Lucky Charms and Bullet Holes: Medevac Missions in Afghanistan

A US Navy critical care nurse cares for a soldier with stab wounds on a Medevac helicopter north of Forward Operating Base Edi in Afghanistan.

Photo by Kevin Frayer/Associated Press

U.S. Army flight medic SGT Jaime Adame, top, cares for seriously wounded Marine CPL. Andrew Smith following an insurgent attack.

Photo by Kevin Frayer/AP

U.S Army medic SSgt. Bob Winchester of Alaska, from Task Force Lift “Dust Off”, Charlie Company 1-214 Aviation Regiment.

 AP Photo/Kevin Frayer

A United States Marine who was wounded in an explosion from an IED is carried to a U.S. Army medevac Blackhawk helicopter from Task Force Lift “Dust Off” Charlie Company 1-214 Aviation Regiment, as he is evacuated from an area north of Sangin District, in the volatile Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan.

(AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

The "Dustoff" helicopters are distinguished with the emblem of the Red Cross and under international law are supposed to be off-limits to enemy fire.

Afghanistan's insurgents make no distinction.

Read more about "Dust Off" Medevac missions HERE & HERE.