Brenden McMullen and the Gulf War

BRENDEN MCMULLEN AND THE GULF WAR

Ambush at Hamaltyat and a "Friendly Fire" Incident

Copyrighted 1998 by E.T. and B.T.S. McMullen

"For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men launch an attack against me, Not for my transgressions, nor for my sin, O LORD, For no guilt of mine they run and set themselves against me. Arouse Thyself to help me, and see!" Psalms 59:3-4 (NAS)

Background

My son, Brenden, was caught in an Iraqi ambush on the night of 21 - 22 January 1991, just a few days after the air war had begun. Two days later he was involved in a "friendly-fire" incident. He is a U.S. Navy medic, and was assigned to the Marine Special Forces (6th Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company). His unit was one of the first to be shipped to the Kuwait Theater of Operations. It looked like war was imminent. Friends of our's knew this. They called Sharon and me from all over the country to offer support and prayer because of Brenden. Our church was praying for us and a lot of others were too. As more and more troops deployed, a large number of people went to church and prayed. It was the most astounding thing to see our largely secular journalists reporting on this, but they did!

I went to Macas, Ecuador on a mission trip and was there when the air war broke out. I was worried about Sharon and determined to call her. It was no easy task to call the States from Macas, and recently people were having a great deal of trouble getting through. Providentially, I got through and the connection was excellent - it was as if I were calling from next door. Sharon was O.K. She knew the score, but was relaxed, trusting God. So was I. I know it sounds like we were fooling ourselves, but we felt the prayer - we had a peace that passes all understanding. Recent studies in the health area imply that prayer works - we can testify to that. It turned out that Brenden and his platoon needed all that prayer.

The ambush occurred while Brenden's unit was stationed on the Kuwait-Saudi border at a small town called Hamaltyat. The town had been evacuated and the platoon was observing over the berm that formed the border. One observation position was from a two-story hotel. The picture at the right shows the view from that hotel on a day when some command vehicles visited their position. If the Iraqis didn't know they were there, they knew now! They planned an ambush. Brenden and his buddies were out-numbered and were taken by surprise. The following is the account in his own words, primarily from a letter he sent to me just after the ambush.

Ambush!

by Brenden McMullen

Dear Dad:

23 Jan 1991

Well, things here went from worse to worst. You would not believe what happened the other night. This is a NO BULL war story!

Our platoon has been picking up defectors (POW's now) and we've got four Arabic speakers from the Interrogator - Translator unit. Well, one of the guys I brought in (caught three at once with my team leader) said there would be about sixty more guys coming over that night at one of our observation posts (one of these forts). [The picture shows a daylight haul of defectors. Brenden learned some Arabic and so had the job of searching them. A rifle would make this job cumbersome, so he only carried a 9mm pistol.]

About 2000, we started getting artillery sounds, near Team 2's position. Not very close, but enough to scare you. Each round was consecutively closer, but caused no great alarm since we had been taking intermittent fire all week. But it was also surmised that the enemy might be registering his guns. Off we went on our patrol, and the rounds soon stopped. There were about six rounds in all. We patrolled the berm to the north for about 1 ½ hours, watching for the anticipated line-crossers. With me were SSgt. Chang, SSgt. Toller, and [LCpl.] Tilley. At 2200, we decided to take a rest at our platoon HQ's position, which was next to the fort Team 2 was in. We four would stand thirty minutes of watch apiece, then head out again, so we'd all get 1 ½ hours rest. I just woke up the next man, Rob Tilley, when we heard some Arabic shouting by Team 2's building. In our four-man group, we had a translator, so we all went out there. Team 2 also had a translator, Sgt. Nichols, who was shouting down to some Iraqis from the roof, four stories up. My group moved fifty meters, from HQ to a small building, [the Custom's station in the diagram]⁽¹⁾ where we sat behind a corner, ready to help out Team 2 with these defectors. (The artillery fire earlier shook them up, so we didn't want to get too close to that team.)

We listened to the negotiations, and could tell something was wrong. Nichols kept hollering "Come here, we have food and water; there's no problem." The Iraqis said they wanted to surrender to Saudi personnel, but [they] . . . had bugged out days ago. The dialogue between Nichols and the Iraqi spokesman continued until 2325. Suddenly - BOOM - a loud explosion behind us, followed by small arms fire. Holy smoke, it was an attack! I'm in the open with nothing but a 9 millimeter pistol. Great. I saw a silhouette on the berm and squeezed off two rounds, don't know if I scored or not. Then all hell broke loose and there was tracer fire everywhere, from all directions. My group dove behind a small wall in a sort of courtyard and began returning fire. The enemy fire was concentrated on the roof of the fort, and had an RPG rocket launcher banging the heck out of the building [the hotel in the diagram]. Three rounds hit it and a fourth went wild. Because of the intensity of the fire, I thought that our group was now alone, and that the rest of the platoon was dead or wounded.

