by Jack Terral
Randy continued to use the misappropriated desert patrol vehicle that a grateful Lieutenant Brannigan had given him for past services rendered. The young airman, knowing well when guile and subterfuge were necessary, immediately had it painted Air Force blue and stenciled with some phony registration numbers across the hood. He happily zipped around in the purloined conveyance as he tended to his duties.
The new SEAL arrivals, after disembarking from the C-130, were ushered quickly to the hangar Brannigan's Brigands used as a headquarters, living quarters, and warehouse. The newcomers found bunks and mattresses waiting for them, but no blankets or sheets. That meant they would be slumbering in sleeping bags and/or poncho liners. Senior Chief Petty Officer Buford Dawkins had chow passes for them through the efforts of Randy Tooley, which meant the newcomers could get hot food in the base mess hall rather than have to consume MREs in the hangar. All the facilities at Shelor Field were open to them: BX, base theater, NCO and enlisted men's clubs, and the swimming pool. The only downside to their stay was being confined to the base. For reasons of the tightest security, no one was permitted to wander off the Air Force property unless on official duty.
As soon as things were down to a dull roar, the senior chief called a formation. He and Chief Petty Officer Matt Gunnar-son formed up the thirty-six enlisted men for a roll call to make sure that everyone assigned to Operation Battleline was all present and accounted for. The two chiefs were relieved to find that each man listed on either the manifests from the aircraft or the original roster for Operation Rolling Thunder was exactly where he was supposed to be. Nobody was AWOL, lost, or wandering aimlessly in a haze of ignorance and uncertainty. The detachment, now with three officers and two chief petty officers, numbered a grand total of forty-one romping, stomping Navy SEALs who were available for the coming combat.
While the enlisted men were being checked in after the arrival of the last C-130, a new officer, Ensign Orlando Taylor, went inside the hangar to find the detachment officers. Brannigan and Lieutenant Junior Grade Jim Cruiser were in the corner cubicle used as a headquarters of sorts, going over the roster and beginning to organize the assault sections for the coming operation. Ensign Taylor dropped his gear by the door and knocked. The Skipper looked up and noted the somber young African-American. You must be our newly assigned Ensign Taylor. Come in.
Taylor stepped inside the office and rendered a faultless salute. Sir! Ensign Taylor reporting to the commanding officer as ordered.
Welcome, Taylor, Brannigan said, offering his hand. This is Lieutenant (JG) Jim Cruiser. Take a seat and join the party.
Thank you, sir, Taylor said. He took a chair as invited, sitting stiffly and formally.
Cruiser gave him a friendly smile. How was the trip over?
Everything moved on schedule, Taylor said. I am anxious get into the program. When will I be able to meet my men?
Right now, Ensign, Brannigan said, you don't have any men. Jim and I have been mulling over how to reorganize the detachment for the new operation. We went from a total strength of eighteen men to forty-one. Besides the increase in personnel, we also have some added weaponry. All that has to be married together into an effective fighting team. I know that sounds melodramatic, but it's fact. He pushed the rosters and other papers aside. Well, now, tell us a little about yourself.
Sir, Taylor said. I received my commission through NROTC at college. I attended a mostly African-American institution of learning in Georgia. I have only recently completed BUD/S, and this is my first assignment.
Cruiser smiled. Well, I guess you really don't have too much to tell us.
No, sir, Taylor said. But I look forward to this auspicious beginning of my Naval career. Although I hold a reserve commission, I plan to make a career of the U.S. Navy.
Fine, Brannigan said, reaching back for his papers. I've got a couple of ideas to discuss. Jump in any time you feel froggy.
Yes, sir, Taylor said. Thank you, sir.
Okay, Brannigan said. The first thing I want to do is organize a patrol team.
I take it you'll start with the Odd Couple, Cruiser said. And don't forget Redhawk. He's a natural.
Right. And I think I'll put Connie Concord in charge of it.
He's a first class and about ready for chief. It's time to start grooming him, don't you think?
Yes, sir, Cruiser said. And I noted that there's a Petty Officer Matsuno on the roster. I know him. He'd make a good addition.
Brannigan wrote down some notes. Done! And I'll leave Gomez and Bradley in headquarters with me. He sank back into thought for a moment. Another thought has just this instant occurred to me. This coming operation will be perfect for a sniper team.
Puglisi and Miskoski, Cruiser said. That goes without a second thought.
It shall be done, sayeth the gods of war, Brannigan said, writing down their names. Okay. I can see we'll be able to have three assault sections with two fire teams each.
Don't forget a SAW gunner for each one, Cruiser urged him.
Right, Jim. You take the First Section, he said, writing down the assignment. He glanced over at Taylor. The Second Section is yours, Ensign.
Aye, sir, the young man said.
And, of course, the Third will be honchoed by the intrepid Senior Chief Petty Officer Buford Dawkins, the pride of Alabama.
You have some guys left over, Cruiser pointed out.
It's all part of my cunning master plan, the Skipper said with a wink. That will be our support section of machine guns. Seven-point-six-twos, as a matter of fact. I'll let Chief Gunnarson run that particular show. He gave Taylor another look. Any suggestions, Ensign?
