From The Owner (Matthew Kinney) To Our Clients:
"It's about you and your needs"
911 Tactical Medicine was created because I wanted to share my skills and knowledge with those who needed it. Performing the mission and training go hand in hand. When I looked around I saw plenty of people offering training , however it was lacking on building the muscle memory and the why behind what was being taught. No one should just sit there, yet they should use every sense they have to absorb the information. If there is not some muscle memory behind everything that was just learned then the person reverts back to how how they previously performed the task. Once I thought about how to make this happen a plan fell into place and then became reality.
It is my goal to share my skills and knowledge to help others learn and bridge the gap where the knowledge is needed to keep agencies up to speed. I believe in making training as real as possible and in the environment in which the skills will be performed. In order to perform your skills while on the job you have to train the same way. We call this "Train as you fight" and it rings true for anyone in any field or environment. Using the most current and field proven medical equipment, that has been proven not just in studies, but in the environment the equipment is meant to operate. Bringing subject matter experts to the table for the students to learn from is critical, not just to pass a test, but to get the extra knowledge, expertise, and best practices for the subject matter being trained. All are welcome to call or email us here at 911 Tactical Medicine even for the simplest of things. Your agency's mission and or goal is priority when it comes down to the smallest detail or to a complex issue.
It is my goal to share my skills and knowledge to help others learn and bridge the gap where the knowledge is needed to keep agencies up to speed. I believe in making training as real as possible and in the environment in which the skills will be performed. In order to perform your skills while on the job you have to train the same way. We call this "Train as you fight" and it rings true for anyone in any field or environment. Using the most current and field proven medical equipment, that has been proven not just in studies, but in the environment the equipment is meant to operate. Bringing subject matter experts to the table for the students to learn from is critical, not just to pass a test, but to get the extra knowledge, expertise, and best practices for the subject matter being trained. All are welcome to call or email us here at 911 Tactical Medicine even for the simplest of things. Your agency's mission and or goal is priority when it comes down to the smallest detail or to a complex issue.
Experience
Matthew Kinney is a Critical Care Flight Paramedic. He has over 26 years of experience of practicing medicine in both air and ground roles, in the military (conventional or SOF support) or civilian 911 sector, and specializes in trauma. His deployment experience includes five combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of his awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and Air Medal with Valor. His other awards are Flight Medic of the Year, Air and Sea Rescue of the Year, and S.A.F.E. Association Meritorious Service Award. Kinney is also credited with saving the life of the SSG Pitt’s Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Wanat where it was 200 Taliban VS 48 Soldiers. Since 2003 Matthew Kinney has been instructing Soldiers, and Civilians, Law Enforcement, and Fire/EMS.
Volunteers Time To
Special Forces Charitable Trust Comfort Crew Underwater Wounded Warriors
Special Forces Charitable Trust Comfort Crew Underwater Wounded Warriors
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Gun Tape Footage from the Battle of Wanat. 200 Enemy VS 48 Soldiers. Matthew Kinney went to OP Top Side for the wounded. He could write a book about this day but the Army and others already have. The Chosen Few.
In the White House after watching SSG Ryan Pitts receive the Medal of Honor (MOH). It almost made Matthew Kinney feel as if he was receiving the MOH as he sat in the back row at the ceremony. Miracles do happen but 13 July 2008 it came at a high cost.
The bond is never broken between Brothers. The nine fallen Heroes of Wanat
- Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, of Aiea, Hawaii - Israel Garcia, 24, of Long Beach, California - Jonathan R. Ayers, 24, of Snellville, Georgia - Jason M. Bogar, 25, of Seattle, Washington - Jason D. Hovater, 24, of Clinton, Tennessee - Matthew B. Phillips, 27, of Jasper, Georgia - Pruitt A. Rainey, 22, of Haw River, North Carolina
- Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20, of Florissant, Missouri - Sergio S. Abad, 21, of Morganfield, Kentucky
- Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20, of Florissant, Missouri - Sergio S. Abad, 21, of Morganfield, Kentucky
Silver Star Mission in the Korengal Valley saving the men of Restrepo
SSG Matthew S. Kinney, United States Army, distinguished himself through exceptionally heroic conduct on 16 October 2008, during a daring Medevac hoist rescue in the forbidding Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. His actions not only reflect the highest credit upon himself and his unit but saved the lives of eight critically wounded U.S. and Afghan Soldiers and an entire Medevac crew.
