How WAS combat; if you care to talk about it. (I served during the Cold War.)

2015-11-15T15:59:11-05:00

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Nov 15 at 2015 4:04 PM

2015-11-15T16:04:16-05:00

If you want to know the truth, scary as hell and it's an experience that you will never forget as long as you live!

Response by MSgt Daniel Attilio made Nov 15 at 2015 4:34 PM

2015-11-15T16:34:17-05:00

Weird, surreal, difficult to explain. Getting shot at became no big deal, was the norm and as long as no one got hit didn't even cause a flinch. Mortars and rockets on the other hand were ridiculously miserable. Each has a unique note that lasts all of maybe a second when incoming, your gut cringes, your butt swallows your underwear and then there is an explosion that can be felt in the air and through the ground. Stomach instantly unclenches, releases your underwear and you head out to make sure no one was lost in the attack.
In Fallujah we set into a defense after told to halt advance. We made a game of getting shot at. There was a street that was open to "no man's land" and we would have to run across to get to other AAVs for checks or word. We would dart back and forth across the street to see how good their aim and reflexes were. We were amused by how long it took for the rounds to come up the street after we crossed - sometimes not long which made it more exciting. Clearly no one taught them how to lead a target and on reflection the heat evidently melted away any good sense we may have had prior to entering Fallujah. The pic is the street I am talking about. One night several of us had to carry cans of 40mm ammo across the street. Well, one of my guys didn't duck low enough and nearly knocked himself out when he plowed headfirst into the nose of this AAV. We dragged him laughing at him for running into the tractor and cursing at him because we had to pick up the ammo cans he dropped. Good times.
We were taking fire, mortars and all sorts of good stuff from a building at the corner of "no man's land" that could not be engaged by the infantry from our defensive positions. So the infantry platoon commander asked if I could position my AAV forward of our lines and engage the building. I did, and got rid of that enemy position with my Mk19. He then asked if I could stay forward of the lines and occasionally roll out of defilade to put 50cal rounds down range to keep the enemies heads down. I obliged and believe I shed a good 5-years off my life expectancy that night. There were 4 of us in the AAV and we rotated positions with intent to allow a little sleep for the person not in turret, driver or radio positions. Didn't work out that way as no one slept. Being aluminum and steel the AAV expands and contracts due to change in temperatures. Throughout the night the AAV would make these eery creaks, cracks and bangs as she cooled down from the day's ridiculous heat. That was not good for nerves. I also told my crew that there were hajis in their little ninja pajamas crawling all over waiting and trying to get on us as we were forward of the lines of defense. Probably didn't help nerves but definitely kept all alert.
There were many more events but that one comes to mind first. It was also captured by combat camera and used in motivational clips by the Marine Corps. I saw it while in Fallujah (on FOB) but have not been able to track down a copy for myself.

Response by SGT Dana Williams made Nov 15 at 2015 5:21 PM

2015-11-15T17:21:04-05:00

When was asked to describe Vietnam, I've used this anology "picture yourself in a strange house. It's midnight and there are no lights. You feel your way all the way through to the back door. As your hand touches the knob ... something grabs you!" Actual combat is extremely lucid but you only see what's happening in your immediate area. I don't remember beig afraid while it was actually happening, but scared s***less after it was over. Does that make any sense?

Response by SSG Gene Carroll SR. made Nov 15 at 2015 9:05 PM

2015-11-15T21:05:08-05:00

So did I, and no I truly don't like to talk to much about my experiences.

Response by SFC Jim Mergott made Nov 15 at 2015 11:27 PM

2015-11-15T23:27:58-05:00

I feel okay to answer this as it is a veteran social media site.One night one of our Stryker vehicles was out on routine platoon size patrol we always drove with lights off. The vehicle collided head on with a guy who was riding lights off as well(strange right). I was working in the coms room that night on our JSS. So I called in a medivac for this guy. They threw him in the back of the Stryker and brought him back to the JSS for a medivac to Taji. This guy was DOD(dead on arrival ) his arm looked like an accordion and some of his brains were leaking out of his ears and he pissed and shit his pants. At first I felt bad for him. but it was later discovered that he was enemy and I was really happy we killed him. ....... That's combat.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2015 12:38 AM

2015-11-16T00:38:32-05:00

Scary. De Oppresso Liber.

Response by LTC Jeffrey Strickland made Nov 16 at 2015 8:03 AM

2015-11-16T08:03:20-05:00

I too am a Cold War Warrior, even though I was on active duty from 1981 to 2005. I was in grad school during Desert Storm and teaching during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Response by SPC Randall Eichelberger made Dec 13 at 2015 6:36 PM

2015-12-13T18:36:41-05:00

Its hard to explain. Getting shot at, especially when you're in a vehicle, really isn't anything. Trying to find an IED hidden among all the trash on the side of the road (Iraq didn't have a trash service) was nerve racking. Incoming indirect fire was literally the most scary thing I have, and will probably ever, be through. The fact you can hear it for about a second before it explodes in a place you haveno idea where it may be is the most scary thing, it comes down to bad luck honestly, you just hpe you're lucky during an IDF attack.

We originally went to Al Assad but they blew up all our IP station in Ramadi so we were boarding a plane to fly to Baghdad to take over some MSR patrols and we got mortared on the flight line, that was pretty scary. Then a few weeks later we were getting our trucks ready (we got deadlined vehicles with no armor or anti-IED systems because we were a rapid fielding force that deployed on like 3 months notice) and I was standing on top of a truck and a rocket whooshed about 15 feet above my head. I thought it was pretty cool until my former Infantry (Battle of Fallujah) turned MP team member reminded me they're air burst.

In short, bullets are cool the first few times you get shot at because they're horrible at aiming AK's, but indirect fire will make a grown man pee himself if it lasts too long.

Response by SSG Darryl Cullum made Nov 21 at 2018 7:01 AM

2018-11-21T07:01:13-05:00

I served with SWG, in Europe for 6 years, it was mostly culture immersion with Germany the Dutch, Brits and Belgian Mil, a great experience, very serious and crazy dangerous at times due to N proliferation treaty imposition and the lies perped about that. Interpol criminals terrorized everyone, which much of the attacks and confrontations were NOT publicized. We risked our lives for propaganda and posture, I've seen many hurt killed and lost a few buddies, and no recognition except by our command and our allies. PTSD? sit on a few nukes while ya transport and guard them an se if you sleep at night after sleeping with THEM in a damn igloo or on the line. Hoooahhh to my 55G, 11B security and of course 31MV9. Lock n load sarge.