Photo By Cpl. Paul Zellner | Seaman Steven Vanhorn sets up a trap he just built out of natural foliage. The trap is...... read more read more
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A fighter pilot is coasting above the jungles of Vietnam when the right engine bursts into flames. The left engine, already overheated, no longer worked. His only chance is to eject over the harsh jungle terrain. With sweat dripping off his forehead and full of fear, the pilot grasps the ejection lever. After a strong tug he's ejected out of the plane and into midair as he watches his plane crash and burn below him. He made it out, but now must parachute into the trees below and survive until he is rescued, makes his own way to safety, captured or perishes.
Mindset
A survival mindset is the first of five basic skills that will be a necessity to survive.
The pilot has just landed in unknown territory where anything could happen. His greatest asset is a positive mindset and a will to live. It is during times of hunger, loneliness and fear that this step could be a matter of life and death.
"Can't means won't, won't means surrender, therefore, I can and I will," said Lt. Col. Thomas Goessman, officer-in-charge at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves.
Shelter
It's getting dark and looks like it's about to rain. The pilot has no shelter to keep warm and dry. He must rely on his knowledge of the jungle and survival skills to either find a shelter or build one. This shelter will be the only thing keeping him out of the elements and from possibly getting sick. He cuts his parachute into pieces and uses one as a hammock and the other for a tarp to hang over him as he sleeps. Cords from the parachute take the place of rope. He will have to tie the knots correctly in order to stay away from the wet ground and out of the reach of wildlife. He will be on the move come daylight, so there is no need to build an elaborate shelter.
"There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate shelter," Goessman said.
Water
The next step for the pilot is crucial. It's a decision he has to make based on what he truly needs to survive. There is already plenty of firewood around, so he sets out on a trek for water. Any water he finds needs to be purified before drinking because it is unknown what contaminants may be in it. Luckily for him, he has a survival pouch on him that contains purification tablets. To be sure the water is completely drinkable, though, he will also boil it for two minutes. From the mountaintop he spots a small stream which will be his source of water for the night. The impending rainfall will give him enough water to last a couple days, if he can find a way to contain it.
Fire
A fire comes in handy for various reasons, such as keeping warm, drying clothes, cooking food, keeping bugs away and purifying water. The jungle is usually a damp place, and that can make it hard to find dry wood to use as firewood. Standing deadwood will be the easiest and best wood to use without a saw. He shaves the wet bark off the wood exposing the dry wood on the inside. After gathering brush, he shaves a small amount of magnesium onto them from a magnesium block in the survival pouch. With a quick strike from his pocket knife, a spark ignites the magnesium, lighting the dead wood and brush.
Food
Using a piece of bamboo, string from the survival pouch and a hook carved out of wood with a pocket knife, the pilot heads back to the stream the next morning with a plan to catch breakfast. He digs up some earthworms near the water, attaches them to the hook and tosses his line in. After two hours he comes back with three small fish, which when combined, will make for a decent meal.
Just about everything found in the jungle can be eaten. It's just a matter of knowing what's poisonous and what isn't, said Goessman.
Surviving
The day is done, and the pilot is ready to sleep. He is still alive, but tomorrow is another day and another challenge.
The skills the pilot used in this story are some of the basic skills taught to Marines and sailors during the Jungle Survival Course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center. The story may be fictional, but the situation is plausible for any service member in a jungle environment. The Marine Corps is and always will be a force in readiness, whether it is in the desert, mountains or jungles.
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 05.29.2009 02:42 |
| Story ID: | 34246 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 222 |
| Downloads: | 168 |
This work, Basic skills taught on Okinawa keep warriors alive, help defeat jungle dangers, by Cpl Paul Zellner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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