I was seated in the side seat on the pilots side of the helicopter. The warm air seemed 'thick' inside the chopper. I could smell my webbing and the canvas seats. Once seated, we placed our unloaded rifles barrel down to the floor. The helicopter crew chief checked to see that everyone was wearing the basic lap seat belt, then closed the doors. It took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the dimness after the bright sunlight.
The metal floor of the chopper vibrated and I felt it through the soles of my boots. The engine grew louder then the barracks and parade square fell away. The knot in the pit of my stomach grew tighter. We moved slowly out of the camp proper toward the Ipperwash dunes. The cloudless sky seemed a deeper blue from the air and then I tilted my head forward to get a sense of how high up we were.
After we were out over the dunes for a few minutes, we swung out over the rich blue of Lake Huron not far from the beach, then the helicopter began a slow descent as it moved back in from the beach over the dunes. Scrubby looking trees grew larger, and I saw an intersection of dirt roads bordered by a small, forested area. This was our target, where we would intercept the military advisor to our enemy. Gradually the chopper glided into a landing atop one dune. The sand flew wildly outside the window. The crew chief threw the doors open.
We piled out of the helicopter and ran several feet away from whirling blades before we dropped into prone positions, our rifles ready. We formed a semi-circle with both lines of soldiers close toward the nose of the helicopter. I closed my eyes and tried to shield them with one hand as the sand whipped around us. I felt the grains pelt against my exposed skin and lowered my face into my arm. The helicopter revved up and lifted off in a cloud of blowing dust and sand.
The lieutenant knelt, map open on his knee. He gave orders. We were to stop the vehicle. He told us which road it would be coming down and how much time we had to set up. We would take him at the intersection, so we made our way out from the dune through the brush and trees and spread out taking cover in the bushes around the intersection. Laying in wait, I felt my chest loosen for the first time since the parade square. I had held my breath since the helicopter first arrived over the barracks. This was nerves. I could smell the grass and bushes all around me and the sandy ground was soft under my body. If everything went as smoothly as the chopper part of the mission, the advisor's vehicle would be there soon.
I heard a motor and shifting gears as it revved. My pulse quickened and I gripped my rifle a little tighter. A three-quarter ton military pattern pick-up rolled into view. There were two soldiers in the back and two in the cab. As it entered the intersection, we fired and took out the two soldiers in the back and the driver. The advisor jumped out and tried to run but two of our guys got a hold of him. We put everyone into the back of the truck, including all of us, and drove to the LZ (landing zone).
