Page 123 - 100 Hours to Destiny

It just took moments for the wind to shift the smoke and we would be in eerie darkness. The
wind would shift again to reveal enemy troops moving about, and again the billowing smoke
would return creating camouflage for the enemy… it created an uneasy feeling. What truly
lurked in the darkness was anyone’s guess.

As sure as rain, 3 minutes counting backward, and the call came once
again for Delta to move. I observed vehicle Commanders shouting orders,
scouts scrambling back onto the vehicles slamming the back troop-hatches
closed, fighting to be the first to emerge through the top troop-hatches that
were located just behind the turret - competing to be the first into watch
position to observe enemy combatants. These 1/9 Marines bristled with
firepower (M203 grenade launchers, squad automatic weapons, M16A2s, as
well as AT4 anti-tank missile launch weapons) all at the ready, presented an
unimaginable scene of military strength… The Marine scouts of 1/9 were
eager for more enemy contact.