Page 52 - 100 Hours to Destiny

GOOD COMPANIONS AND COMIC RELIEF

2/23/1991 @ 11 am / 1100 hours

The day was a brilliant sunshiny morning, promising to turn into a
notable afternoon with a steady 5mph breeze, temp around 65 degrees… It
was quite comfortable, giving the Marines of Delta Company good energy in
the daily tasks of preparation. The Company GySgt Steven Dell was with me
inside the logistics vehicle, we were counting water canisters, plastic 5-gal
jug containers of freshwater that could be distributed as we went along in
the assault. Inside the logistics vehicle, were ammunition cans of 25mm
chain gun ammunition, 7.62mm machine gun rounds, and miscellaneous
25mm bushmaster chain gun parts in the case of a broken gun during a
firefight. We even had a replacement barrel to one of the 25mm chain guns
on board. As I looked around inside the vehicle, I looked at Gunny and said,
“this is really it, huh Gunns?”
“There’s no doubt Witcher we’re going in. Remember that we are
going to form up at 2300 at the gates of OP4, and there we will stand by to
step off. Today let’s just strap this water down and Battalion is bringing in a
Humvee full of MREs and we will distribute that onto this Hogg. Get your
personal items in order and stow them close at hand so that you can operate
in complete darkness, I want two red-lensed flashlights with new batteries
right next to you in the driver’s area. Make sure I have two for me as
well…same, same…. new batteries, red lens ready.”
“Can do Gunny. All of these things will be made ready.”
“I’m going to go meet with the 1Sgt, he’s got some new information
about how the Platoons are going to stack as we enter the breaches. So, I’ll
see you later on. If you need me, I’ll be there.”
After putting effort into the tasks requested by Gunny, I took a little
moment of downtime for myself. I started thinking “you know, I’d better
take a hasty shower and get cleaned up, as this thing may go on for
days…perhaps even weeks before a guy could get a chance to take care of
some personal hygiene.” A field shower consisted of one Marine on top of a
LAV, with a 5-gal canister of water pouring it over the head of his fellow
Marine from up to down. But now the temperature was being prohibitive,
and I did not want to suddenly create a situation to catch myself a cold.
Fortunately, the logistics vehicle had a small propane stove onboard and I
was able to heat up some water and utilize the comfort and security of the
enclosed logistics vehicle, and a Marine Corps issued washcloth to