Departing in response to an urgent Medevac request emanating from the Korengal Valley, SSG Kinney configured himself and his aircraft for hoist operations while enroute. He then advised both Dustoff crews to hoist down their medics simultaneously to expedite the packaging and loading of the reported four casualties. Upon arriving, the pilots of both Medevac aircraft heeded SSG Kinney’s advice, lowering both flight medics into the small mountain village. On the ground, SSG Kinney quickly took charge of a chaotic situation. SSG Kinney discovered six urgent casualties crammed into a small mud and rock building in which several other Soldiers were taking cover. He immediately ordered all non-wounded Soldiers to pull security outside and began assessing the critically wounded. He directed the other flight medic to assist him in stabilizing the most critical patient and simultaneously directed a ground Soldier to pull the Skedco litter from its bag and prepare it for the casualty. After the patient was packaged, SSG Kinney directed the Soldier to drag that patient outside to make more room in the small stone confinement. As he began stabilizing and packaging the second critical casualty, SSG Kinney ordered the other flight medic to prepare to hoist up the first patient.
During the second hoist iteration, the aircraft and the small building came under heavy effective machine gun fire. Despite rounds cracking overhead and impacting in the terrain around him, SSG Kinney helped his fellow medic complete the hoist, while attempting to locate the origin of the enemy ambush. SSG Kinney discovered that the fire was coming from a ridgeline immediately to the north of his location, opposite of where the Apache aircraft were engaging. He contacted the Apache gunships over his MBITR radio and began redirecting rocket and 30mm gun runs onto the heavy machine gun location, effectively suppressing the fire. The hovering Medevac aircraft had already taken two direct hits while inside the ambush kill zone. If not for SSG Kinney’s instinctive action the entire crew and two patients onboard would have undoubtedly been lost.
As the Apache aircraft continued to suppress, SSG Kinney finished packaging his third critical patient and began to assess and treat the remaining three patients, who suffered from multiple shrapnel and gunshot wounds. As his fellow medic departed up the hoist, SSG Kinney immediately began preparing the third Skedco Extraction Litter. SSG Kinney discovered that several of the required hoist straps were missing. Without hesitation, he procured a rope and began using it to prepare a harness that would secure the patient’s Skedco to the hoist hook. SSG Kinney now moved his three remaining patients to cover as he radioed his Medevac aircraft, requesting extraction. As the firefight continued around him, the pinned down squad took an additional casualty. SSG Kinney quickly triaged this Soldier and placed him with the other three casualties awaiting hoist extraction. While waiting for his aircraft, SSG Kinney maneuvered under fire to an adjacent building in effort to locate the enemy fighting positions and possibly relay them to the Apaches, but the fire ceased as soon as he repositioned.
The Medevac aircraft hovered into position and SSG Kinney took the first ambulatory patient into the open and secured him to the Jungle Penetrator (JP). The enemy began taking pot shots at SSG Kinney and his patient. As soon as the patient was off the ground, SSG Kinney scrambled back to cover and retrieved a second ambulatory casualty. As he exposed himself once again, the bullets began cracking by and impacting the wall behind him. Regardless, he secured the patient and waited until the JP was off the ground until retreating to cover. Once more, he repositioned to an overlooking building for a better vantage point but was unable to get a fix on the sniper’s location.
