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By Root 1319 0

by the 64s or 60s, where raw physics mandated a tail rotor to counteract the inertial force of the single lift/thrust assembly, a substantial power drain (upward of 30 percent). Furthermore, they would be flying at altitudes of nearly ten thousand feet—in the afternoon, meaning a density altitude of nearly fourteen thousand feet (density altitude being a function of actual altitude and temperature—the warmer the ambient temperature, the thinner the air, and hence the more power required to maintain normal performance), conditions easily manageable by the big Chinooks, but that posed serious speed and handling problems for the Blackhawks and Apaches. But the lightly armed and relatively thin-skinned Blackhawks did require Shock escort, and since the QRF would consist of both Task Force Brown Chinooks and Sabre’s Blackhawks, by default, the Apaches would run with the pack—or so the handshake agreement dictated.

At roughly 3:30 P.M. local time, as streaks of grayish-white clouds knifed into the baby-blue sky above Nangarhar province, three Blackhawks, call sign Skillful, streaked over the pastoral lands surrounding the Jalalabad PRT base with two Shock Apaches flying close cover. A scene just moments earlier defined by gentle breezes under the blistering sun and murmurs of small talk among the grunts was now an adrenaline-infused uproar of five powerful U.S. Army aircraft on approach that incited the Marines to stand ready for an insert into the monstrous unknown. Flaring steeply just before contacting solid ground, the Blackhawks touched down with blazing speed and razor precision, each kicking a doughnutlike ring of roiling dust out from under the craft. After refueling, the 60s “hopped” a few dozen yards, and Marines piled inside the sleek craft, then together with the Shocks, they made the short flight to Jalalabad Airfield, where, as the helicopters idled, the Marines made final preparations for the launch onto Sawtalo Sar.

A total of twenty-four Marines of Golf Company would embark on the rescue mission: ten, including Capuzzi in the lead Blackhawk; another ten, including First Lieutenant John Bambey, commander of Golf Company’s Third Platoon, in the second bird (following USMC protocol, the two spread out in multiple craft to ensure that if a helicopter went down carrying one commander, another officer would survive to lead the fight forward); and four Marines accompanied by three members of SEAL Team 10 jumped into the third, “light” Blackhawk, which kept enough room onboard to load the four recon SEALs. With all of the Marines having fastrope-qualled during the days leading up to the launch of Red Wings, the Blackhawk aviators would fly their craft with their doors off, ready to insert the grunts with lightning speed—to get onto the ground and save the members of the recon team. With morale high, the Golf Company grunts felt rush after rush of energizing adrenaline, excited to insert onto the high slopes of Sawtalo Sar and take care of business, ultimately reuniting the SDVT SEALs with friendlier ground.

And with as much ardor the grunts felt for saving the foursome, Erik Kristensen, the commander of the ground aspect of the rescue operation, burned with even more resolve to save the team. As the Golf Company contingent of the QRF loaded into the Skillful Blackhawks at Jalalabad, Kristensen and four other members of SEAL Team 10 (Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan, Petty Officer First Class Jeffery Lucas, Lieutenant Michael McGreevy, and Petty Officer First Class Jeffrey S. Taylor) accompanied by three members of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy, Petty Officer Second Class James Suh, and Petty Officer Second Class Eric Patton) boarded the lead MH- 47D, commanded by Major Stephen Reich of the Third Battalion of the 160th SOAR(A), commander of the air side of the QRF, at Bagram. Seven other members of the 160th also crewed the command ship: Staff Sergeant Shamus Goare, Chief Warrant Officer (3) Corey Goodnature, Sergeant Kip Jacoby, Sergeant First Class Marcus Muralles, Master