Page 95 - Echo 127

Chapter 20
Asleep Standing Up
The daily routine of carrying out the missions in our TAOR was a tiring, sleepless physical ordeal. We ran patrols 24/7—provided our own security perimeter for our platoon CP—participated in Company and Battalion operations and search and destroy sweeps. There were Company meetings with the officers and senior NCOs to receive briefings re. The Battalion and Regimental big picture as well as Company and platoon logistics and tactical situations. There was very little time to rest when we were operating in our forward outposts. When troops returned from patrols or sweeps they engaged in grabbing a quick meal, cleaning their weapons, changing their socks, etc. and preparing for the an ‘anytime’ enemy assault which could occur at ‘any time’. If we were lucky we could crawl up in our ‘hootch’ and sleep—in shifts—at the most four hours. A Marine can sleep anywhere but this begins to take it’s toll day in and day out. That’s why we were rotated back to the Company/Battalion perimeter every few days. Even then there were work details, inspections, maintenance, meetings, etc.—the difference was simply being ‘off line’ for a few hours to read the mail from home, get a hot field shower, enjoy some hot chow, wash and clean our uniforms and web gear and refresh our packs with items we would need when we returned to our outpost. There was a small PX facility in the Base area which helped with such items as toothpaste, soap, etc.. The rotation continued along with the endless
95