Page 96 - 100 Hours to Destiny

battlefield and slammed directly into the second enemy tank from the front,
sending its turret flying 20 feet up into the air as it appeared to have
detonated that tanks ammunition on board all at once. The basin was afire
and lit up from the burning hulk. Now we could see the rest of the
approaching enemy task force, which was adjusting left and right around the
dead tank, continuing to move forward. There was wild chatter of Marines
communicating with each other, intermixed with Rocks input and Delta 5
working with the potential that he was going to bring air on station, but it
was not necessary. Also, the high power lines created a possible threat to
low flying fast movers.
It was like a signal to engage when that first tank blew up, as now
TOW rockets began to fly from all directions and one by one the same fate
was handed to each tank. Systematically the destruction of this ill-fated
company of enemy tanks began to unfold. I grabbed a pair of binoculars and
began to watch enemy troops diving frantically from their tanks, as there
was absolutely no hope for them. The masterful gunnery skills of the TOW
crews were swift and accurate. I observed missiles streaking through the air,
narrowly missing troops running for their lives. The tank crews that had
escaped gathered in small groups and began to hustle away from the tanks,
which were now simply targets of hawk-eyed Marines going in for the kill.
As I continued to watch through the binoculars it was a macabre
dancing of lights as the tanks burned wildly and more TOW rockets slammed
into tanks, creating huge explosions sending more turrets flying high into the
sky. Truly it was a living hell for those enemy tank crews in amongst that
carnage. The crews huddled in groups continued to gather. More missiles
would nearly crash into them as the Marines firing the heavy weapons
system gave no consideration…after all, they were the enemy. I observed
several of the enemy troops trying to make it out only to fall to the ground
and never rise again, obviously hit by shrapnel and ammunition, explosions
from the heavy tank armaments and magazines. I watched one TOW rocket
fly directly into a group and continue slamming into the last tank standing.
Several men of that group lay on the ground as the rest scampered away. It
was a brutal ending to what was just an hour and a half before a tank
company on the move…. now lay in ruin. I took the binoculars away from my
eyes and said to myself, “I’m glad I am a Marine and not on the receiving end
of that destruction.” For those down there running for their lives, I was glad
it was over for them. I pondered over the fact of how quickly those enemy
troops’ efforts were completely turned upside down by the eagle-eyed
Marines and weapon systems of the TOWs.
Mostly the surviving crews had drifted off to the right quadrant of
the battlefield. Two Humvees appeared near the group, mounted with a