Page 153 - 100 Hours to Destiny

HEADING TO KUWAIT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

2/28/1991 @ Sunrise

We woke to a different day. Marines were cleaning up, waiting,
anticipating, but most of all there seemed to be a level of satisfaction that I
had not seen since this conflict started months ago.
Curiosity was getting the best of me, as so many times before I
reached for my binos from my driver's compartment and began to scan the
vehicles of Delta Company. My gaze went to Delta 6, and through the
binoculars I could see driver Marcus Mitchell, Gunner Terry Davis, and the
king of battle himself, Capt Roger “Rock” Pollard putting their comm helmets
on; they were mounting up. I could see Mitchell reach as if he were reaching
for the ignition toggle.
“Gunny, American Hero is mounting up. I think something is going
down. Stand by to stand by, I’m getting in my driver’s hatch. I see black
smoke coming out of American Hero’s exhaust pipe – they fired the vehicle
off.”
The radios crackled, it was Sgt Terry Davis, “All Delta Company
Marines mount up. Stand by to stand by for a brief from the Actual.”
The net exploded with the ultra-fired-up Marines of Delta. “Oorah,
Semper Fi, do or die, get some Delta, send it sir” filed the net.
I took a glance at Delta 5 (Missile Magnet), 1stLt Scott Williams'
vehicle only to observe the man himself standing in the director’s hatch
looking around with a Cheshire grin… something told me he was chatting
with Rock.
In the next moment, over the net came the Actual, Delta 6 himself,
“All Delta elements stand by to move. Gentlemen, the City is safe. The Iraqi
invaders are either dead in the City or being made dead on the road to Basra.
Citizens of Kuwait are flooding back into the City to reclaim their homes. We
have been invited by Major General Myatt to take a victory lap in the streets
of the City, to the cheering crowds returning. Our mission is to arrive to link
up with the 1st MARDIV at the Kuwait Airport. Once there we will receive a
briefing from the General himself. So, with that Delta fire off your Hoggs and
standby to move. The formation will be a column, American Hero will take
the lead, followed by 1st Platoon, then Headquarters, 2nd Platoon run Tail
End Charlie. Alright Delta, let’s move.”