Returning for the final litter casualty, SSG Kinney directed two Soldiers to help him drag the Skedco litter into the clearing. SSG Kinney began connecting his makeshift Skedco rigging to the hoist’s rescue hook. With the sporadic enemy fire still kicking up dirt all around him, SSG Kinney dutifully held the tagline for several minutes while his patient hoisted up, ensuring the litter did not spin out of control. When the cable was fully retracted SSG Kinney realized that his makeshift harness ropes were too long, and the litter still hung several feet below the aircraft. He calmly instructed the crew chief to lower the Sked and instructed the pilots to “do a lap” to limit their exposure to enemy fire while he sat in the open and shortened the ropes.
At this time, an eighth Soldier was wounded in the leg by the sustained enemy fire. When the aircraft returned and the cable sent back down, SSG Kinney sent the latest ambulatory casualty up on the JP after controlling his bleeding. Lastly, SSG Kinney began his second attempt at hoisting up the makeshift Skedco, this time doing so successfully. With all five of his casualties onboard, SSG Kinney quickly secured his gear, and checked for any additional wounded. He then rode the JP up to his aircraft.
Enroute to the Forward Surgical Team (FST), SSG Kinney single handedly treated five critical patients, controlling bleeding, administering pain control, dressing wounds, and starting IVs. The multi-systemic wounds SSG Kinney treated alone in the back of his cramped aircraft included partial amputations, femoral bleeding, and multiple gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Upon landing at the Medical Treatment Facility, SSG Kinney assisted in unloading his patients and preparing them for surgery once in the FST.
SSG Kinney’s heroic actions on this day exceeded the call of duty and speak volumes to his selfless dedication to the welfare of his fellow Soldiers. On countless occasions, he demonstrated a willingness to lay down his own life for those he is sworn to protect. By calling Apache fire onto the location of an enemy heavy machine gun during an ambush, he saved the lives of countless Soldiers on the ground, as well as the lives of an entire Medevac crew who had assumed a stationary hover over the kill zone. SSG Kinney’s selfless actions under fire, his level head during a deteriorating situation, and improvisations when all was otherwise lost, reflect the highest credit upon himself, the Medevac, Task Force Out Front, and the United States Army.
Departing in response to an urgent Medevac request emanating from the Korengal Valley, SSG Kinney configured himself and his aircraft for hoist operations while enroute. He then advised both Dustoff crews to hoist down their medics simultaneously to expedite the packaging and loading of the reported four casualties. Upon arriving, the pilots of both Medevac aircraft heeded SSG Kinney’s advice, lowering both flight medics into the small mountain village. On the ground, SSG Kinney quickly took charge of a chaotic situation. SSG Kinney discovered six urgent casualties crammed into a small mud and rock building in which several other Soldiers were taking cover. He immediately ordered all non-wounded Soldiers to pull security outside and began assessing the critically wounded. He directed the other flight medic to assist him in stabilizing the most critical patient and simultaneously directed a ground Soldier to pull the Skedco litter from its bag and prepare it for the casualty. After the patient was packaged, SSG Kinney directed the Soldier to drag that patient outside to make more room in the small stone confinement. As he began stabilizing and packaging the second critical casualty, SSG Kinney ordered the other flight medic to prepare to hoist up the first patient.
During the second hoist iteration, the aircraft and the small building came under heavy effective machine gun fire. Despite rounds cracking overhead and impacting in the terrain around him, SSG Kinney helped his fellow medic complete the hoist, while attempting to locate the origin of the enemy ambush. SSG Kinney discovered that the fire was coming from a ridgeline immediately to the north of his location, opposite of where the Apache aircraft were engaging. He contacted the Apache gunships over his MBITR radio and began redirecting rocket and 30mm gun runs onto the heavy machine gun location, effectively suppressing the fire. The hovering Medevac aircraft had already taken two direct hits while inside the ambush kill zone. If not for SSG Kinney’s instinctive action the entire crew and two patients onboard would have undoubtedly been lost.
