The Savior Elite: Inside the Special Operations Force Tasked with Rescuing Navy SEALS

This is a good read on a PJ who was awarded the Air Force Cross for action during the battle of Takur Ghar

LINK

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As the quick reaction force helicopter made its approach over the landing zone, they were struck by rocket propelled grenades at close range –they returned fire with mini guns, but the helicopter impacted the ground hard, lurching into the snow.

“Once we landed, 7.62mm rounds ripped through the fuselage--the daylight popping through, smoke aglow; then the rotors decelerated to a grinding halt,” Brown said. “Immediately, we had several casualties; I remember seeing two Rangers face down. Keary and I were deep in the aircraft—and we made eye contact and shared kind of a ‘here we go’ moment.”

The team disembarked from the aircraft to combat the blistering fire of a waiting enemy. At great risk to his own life, Miller moved through the snowy terrain, crossing into the line of fire on several occasions in order to assess and care for critically wounded servicemen.

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When Cunningham was killed during another attack, the casualty collection point he was at was compromised. Miller assumed Cunningham’s role -- providing medical aid under fire to the wounded – and braved enemy fire to move the wounded to better cover and concealment.

“I wholeheartedly believe the Air Force Cross accurately represents Keary’s actions that day,” said Brown. “I know those lives were saved that day were because of his efforts within that environment…the steps he took to ensure they made it off the battlefield.”

Miller is credited with saving the lives of 10 U.S. service members that day, and the recovery of seven who were killed in action.

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Reads more like a CMH citation - probably deserves it.

Have a friend that was a Seal (retired) -His son is currently a NS. He doesn’t discuss any aspect of his prior service, and I learned not to ask questions. He definitely marches to the beat of a different drum.

Posted this in another thread. When I was stationed at Hurlburt in the 90s, people said the PJs would go to charity hospital to train on gun shot wounds.

Badasses.

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Posted this in another thread. When I was stationed at Hurlburt in the 90s, people said the PJs would go to charity hospital to train on gun shot wounds.

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Trainees in the special operations medic course do an urban trauma center rotation. At one time it was in Tampa but I guess it varies.

I sure don’t have that good brave stuff flowing through my veins. Props and mad RESPEK to them.

I thought he was a TACP/JTAC?

Had some PJs in country with us during my first deployment. Dudes could run for days. We didn’t interact with them much. Seemed like pretty humble dudes.

ETA: If anyone truly wants to know who the baddest mother frickers in the world are, that would be the Nepalese Gurkhas. They’re all about 5’2 and are fricking savages. My old unit deployed with them after I got out. They told me some stories that are just straight savage. They’re sf units basically do the British SAS selection course (widely considered the hardest pipeline on earth) but it they basically do it barefoot, in Nepal, and barefoot. You won’t find many press releases on them because they’re attached to the British Army largely and any savage doings they do are always engulfed under “British Forces”. I’ve worked with many different units and the Gurkhas brutality is something I remember stories about. Never worked with them personally.

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I think John Chapman (Post, MOH) was in this same engagement. His is the first MOH Citation actually caught on camera, as the location was being circled by surveillance on the ridge. Really intense video, but shows how truly badass these men really are.

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I just finished reading Alone at Dawn. It's about Chapman and the Air Force CCT controllers. These dudes are the elite of the elite. John Chapman is a true hero. It had to have been truly terrifying when he came to and realized he had been left behind. Even worse when his own country started dropping bombs on him.