Rex Reinl and I were running our Flight Ops at Ft. Sherman in Panama when we received a call that a team operating in Columbia had a member bitten by a Fer-de-Lance and required an emergency medevac. At the time the UH-60’s were restricted from operations that might be required so the 210th Aviation Bn. (on the Pacific side) could not respond. I’m not sure why their CH-47’s did not pick it up, but the key was that the team down south was incognito and we would have to go without the required Diplomatic Clearance. I guess the higher ups at Howard AFB did not want to touch that one.
Rex and I immediately started planning for the mission and determined that we had just enough fuel to make the pick up and make it back across the border into Panama, but not to Gorgas Army Hospital. We managed to schedule a Chinook to drop a FARP (Forward Area Refuel Point) to the critical point South. That would give us enough fuel to make it to the hospital to drop off the patient. We were ready to crank, in the middle of the night, and head out when a call came into our Ops that the guy had died from his snake bite. Mission scrubbed. It was a sad night for Rex and I.
On another day the 193rd IN Bde was on patrol in the jungle when one of theirs got separated from the group and was lost. UH-1V with High Performance Hoist to the rescue. I was not on that mission, but as the medic was being lowered through the trees the cable started to sway and she got spiked on a black palm. I heard it was not pleasant.

I liked this post, but it was really a cringe. Nonetheless, appreciate those who stood in the breach.

People Like Rex were all about getting the job done, regardless.

There are a lot of people going into harm's way that we'll never know about.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Black palm?

Palm tree with attitude.

blackpalm.htm

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Release the Kraken

I really enjoy reading your posts of your Army aviation career. Keep them coming!

I enjoy them as well. It is 1st hand which is rare. Thank you for sharing and you service. That Fer de Lance is one dangerous snake.

I saw one of those Black Palms in Puerto Rico years ago, they really look and are dangerous! I never knew the name of the palm till reading this thread.
Thanks,
Steve W

Thanks guys. I guess I was lucky, and volunteered for anything. My dad was a B-17 pilot (WW II) and my son continues the family thing as a WartHog pilot. He has some great stories to tell as well. When the Hogs almost went away he opted to instruct Marine JTAC's for 3 years in San Diego. Then back to the Hog.

Those A10's are something. I have seen some pictures of them returning after missions. They can take a lot of punishment and keep going. 2 huge jet engines with a 20 MM Cannon strapped to them.

It's actually a 30mm gun. The Avenger. The pilot sits in a titanium bathtub good for protection up to 20mm HE.

Top Air Force didn't care for them much because they are not super sonic.

Apparently, it is a small world.

I'm pretty sure a friend of mine was there when the individual was bitten. I suppose it could have been another case of a Fer-de-Lance bite, but I doubt there were many.

PM sent.

Tom

During night ops a friend of mine slipped going down a steep hill unfortunately a black palm stopped him crouch first.
He went home and his wife spent quite a long time pulling them out, not only do they tend to break off at the skin they have barbs their entire length.
Poor guy walked bowlegged for about a week.

Lots of nasty things in the jungle. Plants, snakes, bugs, caymens, etc. Then there are diseases like bat (feces) fever, rat p*** fever, oh, and malaria. Getting into the cockpit one day there was an eight inch long insect on to toe of the skid. Knocked him off, mission continued.

Thank God for understanding wives.