Life of a Screaming Eagle...

Posted on Mon Jan 3rd, 2022 @ 3:11am by Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Earth, North American Continent, United States of America, Ft Campbell
Timeline: June, 1982
900 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

The four men were sitting around makeshift table, the cot belonging to one of them actually, and each one gave the other hard looks.

"Two threes," one said, placing his cards down on the discard pile, face down.

No one said anything.

"One four," another said, to equal silence.

The third player pulled three cards from his hand and laid them down. "Three fives."

"Bullshit," David said with a grin. "Pick that shit up, Hurley."

"Damnit! You got me again, Davie-boy!" The farm boy from Iowa cursed as his picked up the discard pile of nearly twenty cards.

The rest of the group laughed and gave a few cat-calls to their unlucky friend.

"Pat," David replied, a smirk on his face, "Don't ever try to bullshit a bullshitter!"

Private Patrick Hurley chuckled and grinned at his battle buddy's comment. "Well, I guess that means you've got at least one five."

Before David could reply, their platoon sergeant, Staff Sergeant Carlton Smith, stepped into the large tent that 2nd Platoon was using during their field exercises in The Back Forty, the heavily forested area set behind their installation, in which the various units of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), used to hone their skills as soldiers in the United States of America Army.

"Tonelly, Hurley, front and center!" Staff Sergeant Smith called out.

The two soldiers put down their cards and rose to go report in as ordered. When both men reached Smith, they assumed the position of parade rest. "Yes, Sarge?" David asked.

"Get your gear and truck ready. Aviation is going to be by in less than an hour. They want to do a training flight of moving a five ton gun truck from one place in the combat zone to another.

David arched his eyebrow. "Roger that, Sarge, but uhh, can the chinooks handle that much weight? The Black Shirts always said that the deuces were the max." The Black Shirts that David referred to were the instructors at the Sabolaski Air Assault School, located back on the installation proper.

Smith frowned slightly. "Yeah, you know that, I know that. Damn flyboys think they know better. Orders are orders. Get your shit ready. You and Hurley roll out the the LZ in ten mikes."

David nodded. "Hooah, Sarge!"

The two men then started gathering their gear. After putting their BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) blouses back on, they strapped on their LBEs, or Load Bearing Equipment, pulled on their Kevlar helmets, and grabbed their M-16A-2s. They then grabbed their rucks, leaving their cots where they were I. The tent.

Making their way to their gun truck,they opened the doors, tosses their rucks up inside, then climbed up, securing their rifles in their travel racks.

David, the driver, fired up the diesel engine and, after making sure no one was around them, drove out of the company area, and made their way down the road to the adjacent open field, which was being used as the LZ.

Once they checked in with the NCOIC (Non Commissioned Officer In Charge) of the LZ, David drove out into the center. He shut off the engine, then he and Hurley grabbed their gear and weapons, then left the truck. As they did so, the grou d crew for the aviation unit coming in for the mission, started to prep the five ton truck for air lift operations. They attached large ropes to the various tie-down/lift points on the truck, timing temporary breakaway lines around each grouping. They then climbed atop the truck, and, after locating its centerpoint, collected the lift ropes and prepped everything for coupling, when the large cargo helicopter arrived.

David and Patrick were kneeling at the perimeter of a second LZ, waiting for the helicopter to arrive and land, so they could enter and get ready for their truck to be lifted.

As the double main rotor helicopter approached, the NCOIC came up to them. "Change of plans!" She shouted over the noise of the large helicopter. "They're just moving your truck! One of my guys will drive you to the other LZ!"

David nodded, then led Hurley, as both followed the NCOIC to a waiting HMMVEE and piled in, David up front, Hurley in the back.

By this time, the Chinook had hovered over their five ton, had the lines hooked in, and started to attempt takeoff. After a few straining beats, the powerful engines of the aircraft finally started to apply enough power to lift the heavy cargo. As the helicopter lifted off, it started to head towards the destination LZ. The wheels of the truck just barely cleared the tops of the trees as the helicopter tried to gain altitude.

As the truck carrying David and Hurley drove through the woods, towards their destination, they received word that, not only had their truck been delivered, unfortunately, the helicopter had to make an emergency landing on the way back to the airfield.

An investigation would later reveal that the five ton cargo truck-modified gun truck, was indeed too heavy for the older Chinook. Several hydraulic lines burst during the flight, due to the heavy strain that the load had put on the airframe. Thankfully, none of the flightcrew were injured in the crash.

After reclaiming their truck, David and Hurkey drove back to the company area. They had a card game to finish.