Afghan adventure the conclusion

Combat Edge, Nov, 2004 by Robert Seaberg

Editor's Note: This is the final part of a three-part series. When we left off last month the author and his party just received word they would have to stay on the mountain in hostile territory at least another 6 hours.

Did I mention that it was cold? The temperature was well below freezing now that the sun was down, and ice started forming in the plastic water bottles. It was time to drink it or wrap it up inside my bag. The Marines started joking that all the helicopter (helo) would find is a bunch of popsicles, and I began to think they were right. Shivering is a wonderful thing, you can get a full body workout in one place, and I was feeling it. I thought about the Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) I had stashed in my bag, but I wasn't hungry. I figured, if the helo didn't make it, I'd probably need it in the morning.

The Marine OIC (Lt) decided to move us off of the ridge and into a valley that had a much better landing zone for a night pick up. Also, it would be safer since everybody and their brother saw us on the ridge all day. He left a fire team on the ridge to protect our flank, and we followed the bulk of the Marine Quick Reaction Force (QRF) as it descended to the valley below. When we reached the valley, there were a few berms the snipers could use to lay behind in firing position. The locals could still see us because it was dusk, and the closest house was only about 200 meters away.

Behind us was a relatively flat spot that looked good for a helo pick up, and to our advantage, there were mountains behind that. The Lt pointed out a few observation posts on the ridgeline above us, and then showed the three of us Air Force folks a little depression about 6-feet wide and 2-feet deep and told us to stay near it. He said, if we started taking direct fire, it was the best place for us to go to because it might provide a little cover.

I looked at my 9mm Beretta and realized if we did get into a firefight, I was going to be just an observer. I was then pretty glad to be surrounded by Marines with M-16s, M-60s, 40mm grenade launchers, and M-72 Light Anti-Tank Weapons. At that moment, I began to think I would feel a lot safer if I knew how to use their weapons, and we ought to get checked out on them before we deploy.

We all hunkered down on the ground to keep a low profile as dusk faded into night. Suddenly, a quick burst of machine gun fire came from the ridgeline above us, and everyone turned and pointed their weapons, looking through their scopes to find the origin. The Lt commented it was probably just the Afghan National Army goofing off on top of the mountain. As the tension eased, I figured it was a good time to say my prayers; so I asked God for the wind to stop, the weather to get better back home, and if this was the end, let me go at peace.

It was dark by 6:30 p.m. and the lights came on in the village ahead of us. The city calmed down a bit as folks went inside for the evening. The call to prayer came over the loudspeakers again in the town for "after sundown prayers," and the village area we were in got silent as folks prayed and then ate dinner. The Lt pulled out his thermoscope (infrared night scope), checked out the landscape and ridgelines, and passed it down the line to us curious Air Force folks. I scanned the open area behind us and could see the bright images of the recon team about 100 meters away, as they walked the landing zone looking for mines and anything else unsafe. A ridgeline scan showed nothing. Good, no Taliban.

Things were looking better for us as I remembered it was Friday evening here, which is like our Sunday at home. So, all the good Taliban were in the mosque. I scanned the village below, and everything was peaceful. Suddenly there was a flash that caught everyone's attention. Another flash and we could see a thunderstorm popping up to the east. I don't know how thunderstorms from when it's below freezing, but I figured it was going to be the perfect capstone to my Afghan adventure. What else could happen? We didn't hear any thunder, and the storm appeared to be behind the next mountain range, where we hoped that it would stay for the next 3 hours. The Marines started to get comfortable with the situation, and there was a bit of muffled conversation going on, but we all stayed low and though about getting out of there.

I noticed the wind stopped, but it was still cold, probably about 28 degrees or colder. I lay on my back with the bag of airplane parts under my head, and looked at the night sky. It was clear and pitch-black above us, and I could see Orion's belt and a million other stars. What a beautiful sky. I heard a jet overhead. Maybe a B-1 or an A-10, but I knew it was ours, and that was comforting. I noticed at least 10 shooting stars, and other than the occasional flashes of lightning, it was a calm night. I started to think about how fortunate I was to see it. I could've fallen asleep, but I wasn't about to close my eyes because I darn sure didn't want to miss the helicopter.