A Chance In Hell

The Virginian Pilot's Corinne Reilly won the Ernie Pyle Award last week for a five-part series called A Chance In Hell.

Here's Part I: KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

The doctors can hear the wailing before their patient is even in sight.

A second later, a flight medic bursts through the trauma department doors. His face is serious. He's short of breath. Outside, corpsmen rush to unload a soldier from a military ambulance that carried him here from a Black Hawk. Two dozen doctors, nurses and surgeons have been awaiting their arrival.

"Who am I talking to?" the medic shouts.

"Here!" blurts Lt. Cmdr. Ron Bolen, the head of the hospital's trauma department. He points to the Navy doctor leading the team that…