Once we returned fire from the ground, the enemy fire paused, then split into two streams, one at the roof and one at us. They obviously didn't know we were there, so that gave the six guys on the roof a break. We stayed there about five minutes firing back. There was a short lull, then renewed fire from the berm and behind us. Tilley launched two illumination rounds into the berm with his [M]203. I had the back covered and was squeezing off rounds . . . . Finally, I hollered out that we'd been there long enough to attract fire from the RPG, which we'd been unable to shut down. Chang agreed and told me to lead. So I sprinted out of the courtyard with the rest of my group behind me, still firing. I was empty.

We made it back to the HQ building, where the HQ crew was holed up and SSgt. Ellis slid me his machine gun (M-60), which I loaded and then covered the door. If only I'd had it outside, I could've toasted that RPG. The firing stopped altogether, then we heard a new sound - whistling. These guys had artillery support! The earlier rounds had just been to register their guns, so that only a small shift in fire would be required to support the hit. So now we're getting our teeth rattled by artillery, and junk from the ceiling is falling on us. The Captain's on the radio getting us some armored vehicles to cover our withdrawal, but we still had guys on the roof, who weren't talking to us on the HQ radio. So SSgt. Booker and Tilley went up to the roof, which took real guts, even though the firing had stopped. The Iraqis were probably laying low, trying to avoid getting hit by their own artillery. I moved up to cover the door with the gun while I also got on the hook with Booker, who had made it up to the roof and had everyone up there, no one hurt.

Well, those artillery rounds kept coming in, which was the worst part of the whole fight, since you couldn't do anything about it. At least you can shoot troops. Meanwhile, I'm praying pretty good, too.

The rounds came in about every three minutes. They were already close and got closer with each round. The Iraqis were adjusting their fire. Then two artillery illumination rounds hit directly above our position. Had they been high-explosive rounds we would have been killed. We waited for support for ten minutes in that building, and it never came. We had trucks parked outside, and Capt. Jones said we were going to make a run for it in them. I told Booker to get off the roof now and went outside to lay down machine gun fire if I had to.

Here comes Booker and the roof crew. We all pile into the trucks and split. Not one round was fired at us while we did, but we know the enemy were still there. We hauled butt for about 5 - 6 miles back to a covered position under a bridge. As we neared the bridge, Capt. Jones told Chang to go up and check it out. Tilley and I got out of our vehicle and approached the position on foot. When we determined that the bridge was clear, the platoon drove up, and we set up 100% security. Three hours later, the armor shows up. No one was hurt, except one guy got a nick over his eye by some flying masonry or something, just a scratch. I learned several lessons, which I praise God I'm alive to practice.

Well, that's it, Dad. A real fire fight at fifty meters. The enclosed map shows it all. Your prayers are working! Eleven men fought over sixty and lived, probably dusted a few of them; we could hear lots of screaming.

Today we're supposed to get relieved by 7th Platoon which is good - we've been up here three weeks and all lost weight. Ready for that chow hall. I'm fine and Praising God that we are all alive to tell about it.

Love,

Brenden.

Analysis

Brenden later called to say that they had learned more about the ambush from recent defectors. The ambush unit was 115 men strong and was a "special forces" group. The Iraqi special forces are the best regular army troops in a given division and receive the best weapons and training. They operate with their division with special roles for attack and defense.⁽²⁾ This is different from U.S. special forces, which are usually lightly armed, small, and highly-trained elite groups which often go on commando-type missions. The Iraqi's mission was to capture at least one American in order to gain intelligence information, because they had so little of it. This testifies to the effectiveness of the air war phase.

In the firefight, the Iraqi special forces had lost five killed and fifteen wounded. A Navy Special Forces "Seal" who had Vietnam experience told the Marines to thank God that they were all alive. They should have taken heavy casualties in the ambush.

I agree with the Navy Seal's assessment. I will give a rationale as to the mechanism on how the result occurred. Nevertheless, I believe that, overall, God brought about that result. The Iraqis should have overrun the American position, but didn't. One of the reasons they didn't is that the engagement took place at night. It is notoriously difficult to assess the true situation in a battle after dark. General Patton never trusted reports during night-time engagements: "The report of no incident which happens after dark should be treated too seriously. They are always overstated."⁽³⁾ I think the Iraqis overestimated the strength of the Americans, but for good reason. First, the fire from my son's position was unexpected, causing them to be cautious. The cries of the wounded definitely sounded a note of caution as the return fire from all the Marines was accurate and abundant. In the Civil War, David G. Farragut stated this principle: 'The best armor (and the best defense) is a rapid and well-directed fire."⁽⁴⁾ Both Field Marshall Rommel and General Patton subscribed to it. Obviously, the Recon Marines practiced this principle and executed well.

