Several days after my first HA mission, I decided to support a second. This one was a little different. I did not leave the vehicle. I was a gunner again, and was basically just along for the ride....That is, until the sheep! The horror, the horror! (guess that movie reference, and you'll earn a prize)
The mission was for several purposes. 1) to get the start and ending grid reference points for a paved road, 2) to spread good will, and 3) to secure the area so the Afghan Army could pass out U.S. wheat seed to the villagers. My mission, keep everyone safe with my fully automatic boom stick. We travelled through the city of Herat which was interesting because it looked almost like Newburg, New York exept there were street vendors and people everywhere. For those who understand the comparison, yes it looked THAT run down and dumpy!
We made a left hand turn and suddenly there was no pavement and mud huts everywhere. And don't forget the old men with cotton-ball beards.
After about one hour of travelling winding, one lane, pot-hole filled roads, we arrived at our destination. When we pulled into position, I had the Navy Ensign who was coordinating the security guide my vehicle out into a field so I could see the road that brought us into the village. This way I could cover the high-speed avenue of approach (doctrinal term) with my instrument of death (not a doctrinal term), the M240B machine gun. I was also able to see the walled village about 500-700 meters away across the pasture I now found myself in. All was well until I was suddenly surrounded completely by a sly and cunning enemy. . . the villagers' sheep!
After about one hour of travelling winding, one lane, pot-hole filled roads, we arrived at our destination. When we pulled into position, I had the Navy Ensign who was coordinating the security guide my vehicle out into a field so I could see the road that brought us into the village. This way I could cover the high-speed avenue of approach (doctrinal term) with my instrument of death (not a doctrinal term), the M240B machine gun. I was also able to see the walled village about 500-700 meters away across the pasture I now found myself in. All was well until I was suddenly surrounded completely by a sly and cunning enemy. . . the villagers' sheep!
Immediately, I created a steady stance, took up a good sight picture, controlled my breathing, and squeezed the trigger, placing a contolled 6-9 round burst into the enemy. Too bad I was only simulating.
Not much happened, although the young shepherd just stood and gave me a menacing stare without moving for about 10 minutes. Very eerie. I was completely safe within the herd of sheep because I don't think the Taliban would want the village to go "circus elephant" on them if they destroyed the village sheep just to blow up one HMMWV. We only stayed at the village for about one hour, but I forgot to grab an MRE for lunch so I got pretty hungry. We left with our mission successful, and took a few wrong turns on the way home which extended our trip by about 1/2 hour. Oh well, it wasn't too hot and the breeze felt good (when it wasn't accompanied by a could of Afghanistan dust).
Not much happened, although the young shepherd just stood and gave me a menacing stare without moving for about 10 minutes. Very eerie. I was completely safe within the herd of sheep because I don't think the Taliban would want the village to go "circus elephant" on them if they destroyed the village sheep just to blow up one HMMWV. We only stayed at the village for about one hour, but I forgot to grab an MRE for lunch so I got pretty hungry. We left with our mission successful, and took a few wrong turns on the way home which extended our trip by about 1/2 hour. Oh well, it wasn't too hot and the breeze felt good (when it wasn't accompanied by a could of Afghanistan dust).
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