Daring Rescue in Afghanistan?

If you are on FaceBook, you have probably recently come across this photo:

Source: Talking Proud

And the story attached to it is something similar to:

This photo was taken by a soldier in Afghanistan of a helicopter rescue mission. The pilot is a PA National Guard guy who flies EMS choppers in civilian life. Now how many people on the planet you reckon could set the ass end of a chopper down on the roof top of a shack, on a steep mountain cliff, and hold it there while soldiers load wounded men in the rear. If this does not impress you... nothing ever will…..." 

What does Research tell you?

Well, sorry folks. Great picture, WRONG STORY. I wish people would do about 5 minutes of research (that's how long it took me) before adding the wrong story to a photo. According to this article on Talking Proud:

Photo was taken during Operation Mountain Resolve, a month-long operation launched in November 2003 to round up Afghan rebels in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar and Nuristan Provinces. The picture shows a CH-47 Chinook helicopter being lowered onto a roof to receive Afghans taken by the Army's 10th Mountain Division. Presented by Vietnam Veterans of America, Western Massachusetts, Chapter One Eleven

The Talking Proud article references a column by Jim Goldsworthy written on October 1st, 2006 for the Cumberland Times-News in Maryland. Though no photo is attached to the article, the description of the photo is spot on. The column is a great read and tells a story of the level of skill required to hover like this. What is interesting is that it is common enough to have a name: "Pinnacle Landing". Google that and you will find a lot of examples.

Now you have the real story.