Negative, sir.
Have you been in combat before, Ensign? Cruiser asked.
Negative, sir.
In that case, I have some advice for you, Brannigan said. You'll be the leader of an assault section, understand? You are the commander, but you listen to the advice of the senior petty officers. Developing that habit will be invaluable to you not only in the beginning of your career, but even after you're a salty old dog yourself.
Yes, sir.
When Brannigan slid the diagram of the organization over to Cruiser, the impassive Ensign Orlando Taylor gazed steadily at the two veteran officers. The one thing he wanted to conceal from them was his fear; not the fear of death or injury, but the fear of failure. He had been raised in a family headed by a capable, ambitious father. The outcome of this paternal supervision was a fierce rivalry among the four Taylor brothers, who had been taught that anything short of success was not an option.
Cruiser handed the quickly sketched manning chart to Brannigan. I'd say it's good to go.
Fine, the Skipper said. So let's put it into reality, shall we, gentlemen?
Lead on, sir, Cruiser said.
The three officers got up to go outside. Taylor followed the two seniors, his apprehension growing.
.
GLOSSARY
2IC: Second in Command 2-Shop: Intelligence Section of the staff 3-Shop: Operations and Training Section of the staff 4-Shop: Logistics Section of the staff AA: Anti-Aircraft AAR: After-Action Report ACV: Air Cushion Vehicle (hovercraft) AFSOC: Air Force Special Operations Command AGL: Above Ground Level AKA: Also Known As Angel: A thousand feet above ground level, i.e., Angels Twois two thousand feet. APC: Armored Personnel Carrier ARG: Amphibious Ready Group AS-50: .50 caliber, semiautomatic sniper rifle with scope ASAP: As Soon As Possible ASL: Above Sea Level AT-4: Antiarmor rocket launchers Attack Board (also Compass Board): A board with a compass, watch, and depth gauge used by subsurface swimmers AT: Anti-Tank ATV: All-Terrain Vehicle AWOL: Away Without Leave, i.e., absent from one's unitwithout permission. AKA French leave. BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation BOQ: Bachelor Officers' Quarters Briefback: A briefing given to staff by a SEAL platoon regarding their assigned mission. This must be approved before it is implemented. BDU: Battle Dress Uniform BUD/S: Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training course BX: Base Exchange, a military stor
e with good prices for service people. AKA PX in the Army, for Post Exchange. C4: Plastic explosive CAR-15: Compact model of the M-16 rifle CATF: Commander, Amphibious Task Force CDC: Combat Direction Center aboard a ship Chickenshit: An adjective that describes a person or a situation as being particularly draconian, overly strict, unfair, or malicious CHP: California Highway Patrol CLU: Command Launch Unit for the Javelin AT missile CNO: Chief of Naval Operations CO: Commanding Officer Cover: Hat, headgear CP: Command Post CPU: Computer Processing Unit CPX: Command Post Exercise CRRC: Combat Rubber Raiding Craft CRT: Cathode Ray Tube CS: Tear gas CSAR: Combat Search and Rescue CVBG: Carrier Battle Group Dashika: Slang name for the Soviet DShK 12.7-millimeter
heavy machine gun DDG: Guided Missile Destroyer DEA: Drug Enforcement Agency DPV: Desert Patrol Vehicle Det Cord: Detonating Cord DJMS: Defense Joint Military Pay System
Draeger Mk V: Underwater air supply equipment
DZ: Drop Zone
E&E: Escape and Evasion
EPW: Enemy Prisoner of War
ER: Emergency Room (hospital)
ESP: Extra-Sensory Perception
ETS: End of Term of Service
FLIR: Forward-Looking Infrared Radar
Four-Shop: Logistics Section of the staff
French Leave: See AWOL
FRH: Flameless Ration Heater
FTX: Field Training Exercise
G-3: The training and operations staff section of a unit commanded by a general officer
GPS: Global Positioning System
Gunny: Marine Corps slang for the rank of Gunnery Sergeant E-7
H&K MP-5: Heckler & Koch MP-5 submachine gun
HAHO: High-Altitude, High-Opening parachute jump
HALO: High-Altitude, Low-Opening parachute jump
HE: High Explosive
Head: Navy and Marine Corps term for toilet; called a latrine in the Army
HEAT: High Explosive Anti-Tank
Hell Week: The fifth week of BUD/S that is five-plus days of continuous activity and training with little or no sleep
Hors de combat: Out of the battle (expression in French)
HSB: High-Speed Boat
Immediate Action: A quick, sometimes temporary, fix to a mechanical problem
IR: Infra-Red
Island: The superstructure of an aircraft carrier or assault ship
JSOC: Joint Special Operation Command
K-Bar: A brand of knives manufactured for military and camping purposes
KD Range: Known-Distance weapons-firing Range
KIA: Killed In Action
Keffiyeh: Arab headdress (what Yasser Arafat wore) KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid or more politely, Keep It
Simple, Sweetheart LBE: Load-Bearing Equipment LSSC: Light SEAL Support Craft Light Sticks: Flexible plastic tubes that illuminate Limpet Mine: An explosive mine that is attached to the hulls
of vessels
Locked Heels: When a serviceman is getting a severe vocal reprimand, it is said he is having his heels locked, i.e., standing at attention while someone is bellowing in his face.
