Page 121 - 100 Hours to Destiny

BATTLE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

American Hero was speeding up and down the line of Delta. Now
that the TOWs had returned and everyone was back online, it was as if Rock
was wielding his Rapier to finalize the last push into Kuwait City. It was
though he had taken on this persona of a “professional fencer” going in for
the final kill. As American Hero sped up and down the line it was as though
Rock was creating a frothing at the mouth aura for his Marines. As Rock
found the center of Delta, he turned north and came over the net like 100
times before and gave the command, “Alright Delta, Forward March!” And
all Delta (reinforced) elements, 13 LAV-25s, 1 LAV-C2, 1 LAV-L, 1 LAV-R, 8
LAV-ATs, 2 LAV-Ms, 1 Humvee, 2 6x6 trucks, 161 Delta Marines and Sailors,
and two Kuwaiti interpreters began to roll north, of what would prove to be
the last day of travel across the sands of Kuwait to the outskirts of the city.
Rock was leading from the front; he was not allowing anyone to get
in front of him. The Company Screen lines speed started increasing, it started
to turn into a wheeled foot race. Delta 10 came over the net, “Delta 6, Delta
6 this is Delta 10. We’re going to have to slow this monster down. I’m
observing LAVs leaping over terrain features and obstacles. We’re going to
break some struts and bust some trim vanes and shut down vehicles if we
don’t slow this roll. I don’t know how we’ve reached this kind of speed, but
we’ve got to slow it down or the mechanical loss is going to be inevitable.”
“Delta 10 this is Delta 6, Solid Copy. All assets let’s back off this pace
and bring it within reason. Delta Elements be advised we are slowing the roll,
so we all come in together….no one left behind…. we started together; we
are going to finish together. I do not want to lose an element to a
breakdown. Up ahead is where the TOWs hit that enemy task force, let’s get
in there and conduct a BDA (Battle Damage Assessment), and just check your
vehicle. Crewmen stay hot on your vehicle checks, scouts out and be looking
to protect vehicle assets, Gunners pan your area and check your fields of fire.
Gentlemen we are just taking a breath…. let’s listen to the Ten and start
treating these vehicles with a little more TLC. If we don’t, we’re going to lose
some victors. Everybody just take a deep breath.”
Rock had slowed his roll and all Delta assets followed that lead. As
we rolled up beside a 5-ton Iraqi troop truck that had taken a TOW missile
hit, I brought Delta 7 to a stop about 75 yards south of the 25s online. I
looked to my right and saw the TOW destruction firsthand, and it was hard
to look at… but it was part of the BDA. I swallowed hard and choked back