistan, they are very dedicated to there brothers in arms, I am sure they do save every life they can. The point of Mr. Yon story is not about doctors or universities, it is about commanders not being flexible in the face of adverse conditions. Our commanders need to adapt to situations such as this and damn the rules and get these guys some help.
IF the WILL and the authority were there, the most rapid battlefield extractions possible would have continued. Incredulously. No matter what is said, the policy of delay that killed this brave soldier does not change. Therefore, the conclusion is very clear and rather simple. A decision has been made.
Death saves money. When "defendable" delays result in death, money is saved. What these policies did to Chazray is but one metaphorical example of how promoters of Hegelian eugenics philosophy intend, by fiat of policy, law and resource constraint, to usurp the liberties and quality of life that the brave fallen Chazray and so many others have fought to defend.
I've have written and cited more but for the limit on post length.
God bless you, Michael. I'll be hitting the tip jar on the way out. We all should.
In the latter's lofty parlors is where you find the devoted Europhiles and the Progressive medical professionals. They are the ones who argue extensive aftercare is a waste of money that could be better been spent on research or other university projects to officially perfect "cost-appropriate medical delivery."
I wrote much more for each post, but length is delimited and all were edited back.
I sickens me to no end to see this petty, inter-service crap continues to take place at the expense of lives. It is not just one general that needs his ass handed to him, it is multiple generals over the last 10 years. The military is rife with this shit. I would say this needs a congressional hearing, but that bunch is broken too.
I hope there is a special place in Hell for the generals that are sacrificing lives at the name of their service's prestige.
Fly safe brothers and sisters....So Others May Live!
I am a PEDRO guy and have been for 13 yrs now. You hit the nail right on the head..... Politics, from the top down, is the bottleneck failure when dealing with CASEVAC/MEDEVAC missions iin Afghanistan. I'm sure you saw this first hand when you were with us in '09. USA MEDEVAC and USAF CSAR crews want nothing more than to get our wounded brothers/sisters off the battlefield and to proper medical care ASAP. Both services have the medical capabilities to deliver life-saving care enroute to the nearest medical facility. That's what every Rescue guy wants, doesn't matter from what service, as long as it gets done and lives are saved. I can only hope that this story gets elevated to the highest levels and someone has to answer to this..... As stated by the previous PEDRO pilot, this happens entirely WAY to often, especially when you have highly trained individuals chomping at the bit to help others who are just sitting on the ramp..... "That Others May Live"
Had my son and the other seriously wounded Marines had to have relied on US medavac in their situation, there's a good chance that they would not have survived the incident. This particular Brit chopper was a CH-46 with machine guns and the chopper was actively putting down fire during the medavac. God bless the Brits for being there!
http://medicalservicecorps.amedd.army.mil/
Michael Yon
Nice dodge on the rest of your errors, though.
You can go ahead and address his post now that you've been corrected.
To the current Army decision makers; Dust Off sole purpose is for other soldiers to live. Let the crews do their job.
What in your opinion would be the most effective way to bring attention to this issue, and to have the policies changed specifically related to removing the red cross from the Army Medevacs and arming them?
Thank you for your service.
Thanks for speaking your piece, and thanks for shaming the bureaucrat at fault.
Prosecution and jail would be too good for him.
RLTW and DOL,
Heywood Jablomi
http://www.stripes.com/cool-headed-medic-thrown-into-trial-by-fire-1.153269
There was an Apache with them that time (obviously needed). Problem arises when that apache is broken on the tarmac or tasked out. That particular mission could've resulted in a downed helo with the rescuee and the aircrew in significant danger to loss of life along and complete re-prioritization of all aerial platforms in RC-South. With or without weapons on that bird, that would have been a tough one. But without weapons, it's obvious that rescue couldn't have happened without additional loss of life.
- You can say you want to have dedicated apaches to these missions but they're aren't enough with literally dozens of TIC's asking (demanding) them throughout the day.
- You can send Pedro's every time and sap their availability for more significant rescues as they are designed
- OR you can put some damned 240's on the doors of that bird and give it what you've got considering all constraints.
