Day 2

Day two.

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.