The Storm

ourselves. The sound of the rotors now decreased, and we were droppin' in altitude. The voice over the com came once again, 'GENTLEMEN, WE WILL BE DESCENDING JUST BELOW TREE LEVEL IN THE ONLY REAL ESTATE SUITABLE FOR OUR DESCENT. YOU WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY FIFTY FEET TO THE GROUND, SO ROPE-BRAKE YOUR SLIDE ACCORDINGLY, AND DON’T BREAK YOUR ANKLES AND RUIN YOUR DAY! AGAIN, COUNT ON FIFTY FEET TO THE GROUND. WHEN THE JUMP LIGHT COMES ON, SLIDE THE MAIN DOORS OPEN AND BEGIN YOUR DESCENT. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO EMPTY THIS TIN CAN SO I CAN GET THIS NOISY THING OUT OF YOUR DROP ZONE. GOOD LUCK AND GOD’S SPEED, GENTLEMEN.' And the com went silent. Henry went on, "In one minute we had descended farther, and the jump light came on. I reached for the door latch on the side door nearest to me and slid the door open. There was a wash of noise and a huge gust of air. The lead guys dropped several rappelling ropes out each side door, and I spoke loudly, 'LET’S GO GUYS!' Gunny was the first out on the opposite side, as I recall, and the rest of the team made their way out and disappeared into the windy, dark abyss. I took a quick scan of the chopper for anything left behind and was last to put my gloves on the ropes and make my way down while counting off my footage. I focused on the area below and saw the dark ground come up to greet me. Sooner than anticipated, my boots hit the jungle floor with a THUD. I looked up at the beast still hoverin' above me. The ropes were being pulled up. The helicopter then made a quick turn to the left and soon disappeared into the black of night, leavin' us in an eerie silence.

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