Page 36 - 100 Hours to Destiny

The Gunny set down his pen from taking his notes, and I was sitting
in my driver’s hatch turned looking at the Gunny. “This is it, Witcher, this is
going to be the fuel, ammo and resupply point before we take off for the
Invasion. Tonight, some of the monster trucks that normally appear in the
dark to provide fuel and chow, etc. are going to be far greater in number.
Tonight, all of the scouts and crewmembers are going to be picking up extra
25mm chain gun rounds, AT4 handheld anti-tank rocket launchers, hand
grenades, M16A2 rounds, 40mm grenades for the Mark 19s, saw gunners
will pick up extra magazines, 7.62mm machine guns are to be outfitted with
extra rounds. Delta Company after tonight will be stacked to the gills with
war supplies. We will be providing extra fuel canisters on some hand-picked
vehicles. Mostly the Platoon Sgts will be carrying those extra fuel canisters.
Certain line unit LAVs will be carrying extra oil and lubricants for vehicle
maintenance. Witcher, tonight will be the last mail call. All mail has been
held back at Battalion. The only further mail transmission from Delta
Company will be gathered tomorrow evening and handed off to a courier
that will take that mail to Battalion and send it to waiting family members, so
be sure to grab everybody’s mail as they pass through the FARP. Battalion is
going to drop four extra wheels and tires for the company; we will be
carrying two and 1st Platoon gets one extra and 2nd Platoon receives the
other. We will leave it up to their discretion of who carries those extra tires.
Just make sure you are observing the change of the Platoons as they pass. Be
sure every vehicle is topped off with diesel. You need to watch every vehicle,
as sometimes these guys want to grab the other stuff and forget to put fuel
in their vehicle. I’m going to put a lot of responsibility on you Witcher, I need
you to be pro-active and help make sure that this Company receives all that
is there to be placed on their vehicles, to make sure they make it through
these obstacle belts. Nobody runs out of fuel, so make it a practice to tell
each driver to come back and observe his vehicle being fueled. The scouts
kind of get a kick out of putting the diesel in, but just make sure the drivers
are involved and watching. Copy?”
“Aye-aye Gunny, I hear you loud and clear, you can count on me!”
“Okay, we move on this thing at 2400. So, I want you to grab some of
Headquarters Platoon members, set a roving watch that includes the LAV-C2,
the Captain’s vehicle, the First Sergeant’s hummer, and our vehicle. Exclude
yourself from the watch between now and 2400 and get in the back of the
logistics vehicle here and catch some shut-eye. I am going to make my way
over to the Executive Officer Scott Williams’ vehicle (Missile Magnet) and
work on some of the encryption of the radios between Battalion, FARP, as
well as Delta Company. Set your alarm for 2330 and be ready to roll. We will
traverse two clicks east for the FARP…. Each asset of Delta Company will