Vert reps: Routine, dangerous

Vert reps: Routine, dangerous

(EXCERPT) , By Scott Schonauer, Stars and Stripes European edition,
Monday, February 9, 2004

ABOARD THE USS BATAAN — The helicopter drifted above the ship’s flight
deck and hovered within feet of Pvt. John Purcell’s helmet.

His mission: Latch a piece of cargo to the belly of the MH-60 Night
Hawk and get out of the way quickly — without getting killed, of
course.

Fighting off hurricane-strength winds, Purcell shoved the 6-foot-long
hook into the clip and the helicopter lifted the empty pallets into
the air. He escaped without a scratch, but the experience left him
with an adrenaline rush.

“The first time you do it you can’t fathom the fact that you’re
standing underneath a hovering helicopter and your life is in the
hands of the man above you as well as the man on your back,” Purcell
said

When a Navy ship is in a hurry, the quickest way to get supplies is by
helicopter. Vertical replenishments are routine, but they can be
risky, especially at night or under harsh weather.

The Bataan conducted its vertical replenishment, or vert rep for
short, on Thursday while in the Mediterran...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com