I am disappointed in the tact you took when writing this piece. It could have been handled very differently and still have been on point.
I get where you're coming from, but if people take notice to issues such as this, then maybe other lives can be saved. As you can see from the comments, there are many veterans and current soldiers who have first hand knowledge of this problem and can contribute, but none of us can openly challenge the forces that be. Michael Yon has the medium, support, and knowledge to potentially change backward policy and at least in this case, it's in the name of preventing more stories like this.
Either way, you are noble in your support for the man's family.
I have no problems with him challenging the policy.
I don't see why he must again bring to light all the minute details of SPC Clark's injuries to make his point. The reader could have been referred back to the original article with a link. That is all.
Its been 10 years and talking around the basic facts is nothing but BS. We dont need more tact, we need more action and less worry about who we offend. If we simply fought the war in Afghanistan and stop trying to keep from making one group or the other mad we would have more success than this REPEAT of Vietnam.
Beware the bureaucrats and the cubicle warriors who will attempt to divert you, or who will claim that you do not know what you are talking about. This is a simple issue. I agree with the way that you have framed it. Those who do not, are usually those who are enslaved to a parochial outlook, defending some bullshit fiefdom.
Keep preaching truth to authority. Listen to your inner heart. And let me know if you need anything.
RLTW and DOL,
Heywood Jablomi
If in doubt, saddle up and walk through the same dust and witness what so many of us have seen repeatedly. A Red Cross equals a bullseye on more Infidels.
AJ sends
To continue its use with its associated rules that prevent the arming of aircraft so marked is not only anachronistic, but needlessly endangers our troops. It must be discontued.
find a church: http://www.apostolic-churches.com/
WTF?
While you don't get CSAR by adding mini-guns, changing tactics by adding a bit more firepower and training with it seems like a good idea to me.
Having been the subject of a MEDEVAC and through talking to others, I agree that it is a imperfect situation. However intimate public disclosure of such events will achieve nothing more than painting a vivid picture for the loved ones of Spec. Clark as to how he died.
This is not the type of thing that should being posted and shared for all to see! If the family wanted the world to know they would share it themselves. If anything they have the right to be informed before publication.
Second, and much more to the point, SPC Clark's family, comrades, and friends are hurting now and will continue to feel his loss for the remainder of their lives. There is nothing we can do to change that. As much as this may seem like pouring salt into the wound, coming forward with hard facts – dates, places, names – is the only way to put the senior decision makers who are responsible for this travesty into a position that they cannot wiggle out of. The amount of 'extra' emotional pain this family could be experiencing cannot possibly be worth another human life and another grieving family, much less the multitude that we should expect from the continued implementation of bad policies and TTPs.
If it were simply a matter of a grieving family, I would be 100% with you but unfortunately it's not. This is a matter of life and death.
Chazray's wife and mother have given full blessings. They want me to drive this home.
Suggestion: Maybe the Pedros and Medevacs should be allowed to fly together when necessary.
Spec. Chazray Clark is a hero who fulfilled his commitment to my country as far as any man is able. Thank you.
The Army seems to know this and does not care to fix it. I agree with your conclusions, something needs to be done and you are doing your part.
Thank you for sharing a soldiers story, one of courage and sacrifice.
well said!!
As a Marine who has recently returned from Afghanistan, I cannot state stronly enough the importance of this dispatch. We have nickled and dimed this war since day one and good Americans have died as a result. There are simply not enough boots on the ground and helicopters in the air to support the pace of current and/or future combat operations. I know that some are unhappy with the details that you provide in the dispatch and the perceived insensitivity to the good Sgt's family, but if anything positive can come from this needless death - it is that, just maybe, the next one can be avoided.
Semper Fidelis.
Anyone that reads this distpatch should forward it to their representatives and ask when this is going to be fixed....not if!
"at the risk of his career for pushing his authority to launch" - Why should they have to fear for their career? A good leader should recognize when someone has to appropriately break the rules and even to some degree encourage that.
