BLOMQUIST CHECKS PATIENT BEFORE FLIGHT. 1st Lt. Paul Blomquist secures a patient to the outside of his Bell H-13 Sioux helicopter. Blomquist, who pilots the air ambulances of the 54th Medical Detachment, is one of five Army fliers ready to take off in the "bubble" chopper within five minutes of getting a call to evacuate a soldier. The helo is equipped with external stretchers - one on each side of the aircraft - to transport wounded soldiers quickly from battlefield to hospital. When only one patient is flown, sandbags are strapped to the other side to balance the weight. Besides the five helicopters, two ambulances stand ready to deliver the 24th Division's sick and wounded to the hospital adjoining the chopper airfield.

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