Page 64 - 100 Hours to Destiny

into the caravan of vehicles…destination 15 clicks north to get set in at the
final line of departure.
Intermingled in the mass of LAV variants comprising Delta Company
were the LAV-ATs (anti-tank rocket launch vehicles - TOWs), the deadly tank
killers. Each one of these vehicles had a staff of four crewmen aboard. This
particular LAV was critical to the enhancement of firepower for Delta,
especially against heavy tanks. We were light-skinned vehicles designed to
move at high speeds down highways, or rough terrain, far outrunning the
speed of heavy tanks but nowhere near the ability to outgun. The TOW
Marines changed all that for Delta Company and Captain Roger “Rock”
Pollard had strategically staggered these deadly weapon systems from front
to rear and everywhere in between the now proceeding column. It was
unique to hear the call signs of the TOW’s as they were new and unique to
what we had trained with all along, and we had picked them up one day
prior to the battle of OP4. Where there, during that firefight of the opening
engagement, one of the TOWs (Green Two) was obliterated in a fireball
during the initial moments of the battle of OP4. A most unfortunate blue on
blue incident had inadvertently cost us that crew of four, and of course
numerically one less of the mighty TOWs.
We were driving and I was down in my hatch buttoned up by
recommendation of Gunny Dell. Missile Magnet was kicking up a bit of dust
from the sandy desert floor, yet I was breathing easy down in my driver's
compartment deflecting the dust, glued to my driver's scope. The radio
chatter was perpetual, Delta Marines were excited there was no doubt,
buddies chatting back and forth to others on different vehicles….which
finally got shut down by the XO Scott Williams, “Delta Company Marines,
clear the net. Can that bullshit! I’m trying to communicate with air assets,
and I’ve got all of you chattering in my other ear….Pipe down!”. “Roger that
Sir! Sorry about that Sir,” and the net became eerily silent, and it was a
return to business.
“HALT IN PLACE!!!”, boomed Captain Pollard over the net. “I say
again, all Delta elements, HALT IN PLACE. I’ve picked up an enemy tank 600
meters out. American Hero is going to open fire. Silver two and African
Queen move up and form an echelon right at my four o’clock. Hammerheads
up, let's get some eyes on target. Move!” And with that Sgt Terry Davis
opened fire on the enemy tank, the night sky was lit up as Captain Pollard
fired a quick three-round controlled burst from American Hero just to wake
‘em up. The two TOW rocket variants flew past the Gunny and I and I could
see them get into position as requested at American Hero’s four o’clock.
Both variants raised their hammerhead missile launch weapon systems, the
scope and thermal imaging sighting devices on these vehicles were