Part I 'Bright Light'

Golf Co. mounted up and shortly there after rolled out to catch up with the rest of the BN. Soon our movement north continued into more darkness, it was the real night without transition from day. I only have a vague recollection of what happened on that second night out. I do know that after linking up with the rest of the BN that we stopped often while our command seemingly planned our next movement forward. The radio crackled to life every once on awhile and we even heard the BN Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Conry occasionally talking to Spartan about the reasons we were checked up. Fatigue combined with the monotonous drone of the track caused me to drift in and out of an uncomfortable sleep.

On the morning of Day 3 we were greeted by a brilliant sun appearing in the east far above a cloudless sky. I had gotten used to standing on a bench inside of the track and half laying on the roof with the gun facing outboard. The three of us took turns behind the M-60 but I remember staying up there a lot, even when someone else from my team was manning the crew served weapon. I could see for miles in all directions and that made me feel better about where I was. Plus it felt good to be breathing outside of the track. During this thing called combat there were lulls in the sensory input level that are occasionally interrupted by exciting chaotic minutes. All of a sudden things began to get very active around us.

We came through a large area where I started to see other Marine Units and some of our tanks spread out across the sand. I could also see for the first time in our movement north many surrendering Iraqi soldiers. Just a few meters off to the left and right of our track some enemy combatants were sitting in small circles on the sand being guarded by American Troops that I did not recognize. The Iraqis were not blind folded. I could see their blackened lean faces contorting as they squinted up into the sun at us rolling by. I made eye contact with those willing to give me theirs. They looked so small on the ground compared to the Americans standing over them.