Sergeants Miller and Cooper jumped from their seats the instant our helicopter touched down. While Cooper unbuckled the injured soldier, Miller slid back our copter's side door, and the sound and wind from the Black Hawk's main rotor blades blasted in. The wind felt freezing on my face and hands, and I was thankful for the extra warmth provided by my military vest.

The sergeants lifted up the injured soldier, moved him to the open door, and handed him to another pair of soldiers who ...