LSO: Landing Signal Officer LZ: Landing Zone M-18 Claymore Mine: A mine fired electrically with a blast
ing cap M-60 E3: A compact model of the M-60 machine gun M-67: An antipersonnel grenade M-203: A single-shot 40-millimeter grenade launcher MATC: A fast river support craft MCPO: Master Chief Petty Officer Medevac: Medical Evacuation MI-5: United Kingdom Security Agency Mk 138 Satchel Charge: Canvas container filled with explo
sive
Mossad: Israeli Intelligence Agency (ha-Mossad le-Modiin ule-Tafkidim Meyuhadim Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks)
MRE: Meal, Ready to Eat MSSC: Medium SEAL Support Craft Murphy's Law: An assumption that if something can go
wrong, it most certainly will N2: Intelligence Staff N3: Operations Staff NAS: Naval Air Station NAVSPECWAR: Naval Special Warfare NCO: Noncommissioned Officers, i.e., corporals and sergeants NCP: Navy College Program NFL: National Football League NROTC: Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps NVG: Night-Vision Goggles
NVS: Night-Vision Sight
OA: Operational Area
OCONUS: Outside the Continental United States
OCS: Officers Candidate School
OER: Officer's Efficiency Report
OP: Observation Post
OPLAN: Operations Plan. This is the preliminary form of an OPORD.
OPORD: Operations Order. This is the directive derived from the OPLAN of how an operation is to be carried out. It's pretty much etched in stone.
PBL: Patrol Boat, Light
PC: Patrol Coastal vessel
PDQ: Pretty Damn Quick
PLF: Parachute Landing Fall
PM: Preventive Maintenance
PMC: Private Military Company. These are businesses that supply bodyguards, security personnel, and mercenary civilian fighting men to persons or organizations wanting to hire them.
PO: Petty Officer (e.g., PO1C is Petty Officer First Class)
POV: Privately Owned Vehicle
P.P.P.P.: Piss-Poor Prior Planning
PT: Physical Training
Puhtee: An Afghan rolled cap stocking cap that can be worn in many ways
RHIP: Rank Has Its Privileges
RIB: Rigid Inflatable Boat
RIO: Radar Intercept Officer
RPG: Rocket-Propelled Grenade
RPM: Revolutions Per Minute
RTO: Radio Telephone Operator
Run-flat tires: Solid-rubber inserts that allow the vehicle to run even when the tires have been punctured
SAS: Special Air Services an extremely deadly and superefficient special operations unit of the British Army
SAW: Squad Automatic Weapon M-249 5.56-millimeter magazine or clip-fed machine gun
SCPO: Senior Chief Petty Officer SDV: Seal Delivery Vehicle SERE: Survival, Escape, Resistance, and Evasion SF: Special Forces SFOB: Special Forces Operational Base Shiites: A branch of Islam; in serious conflict with the Sunnis SITREP: Situation Report SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fucked Up Snap-to: The act of quickly and sharply assuming the position of attention with chin up, shoulders back, thumbs along the seams of the trousers, and heels locked with toes at a 45-degree angle
SOCOM: Special Operations Command SOF: Special Operations Force SOI: Signal Operating Instructions SOLS: Special Operations Liaison Staff SOP: Standard Operating Procedures SPECOPS: Special Operations Special Boat Squadrons: Units that participate in SEAL mis
sions SPECWARCOM: Special Warfare Command Sunnis: A branch of Islam; in serious conflict with the Shiites T-10 Parachute: Basic static-line-activated personnel para
chute of the United States Armed Forces. Primarily designed for mass tactical parachute jumps. Taliban: Militant, anti-West Muslims with extreme religious
views; in serious conflict with Shiites TDy: Temporary Duty Three-Shop: Operations and Training Section of the staff TOA: Table of Allowances Two-Shop: Intelligence Section of the staff U.K.: The United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, and
Northern Ireland) UN: United Nations Unass: To jump out of or off something UNREO: United Nations Relief and Education Organization USAF: United States Air Force USASFC: United States Army Special Forces Command USSR: Union of Soviet Social Republics Russia before the
fall of Communism VTOL: Vertical Take-Off and Landing Watch Bill: A list of personnel and stations for the watch Waypoint: A location programmed into navigational instrumentation that directs aircraft, vehicles, and/or vessels to a specific spot on the planet
Whaler Boat: Small craft loosely based on the types of boats used in whaling. They are generally carried aboard naval and merchant vessels and are diesel-powered.
WIA: Wounded in Action WMD: Weapons of Mass Destruction: nuclear, biological, etc.
FB2 document info
Document ID: 3e7bc4d5-2de0-48a8-a003-ee80f5549856
Document version: 1
Document creation date: 14.9.2012
Created using: calibre 0.8.67, FictionBook Editor Rel
ease 2.6.6 software
Document authors :
Jack Terral
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