More Helo Operations

[BigTruck]

We did a lot of helicopter operations out there, so here's more helicopter pictures!


This was before we got to the actual forward base out in the middle of nowhere.  We had the air wing set up their operations at the Hawthorne Air Strip (which is also in the middle of nowhere, but they have a McDonalds so it's not "middle of nowhere" by Marine standards)  We landed here in the C-130, gathered our gear and headed to the Helo pads.



The Army was kind enough to offer us a ride out to "middle of nowhere" on their CH-47 Chinooks, it was my first ride in Army equipment.  It rode a lot like the CH-46 Sea Knight we use in the Corps.  This is us humping our gear out to the waiting chopper, there were 3 more choppers waiting as well, out of the picture



First Platoon loading up



"Middle Of Nowhere"
The grunts load up on a CH-53 to go relieve a security platoon we had placed further up in the mountains to patrol for enemy cows and snakes


The relieved platoon returns for a quick rest before moving on to another mission.




Thanks for looking  8-)

[flyboy 28]

Pretty cool stuff you get to do out there, Sergeant. Though I'd rather sit in the a/c and fiddle on a computer in a CIC than get swamp ass out there...

[BigTruck]

Pretty cool stuff you get to do out there, Sergeant. Though I'd rather sit in the a/c and fiddle on a computer in a CIC than get swamp ass out there...

I'm not going to lie and say I didn't complain, but I also had a blast.  Swamp ass goes away after a few days, the layers of dirt you collect cover it up, and we always pack accordingly, to include adult beverages for when the sun goes down and we are in black out ops (no lights allowed, then the officers cant see the crowd of enlisted passing the bottle)

I'd much rather sleep under the stars than float on a sardine can