Page 78 - 100 Hours to Destiny

MINEFIELD – THE FIRST OBSTACLE

“All Delta elements suit up, saddle up. Fire up your Hoggs and stand
by to assault through the minefield. This is Delta 6, I say again, standby to
assault the minefield.”
I heard that radio transmission coming from all around me, as
Marines had the radios turned up loud as not to miss the order to move. I
took a quick look around one last time, slung my rifle over my shoulder and
climbed the three rung metal ladder back up to assume my position back in
the driver's hatch, my position for this Invasion. Sliding back in, I stowed my
riffle, strapped it down and requested permission to fire the vehicle off from
Gunny Dell. Gunny replied, “Do it!”
Rock then initiated the advance through the minefield. Now it was
mine and Gunny’s turn…and here we go. United States Marine Corps Grunts
were scattered all around the entry of the minefield, posting security;
possessing huge crew-served weapon systems at the mouth of the first
breach. 50Cal Ma Deuce machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns, Mark 19s-
40mm grenade launchers, and 81mm mortars were already set in place.
Marines with handheld Dragon missile systems were all there to guard our
initiation into the unknown. It was “go time” for this first dual with death.

Listen: Gunny Instructs
to Stay in Tracks

For the most part, the path was clear thanks to the preliminary work
of combat engineers blasting the lanes for us in advance. More Marines were
on the other side of the minefield waving us through and pumping fists in
the air, to the same effect as George C Scott in the movie Patton. I couldn’t
help but grin at some of the enthusiasm and antics of the engineers and
grunts, I shook my head and said, “What a world, what a world…”
Gunny Dell piped up, “Stay focused, we’re almost through this
thing.” And no more than he had said that with 40 feet left to go we were
through the minefield.
Confidence was high and at least we had all come through the first
minefield without casualty, dispelling for obstacle one, the prediction of
losing 80%. But we were taking nothing for granted. As the wheels of Delta
Company continued to chew up the Kuwaiti desert sand, we were on the