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AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT
Non-fiction by G. Perez Out in the depths of the mighty Pacific Ocean an unsuspecting island awaits it's invasion. To the Marines of 1/3 this will be just another day working for the worlds finest fighting force. Aboard the various ships out at sea Marines prepare both mentally and physically to invade hostile land. The day is young and so are the Marines. The nerves are jittery and the anxiety is high. The training is real and so is the history. These waters are no stranger to the Marines. Thousands have died in the name of freedom in years past. From Okinawa to Iwo Jima we must now train our generation for similar landings. From Guam to Tinian the killed in action are only out numbered by the wounded in action. The weather is humid and the seas are rough. If these oceans could talk I would not want to hear what they have to say. We must endure what our predecessors have gone through. The only thing missing today is the guarantee of loss of life and loss of friends. The years are far apart but the memories will never leave us. The sand is the same and the waves continue to crash. Only our weapons will be silent on this undisclosed day. To train on the sands in which my fellow brothers perished is an honor in which words due no justice. To the Marines and Sailors of the mighty 1/3 it was now our turn to get some. Weapons are issued and radio gear is checked and then double checked. Waterproofing is a must and weapons are loaded. Prior to an amphibious assault it is always in the best interest of each Marine to properly secure all gear. For the pace and the action will be fast. Double securing of all gear is the best method. A simple length of five fifty chord would solve the problem of lost gear. If something was to be lost then chances are good it would be gone forever. Gone forever has deep meanings when out at sea. The only way I would loose anything on this trip would be if I myself was lost. Nothing extra on this trip. Weight is a big concern when going amphibious. To much weight and your every step will reflect this error. Attacking on water and then sand is not the same as attacking on dirt. Your body has to work twice as hard just to move. So any unwanted weight must be left up above in your berthing area. Chow is very light and those with experience know exactly why. Amphibious assault vehicles emit a tremendous amount of exhaust. So depending on where you are seated you will most likely begin to vomit. The constant motion of these vessels adds to the queasy feeling. So depending on what stick you were assigned the higher the number meant the smoother the ride. To the well deck we go...Each group consist of about twenty soon to be soaked Marines. It is not a question of if you will get wet. It is merely a matter of time before your body begins to tremble from the chills of the water in the Pacific Ocean. As we await to board our war wagon I begin to feel what many before me have felt. I literally began to put myself in the minds of Marines from World War Two. I feel a tremendous amount of pride as I loose control of my emotions. To some the experience is the same but most are only concerned with the current mission. We are all wearing the same uniform but we are all very different. Wind and a wet body are a very disturbing experience. The nerves are no longer cool and my excitement turns to a worried look. I could not help thinking that this is what the Marine Corps is all about. From the air, land or sea is how to claim victory. And we were about to unleash all three at the same time. Our signal men await us at the landing zone and will guide the LCAC's and AAV's to ensure a safe landing. The helicopters begin to thunder up above and this Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is ready. With sand blowing and rotors spinning the noise will be deafening and the situation will be very confusing. I wonder what stick I will be on. When going by AAV it is best to be towards the rear. An AAV needs to gain speed before it jumps off the ship and into the deep blue sea. The closer to the front of the ship then the less room for take off speed. This results in the entire AAV going down under one hundred percent. Not only will the ocean appear before your very eyes, you will also be tossed violently from side to side and forward and backward. You will begin to panic as if you are now in your coffin. If you are in the rear then your vessel will gain the speed it needs to shoot into the water. It will just submerge halfway and off you would go. When departing by LCAC is does not matter. Everyone gets a comfortable seat inside the monster hover craft. Then the well deck of the ship is simply filled with a couple of thousand gallons of the ocean and the LCAC will blow its fans and inflate its outer belly. Then like magic your off to do what you gotta do. It is a weird sight watching your ship take in water. It is just not normal to see this. But somehow it works. Stick ten is where they stuck my sorry ass. Dead last to maintain communication with vip's. I will be in the last assault vehicle and im not complaining. Not yet at least! No one loads until the final moments. When the time comes to get into our watery coffins the fear becomes greater and greater. The back hatch is wide open and awaiting. The crew signals for us to near and we begin to stack like sardines. In we go and now the fun begins. It is only a matter of time before it begins to wreak of fumes. Then the sounds of engines powering up begin to fill the ship. Life now sucks as I know what lies ahead in the immediate future. Our hatch is sealed and the engines roar. The noise is loud and everyone begins to wonder who will be the first. Soon a jerk of the craft can be felt as it is pulled out of gear. We begin to move forward and the fun has begun. After an idle of about thirty seconds the AAV cranks to full throttle. And like magic we begin to move as we also begin to choke from the exhaust. We splash into the water and the sound now turns to a muffled sound. Its rather smooth as we make way towards the beach. All of a sudden someone begins the deadly chain of events. Off in the corner a queasy Marine begins to vomit and the aroma of fresh vomit begins to suffocate everyone aboard. We all turn our heads and the sounds of a real hung over Marine echo the water craft. The sweet smell of exhaust and vomit prove to be to much for most. Like dominoes falling one after another every Marine begins to vomit and now I begin to panic as vomit is surrounding me. Good god it smells good in here. This is called "good training" or good "shit" in the Marine Corps. We are now officially getting some. With quiet a way to go our battle is going terrible. With vomit swooshing back and forth I raise my boots and begin to make an attempt at going into my own world. But the aroma of ones insides is just to overwhelming and I join the party. Lucky for me I did not eat earlier so I have very little to material to donate to this party. While others seem to of have had a buffet for breakfast. As we near the beach our D Day is now here. We are given our one minute warning and we begin to turn to the left. The crew begins to pop their heads up from the craft and now the smell of salt fills our bucket. Our friends are landing and we want out right now. The vomit is a thing of the past and now war faces replace sick faces. No Marine is ever allowed to be sick and we all felt great. As we make our way up the beach our hatch is open and off we go. The sight is filled with Marines and corpsman scrambling to take the beach. Helos and crafts are being guided and sent back for reinforcements. On this day the Marines of 1/3 landed and conquered the beaches of the Pacific. Each and every troop went back to their ships that night. During WWII on this exact same spot thousands of Marines and Sailors never even had a chance. As they leaped from their craft they were killed in their prime. But that did not discourage the Marines from accomplishing their mission. Entire platoons and companies were decimated on these beaches. When our training was done we were given time to reflect. As of today I am still reflecting. Although we may of had fun on our mission there is zero doubt in my mind that we could do the same as our brothers. Never ever underestimate the will of the Marine Corps. Silence is respect. Semper Fi.. EMAIL LAVADOGMARINEONE@YAHOO.COM
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G. Perez