Page 90 - 100 Hours to Destiny

CLEARING BUNKERS AND POWS

Delta Company continued its menacing roll forward, undeterred by
the mortar attack which nearly claimed more Marines lives…. But again,
Delta Marines cheated death. I looked back at our 4 o’clock to see the two
LAV-25s still sitting at their post with gun turrets traversing back and forth
searching ….. gunners surely on the sights ready to repel any incoming fire. I
prayed that all those Marines would get back on board safe and unharmed,
to return to their prior positions in the Company formation. Only to find later
that they had indeed successfully returned to the lines and what happened
there in that greenbelt is left to the ages.
The battlefield opened into a vast barren desert landscape. We had
seen this before. The greenbelt was in rearview and we were slowly and
methodically putting it behind us to roll into the next unknown. Each hour
created a hardening of our hearts and the drive was relentless. We were
whipping the odds, but no one was taking anything for granted. We just kept
pressing forward and the wheels of Delta Company continued to chew up
the sands of Kuwait. And I thought about 80% casualties….so far….not a
scratch.
On and on Delta crept, the anticipation of enemy contact lingered in
the air as thick as a morning fog. Two more clicks had passed. Captain Pollard
came over the net, “Delta Company halt in place. I’m working with Battalion.
We are possibly going to shift and traverse more to the northeast, we are
deciding just how many degrees now, so I repeat, halt in place. Keep a close
eye out. Delta One and Delta Two rear elements spin turrets and cover our
six…be advised there are friendlies to our rear. No shooting just keep watch.
Report any activity to Delta 5.”
Within seconds, 1stLt Scott Williams aka Delta 5 shouted over the
net that he was observing enemy troop movement in a bunker no more than
40 yards to his 9 o’clock and was reporting that he was going to attack that
bunker on foot. He further stated, “we are in imminent danger and I am
taking Echo 4 Battley (aka Fred Battley) with me in support.” 1stLt Williams
with Cpl Battley close on his heels charged across the battlefield in open
plain sight of enemy troops, fearlessly exposing themselves to possible
hostile fire. Fortunately, both men made it to the bunker. Scott Williams
wielding a 9mm officer’s handgun went directly into the bunker as Fred
Battley stood watch with his M16A2 service rifle. As the 1stLt disappeared
underground, gunfire erupted from within the bunker. Scott Williams had
single-handedly ended the threat of three heavily armed enemy combatants.