Operation Rhino - Afghanistan - 3rd Ranger Bn w SVC Tapestry

On the night of October 19, 2001, before the Rangers dropped, several targets on and around the objective were targeted by U.S. air power, first by bombs dropped from B-2 stealth bombers, then by fire from orbiting AC-130 aircraft. These air strikes resulted in a number of enemy KIAs and several enemy fleeing the area. Following the air strikes, the 4 MC-130 Combat Talon aircraft flew over the drop zone (DZ) at 800 feet. In zero illumination, 199 Rangers proceeded to exit the MC-130s. Led by a small pathfinder team to mark the DZ, a company-sized element of approximately 200 Rangers from 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, parachuted from four Lockheed MC-130 aircraft towards a desert landing strip south of the city on an "objec...