The Air Ambulances Of The Hindu Kush

JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN - MAY 10 2009: 159th Aviation Brigade 101st Airborne Division Ssg. Flight Medic Emmett Spraktes: Point of injury calls are the most challenging because of the dangers around. Sometimes we even have to stop working on a patient to see if we are safe ourselves. There are times when I see guys go out and think: Is this the last time I am going to see him ? There are times when I go out and think: Is this the last time anyone is going to see me ? Sometimes you go out and there are bad guys running around, who shoot at us and you wonder what will they say to my children. Are they going to get that knock on the door. It does weigh heavy on you sometimes. But what you do is you focus and you do your job. (Photo by Patrick Barth/Getty Images)