Page 30 - 100 Hours to Destiny

somber trek back to their vehicles. Lastly, Gunny said, “Scout Team Leaders
make a headcount on your scout teams, and get the watch rotated.”
Most all Delta Marines had made it back to their assigned vehicles
and began to reestablish personal items back onto the LAV-25s, LAV-ATs,
LAV-C2, and Logistics vehicles. Soon Marines found themselves gathering
amongst their crews. Of course, everyone was talking about the obstacle
belts and the predicted 80% casualty rate that S-2 hand just prophesied.
Some of the discussions were becoming boisterous and animated. I climbed
up on top of the logistics vehicle that GySgt Steven Dell and I shared and
looked around at the Company Coil of Marines. I was alone…. As the
Company Gunny was in a meeting with the Platoon Sgts and Platoon
Commanders approximately 75 feet from me. They too were in a rather
excited conversation. At this moment I realized that the Invasion was near,
that we were about to embark on perhaps the most intense assault on an
enemy position since WWII. I knew the immensity of Task Force Ripper; We
had trained with them on many maneuvers and simulated invasion tactics.
There was no doubt we had the firepower to carry us through the obstacle
belts. Tanks, tow rocket launch vehicles, airpower, A-10 warthogs, FA18
fighter jets, Cobra Gunships (choppers) would all be there. Oh yes, they
would all be there….artillery would be backing us up and firing over our
heads, 81mm mortars would rain pure hell down on enemy targets from afar
and from behind us. I was familiar with each and every one of these weapon
systems, I had seen them all in action. I knew their capabilities. But there was
just one algebraic equation that kept running through my head and that was
Delta Company would be the first wave “the tip of the spear”. Whatever
happened to anybody was going to happen to Delta Company first. No
matter how you slice it, and all that firepower of Ripper, would it be too late
to save Delta – inside the death belts? There was no doubt in my mind that
the overwhelming capabilities of Task Force Ripper and the entire 1st Marine
Division would devastate and overcome the Iraqi forces… but would it only
be to avenge the loss of most of Delta Company?
I stood 10 feet above the desert sand on the logistics vehicle, it was
my stage, it was inside the Company Coil and gave me the perfect vantage
point (360 degrees) to look at every one of my fellow Marines of Delta
Company, and every vehicle in the line units. I took a moment and grabbed
my binoculars from inside my driver’s hatch, I began to look at each vehicle
and studied the men on board that vehicle. I was watching them through
binoculars, and I could see them talking at a fevered pitch to each other and
once again I knew what they were discussing. My head kept saying “80%....
80%, that’s what S-2 was saying….80% of my brothers, those brave young