[URL- removed by webmaster]
SPC Scott C Co 3/126 avn AA Witch Doctors
The brother of that Cpl found out I had copies of the photos and asked me to send them to him and tell him what happened, assuming I knew as I received the photos from the leader of the rescue.
Donation made, Congressman contacted.
That said, the need for change in the policies that govern hot LZ Medevac's is too obvious to be ignored, OR relegated to the 'HIGHER HQ will eventually fix it" bin.
I have no knowledge of combat related medicine, so can't speak to what chances there might have been had Spec Chazray been Medevac'd sooner. But knowing that his case was not the first, and will not be the last, there should be people screaming to get the "powers that be" to change whatever part of the ROE that prevent timely evacuation of wounded warriors from the battlefield.
Anything less is willful condemnation of troops to unnecessary consequences.
I have been an AMEDD officer for 13 years, I side with Mr Yon's view.
We have spent the last ten years fighting people who completely REJECT the very notion of the Geneva Convention, who routinely murder prisoners and protected persons, fire on vehicles and buildings with GC markings and otherwise methodically violate the Laws of War and the Geneva Conventions at every opportunity.
And we're worried about putting a couple of M240s on MEDEVAC ships because they have red crosses applied? Then let's remove those big ever-so-useful aiming points, mount the guns and start doing what needs to be done in a timely fashion.
Regards,
Thought of you after reading the following Blog by Isaac Cubillos.
What is the Highest Duty of a Reporter?
http://lanterloon.com/?p=839#.TpqxDMJjb7E.facebook
Followed you since 2004... for some reason the "debate" is just too much, and not sure if I agree with your assessment.
I could argue both sides of the coin, what I am having trouble with... is the approach.
Of course, time, distance and perspective are all factors.
Stay safe.
Nate
P.S. I know you don't consider yourself a reporter, but I would be very interested in the opinions of fellow MY readers.
Help Michael. Then help us help them. Donate or join a raffle please. paws4vets foundation helpkyria.com
PC is getting our BEST killed...
Carol-Christian Soldier
I feel for the line officers who can't speak out.
Maybe it is time to name and shame the generals who need army helos to do trips?
or sack them.
Golden Seconds: An Open Letter to Secretary Panetta and President Obama
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/golden-seconds.htm
Our battalian HQ spent the four days of the ground war lost in the desert. Our guys who were with them were highly pissed! In Desert Storm, medevac success depend mainly on the initiative of individal crews. We got support mainly from maneuver elements.
Point 1: Do we have any idea whether or not the Pedros were supporting their REAL mission which is downed aircrew recovery? The USAF PJs are not there for MEDEVAC or even CASEVAC. They are dedicated CSAR assets and there are very few of them.
Point 2: One might recall Mogadishu in which armed helicopters (160th SOAR) were shot down by "primitives". So arming helicopters does not solve the concern over loss of aircraft in a contested LZ. You can put a cannon on a MEDEVAC aircraft and if it gets into a tight hole and someone shoots at it from above it is dead.
Point 3: Pedros fly in weather because they have aircraft certified for weather, including radar, Army MEDEVAC aside from HH-60s are highly constrained by many conditions in which SOF aircraft can easily fly.
-From someone who did it.
Point 4: Reality is reality in politics. In the same manner in which the Army lost it's cargo aircraft to the USAF who won't use it, the culture of MEDEVAC makes it unique from assault and lift and you cannot treat them like DAPs and not expect them to be pulled for that use.
Point 5: Sometimes lethal injuries are not immediately lethal OR salvageable. Before we start speculating on what would have saved the kid's life we might want to consider that he experienced significant blast and extremity trauma and may have died no matter what care he got.
Putting a machine gun on a MEDEVAC does not solve this problem in any way.
Last point? You inserted by air, right? So where was the CASEVAC plan? This kid didn't die because of lack of armed MEDEVAC, he may have died because the armed helicopters that put you in didn't lager to pull out casualties when they happened. No MEDEVAC in the world is as fast as the same assault ship you just rode in on. He needed tourniquets (basic soldier/combat lifesaver level skill) and speed. I'd like to know who the mission approval authority was that approved an assault without identifying CASEVAC during the mission.
