Pedro 66

On June 9, 2011 a Pave Hawk - HH60G going by the call sign "Pedro 66" was shot down in Afghanistan.  This was a USAF rescue helicopter.  The last words you hear from "Pedro" are, "I'm hit.  We're going in."  The other HELO watches as they crash , but all emotions need to be buried.  All the training that you prepare for as a Rescue Team is no longer for an anonymous individual, it's for your brother in arms, your teammates, your family - it's now a personal mission.

Pedro 66 lost 5 of it's Team Members; Capt David Wisniewski and 1Lt Joel Gentz - (CRO - Combat Rescue Officer) of the 58th Rescue Squadron (RQS), SSgt David Smith of the 66th RQS, and TSgt Michael Flores and SrA Benjamin White - both PJs of the 48th RQS.  This was the first time the Rescue community had lost a CRO - Lt Gentz in a combat mission.

Pedro 66 was conducting a casualty evacuation operation in southeastern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - four of the members died in the crash, Capt Wisniewski died of from injuries he received in the accident almost a month later.

We remember Pedro 66 regularly - it was a devastating loss, to say the least, to the PJ and Rescue community.  Their sacrifice is a true inspiration, they are true heroes and died living to their creed: "these things we do that others may live". 

God Bless all the members that were lost that day, you will never be forgotten.

If you would like to help out the Rescue Community please donate to:

www.thatothersmaylive.org