Courage Under Fire

So we did another dismounted patrol to a known hot area with our entire platoon. Keep in mind a heavy weapons platoon is the size of a regular line squad.

We left at zero-dark-stupid, taking the retardedly long way into the hot spot. Before we left, all the combat vets in the platoon were calling it - ambush tomorrow. I make sure to bring extra ammo.

So we do our bullshit with the ridiculously long patrol (unsupported, I might add) and start to exfil.

Every time we go into a village, we're mobbed by kids. The kids were quite numerous this time, but just as we left the target village, a middle aged adult came out and loudly shooed them away. "That's it," I thought, "No question now, we're definitely getting hit."

Less than a click out of the village, we see a dude watching us from a tower, and we just know.

Automatic fire.

Jump in the ditch.

This time, my cover is outstanding. About five feet of ditch for me to shoot out of. Haney dives in with me, and we immediately start to unload, talking the guns the best we can.

I jump up, fire 5-7 rounds over the berm and pop back down as the enemy fire gets close. Haney and I take turns. I am terrified, but I keep shooting.

SGT Tracy and Huff are above us. Huff, who ironically had no intrest in combat is unloading with a SAW. SGT Tracy's M4 jams on the first round. No worries. He switches to grenades and fires off five.

I follow King's tracers from the 240 on target. Dougie drops a mortar on their sorry asses. CPL Blann leads his team to assault.

Within minutes, we have fire superiority and they break contact. 10 grenades, one mortar, and about 200 rounds for each machine gun are fired. I went through 90 rounds for my rifle.

I turn to Haney, who I just shared a foxhole with during our most intense firefight yet. I put my arm around him and say, "I love you brother."

So now I come to the part which gives this post it's title. I've found that courage under fire is not just having the balls to put yourself in harm's way. When bullets are whizzing over your head, you take cover. Courage comes in when you force yourself to stand up, exposed to enemy fire and return the favor. You know full well that standing up could get your head shot off, but you do it anyway, because if you don't one of your guys may die.

I love you, my brothers.