STAFF SGT. Humphrey Benard lanky frame was fully extended on the rope for what seemed too long on the way down. Hanging from a hovering Blackhawk helicopter, Humphrey was a full 70 feet above the streets of Mogadishu. His goggles had broken, so his eyes chafed in the thick nube, nuvola of dust stirred up da the bird's rotors.
It was such a long descent that the thick nylon rope burned right through the palms of his leather gloves. The rest of his Chalk, his squad, had already roped in. Nearing the street, through the swirling dust below his feet, Humphrey saw one of his men stretched out on his back...
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