Page 117 - 100 Hours to Destiny

for the rest of my days? And in my own mind, I answered myself, “Of course
they will. Now let’s go see some more.” I simply could not, at this point, get
enough action. It was as though I was caught up in an insatiable lust for
combat kicks. I have heard of this phenomenon before reading about
Marines at Iwo Jima, Tarawa, Saipan, Korea, Vietnam; It’s a place where a
man’s mind goes, needing extreme adrenaline rushes – even if it could cost
him his life. It’s the need for each event to become close in contact and
fearsome. Truly, there is no other place before or since that would ever
substitute those moments of deadly combat. We would get our chance
immediately as the TOWs were encountering enemy troops to our direct
front.
“Delta 6, Delta 6, this is Silver Two with the TOWs up here. We
pushed forward as directed, Six. There’s a whole lot of enemy activity going
on up here. We’re in a hotbed of what looks like tanks, trucks, jeeps, and
troops making a run for it. There is no doubt they have seen our approach.
Request permission to start taking enemy targets out. Need your permission
to fire, Sir. We are observing actual enemy artillery pieces and enemy tanks
poised in our direction. These are heavy caliber weapon systems, and we
need to open fire immediately.”
“Damn! Fire at will Silver Two. Take control of your Platoon and fire
volleys. Destroy at will. There is nothing but bad guys out there. Take them
down.”
The radios on the logistics vehicle were turned all the way up. Gunny
and I had stood up on top of the vehicle together, looking around for
anything of interest, and that just so happened to be the TOWs. African
Queen, Desert Crow, Caligula, and of course Silver Two had been pushed up
by order of Delta 6 to stand in defense of Delta Company. Man were they in
it deep. Immediately, 1000 meters in front of our line missiles started firing
off. The radio traffic chatter from the TOW Platoon was motivating. They
were taking out targets systematically.
I looked at Gunny and he looked at me and simultaneously we said,
“Let’s go!”. A hearty high-five and the race was on to see who could get set
in his compartment faster than the other. Gunny Dell put his comm helmet
on and made contact with Delta 6, “Delta 6, Delta 6 this is Delta 7. Delta 10 is
in charge of the FARP and we are going to push forward and check on the
TOWs. We are going to check their disposition of fuel, missiles, POL, chow,
and water. Request permission to push forward through Deltas line in
support of the TOWs.”
“Roger Delta 7. Permission Granted. Move and give me a report once
on-station. Further, let’s have a report of exactly what we are faced with up
there in front of us. Standing by to stand by.”