Flutterby™! : Vietnam Moments

Ya don't poke around for helicopter information without coming across a lot of pilots who flew in Vietnam. Vietnam Moments is a set of recollections by such a pilot. Rough grammer, homonyms for spelling, short sentences, but still compelling reading:

Where the stream came out of the jungle canopy there was a small opening that a chopper could get in. Once we cleared the small opening I was in awe at what I saw. Upon clearing the canopy opening we found ourselves inside what I can only describe as a huge tunnel that followed the stream up the mountain side for as far as I could see. The stream was more like a small white water river that was maybe 30-40 feet wide. The trees seemed to start a short ways away from the edge of the white water. I can only assume that was that way because during the monsoon season any sapling that tried to take hold would be easily washed away by the torrent of water during that season. The top of the tunnel was about 80' up with no hanging vines. I guess the rule there was no limbs under 80' because there were none. We were in a natural tunnel under the jungle canopy that was created by the flow of that water coming off that mountain and you would have never guessed it was there.

The AC flew her up a ways and finally put a skid on one of the larger rocks to our right that would make a good exit spot for our team. To the left was white water. The two guys on the left side of the ship took one look at that white water and decided that they best go out the other side of the ship. With the team out we just did a pedal turn and flew on out. I wonder how many other chopper crews go to see something like that.