As the Apache aircraft continued to suppress, SSG Kinney finished packaging his third critical patient and began to assess and treat the remaining three patients, who suffered from multiple shrapnel and gunshot wounds. As his fellow medic departed up the hoist, SSG Kinney immediately began preparing the third Skedco Extraction Litter. SSG Kinney discovered that several of the required hoist straps were missing. Without hesitation, he procured a rope and began using it to prepare a harness that would secure the patient’s Skedco to the hoist hook. SSG Kinney now moved his three remaining patients to cover as he radioed his Medevac aircraft, requesting extraction. As the firefight continued around him, the pinned down squad took an additional casualty. SSG Kinney quickly triaged this Soldier and placed him with the other three casualties awaiting hoist extraction. While waiting for his aircraft, SSG Kinney maneuvered under fire to an adjacent building in effort to locate the enemy fighting positions and possibly relay them to the Apaches, but the fire ceased as soon as he repositioned.
The Medevac aircraft hovered into position and SSG Kinney took the first ambulatory patient into the open and secured him to the Jungle Penetrator (JP). The enemy began taking pot shots at SSG Kinney and his patient. As soon as the patient was off the ground, SSG Kinney scrambled back to cover and retrieved a second ambulatory casualty. As he exposed himself once again, the bullets began cracking by and impacting the wall behind him. Regardless, he secured the patient and waited until the JP was off the ground until retreating to cover. Once more, he repositioned to an overlooking building for a better vantage point but was unable to get a fix on the sniper’s location.
Returning for the final litter casualty, SSG Kinney directed two Soldiers to help him drag the Skedco litter into the clearing. SSG Kinney began connecting his makeshift Skedco rigging to the hoist’s rescue hook. With the sporadic enemy fire still kicking up dirt all around him, SSG Kinney dutifully held the tagline for several minutes while his patient hoisted up, ensuring the litter did not spin out of control. When the cable was fully retracted SSG Kinney realized that his makeshift harness ropes were too long, and the litter still hung several feet below the aircraft. He calmly instructed the crew chief to lower the Sked and instructed the pilots to “do a lap” to limit their exposure to enemy fire while he sat in the open and shortened the ropes.
At this time, an eighth Soldier was wounded in the leg by the sustained enemy fire. When the aircraft returned and the cable sent back down, SSG Kinney sent the latest ambulatory casualty up on the JP after controlling his bleeding. Lastly, SSG Kinney began his second attempt at hoisting up the makeshift Skedco, this time doing so successfully. With all five of his casualties onboard, SSG Kinney quickly secured his gear, and checked for any additional wounded. He then rode the JP up to his aircraft.
Enroute to the Forward Surgical Team (FST), SSG Kinney single handedly treated five critical patients, controlling bleeding, administering pain control, dressing wounds, and starting IVs. The multi-systemic wounds SSG Kinney treated alone in the back of his cramped aircraft included partial amputations, femoral bleeding, and multiple gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Upon landing at the Medical Treatment Facility, SSG Kinney assisted in unloading his patients and preparing them for surgery once in the FST.
SSG Kinney’s heroic actions on this day exceeded the call of duty and speak volumes to his selfless dedication to the welfare of his fellow Soldiers. On countless occasions, he demonstrated a willingness to lay down his own life for those he is sworn to protect. By calling Apache fire onto the location of an enemy heavy machine gun during an ambush, he saved the lives of countless Soldiers on the ground, as well as the lives of an entire Medevac crew who had assumed a stationary hover over the kill zone. SSG Kinney’s selfless actions under fire, his level head during a deteriorating situation, and improvisations when all was otherwise lost, reflect the highest credit upon himself, the Medevac, Task Force Out Front, and the United States Army.
SGT John Penich who was at Restrepo saved Matthew Kinney's life and was awarded the Silver star on the Day Matthew Kinney earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. John was killed the day Matthew Kinney earned my Silver Star saving the men of Restrepo.
