AAR 1ST MARDIV IN SWA

File: 970725_dec96_decls34_0054.txt
Page: 0054
Total Pages: 130
Subject = AAR  1ST MARDIV IN SWA                                          

Parent Organization = MCCDC       

Unit = WDID        

Folder Title = AFTER ACTION REPORT 1ST MARINE DIVISION IN SOUTHWEST ASIA   WDID SWA 0073                       

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX600145


                                 UNCLASSIFIED


                                 tvEET ING AND A NO@'NING SFIAVE

               One morning foiiowing a hot breakfast, a t-iarine Captain was
            enjoying a shave with hot water from an Immersion heater. In the
            distance sounded the constant rumbling of air strikes, artillery
            and naval gun fire pounding Iraqi forces twenty miles to the north
            In Kuwait. A PFC walked up to the Captain and In a nervous voice
            respectfully requested permission to speak. Permission granted,
            the young Marine requested to know If the was going well for the
            United States. Rather than  ;give a bl-unt reply In the afflrmative,
            the Cap.tain asked the Merin  If he had eaten a hot rreal for
            breakfast. The laarine said yes. And when the Captain asked If
           -.the.PFChad slept well the previous night and without disturbance
            from the nolse of air strikes and artillery and naval gun flres,
            the youthtul-marine said yes. Flnally, just as the Battleship
            Missouri fired a particularly loud salvo of shells, the Captain
            askt-d-the Marine If he thought any Iraqi Captains were shaving In
            their bunkers as they spoke. St.,ddently the PFC was relieved; he
            realized his and his unit's clrclrnstances were a heck of a lot
            more comfortable and secure than his foes only 20 miles away.
                                      VALENTlt,E BADIES

                Two Marine Firs@ Lieutenants In 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines
            share the same last name, Smith. Both are married and their wlves
            delivered healthy babies on Valentine's Day .

                As 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines motor marched through burning oil
            fields with flres ten stories high en route to their final
            objective, Kuwait international Airport, a solerrn n-ood overcam
            everyone. The destruction', the sky jet black with the smoke of
            burning oil, just as dark as night. The entire scene was unreal,
            spooky, until over the Battalion Tactical Operations Net cracked
            an order from a Company Commnder     "Irm)ediate resupply of
            marshTellows!!!"

               Sutxnitted by anonymous Marines from 2nd Battalion, 3d Niarlnes



















                                      UNCLASSIFIED