Starlite LZ

		Starlite LZ
		It's been so long, and I've forgotten so many of the details of the days of the operation. Some things you cannot forget, though. I took this photo from the UH-34 that took me, my FO team and a few others from the infantry company we supported ("Lima" 3/7) into the LZ on Starlite. I still remember so clearly the intense feeling of butterflies in my stomach and the overwhelming fear I felt when the helicopter took off from the flight deck of the Iwo Jima. In part to take my mind of that, I strained to focus on my map and the plot of our route. When we crossed the water line, I had located us on the map and was carefully watching for terrain markers so that I could maintain my orientation. I wanted to know exactly where we were and what the lay of the land was when we would land. I do wish I had a better photo to show you here, although you can sense our altitude and you can see some of the signs of battle ahead. With the case of nerves I had at this point, it's surprising anything at all is in focus!