Distinguished Flying Cross Mission in the Korengal Valley up from OP Restrepo
On 06 September 2008 Dustoff 36, of C Co 6-101Avn Regt based at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, received an urgent surgical 9-Line MEDEVAC request for troops in contact in the Korengal Valley, approximately 60 kilometers north. Crewed by CW4 Joseph N. Callaway (PC), 1LT Micah J. Morino (PI), SSG James J. Frailey (CE), and SSG Matthew S. Kinney (MO), Dustoff 36’s mission was to rescue two critically wounded U.S. Soldiers isolated on rugged terrain high above the valley floor, exposed to enemy fire. The enemy ambush and ensuing firefight had already claimed the lives of two U.S. Soldiers and wounded four others.
Upon reaching Asadabad, the AH64Ds that were escorting Dustoff 36 assumed lead in order to escort the unarmed MEDEVAC aircraft into the most dangerous valley in N2KL. As the flight neared the Korengal Valley the troops in contact reported they were still engaged with the enemy. The Apaches entered the Korengal while the MEDEVAC held in the vicinity of FOB Michigan. After multiple “gun runs” the Apaches cleared the MEDEVAC aircraft into the valley. Dustoff 36 approached the ambush kill zone where the soldiers initially came under fire to insert the flight medic. The crew quickly realized that there was no place to land in order to drop off the medic or pick up the wounded. Quickly volunteering to be lowered over 50 feet to the side of the sheer rock precipice, SSG Kinney readied his equipment and attached himself to the hoist.
Strong winds and deteriorating weather caused this drop to be extremely dangerous. Spinning out of control and bouncing four times off trees and rock outcroppings, SSG Kinney managed to secure his medic’s bag, weapon and SKED upon arrival on the ground. Once on the ground, SSG Kinney realized that he had been dropped at the location of the Soldier who was killed and that the two wounded Soldiers who needed his assistance were 200 meters away through the kill-zone of the ambush and 200 feet below his present position. Without hesitation SSG Kinney moved, unescorted, to the location of the two wounded Soldiers. SSG Kinney took off running across shear rock faces, through the kill zone of the ambush and to the location of the wounded that still needed care. While moving across this treacherous terrain, SSG Kinney lost his footing, dropping the SKED. SSG Kinney grasped the root system of a tree to keep himself from falling down the side of the mountain. Despite losing the SKED down the side of the hill, SSG Kinney continued toward the location of the two wounded Soldiers and immediately assessed their trauma and provided medical attention.
One soldier had been knocked out by the blast of an RPG and thrown nearly 200 feet down the mountain suffered severe internal injuries, a broken arm, broken collar bone and a broken back. Without the SKED to stabilize the Soldier, SSG Kinney used the soldier’s IBA to create an improvised immobilizing brace. However, he was currently conscious and responsive, so SSG Kinney shifted his focus to the other patient who was still drifting in and out of consciousness.
As SSG Kinney worked on the ground, the remaining crew of Dustoff 36 held in the valley coordinating with the apaches and ground elements as they continued to engage the enemy. The crew of Dustoff 36 realized they would require refueling to complete the mission. They coordinated with SSG Kinney who required fifteen to twenty additional minutes to properly prepare the wounded Soldiers for hoist. Dustoff 36 departed the valley for FOB Blessing, refueled and returned. Upon reentry to the Korengal Valley one of the Apache escorts on station was engaged and sustained damage by anti-aircraft fire directly over the objective.
Shortly thereafter the flight medic called for extraction. Dustoff 36 approached the site well below the ridgeline with minimal clearance between the aircraft and numerous obstacles. SSG Frailey’s exceptional clearing instructions allowed the pilots to maneuver their aircraft within ten feet of a rock face with multiple obstacles just under the rotor system. As the hoist was lowered to the ground, the pilot on the controls, CW4 Callaway, began to fight to keep the aircraft steady in the intensifying rain and wind. Visibility fell to less than one mile as the first patient was hooked to the hoist cable and lifted to the aircraft. Although the clearance of the litter patient through the trees and along the cliff face was difficult CW4 Callaway’s steady hover work assured a stable platform for the crew to operate from.
