One Mans Heaven is Another Man's Hell… (Pt. 2)

When you hear the call from the Army, it’s usually a sign that things are going south. A typical day turns into chaos as the situation in the field deteriorates. In this instance, we received urgent reports that a village was under heavy attack, facing imminent fall by day’s end. The Air Force was trying to provide support, but they simply didn’t have the muscle to turn the tide. That’s where we came in.

We'd be flying in critical supplies—usually, ammunition, food, medicine, and fresh troops when they were available. Our return trip would involve taking the dead and wounded back to the capital, the only somewhat secure place left in the country.

One Mans Heaven Braving the Chaos

Upon arrival at the village, I found the landscape a chaotic blend of smoke and fire, with sounds of gunfire, mortar explosions, and grenades echoing throughout. In typical fashion for the region, there were no clear lines of defense visible. Just a prevailing sense of absurdity.

After assessing the situation, I boarded the Russian Transport Helicopter along with my crew, which included three Russian soldiers and a former French Foreign Legionnaire who’d also served with the 101st US Army in Kosovo. Landing was risky, and shutting down the helicopter was out of the question.

One Mans Heaven The Human Cost

We made our landing amidst a shocking scene—grass huts engulfed in flames, a pile of bodies waiting for evacuation. We faced about 30 wounded soldiers. The body count was staggering, to say the least. Ironically, dealing with the grim task of transporting the deceased was not new for us; we had established routines back at the base to manage this grim reality.

As the scenario escalated, I quickly liaised with an African Sergeant who insisted we prioritize the dead over the wounded. His reasoning stemmed from deep cultural beliefs about burial and the afterlife: “Mr. Hawke,” he explained, “the dead cannot leave this place. They must be buried on their homeland to reach heaven.” A fair point, but in this moment, I was all about prioritizing life over the dead.

Conflict on the Ground

With all due respect, I needed to focus on the living. Each moment spent conversing with the Sergeant felt like losing precious seconds we could use to save lives. To make my point clear, I resorted to some lower questionable theatrics involving the Sergeant and the rifle: as mortar rounds began to walk in on our location—a clear indication we were in imminent danger—I had to take matters into my own hands.

Decisions in the Heat of Battle

In a chaotic swirl of emotions, I struck him in a moment of sheer adrenaline. It was a bit surreal, akin to a scene from a Hollywood war flick—should I stand my ground or take a swing? With barely any time to think, I went for it. The unexpected uppercut sent him flying, leaving him flat on the ground as the crew executed our order. We managed to get most of the wounded onto the chopper and evacuated about ten bodies before the inevitable happened—the village was lost. Those men would never see their families again.

The Takeaway

This harrowing experience drove home a vital lesson: sometimes there are no rules or historical references to guide your decision-making. Survival often relies on your instincts and common sense. The key? Stay calm, keep moving, and remember that action—any action—is often more effective than freezing in fear.

So, let’s sum this up: vanquish your fears, stay busy, hold on to that gut instinct, and never turn back. In survival situations, every moment counts.

Want to know more? Check out these related articles on our site:

• One Year In Hell | Survival Stories
• 10 Amazing True Survival Stories
• One Mans Heaven Is Another Man’s Hell… (Pt.1)

Up Next: My Bug Out Bag Has A Secret…

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Jan 17, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.