Everyone,

I'm currently (2:18 a.m. - March 24, 2003) monitoring reports of 
American casualties and wounded in the war in Iraq.

On my short-wave radio, on 11.175 MHz USB, I heard at 1:45 a.m. CST, 
10:45 a.m. Iraqi time, I heard a USAF Air Mobility Command aircraft, 
REACH 851-YANKEE (a transport), calling a command post code-named NUTMEG 
to say, "We've got wounded incoming, and some casualties." The operator 
also said, "we're hanging in there." He also made references to the 
"Iraqi theater" and to un-identified units WHISKEY YANKEE MIKE and 
YANKEE HOTEL PAPA. (Three letter designations are known as "NATO 
trigraphs" and are tactical call-signs. They could refer to anything or 
anyone.)

I later heard calls to MAINSAIL (a general call to any command post who 
is receiving) from another air transport, REACH 169-YANKEE, saying, 
"MAINSAIL, MAINSAIL, break, break, we're 2 hours and 45 minutes out with 
48 passengers and 4 prisoners. We're coming in (garbled), and we have no 
further information to report." This call came in at 2:00 a.m. CST, 
11:00 a.m. Iraqi time.

At 2:12 a.m. CST, 11:12 a.m. Iraqi time, I heard REACH 119-YANKEE (still 
another transport) in communication with a command post code-named 
"ARGOT" (at least that's what it sounded like). This air transport 
reported to the command post that he was "Alpha 3 on the deck" and "30 
minutes out," with "12 wounded -- 9 litters, and 3 ambulatory." He also 
said "we need three ambulances and #1 needs the auxiliary tank." The 
command post confirmed that they had "ACLS on board" and "7 medical crew 
members, and 9 aircraft crew members" on board.

The war is REAL!

People are dying!

STOP THE WAR NOW!

Cliff Pearson
Dallas, Texas USA