A storm descended upon the valley, inundating the mountainside with torrential showers and hail, causing all aviation assets to withdraw with the exception of Dustoff 36 and their last remaining Apache escort Hedgerow 51. Although the Apache remained on station, the severity of the storm now caused them to lose visual contact with Dustoff 36 below. Even the Apaches FLIR was rendered useless as the showers and obscuration worsened.
After the litter patient was secured inside, the crew discussed the possibility of completing a dual hoist with the flight medic. Although their was an inherent risk in attempting to hoist both the final ambulatory patient and the flight medic at the same time the crew was concerned with the storm cell that was nearing, and the time required to do two separate hoists. This decision undoubtedly saved the entire crew, as conditions began to deteriorate quickly. The flight medic agreed and coordinated with the crew chief to lower the jungle penetrator (JP). As the JP was lowered the storm worsened. Visibility at this time decreased to less than 200 feet. Winds gusted to greater than 35 knots. Rain showers increased, and hail deluged the aircraft, exposed crew, and patient.
Visibility continued to degrade to less than 100 feet, the rain and hail were pelting SSG Kinney, making the preparation of the exfil treacherous in itself. Once hooked up, SSG Kinney called for immediate lift. As soon as SSG Kinney and the wounded Soldier left the ground they began spinning due to the severe winds and rotor wash. Clinging to the wounded Soldier to stabilize and comfort him, SSG Kinney remained calm and protected the Soldier.
As SSG Kinney and the final Soldier were raised toward the helicopter visibility plummeted to less than 50 feet. As the hoist neared the helicopter it suddenly seized, stopping ten feet below the helicopter. SSG Frailey immediately notified the crew of the hoists mechanical failure, simultaneously troubleshooting the problem. He then directed the pilots to override the hoist controls from the master control panel located in the cockpit. 1LT Morino attempted to override the controls, the hoist was still unresponsive. The weather, having deteriorated with visibility falling below 50 feet caused the pilots to lose all visual reference points. This forced the crew to now rely solely on SSG Frailey’s obstacle clearance to keep from drifting into the mountainside. He continued to provide clearing instructions to the pilots and manipulate the hoist as he battled the gusting winds which tossed the patient and flight medic still dangling on the jungle penetrator.
With SSG Kinney and the Soldier hanging below the aircraft and SSG Frailey struggling to keep them stable in the ferocious weather the pilots discussed their options. With time running out, an opening suddenly appeared through the storm clouds surrounding the aircraft. 1LT Morino could just make out a building in a village on the valley floor. Taking the controls 1LT Morino maneuvered the aircraft down the mountainside with the medic and patient still hanging precariously from the hoist.
SSG Frailey continued to troubleshoot the hoist malfunction while battling the hoist cable to keep the two individuals from swinging out of control. The hoist suddenly lurched, dropping the patient and flight medic five feet. Instantly, SSG Frailey switched from the standard operational speed to slow speed mode, resulting in temporary control and saving the lives of the flight medic and patient. Operating the hoist in slow speed, SSG Frailey bit by bit raised the hoist high enough to move the patient and flight medic into the aircraft, at which point the hoist failed completely.
1LT Morino continued slowly descending down the mountainside, working toward the village. CW4 Callaway coordinated with the Apaches who provided guidance from above. Upon reaching the valley floor 1LT Morino carefully worked along the valley, with visibility still below 200 feet. Working toward increasingly better weather Dustoff 36 finally emerged from the storm as it exited the Korengal Valley. SSG Kinney continued to advance the treatment of both Soldiers, working for over 30 minutes as the crew flew back to Jalalabad in order to transfer both wounded Soldiers to a higher level of care.
The crew of Dustoff 36 completed their mission despite encountering several complications. Overcoming numerous difficulties they all performed exceptionally as individuals and most importantly as a crew to save the lives of two U.S. Soldiers. Their management of the most adverse conditions and bravery in the face of an armed enemy displays the highest standard of conduct and goes beyond the highest expectations of any U.S. service member.
