PJs in Afghanistan 2009

Dozer523 · 10-31-2009, 23:32

http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=35673

jbour13 · 11-01-2009, 00:25

Shocker and Pedro are the bomb.

Pedro came in on a mission that others would not. The call was made and they were up and moving very, very quickly. We sent ahead a copy of the mission and it came in handy. These boys came in low, fast and on target and kicked out all ammo varieties that was listed (even .300WM) just for giggles.

No questions asked, and no expectations of a thank you.

Had the pleasure to speak with a few and they are class acts at their jobs.

Always good to hear "Pedro/Shocker XX inbound" on the radio.

Michael Yon is on it as usual and is a great American.

Thanks for sharing, those pics made me shake a bit. Pretty nasty areas.

Richard · 11-01-2009, 06:47

Dozer,

Thanks for the link - good article. My nephew is in PJ training as we speak (goes to BAC this month) and I sent the AF link to his parents.

FWIW - the "Pedro" designation brought back memories - it seemed a bit odd to see it assigned to the ARRS unit as it was the call-sign for one of the A-1E/F squadrons out of Nakhon Phnom back in our time. Guess I've gotten old - how the hell did that happen.

Richard's $.02

mark46th · 11-03-2009, 16:51

I did a lot of work with the PJ's back in the old days in Thailand at NKP. Good guys, even though they tried to feed me to their 13 foot rock python...

af_rigger · 11-04-2009, 15:11

Dozer, Thanks for the post! I was a Rigger for the PJs out of Nellis AFB back '88 to '92. I always enjoyed working with those guys, Good times!

-Ken

head · 11-04-2009, 15:45

Thanks for the link.
Much love and respect for the Shocker/Pedro crews. The crew out of Bastion came out a couple times to evac our guys. Luckily, I was able to thank them in person... they were humble and of course, it was all in a day's work for those guys.

caveman · 11-04-2009, 16:15

It’s bad to get shot, but if you must, it’s best to happen in the presence of Green Berets and to get picked up by Pedros.

Best quote of the article, nice pictures.

greenberetTFS · 11-04-2009, 16:27

Excellent link Dozer .............

Big Teddy

shortbrownguy · 11-04-2009, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbour13

Shocker and Pedro are the bomb.

Pedro came in on a mission that others would not. The call was made and they were up and moving very, very quickly. We sent ahead a copy of the mission and it came in handy. These boys came in low, fast and on target and kicked out all ammo varieties that was listed (even .300WM) just for giggles.

No questions asked, and no expectations of a thank you.

Had the pleasure to speak with a few and they are class acts at their jobs.

Always good to hear "Pedro/Shocker XX inbound" on the radio.

Michael Yon is on it as usual and is a great American.

Thanks for sharing, those pics made me shake a bit. Pretty nasty areas.

I can't say enough about Pedro/ Shocker. Class acts and true warriors.
I know, and was there for the mission you speak of

. Three guys are alive today because of there heroism

.

Sigaba · 11-04-2009, 19:19

Mr. Yon shows--again--that one can provide the news without succumbing to voyeurism. From the article.

Quote:

The British are more sensitive about casualties than Americans (many Americans don’t care about photos if they are wounded, though some do). Although I was not embedded with the Brits and so do not have to follow British rules, I respect the soldiers.

And so, without the patient’s consent (which was hard to get because he was in pain and the helicopter was loud and the PJs were working), these photos will not show his face.

And later:

Quote:

Some Green Berets helped load the patient and then went back to whatever it is that Green Berets do out here.

If only MSM outlets would apply the same degree of prudence when it comes to PERSEC and OPSEC.

Monsoon65 · 11-04-2009, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

FWIW - the "Pedro" designation brought back memories - it seemed a bit odd to see it assigned to the ARRS unit as it was the call-sign for one of the A-1E/F squadrons out of Nakhon Phnom back in our time. Guess I've gotten old - how the hell did that happen.

Air Rescue HH-43s were actually called Huskies, but they were called "Pedros", too. I posted some pics of my dads wrecked 43 on here last year.

I think the A1s were always callsigned, "Sandy", I believe.

Richard · 11-04-2009, 22:03

Quote:

Air Rescue HH-43s were actually called Huskies, but they were called "Pedros", too. I posted some pics of my dads wrecked 43 on here last year.

I think the A1s were always callsigned, "Sandy", I believe.

You're right - damn CRS - Pedros were those goofy looking HH-43s for some ARRS support - the ones I remember flew out of Udorn.

FYI - Sandys were A/C from any squadron assigned as a 'package' for downed aircrew rescue - usually an HP-130, 2-4 A-1E/G/Hs, and 2 HH-3/HH-53s. The PJs assigned to the ARRS were dedicated professionals as were the HH-53 crews for the Ponys and Green Hornets who supported us.

The A-1E/G/Hs supporting us from NKP were Hobos and Zorros.

Richard

mojaveman · 11-04-2009, 23:04

Hats off to the PJs.

They along with the 1st SOW trained with us at Orogrande back in the day.

Those were some great pictures Dozer.

Stealthed · 11-05-2009, 03:41

Thanks for the post Dozer. The pictures/stories are amazing. I'm in awe of the PJ's, those guy's are true heroes.

Geenie · 11-05-2009, 09:48

This is a great Thread. Fantastic pictures, indeed. I've always wondered about how much combat the PJs really see. Seems like they do a great job, in any case.

Thanks for posting this!