Trial By Fire

"Sit down." SFC Owen commanded, "You’re getting a mission." Oakland obeyed immediately. Owen read:

"Situation. Enemy Forces. The enemy has consolidated at VZ74172121 and have been conducting dismounted 2-3 man size patrols from vicinity VZ7421 to VZ7919 to VZ7230 to VZ7724. Their morale is high and they are well trained. Mission. Your squad is to conduct movement to contact from LZ Escort, VZ70002000 to VZ81743411 in order to regain contact with enemy forces in the area no later than 0500 hours tomorrow." Owen looked up to his lieutenant. Ford continued.

"Execution. Concept of the operation is for you to move along a route between LZ Escort and the previously given coordinates. You are to locate enemy patrols in the area. If you come upon a patrol element larger than 2-3 men, immediately break contact. Fires. You have priority of fires from Bravo battery’s guns." Ford paused to let the simple mission sink in. Owen finished the order.

"Service support. Nothing new. Command and signal. You are Bravo 1-3, and we’re Bravo 1-6 and 1-7 as per our standard operating procedures and we’re following the regular signal operating instructions. That’s it Oakland. You got it?"

"Yes, I think I got it all." Oakland replied nervously.

"Ok Oakland, get outta here. You move out at 0430." Oakland rose and saluted, and then he turned to leave.

"Oh yeah, Oakland," Ford said. Oakland turned. "Don’t fuck this up." Oakland nodded and ran out of the door.

* * *

Oakland and his squad were sitting on the edge of the helipad waiting for their pickup at 0430. SGT Haberer and CPL Anaya were doing last minute pre-combat checks before they moved out. Haberer’s bravo team, Clarke the medic and Brown the grenadier who also carried the radio, were full on ammo and camouflage and ready to go. Anaya checked alpha team. SPC Hayes the SAW gunner and SPC Doria, a quiet soldier who was new in country, were also ready to go.

Oakland was a brand new squad leader and had just been transferred to B Company. He was given two strong team leaders but otherwise a green squad. Besides the team leaders Hayes was the only soldier in 3rd squad who had actually been in a firefight. Not only that but Oakland was short 3 or 4 soldiers of a full squad. Luckily, he was given a few weeks to train and work with his soldiers before being given a mission. Traditionally in Bravo Company, a new leader was given a mission to get his unit combat experience before anything else.

At about 0425, 5 minutes before everyone expected to be picked up, Oakland stood to address his squad.

"Guys, listen up," everyone stopped what they were doing and looked to their leader, "I know this is most of your first time out. This, as you know, is my first time out as squad leader. Just remember our training and nothing can go wrong." This was responded to with a loud HOOAH. Oakland told the squad to line up and then he looked to the sky to see their ride, a UH-60 Black hawk helicopter.

The chopper landed and the squad was on and in the air in less than 10 seconds. The half hour ride would be accompanied by artillery bombardment of the landing zone and smaller attack helicopters machine-gunning the edges of the LZ. The Black hawk was flying in low at a treetop level to prevent detection from enemy radar.

As they approached the LZ the pilot flared the nose of the helicopter up for a rapid slow before landing. The skids came within 6 inches of the ground and Oakland’s squad jumped out and moved to a 360-degree security position as they rehearsed. The Black hawk was up and gone and 3rd squad was alone in enemy territory.