Page 74 - 100 Hours to Destiny

that hadn’t even started yet. I had to catch myself and release the steering
wheel. I shook my hands to get the blood flowing again, and chuckled to
myself, “come on boy, it’s a long, long way from here to Tipperary”. So, I
backed down, I backed myself down off the throttle of enthusiasm. I told
myself, “Take some deep breaths, Monte. We will get there, we will get
there.”
The sun was gaining momentum in its slow methodical rise in the
East but had not yet broken over the horizon; I hastily pulled out the ANVVS-
2 night driving sight and began to use the driver’s periscope for daytime
driving while in a driver’s down-position. In front of me, the world was
changing. I could see the TOW Platoon returning from its forward overlook
position, covering Delta at the FLD. Captain Pollard had created a beautiful
strategy of implementing the powerful TOWs. Their ability to produce
incomprehensible damage to heavy armor, along with so many other assets,
put Delta Company into the league of heavy hitters…. a deadly fighting force.
As morning broke Delta was getting into battle formation and 75
meters in front of me, I could see the wheels of American Hero rolling
forward. Like a beautiful swan song of deadly vehicles participating in unison,
moving as one into the grandiose formation, a favorite, Company wedge,
Platoons in column. Delta Company was officially rolling into the assault to
free Kuwait City from unwanted invaders, and to set the tyranny of Saddam
Hussain, into what would be the beginnings of his regime’s death spiral.
“Witcher, Move. Slow roll. Let’s go. We’ve got a ringside seat here.
Stay behind American Hero. 1stLt Williams’ vehicle is going to drop back 50
yards and assume Rocks 4 o’clock. Our mission is to stay between the
Platoons and roll. Be advised, we are just clicks away from the first
minefield.”
When I heard the words from Gunny, I started thinking about a
minefield…a minefield. Wow. Here I am driving along with the greatest
mechanized unit a Marine could have ever dreamed to be a part of. The
most ultimate Commanders ever assembled on the face of the planet…. bar
none. And my mind comes back to a minefield. For years and years as a
young man, Hollywood had depicted the worst-case scenario of being
trapped in a minefield and all I could think about was being blown to bits,
evaporated in thin air. And I laughed at myself for thinking this way, as I
knew we could defeat the mines. I said to myself, “No one’s going to ask you
to drive this vehicle over any mines Monte. Get that thought out of your
head.”