Chief Master Sergeant Michael I. Lampe Warrior ... - Sgt. Mac's Bar

AU/ACSC/8273/AY07
While Dragon 02 was still being unloaded, Lampe moved the aircraft on the northern LZ
based on the briefed mission schedule. Despite not seeing or hearing the order to move over the
radio, he executed as per the mission rehearsal. It was this attention to detail that prevented a
disaster, he moved the MC-130E just in time to avoid being hit by the second MC-130E on
landing roll-out. 21
Lampe was designated to set-up the “inverted Y”, an infrared light configuration that
gave the helicopter pilots a visual reference to land, in the approximate location to conduct
FARP operations. Due to under-powered FARP pumps, each refueling hose had a 50’ section
removed to ensure fuel flow to the helicopters. The risk factor increased considerably by having
the rotary-wing aircraft that much closer to the refueling EC-130 aircraft, coupled with the
amount of sand and debris being blown around. During this time, Lampe only had one
functional NVG tube due to the sand eliminating his ability to utilize the left eye tube. 22
After the “inverted Y” was set up, the initial RH-53D was inbound to land, but could not
land in the designated area due to “brown out” conditions. Brown out is the condition developed
by rotary-wing aircraft landing in a desert area and kicking up clouds of dust and dirt particles
making visual flight near impossible. Despite not landing in the designated area, the following
helicopters continued to arrive in intervals, until the sixth and final helicopter landed on the
inverted Y and lost all hydraulic systems. With the loss of this helicopter, the ground forces
commander determined that the mission was going to be aborted due to lack of rotary-wing
airlift into the target area the following period of darkness. Meanwhile, as the helicopters were
being re-positioned to hook up to refueling lines, they were forced to air taxi, thus kicking up
even greater amounts of sand and dust. 23
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