Page 169 - 100 Hours to Destiny

standing down at this point was all that we knew. Deep in our hearts, we
knew this day was coming, it had been like being stranded on a deserted
island and the rescue ship had just arrived. But we knew the fruits of the
island were easy to acquire and we would be leaving a very simplistic
existence to return to a very complex life back in The States.
Capt Roger “Rock” Pollard later called a second Company meeting
and reiterated that the next morning, “We are leaving this place. They will be
here at 0700 with enough buses to take us to Dharan Airbase. So, Gents,
pack up your shit. You will be on those buses, so no matter what you’re
thinking in your head that this life in Manifa will go on and on and on, it ends
tomorrow!”
Life changed as Rock walked away from that meeting. NCOs started
yelling for us to get ready, yelling in our face like we were back on the yellow
footprints again – to snap us back into reality. We were US Marines, we
came to do a job, we did it better than anyone expected… it was time to
continue the service that we as Marines had committed to so many months
before. The 30 days of stand down in Manifa had created “the doldrums”,
but the wind was picking up with the words and actions of the Delta
Company leadership.
That night many of us were sleeping in a large GP tent. We had been
ordered to get rest. Each Marine had packed his seabag and sat it at the end
of his cot. Most of us were sleeping in our cammies, and some of us didn’t
even take off our boots…we were not going to miss that 0700 bus. Rock had
told us to be ready, and by God, WE WERE GOING TO BE READY! That night
many of them fell into a non-stop comical party – Sgt Terry Davis leading the
show. I remember laughing and laughing until my sides hurt. We were laying
on cots, side by side, just feet from each other. As the laughter went on, I
drifted off to sleep.
Standing tall at 0700 for accountability. Sea bags were placed in front
of each man as the Platoon Sergeants and squad leaders got a headcount.
We were all present and accounted for.
“Stand by to stand by. The buses are just five mikes out.” And sure as
five minutes passed, here they came a train of busses picking up the LAI
Battalion. Destination Dharan Airbase.