|
Confronting Iraq
Latest Developments Homefront Diplomacy Military
Casualties Humanitarian Aid Analysis Protests
Multimedia
** 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.
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.
Copyright © 2003, The
Associated Press
**There
has been a lot of controversy over parts of
this story. Joe Clairmont was not the Marine
leading the evacuation. It was Cpl. Jon Barnes.
Although requests were made to correct the story,
it continues incorrect to this day. Read
More
|
|
Witness
Iraq, a photographic journal of
the war continues the error. |
|
