Page 156 - 100 Hours to Destiny

3rd Tanks, and the list goes on, were getting online as best they could find a
place. One of my most fond memories of this gathering was the endless sea
of United States flags tied to the antenna of so many hundreds of vehicles.
We pulled in and parked next to Delta 10, the recovery vehicle, SSgt Steven
Metcalf’s vehicle. After the turbo wound down, I shut the vehicle off.
Looking around I turned to Gunny Dell and said, “Look at all of those
flags Gunny. Now that’s something you don’t see every day.”
“That is one hell of a sight indeed. What a show of power and
strength.”

Arriving at Kuwait Int’l Airport unveiled the true power of the LAI Battalion. Dozens upon
dozens of American flags were flying from the antenna of every vehicle in the LAI family.
Gunny Dell speaks from the front of the LAV-L to Sgt Cote and Sgt Whetstone.

The weather had been foul all day, but I could see that we may be
getting a reprieve before nightfall. Delta had been ordered to join back up
with Battalion at the Kuwaiti Airport. The General would not be speaking to
us until the next morning. We dismounted our vehicles and formed Delta up
as ordered by command.
Capt Pollard began to speak, “The plan of attack for tonight
is…rest…be sure to say a prayer for those brothers we lost at OP4 before you
close your eyes. We will stay here and bivouac. But remember Gents we are
not in the good ole USA so we will perform a Marine Corps standing roving
watch throughout the night as the norm. LCpl Mitchell who has lately been
shucking his roving watch duty will need to perform in a stellar manner
throughout the night, guarding the CO.” Mitchell rolled his eyes as everyone