Page 101 - 100 Hours to Destiny

2/25/91 @ 0530 hours

I knew that it would be within an hour that the sun would be rising,
and I couldn’t help, despite extreme excitement of a new day, thinking of the
bombing we had witnessed just minutes before. I got a little preoccupied
with the safety and well-being of Delta Company and my brother Marines
around me. The concerns of more hostiles to our front was absolutely real,
and the threat of harsh confrontation was surely directly in our pathway. I
felt, sincerely in my heart, that this next day may be the most extreme yet.
I was sitting in my driver’s compartment preparing to get on the
move once again. There was no denying the sun was rising, and I said a
prayer for deliverance. Gunny Dell was in position as the radios began to
crackle, “Delta Company get all assets on board and standby to move,”
directed Captain Pollard. And no more than five minutes later the
unmistakable voice of Capt Roger “Rock” Pollard, “Delta One, Delta Two I’ll
take center mass on a Company Screen Line to move through last night’s
area of operation – let’s put this place behind us Gents. We’ve got ground to
cover. Forward march.” And with that, Delta on day two re-entered the
threat of action, and we would soon find it.
The sun broke over the horizon as we rolled passed the destroyed
tanks of last night’s engagement. And yes, the words of Captain Pollard were
strong in my ears, “Let’s get this place behind us.” I was ready to see more
events unfold as I knew that every click, every kilometer, every foot, and
every mile got us closer to the end. No more than a mile passed the area
known as the battle of the high power lines, Delta was progressing along
well. As we rolled along, Marines hastily worked themselves back into
formation according to Platoon assignments and the TOW variants shifted
throughout the Platoon on the move, to create good dispersion of their
firepower.
Delta Company Marines began to report over the net that they were
observing two very animated Iraqi prisoners to our direct front. SSgt Eby
reported, “it appears as though these two are really trying to flag us down
Delta 6. Looks as though they’re trying to bring us to a halt. Please send Lt
Kindle over and let’s get to figuring out what the heck is going on here.
Maybe there’s some danger up ahead. We’d better stop and check it out.”
Delta 6 ordered Delta Company to halt. “OK, Eby meet me over
there and bring the interpreter with you. Let’s find out and get to the bottom
of this quickly.”