It had become increasingly difficult for Walton to report the team’s situation to Monster 33 because of the heavy volume of satellite radio traffic. But he could discern chopper traffic on the radio. And that was encouraging. With helicopters on the way, Walton had to restore order amid the chaos.
His main priority was getting Afghan commandos in position to establish security for the medevacs. But before he had a chance to do this, Lodyga’s voice crackled over the radio asking Walton if he had any more pole litters. Walton didn’t. There were so many wounded, they had run out of stretchers.
As part of his plan, Walton wanted to hit the HIG fighters hard before the helicopters arrived. Maybe that would provide a little cover. Because he knew that once the birds arrived, the HIG fighters would focus on shooting them down. He remembered reading in one of the intelligence reports that Ghafour had obtained SAMs. Whether they were functional was the question. If they were, it could spell trouble. But he knew the HIG fighters had RPGs. And, with the right strike, an RPG could bring down a helicopter.
Walton told Williams to grab the commandos and start firing at a suspected enemy fighting position. Then he instructed Rhyner to order as many air strikes as possible just before the medevacs approached in the hope of suppressing the enemy and giving the birds a chance to land.
The captain jumped back on the radio and told the pilots that they were “flying into a hot HLZ.” Then ODA 3312 took control of guiding the aircraft in, using smoke and identifying power lines as they came inbound. The power lines were forty feet off the ground.
The entire wadi seemed to explode with CAS strikes and strategically placed fire at the insurgents.
In the distance, Walton could hear the helicopters approaching the valley. But he was worried. Enemy fire continued. Even with all the CAS strikes, with all the American firepower, there was no letup.
Walton knew the wounded couldn’t stay at the base of the hill. Helicopters couldn’t land there. And even if they could, the birds would be right in the line of fire. It was too dangerous for everyone. So he ordered the casualties carried to the middle of the wadi in front of the river. Maybe that would be far enough away to load the men safely on the medevacs.