While the wounded boarded the helicopters, Wurzbach helped Walton count the soldiers to make certain no one was left behind. It was all part of the routine: The same number of men who came in had to leave. The numbers had to match. Otherwise they would have to come back—and that was something nobody wanted to do.
So Wurzbach began adding up the soldiers. He talked to the sergeants and began counting and adding. He pored over the records. After cross-checking every record, he turned to Walton: “I’m sure we have everybody.”
As they waited to get on aircraft, every member of the team began talking about the mission. What they were doing during the firefight. Where they were. Some even took a break and lit up cigarettes, which you’re not supposed to do in battle. But they couldn’t wait. It was their way of relieving the stress, blowing off steam.
The more Wurzbach heard, the angrier he became. His friends were badly hurt, and he didn’t know if any of them would live. And if they lived, he knew their lives would be changed forever.