Page 42 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2018-2

As the LRRPs extricated themselves from the strings, Mark called me. “I’ll head back up for the rest of the team, keep an eye out will you?” he called. And immediately disappeared into the mist once again.
Mark repeated the same operation all over again to get the remaining members of the team out. It was as exciting and breathtaking as the first time, with the rangers swinging from the clouds on strings provided by Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry.
We were low on fuel and darkness was falling as we flew out of the valley through a dip in a ridgeline and headed towards the nearest refueling point at Firebase Bastogne just a few minutes away.
As soon as we landed and with the ships still running as we started hot refueling, one of the LRRPs jumped out of the Huey and ran around to the front to shake Mark’s hand. He and the others still inside the Huey all turned towards my Cobra and gave me a big thumbs-up. Their smiles were like sparkling sunshine amid the dirt, grime and camouflage that covered their bodies. All of us had lumps in our throats. It had been a great day!
On January 25, 1970 Mark Stevens was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroic actions and would forever remain a hero in my memories. – Lew Jennings
Brotherhood of War: Lew Jennings and Mark Stevens together again 40 years later in Mosul, Iraq, 2009
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