Upon reaching Asadabad, the AH64Ds that were escorting Dustoff 36 assumed lead in order to escort the unarmed MEDEVAC aircraft into the most dangerous valley in N2KL. As the flight neared the Korengal Valley the troops in contact reported they were still engaged with the enemy. The Apaches entered the Korengal while the MEDEVAC held in the vicinity of FOB Michigan. After multiple “gun runs” the Apaches cleared the MEDEVAC aircraft into the valley. Dustoff 36 approached the ambush kill zone where the soldiers initially came under fire to insert the flight medic. The crew quickly realized that there was no place to land in order to drop off the medic or pick up the wounded. Quickly volunteering to be lowered over 50 feet to the side of the sheer rock precipice, SSG Kinney readied his equipment and attached himself to the hoist.
Strong winds and deteriorating weather caused this drop to be extremely dangerous. Spinning out of control and bouncing four times off trees and rock outcroppings, SSG Kinney managed to secure his medic’s bag, weapon and SKED upon arrival on the ground. Once on the ground, SSG Kinney realized that he had been dropped at the location of the Soldier who was killed and that the two wounded Soldiers who needed his assistance were 200 meters away through the kill-zone of the ambush and 200 feet below his present position. Without hesitation SSG Kinney moved, unescorted, to the location of the two wounded Soldiers. SSG Kinney took off running across shear rock faces, through the kill zone of the ambush and to the location of the wounded that still needed care. While moving across this treacherous terrain, SSG Kinney lost his footing, dropping the SKED. SSG Kinney grasped the root system of a tree to keep himself from falling down the side of the mountain. Despite losing the SKED down the side of the hill, SSG Kinney continued toward the location of the two wounded Soldiers and immediately assessed their trauma and provided medical attention.
One soldier had been knocked out by the blast of an RPG and thrown nearly 200 feet down the mountain suffered severe internal injuries, a broken arm, broken collar bone and a broken back. Without the SKED to stabilize the Soldier, SSG Kinney used the soldier’s IBA to create an improvised immobilizing brace. However, he was currently conscious and responsive, so SSG Kinney shifted his focus to the other patient who was still drifting in and out of consciousness.
As SSG Kinney worked on the ground, the remaining crew of Dustoff 36 held in the valley coordinating with the apaches and ground elements as they continued to engage the enemy. The crew of Dustoff 36 realized they would require refueling to complete the mission. They coordinated with SSG Kinney who required fifteen to twenty additional minutes to properly prepare the wounded Soldiers for hoist. Dustoff 36 departed the valley for FOB Blessing, refueled and returned. Upon reentry to the Korengal Valley one of the Apache escorts on station was engaged and sustained damage by anti-aircraft fire directly over the objective.
Shortly thereafter the flight medic called for extraction. Dustoff 36 approached the site well below the ridgeline with minimal clearance between the aircraft and numerous obstacles. SSG Frailey’s exceptional clearing instructions allowed the pilots to maneuver their aircraft within ten feet of a rock face with multiple obstacles just under the rotor system. As the hoist was lowered to the ground, the pilot on the controls, CW4 Callaway, began to fight to keep the aircraft steady in the intensifying rain and wind. Visibility fell to less than one mile as the first patient was hooked to the hoist cable and lifted to the aircraft. Although the clearance of the litter patient through the trees and along the cliff face was difficult CW4 Callaway’s steady hover work assured a stable platform for the crew to operate from.
A storm descended upon the valley, inundating the mountainside with torrential showers and hail, causing all aviation assets to withdraw with the exception of Dustoff 36 and their last remaining Apache escort Hedgerow 51. Although the Apache remained on station, the severity of the storm now caused them to lose visual contact with Dustoff 36 below. Even the Apaches FLIR was rendered useless as the showers and obscuration worsened.
