Little Bird Pilot Greg Coker's SA-16 Missile Attack & Firefight in Iraq

The Amariah Mission & SA-16 Attack

• 🎯 On March 19, 2004, Greg Coker's Little Bird helicopter was part of a daytime mission in the dangerous Ramadi, Fallujah, Amariah triangle in Iraq, an area known for high foreign fighter activity and previous helicopter shoot-downs.
• 🚀 At 1:15 PM, his aircraft was struck by an SA-16 missile, an advanced heat-seeking system with a proximity fuse, while in a climbing right-hand turn at 165 feet.

Surviving the Crash

• 🧠 Despite the engine quitting, Coker performed a successful auto-rotation under extreme stress, landing the heavy, fully-loaded helicopter with a tailwind.
• 💥 The helicopter slid about 35 meters before rolling multiple times and coming to rest inverted and on fire, with ammo cooking off and rockets posing a threat.
• ⚠️ Coker was briefly knocked out but quickly regained consciousness, finding his co-pilot injured and the cockpit filled with dust and smoke.

Heroic Actions Under Fire

• 🏃‍♂️ Despite a "stinger" injury to his right leg, Coker crawled out of the burning wreckage, grabbed his rifle, and established security around the downed aircraft.
• 🔥 He then re-entered the burning helicopter to rescue his dazed co-pilot, pulling him out as flames licked at his arm.
• 🛡️ Ground forces, including Rangers and Delta Force operators, immediately suppressed the building from which the missile was fired, providing cover.

Engaging the Enemy

• 🔫 Coker, despite his injuries, joined the ground assault, using gun trucks to attack the buildings where the enemy was located.
• 🎯 During the intense firefight, he personally engaged multiple targets, including a man on a phone and individuals with RPGs and AK-47s.
• ✅ The team successfully cleared the building, though they found no further evidence, and then fought their way back through Fallujah and Ramadi to a secure site.

Long-Term Impact & Resilience

• 🏥 Coker sustained severe injuries, undergoing 34-36 surgeries and having over 40 pieces of titanium implanted, including treatment for broken vertebrae, shoulder, knee, and a brain bruise.
• 💪 He attributes his survival to intensive training and divine intervention, emphasizing the role of adrenaline during the incident.
• ✈️ Despite his extensive injuries, Coker returned to flying rotations after recovery and physical therapy, continuing his service until retirement.