My recollection of the 160 pilot's (CW3 Cliff Wolcott) actions during the operation on 3-4 October brings up no particular memories. The actions were exemplary but they don't stand out in my mind, as they were a matter of routine. I remember that he continued to perform in the manner to which we had all become accustomed. He put his passengers in the exact location they were supposed to be placed in. In fact, it was "as briefed", a term that I heard him use on our previous missions any number of times to remind the newer pilots not to tie up nets unnecessarily. I understand that he continued to inform his passengers that they were going down, and also to inform the ground element of this fact. This does not surprise me any. The coolness he had displayed during our other operations had already established the fact that he was unflappable. His calmness and reassuring manner had an immediate effect on all that he talked to and all that could monitor his transmissions.

I remember monitoring the transmission that one helicopter had been hit and was going down. I heard the Pilot in Command (PIC) state that he thought he could make the airfield on his own power and I remember the anxiety I felt while he was underway and the relief when he did make it back. From all reports, the aircraft could not be repaired. I was shocked when I heard one damaged helicopter was back in the air. The crew had run down to the spare aircraft and returned to the battlefield. They flew the rest of the night and into the morning, long after everyone else had returned to the hangar. The helicopter has the task of trying to locate our Missing in Action (MIA). When the crew was finally relieved at approximately 1000 hours, I saw the other pilot and company commander return to the Command Center. Tears were rolling down his cheeks because it was not possible for him to do anything more to help his fallen comrades and members of his command. All of this from a man who had just flown over 18 hours in combat.

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