The outpost was just behind them, but the Taliban were everywhere; dodging through trees, and taking pot shots from the market. Out of necessity, Pereira ran inside the base and found a John Deere Gator used to haul trash.
典hat thing was bare bones, Pereira told Stars and Stripes. 的t was nothing you would ever take to combat whatsoever.
His lung began to collapse as he hurried to the base, choking him from the inside, but Pereira refused medical treatment because his men were alone, wounded, and needed help.
Struggling to breathe, Pereira rode the John Deere back into heavy enemy fire to provide a chance to evacuate his wounded soldiers, his citation recounts. Making it within 20 meters, he provided cover fire from his seat as his fellow soldiers loaded two of the wounded aboard. Bullets ricocheted off the vehicle, narrowly missing Pereira.
He made it back to the outpost with the wounded where medics waited to receive them. He then quickly returned with the vehicle to the battle to evacuate the remaining wounded men.
Once Pereira made it back inside the base with all his men safe, he took his helmet off and collapsed.
