A Soldier’s Story: RES, 2CR trains CASEVAC with CH-47 Chinook

Photo By 1st Lt. Jasmine Windley | Soldiers, assigned to the Regimental Engineer Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, carry casualties into Role 1 to be seen by medics during a mass casualty training exercise in Grafenwoehr, Germany, May 3, 2019. The CASEVAC was a week-long base defense exercise from April 29, 2019 to May 3, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Jasmine Windley)  

GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY

05.20.2019

Story by 2nd Lt. Jasmine Windley 

2d Cavalry Regiment

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – It was a mass exodus. With 18 casualties loaded into the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, the casualty evacuation was the culmination of a week-long exercise, from April 29, 2019 to May 3, 2019, through cold, rainy and warm, sweat-filled days.

The day of the CASEVAC was a normal day of field operations with Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Regimental Engineer Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, pulling security, conducting base fortification and planning movements along with many other moving pieces.

One late afternoon, the sound of small arms cut through the warm air from the southern border of the perimeter. Soldiers reacted by returning fire and securing the lines.

One casualty was taken after another. Then, a loud whistle grew closer while the yelling of ‘incoming’ echoed all around.

The ceasing of the whistle led to a boom. The boisterous boom within our perimeter alarmed everyone that an enemy was approaching. This pattern of the whistling and booming repeated at least 10 times if not more, and then, it stopped.

The enemy retrograded, and the exchange of firing between small arms ceased. While the attack on the base had ended, the effects of chaos within the base continued.

With lives on the line, Soldiers began to rally in multiple locations and searched for fallen comrades. Soldiers provided the medical aid taught to them during their combat lifesaver training, which was conducted by the RES medical section.

The squadron aid station of nine medics, one physician assistant and a medical officer began the process of treating, monitoring, evacuating and reporting all of the incoming casualties. The injuries ranged from multiple amputations, chest penetrations, broken arms and stomach eviscerations.

Due to the overwhelming amount of patients exceeding the capabilities of the aid station, the mass casualty alarm was given.

As the aid and litter teams brought casualties to the aid station, medical personnel called orders for help with the medical interventions, further movement of casualties and the monitoring of casualty vital signs. The result was six litter casualties of urgent precedence and 12 ambulatory casualties with precedence ranging from priority to routine.

The combined efforts of the medics and the various Soldiers aiding them resulted in the loading of the casualties between the two heavily armored Stryker medical evacuation vehicles and the large medium tactical vehicle. Along with armed escort, the team traveled to the previously designated helicopter landing zone.

Once there, security of the HLZ was established around the extensive perimeter needed for the large air evacuation platform. Personnel began unloading the casualties while simultaneously calling for the evacuation air support from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Minutes later, the thunderous sound of massive Chinook helicopter blades whipped through the air. The team responded with a cloud of green smoke to signal the pilots with a location. As the aircraft descended upon the HLZ, grass flattened under the power of its hot gusts.

Once on the ground, the flight medic ran toward the casualties for a report on the patients who would soon be under his care. He directed everyone into teams of four to bring the litter-bound casualties to the helicopter and to secure them to the wall of the aircraft with hooks and chains.

It was not the easiest of tasks because incidents happen, such as one litter getting caught on a chain and folding in while carrying a patient. Also, there were difficulties with transitioning and gripping the litter in the space between the securing chains since the work space is narrower; there was also physical strain with pressing litter bound Soldiers and stacking them to varying heights from low to high.

Following the loading of all the litter patients, the ambulatory casualties hobbled in the Chinook. Medics also boarded the helicopter to help with treatment of the large number of casualties.

As the helicopter ascended into the air blasting its hot gusts, again, it brought a sense of pride to the unit. There was pride in that the unit could react to such a chaotic event as well as it did, that the team of medics were able to provide the necessary care and that the flow of medical care allowed the 18 Soldiers to be evacuated in such an expeditious manner.

An exercise like this helped build confidence in the unit to know that if there was ever a time that anyone was injured, then, they would receive adequate treatment. It was an experience of rarity for many due to the extensive coordination and resources needed for such a training.

This exceptional experience of seeing a large portion of a troop go down and still properly do what is needed builds confidence that pushes Soldiers to be the best that they can be.

(U.S. Army story by Staff Sgt. William Maldonado)

• Date Taken: 05.20.2019
• Date Posted: 06.26.2019 07:55
• Story ID: 328989
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE