Michael Yon Dispatch: The American Pedros – No Nonsense Combat Rescuers

I asked Danish journalist Camilla Fuhr Nilsson to write two dispatches about USAF Pedros.  Camilla accompanied me at Camp Bastion.  Here is the first:

By Camilla Fuhr Nilsson
Published: 27 September 2009

It is the last weekend of August 2009. It is also the last weekend in southern Afghanistan for the currently deployed US Air Force rescue crew 129th . They have been in Camp Bastion for four months and have taken on over 400 rescue missions in this deployment. The Pedros, as they are called, are well-known for their kamikaze- like operations. They are far from kamikaze-like themselves but their personalities stand out. These are their last days in the theatre. This time around.

”Dude, I’m like so tired,” Adrian says to Josh.
The dark-haired Adrian, who looks a lot like “Friends” actor David Schwimmer and the smaller sweet-looking Josh have just completed a twelve-hour shift which had begun with a rescue mission at 2 AM and ended with a rescue that had taken their last strength away for the day. Now they have to get everything in order for the farewell BBQ tonight. It’s a very hot and sunny Saturday afternoon in Helmand. (more…)