Striped02WS6
08-31-2007, 12:13 AM
Long but i would apprieciate the read:
A year ago i stood in the sand of iraq listening to my patrol leader brief his combat patrol....some say there is no such thing as combat over there anymore. I beg to differ. Because in the city of Adwar (near tikrit...where saddam was found) the fundamentalist waged war every day on CLPS and patrols every day...and became quite good at massing casualties. There i stood a hardened combat veteran listening to the patrol brief wondering if the day and heat would ever end. Only 5 more days until i leave this smelly, hot, horrible place is what i was telling myself. SSG deason was the patrol leader. A giant of a man, 6'5'' 260lbs maybe more. A very intense but kind man. As we loaded into our 4 M1114's we talked of our strategy on driving through downtown Adwar. Our only mission was to make it through and back to show our 82nd brothers the land. The ride there was bland. Nothing out of the ordinary. Many IED holes lined the road. Once the city came into site we got a call from another unit conducting a raid in the area....our buddies from 5th group special forces. We began into the market area the streets were more crouded then usual. People seemed more on edge and willing to take risks with us. Many cars tried there luck in passing the patrol, only to meet the business end of a Benelli 12ga. Once through the market a sigh of relief came over the patrol. Radio chatter began to pick up and everyone in the truck finally started talking. 1/2 the mission was over with. A quick stop at the Iraqi army complex and off we were back through the town. Somehow SSG deasons truck took the tail spot and my truck assumed the 3rd. There it was (and i will never forget the way it looked) the market. Almost dead quiet. Maybe 30 people in 3 blocks. OK now our senses became very focused. As we entered the market we heard a burst from the lead trucks 240b and then we stopped and silence. No one said a word and no radio chatter. Just as my TC (truck commander) picked up the mic there was a deffening Boom Boom Boom! followed by and intense heat. All together the turrets of 2 and 3 truck began to spin backwards to eliminate this hostile threat. 50 and 240 barking it was to no avail. This time it was a hit and run.
3 hand thrown armour piercing grenades were the weapon of choice.
SSG Deason....a NCO for the soldiers was the TC that day in the 4th truck.
SSG Michael Lee Deason KIA 31 aug 06 RIP my friend http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=9898
till we form again ...Rakkasans
EDIT: and tonight i realize i am 30 days from wheels up on my second tour...this time to southern bagdhad.....and i am ready!
A year ago i stood in the sand of iraq listening to my patrol leader brief his combat patrol....some say there is no such thing as combat over there anymore. I beg to differ. Because in the city of Adwar (near tikrit...where saddam was found) the fundamentalist waged war every day on CLPS and patrols every day...and became quite good at massing casualties. There i stood a hardened combat veteran listening to the patrol brief wondering if the day and heat would ever end. Only 5 more days until i leave this smelly, hot, horrible place is what i was telling myself. SSG deason was the patrol leader. A giant of a man, 6'5'' 260lbs maybe more. A very intense but kind man. As we loaded into our 4 M1114's we talked of our strategy on driving through downtown Adwar. Our only mission was to make it through and back to show our 82nd brothers the land. The ride there was bland. Nothing out of the ordinary. Many IED holes lined the road. Once the city came into site we got a call from another unit conducting a raid in the area....our buddies from 5th group special forces. We began into the market area the streets were more crouded then usual. People seemed more on edge and willing to take risks with us. Many cars tried there luck in passing the patrol, only to meet the business end of a Benelli 12ga. Once through the market a sigh of relief came over the patrol. Radio chatter began to pick up and everyone in the truck finally started talking. 1/2 the mission was over with. A quick stop at the Iraqi army complex and off we were back through the town. Somehow SSG deasons truck took the tail spot and my truck assumed the 3rd. There it was (and i will never forget the way it looked) the market. Almost dead quiet. Maybe 30 people in 3 blocks. OK now our senses became very focused. As we entered the market we heard a burst from the lead trucks 240b and then we stopped and silence. No one said a word and no radio chatter. Just as my TC (truck commander) picked up the mic there was a deffening Boom Boom Boom! followed by and intense heat. All together the turrets of 2 and 3 truck began to spin backwards to eliminate this hostile threat. 50 and 240 barking it was to no avail. This time it was a hit and run.
3 hand thrown armour piercing grenades were the weapon of choice.
SSG Deason....a NCO for the soldiers was the TC that day in the 4th truck.
SSG Michael Lee Deason KIA 31 aug 06 RIP my friend http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=9898
till we form again ...Rakkasans
EDIT: and tonight i realize i am 30 days from wheels up on my second tour...this time to southern bagdhad.....and i am ready!