Request fire mission, over." How many times did I hear this the night of 3-4 October? I will always remember the calm demeanor and professionalism he showed over the radio even as I heard bullets hitting very near his position each time he keyed his radio microphone. Because he had communications with our helicopters, another element was relaying calls for fire from other ground elements to our helicopters. He expertly coordinated and called in helicopter fires to within 15 meters of friendly positions on several occasions. Later, while talking to members of the ground element, I learned that those close-in fires probably saved many lives. His professional calm demeanor while under fire was extraordinary.

"We are up, contact other element and provide support for the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) that is pinned down." I sincerely doubted our ability to provide effective fire support to a unit that was not accustomed to working with our type aircraft and our internal standard operating procedures. The pilot of another helicopter coaxed and coached the pinned down element into marking the enemy with a parachute flare. I maneuvered my aircraft into position to engage the target and waited while the other element continued to cajole the pinned down element for a direction and distance of the enemy from the burning parachute flare. I had to break off the first pass and returned to engage when the element on the ground gave his location in respect to the burning flare. I fired marking rounds and awaited an adjustment from the element, which he was finally able to give after coaxing by the other element and myself. On the next pass, both my aircraft and my wingman's were able to engage the snipers and allow the ground convoy to break contact and continue their mission.

Visitor since 23 February 1998

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