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 queazy 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 litteraly began to put myself in the minds of Marines frome 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.
