another. a third airman was wounded. then another. eventually dick was the only man standing. as a technician, he had no formal combat training. in fact, he had only recently been issued a rifle. but dick etchberger was the very definition of an ncl, a leader determined to take care of his men. when the enemy started moving down the rocks, dick fought them off. when it looked like the ledge would be overrun, he called for air strikes. within yards of his own position, shaking the mountain and clearing the way for a rescue. and in the morning light, an american helicopter came into view. richard etchberg eer lived the airman s creed, to never leave an airman behind, to never falter, to never fail. so, as the helicopter hovered above and lowered its sling,