The Storm

as fast as possible through the dense, darkening jungle. One mile out I had Towers call it in: 'Zulu X-ray Delta Charlie. Come in Zulu X-ray Delta Charlie, come in. Mother, you there?' Towers repeated. And then over the handset I could hear the crackle of a voice, 'Fox Tail, this is Mother. You get where you need to be. I’m looking infrared, so give me a signal.' 'Roger that, Mother.'" "We were soon at the landin' zone coordinates, and I turned on my infrared signal light that is invisible to the naked eye but seen through special binoculars. 'I got ya, Fox Tail,' and about that time I could hear the faint sound of the chopper rotors beating the air. I was lookin' forward for that 'Shakin' Jenny' to get us out of there. "I continued pointin' my infrared light upward into the night sky. It would look like a bright flash in the pilots googles. 'I got ya, Fox Tail. Let’s make this quick, Captain!' came the voice over the handset. 'Roger that, Mother. We're ready.' And within a couple of minutes the choppers came in low, just over the clearing, and the first Huey dropped down into the landin' zone." "My first team, led by Gunny, threw in their gear and all rolled onto the floor and held on. It took less than a second for the pilot to get it in the air and make his turn. The second chopper dropped in like a rock and the skids bounced hard on the grass. I could tell that this pilot didn't want to be here any longer than I did. 'LET’S GO! LET’S GO!' the pilot yelled, and we took or places and strapped in. The speed with which the Huey turned and climbed was astounding and appreciated! We leveled out at elevation, and I donned a headset. The pilot was first to break the tension and hit the push-to-talk button on the microphone. 'Good to see you, Captain! Here as promised!' It

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