Pave Low
Just before I left active duty, for about the third time, spring of '84, was a staff pediatrician and sometimes Chief of Pediatrics at Womac Army Hospital, Ft Bragg, NC, heading to Topeka for private practice, and transferring to the Army Reserves, the 410 EVAC, with whom I would reply to Desert Storm about 6 years later, I was at a party with an old friend, the Group Commander, 5th SF. He mentioned that in 24 hours he was taking a company of the 5th SF to Morocco to train with the Moroccan SF. Asked if I wanted to go to. Asked my wife, she said sure, called my hospital Co, he said I had earned it.
So the next day, was on a C5A flying to Morocco with them. We stayed at Rabat, the capitol of that country. Mostly I did clinic work with the local French army docs, and shopped and toured a bit, like to Fez. More about that later. Prescribed mostly French meds, was surprised to find that the usual way to administer their meds was via rectal. Must be a French thing.
We were going to jump with the Moroccan SF, but that was cancelled because it was just too dangerous. So no Moroccan jump wings for us.
We did some desert time, and here is a Pave Low, also known in the Navy as a Sea Stallion, and in different armament, a Jolly Green. These are some of the 'choppers which collided at Desert One, the failed Iranian hostage rescue. I never understood how they were hoping to accomplish that mission anyway. It was a signal event in our military's reconstitution from the morass of Vietnam.
Superb pilots, nap of the earth flying in the dark and rain just feet over the desert. Awoke with a sudden jolt one late night when they pulled up just before colliding with high wires in the middle of the desert.
Military pilots really are the best of the breed. Here, flaring in to pick up a load of Moroccan jumpers, a few of whom were dead in the drop with failed 'chutes. As usual, my trusty Pentax on K'chrome.
Oh, found the slide of the French lass sunning on the beach, but while the moderators have been pretty tolerant of my pics, they would not be happy with me putting that one here. I had lots of adventures in that short op.
Found out on my return several weeks later, that my wife discovered both of our youngsters had chicken pox on the way back from dropping me off at Pope AFB. So she was in quarantine about the whole time.
So stay safe, an all the best... SF VET
Just before I left active duty, for about the third time, spring of '84, was a staff pediatrician and sometimes Chief of Pediatrics at Womac Army Hospital, Ft Bragg, NC, heading to Topeka for private practice, and transferring to the Army Reserves, the 410 EVAC, with whom I would reply to Desert Storm about 6 years later, I was at a party with an old friend, the Group Commander, 5th SF. He mentioned that in 24 hours he was taking a company of the 5th SF to Morocco to train with the Moroccan SF. Asked if I wanted to go to. Asked my wife, she said sure, called my hospital Co, he said I had earned it.
So the next day, was on a C5A flying to Morocco with them. We stayed at Rabat, the capitol of that country. Mostly I did clinic work with the local French army docs, and shopped and toured a bit, like to Fez. More about that later. Prescribed mostly French meds, was surprised to find that the usual way to administer their meds was via rectal. Must be a French thing.
We were going to jump with the Moroccan SF, but that was cancelled because it was just too dangerous. So no Moroccan jump wings for us.
We did some desert time, and here is a Pave Low, also known in the Navy as a Sea Stallion, and in different armament, a Jolly Green. These are some of the 'choppers which collided at Desert One, the failed Iranian hostage rescue. I never understood how they were hoping to accomplish that mission anyway. It was a signal event in our military's reconstitution from the morass of Vietnam.
Superb pilots, nap of the earth flying in the dark and rain just feet over the desert. Awoke with a sudden jolt one late night when they pulled up just before colliding with high wires in the middle of the desert.
Military pilots really are the best of the breed. Here, flaring in to pick up a load of Moroccan jumpers, a few of whom were dead in the drop with failed 'chutes. As usual, my trusty Pentax on K'chrome.
Oh, found the slide of the French lass sunning on the beach, but while the moderators have been pretty tolerant of my pics, they would not be happy with me putting that one here. I had lots of adventures in that short op.
Found out on my return several weeks later, that my wife discovered both of our youngsters had chicken pox on the way back from dropping me off at Pope AFB. So she was in quarantine about the whole time.
So stay safe, an all the best... SF VET
