Page 162 - 100 Hours to Destiny

Listen: General said
we are Going Home

Groups of Marines were moving all about in front of our logistics
vehicle. Some of them I knew, some of them I barely knew, and others were
from other units that had been attached to Ripper. I felt a little
claustrophobic being in so tight with all of these Marines, so I jumped back
on top of our vehicle to escape the boisterous crowd. It was all good, the
fevered pitch of victory was signed, sealed and delivered by the appearance
and words of Major General Myatt; and pretty much everyone was going
crazy celebrating. Every Marine present was truly realizing what exactly he
and his fellow Marines had accomplished. Also, the realization that S-2 was
dead wrong with their premonition that Delta Company would suffer mass
casualties.
Today it was written in stone that Delta Company indeed was the tip
of the spear for the 1st Marine Division in this Invasion. Rock Pollard, Scott
Williams, 1Sgt Alfonso Villa, GySgt Steven Dell along with the Platoon
Commanders and the Platoon Sergeants had guided Delta Company without
incident through one of the most difficult scenarios imaginable. It was pure
brilliance in retrospect. I took a seat on the top of the LOG and put on a pair
of sunglasses, folded my arms and just started looking at the entire
symphony of beautiful madness as the Marines below me celebrated on and
on.
Finally, leadership stepped in, commissioned officers ordered senior
NCOs to get a handle on things…it was time to get back to business.
1Sgt Alfonso Villa started shouting, “If you’re not in Delta Company
leave the area. Marines, if you are not in Delta Company 3rd LAI leave my
area; go back to your predesignated areas. Delta Company, Platoon Sgts,
let’s form up Delta.”
Shouts from Delta Marines to “form it up” could be heard from all
around. Marines of other units vacated the area; it was time for Delta to
form it up.
1Sgt started shouting, “Hurry up Delta. Form it up. Get your ass in
formation. Platoon Sgts get your Marines in Platoon order.” Within minutes
we heard “Company attention!” and Delta snapped to attention, and there
at the Kuwait International Airport, the victorious Marines of Delta Company
were standing once again at attention, one and all. The 1Sgt received the
report from all Platoon Sgts and ordered, “Post.” The Platoon Commanders