Page 89 - 100 Hours to Destiny

Yet that damn greenbelt had me concerned with its beautiful trees,
thick underbrush, and meandering roadways intertwined behind some
housing and buildings deep in the middle of the thing. It was causing an eerie
feeling as truly it was the perfect cover for an ambush attack. No doubt, the
Iraqi troops out here hiding amongst our travels would know this as
well…experienced Commanders of those enemy troops surely would not
pass this opportunity to offer resistance – just how extreme that resistance
was anyone’s guess. Suddenly GySgt Steven Dell reported that he was seeing
movement from inside the greenbelt.
“Delta 6 this is Delta 7, be advised that I am observing troops on foot
maneuvering within the greenbelt. Are we aware of any friendlies in there,
or we may be standing by for an engagement?“
Enemy mortars began to rain down as Gunny made that statement;
they hit mostly around HQ, and especially close to my vehicle. Whop, whop,
whop, three rounds impacted no further than 25 yards from the Gunny and
me.
“Mortars!! Mortars!! Mortars!! They’re walking it in on us Gunny! If
we don’t stop them somehow, they’re’ going to get us from inside that
greenbelt! They’re firing mortars from the greenbelt!”
Two more rounds came in – half the distance…. I thought, “How
good are these mortarmen? Are they about to drop one down in my driver’s
hatch?” And I felt more concerned about the 1Sgt Alfonso Villa that was
riding in a thin-skinned Humvee just to our six. Comm chatter erupted
between Delta Marines then went on fire turning in a fevered pitch. We had
to stop those mortarmen as a direct hit was imminent!!
Two LAV-25s broke ranks and charged to the greenbelt and
dismounted its scouts to seek and destroy the gun teams that were firing the
mortars. The back hatches burst open of the two LAV-25s, and a total of
eight fully armed scouts gathered at the back of the LAVs, utilizing the steel
back doors as a protective compartment. I observed one of the Marines,
surely the ranking Sgt of the scouts, utilizing hand gestures to direct the
Marines. Without hesitation from the back of the vehicles charged eight
Marines into the greenbelt…disappearing through the thick underbrush. I’m
not sure what took place with those Marines once inside, but the mortar
attack ceased and desisted within minutes. My mind raced, wondering if
they had come upon the gun crews and a hand to hand close firefight
ensued, or if simply observant enemy gun teams made a hasty retreat
through the backside of the greenbelt… but nonetheless the shelling
stopped…. and I breathed a sigh of relief.