After the litter patient was secured inside, the crew discussed the possibility of completing a dual hoist with the flight medic. Although their was an inherent risk in attempting to hoist both the final ambulatory patient and the flight medic at the same time the crew was concerned with the storm cell that was nearing, and the time required to do two separate hoists. This decision undoubtedly saved the entire crew, as conditions began to deteriorate quickly. The flight medic agreed and coordinated with the crew chief to lower the jungle penetrator (JP). As the JP was lowered the storm worsened. Visibility at this time decreased to less than 200 feet. Winds gusted to greater than 35 knots. Rain showers increased, and hail deluged the aircraft, exposed crew, and patient.
Visibility continued to degrade to less than 100 feet, the rain and hail were pelting SSG Kinney, making the preparation of the exfil treacherous in itself. Once hooked up, SSG Kinney called for immediate lift. As soon as SSG Kinney and the wounded Soldier left the ground they began spinning due to the severe winds and rotor wash. Clinging to the wounded Soldier to stabilize and comfort him, SSG Kinney remained calm and protected the Soldier.
As SSG Kinney and the final Soldier were raised toward the helicopter visibility plummeted to less than 50 feet. As the hoist neared the helicopter it suddenly seized, stopping ten feet below the helicopter. SSG Frailey immediately notified the crew of the hoists mechanical failure, simultaneously troubleshooting the problem. He then directed the pilots to override the hoist controls from the master control panel located in the cockpit. 1LT Morino attempted to override the controls, the hoist was still unresponsive. The weather, having deteriorated with visibility falling below 50 feet caused the pilots to lose all visual reference points. This forced the crew to now rely solely on SSG Frailey’s obstacle clearance to keep from drifting into the mountainside. He continued to provide clearing instructions to the pilots and manipulate the hoist as he battled the gusting winds which tossed the patient and flight medic still dangling on the jungle penetrator.
With SSG Kinney and the Soldier hanging below the aircraft and SSG Frailey struggling to keep them stable in the ferocious weather the pilots discussed their options. With time running out, an opening suddenly appeared through the storm clouds surrounding the aircraft. 1LT Morino could just make out a building in a village on the valley floor. Taking the controls 1LT Morino maneuvered the aircraft down the mountainside with the medic and patient still hanging precariously from the hoist.
SSG Frailey continued to troubleshoot the hoist malfunction while battling the hoist cable to keep the two individuals from swinging out of control. The hoist suddenly lurched, dropping the patient and flight medic five feet. Instantly, SSG Frailey switched from the standard operational speed to slow speed mode, resulting in temporary control and saving the lives of the flight medic and patient. Operating the hoist in slow speed, SSG Frailey bit by bit raised the hoist high enough to move the patient and flight medic into the aircraft, at which point the hoist failed completely.
1LT Morino continued slowly descending down the mountainside, working toward the village. CW4 Callaway coordinated with the Apaches who provided guidance from above. Upon reaching the valley floor 1LT Morino carefully worked along the valley, with visibility still below 200 feet. Working toward increasingly better weather Dustoff 36 finally emerged from the storm as it exited the Korengal Valley. SSG Kinney continued to advance the treatment of both Soldiers, working for over 30 minutes as the crew flew back to Jalalabad in order to transfer both wounded Soldiers to a higher level of care.
The crew of Dustoff 36 completed their mission despite encountering several complications. Overcoming numerous difficulties they all performed exceptionally as individuals and most importantly as a crew to save the lives of two U.S. Soldiers. Their management of the most adverse conditions and bravery in the face of an armed enemy displays the highest standard of conduct and goes beyond the highest expectations of any U.S. service member.
Patient pick up from the Forward Surgical Team in the middle of out going artillery fire
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Two day glimpse of footage telling a MEDEVAC deployment
Exfill and controlled chaos, just another day at the office
A Hero's hoist home out of the Korengal Valley.
In the Forward Surgical Team helping out on a down day. Get extra skills and knowledge where you can
Not everything is EMS or first aid related. You have to be well rounded to care and treat your patients in an austere environment.
It's not all medical stuff. Adapt your skills to be and do whatever is required for who you support. The same rings true in for Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement, SWAT.
