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TRI-CITY
HERALD
Marines evacuate injured soldiers, civilians from
battle zone
By ALEXANDRA ZAVIS, Associated Press
Confronting IraqLatest DevelopmentsHomefrontDiplomacyMilitaryCasualtiesHumanitarian
AidAnalysisProtestsMultimedia
United States Marines Corpsman Joe Clairmont,
left, of Jacksonville, Fla., leads a group of
Marines carrying a wounded soldier to a casualty
evacuation helicopter on Saturday, April 5, 2003,
south of Baghdad.
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF BAGHDAD, Iraq (April 5, 1:14
p.m. PST) Marine casualty and evacuation helicopters
ranged across a panorama of destruction south
of Baghdad on Saturday and carried a wounded Marine,
injured children and at least one Iraqi fighter
disguised as a civilian to medical care. |
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United
States Marines Corpsman Joe Clairmont,
left, of Jacksonville, Fla., leads a
group of Marines carrying a wounded
soldier to a casualty evacuation helicopter
on Saturday, April 5, 2003, south of
Baghdad.
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The pilots of Marine Medium Helicopter
Squadron 364 flew over crumpled bodies, charred
tanks, collapsed buildings and a burning date
forest on repeated missions to the outskirts of
Baghdad. They took the war wounded to emergency
medical centers to the south.
One helicopter carried a 5-year-old boy whose
face had been blown away by shrapnel. His father,
who had been wounded in the shoulder, held the
IV as the Marines loaded them both on the helicopter.
On another run, six Iraqis were loaded on board.
A Marine cut open the clothes of one Iraqi. Underneath
his outer clothing was a military uniform.
At the medical center, that Iraqi was made to
squat on the ground, naked, while the other five
wounded, all civilians, were processed. Wary of
possible suicide attacks, U.S. forces searched
all Iraqis - even the wounded.
Toward the end of the day, the helicopter picked
up a Marine who had been on a reconnaissance mission.
He had taken four shots, one to the shoulder,
one to the leg and two in the other leg.
Despite his injuries, the Marine was talking and
very energetic.
Unlike the Marines on the ground, helicopter pilots
do not sleep in the dirt. They go back to base,
where they sleep on the cots meant for the dead
and wounded.
Mindful of the discomfort of their comrades on
the ground, the squadron's pilots and crew, part
of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and also known
as the Purple Foxes, each chipped in $10 to $20
to buy cigarettes, candy and sodas for the Marines
in the ground force.
On Saturday morning, at an airfield about 10 miles
south of Baghdad, they unloaded the goodies, which
were promptly stuffed into a Humvee to be taken
to Marines at forward positions.
"We get to go back and have a shower and
hot chow. These guys are stuck out here,"
said Sgt. Chip Jacoby, 23, of MacDoel, Calif.
As they flew over Highway 6, the scene below was
not totally dismal. Many vehicles, including a
tractor, flew white flags, some made from towels
or T-shirts. Many people waved.
"Either they are happy to see us or they
don't want to get lit up," said Capt. Andrew
Lamont, 31, from Eureka, Cal., using a slang term
for fired on. Civilian vehicles, piled high with
belongings, headed south away from the fighting.
When the drivers heard the artillery, they tried
to drive faster and get away. Convoys of U.S.
tanks and armored personnel carriers pushed north
all day along the same road toward the Iraqi capital.
When night fell, the pilots stayed alert, the
crew and medics ready for another flight. The
work of the 364th was not yet done.
note:
There was some controversy on this story and the
photos after it was published.
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