Crab,
At a place called Tay Ninh, in a land far away, at the C-130 Turn-Around Ramp (Load/Unload Ramp), there were some wooden Light Poles along the edge of the Ramp. A friend was tasked to pull onto the edge of the ramp and load some Classified Cargo.
Knowing it would be a close fit, he stopped short of the Ramp, briefed the Crew of his intentions, dispatched the Crew Chief to act as a Ground Guide.
The Crew Chief, who was a very sharp fellow....and standing about Six Foot Six Inches tall was very easy to see. He stationed himself about an arm's length away from the nearest Pole and began to guide the Aircraft to its parking place.
Being as how Tay Ninh was a Tactical base with PSP Matting for the ramp and it being dry season....and the surrounds being very dry, dusty, red laterite soil....the Chinook began to kick up a lot of dust.
Squarely into the Ground Guides eyes...he used one hand to clear an eye...but unfortunately made a couple of "Continue ahead" hand signs....and the Forward Blades cut off the Wooden Pole about a foot above his Hand..and not much more above his lofty noggin.
Write off a set of Rotor Blades, one Light Pole, and a pair of GI issue underwear all in short order. No one got hurt....the aircraft got some extra attention by the maintenance section, and the crew got a lot of grief from the rest of the crews.
Enough that the Unit Commander took no official action.
All it takes is a moment's lapse in attention despite the best efforts of a crew and calamity can occur.
At Unit Reunions we still enjoy hearing the story especially when it is the ground guide telling it from his perspective.