The heat and humidity had not abated at all and we were up early in what was to become the pattern of long days, with early starts, late nights and little sleep. It was mainly all work.
We spent the day in a helicopter surveying the Mississippi Delta region and extensive wetlands. Many attempts at booming were apparent, and many of the levees were closed by riprap. The main impression from this day is the enormity of the task at hand should oil get into this area. All of the areas we flew over were under the tidal surge associated with any hurricane. If oil gets into these sensitive areas, any wildlife caught in it will simply disappear into the huge tracts of green. What a nightmare that would be.
The helicopter, a Huey, also had seen service in Vietnam. I love flying and flying in a helicopter is a special treat. This one had a very special impact as I thought about all those wonderful young men who jumped out of, maybe even this aircraft, and their last sounds heard were the whoop, whoop distinctive Huey sound as their transport lifted off. It was very poignant and I also wondered about the wildlife we were flying over, would this sound also be their last? I tried to focus on the reverse, the whoop, whoop of rescue craft, as you, scared, tired, dirty, were waiting for your transport helicopter to come and retrieve you. Mostly I failed and all I could think about was the enormity of the situation.