I was SAT team leader for Whiskey Delta and had been since
April. During that time I had set up a routine of making random checks
off the area and stationing my team at a central location, which was in
the area of Oscar 41. I was setting in the Jeep facing south and talking
about my R&R that was to start in three weeks. We were relaxed, waiting
for the next three hours to pass so we to get off.
I don't know which came first: the sound of the explosion and the
fire ball, or the radio transmission indicating Charlie was spotted in
the area. We all sat there for a moment starring at the huge ball of fire.
The fire looked so hot we thought that we could feel heat at this great
a distance. We then proceeded to make, a check of all posts in the Delta
area and make a sweep of the area. Every time we came into a clearing
we could see the fire. Over the radio we heard the action of people trying
to clear the area. There was a lot of traffic on the radio some even sounded
confusing, and when this happened the calm, deep, gravely voice called
our flight chief, MSgt Jim Worsham, would come in and take charge calming
people down. It gave us the feeling that someone was taking care of what
needed to be done to clear the area.
We all joked nervously in order to cover our fear as we drove through
narrow roads through this dense under growth of thick vegetation. Every
shadow seemed to cover a potential danger. As we continually patrolled
the area watching out for Charlie we listened to the action on the radio.
Time seemed to crawl by as we waited for dawn.
I agree with Doug that--sometimes it seems like yesterday. |