Also, as the gentleman stated below me, Pedros (USAF PJ's) are not a medevac unit, they are a dedicated special forces combat search and rescue asset. Their mission is such that it precludes them from standard medevacs.
"It is important to be absolutely clear--this is not about the Dustoff pilots and crews, who are incredibly courageous. They have earned enormous respect. They’ll fly into hell to get one of our wounded troopers. This is about politics getting in the way of saving lives."
If there was a .001% chance that your fellow battles (or any for that matter) could have been saved if a policy stated (i.e.) that if armed escort is to exceed 10 min other means to secure medivac patient(s) may be used. It's a shame that a person will never know if he could have really been saved, because we can't go back in time. We can try to change the lift off procedure of the medivacs so we don't have another instance of someone saying "we could have saved him if the medivac could have lifted off sooner."
Granted I can't and won't say anything about the accusations about using choppers for themselves. I simply have no idea on that aspect of the accusations.
Perhaps you gentlemen would care to offer some credentials? With your seemingly first hand knowledge of these Medevac issues, you must have had lots of combat experience.
Before this devolves, my "uncredentialed" opinion is that politics are politics and you do not have to be a combat veteran to understand that. Additionally, there are plenty of combat vets who may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer...not taking away from thier service, just stating a fact...eveyone has thier own opinion. Yon has interesting stories, but guess what--he is human too and has an opinion just like everyone else, and may not see the whole picture at the tactical level. The dickheads in charge are too worried about big important things like how many eyebrow waxed french-manicured butt-pirates will get rump ranger tabbed and inserted into the Army. Devolution complete.
A Fellow Serviceman
The irresponsible piece of your otherwise outstanding work is that you have speculated on the cause of death of SPC Clark. You surmise that the 65 minutes caused his death. I agree that 65 minutes is far too long but it's wrong to jump to conclusions on the cause of death this early.
I served in Arghandab last year and experienced dozens of Medevacs. 25-30 minutes is a typical response time for either Pedro or Army assets from KAF in that area.
The injuries due to Soldiers from IEDs in these circumstances are extremely graphic and horrific. Some Soldiers survive their injuries and some die en route or later. I too have seen alert Soldiers be loaded onto a medevac only to learn later that they did not survive.
Before we jump to conclusions on the cause of death, a thorough investigation will be done and the family will get the details -- more than a supposition from Michael Yon.
good article, I am a MEDEVAC Pilot and have been with MEDEVAC for 15 years, i have 4 combat deployments, earned the Silver Star and German Medal of Honor all on one MEDEVAC Mission in Konduz on 2 April 2010. I will agree with alot of what you said but disagree on the Pedro piece. Having worked with the PEDRO's on all my tours i can tell you this, they take longer to launch (ex. soldier injured it took them 5 hours to get him back to KAF, due to it being a hoist mission and they had to dump fuel then clal in a c-130 for fuel to make it back), they can only carry one patient, possibly 2 depending on the altitude because of how heavy they are, etc.. etc.. MEDEVAC crews are ready to launch on every 9 line under 10 minutes , they have a 15 launch criteria, if they are delayed it is because of maintenance, or higher up trying to make a decision. I think you should embed yourself with a DUSTOFF crew to get first hand experience of what happens and how. DUSTOFF!
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/thoughts-from-a-dustoff-pilot.htm
The Army should not call themselves Combat MEDEVACs, you should be renamed "Lifeflight". Give me Air Force or Marine Birds any day. I have also seen Army Kiowas land to get guys before your guys will, so YOU and YOUR Community are to blame, not the AO Commanders, YOU.
The excuses I hear about not being able to get enough gunships to support are amazing to me!! Either push to arm your helos or go without gunships or rename yourselves and stop acting like you are "Combat" MEDEVACs, at least then we will be honest with ourselves.
Blessings on you Michael.
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