Another reason for the Iraqi lack of success is the difficulty of taking a well-armed, well-trained soldier captive. How had they planned to do that? I think the Iraqis were hoping to wound, moderately to severely, at least one American in the fire fight, and then drive the rest of them off with the artillery, and perhaps wounding some more in the process. They would have their P.O.W. Also, they could search the bodies of any dead for pertinent information and perhaps even obtain the Marines' radio codes. (They did achieve this latter objective in a subsequent raid.)

Although the Iraqis failed in their objective, they succeeded in achieving most of the steps leading up to it. They were able to isolate a small American force with superior numbers. They achieved complete surprise, and opened fire on the Marines at close range. Then they drove off all able-bodied Americans with the artillery and took possession of the outposts occupied by the soldiers. Where the Iraqis failed in accomplishing their objective was in wounding anybody in the fire fight. That is the astounding result. No Americans were wounded either in the initial ambush or in the later artillery barrage.

The fact that my son and his unit got out of the ambush and artillery barrage with a light scratch was a miracle. Now I am not using that word lightly. To gain a perspective, let's compare this ambush with one in Vietnam, also involving Force Recon. Only this time the Marines were the ones who set the ambush.

On 15 February 1968, an eight-man Force Recon patrol were on a typical mission in Vietnam. They were inserted by helicopter and were to determine enemy activity, engage any enemy found with supporting fire, locate landing zones and trails, and, if possible, capture a prisoner.

The next day the team heard voices in the thick brush across a stream and set up an ambush along the trail. Within minutes seven North Vietnamese soldiers walked down the path. When they were five meters from the ambush, the Recon team opened up, killing all seven. One Marine took two hits, one tearing away skin, the other thigh muscle. While the medic tended these wounds, the patrol leader quickly searched the dead bodies, finding a diary and other documents. Then he called for a med-evac and began moving the patrol to a better pick-up point. At that point, the team came under fire and thus began a running battle that lasted into the next day.

The wounded Marine, the medic, and one other got out but the rest stayed there. Later, when they tried to get out on a second helicopter, it was shot down. All along there was support from helicopter gunships, fixed-wing aircraft and, after the helicopter crash, the landing of another platoon on the first day. On the second day, there remained this support plus artillery and a company of Marines. In spite of their efforts, five Marines of the original eight-man ambush patrol were killed and one wounded. An additional Marine from the rescue platoon was killed and four others were wounded. One helicopter and its crew were lost, and another badly shot up. The damage to the other aircraft in the engagement is not known. Other than the original seven men, enemy losses are not known either. It is estimated that two enemy companies were involved in the fight.⁽⁵⁾

In the Vietnam ambush, the Recon Marines had the superior technology with gunships, aircraft, and artillery support. initially, they had the element of surprise, yet they took comparatively heavy casualties. In the Gulf ambush, the Iraqis had the superior arms and technology in that they had RPG's (rocket- propelled grenades) and artillery support. The Iraqis had the element of surprise too, yet it was the Americans got out of it with no casualties while the Iraqis lost five killed and fifteen wounded. Now my son's unit was well-trained, but then so were those same Recon Marines in Vietnam. It was not superior training, tactics, or technology that delivered my son and his colleagues-in-arms; it was by the grace of God that there was only one scratch.

"Friendly" Fire

On the 24th of January, Brenden was in a convoy that was strafed several times by our Air National Guard A-10's. This was approximately ten miles west of Khafji, Saudi Arabia. The troops abandoned their vehicles and took cover between the berms, which were doubled in that area. No one had a radio and so Brenden took the risk and went back to get an AN/PRC 113. (He had the additional duty of assistant radio operator.) He was able to contact an Airborne Command platform in an attempt to call off the strike. Then he treated one of the two wounded by the A-10's 30mm cannon in the attack. (In the picture, I'm holding an A-10's 30mm shell with a depleted uranium tip.) A decade later, another corpsman, Dale R. Moore, remembered this incident and e-mailed Brenden this message: "Doc Mc, your quick thinking and skill on the radio saved my ass in that friendly fire incident during Desert Storm. Thanks. [signed] D. Moore HMCM USN RET."

Providentially, no one was seriously wounded or killed in the above "friendly" fire incident. Just how providential this was is shown by another incident a few days later.

On the night of 29 - 30 January an A-10 fired a Maverick missile that hit a Marine LAV-25 light vehicle, killing seven Marines. This was the worst incident involving Marines and the A-10's. But there were others. On the night of 1 - 2 February, for example, an A-6E Intruder attacked a Marine convoy with cluster munitions, killing one Marine and seriously injuring another two.⁽⁶⁾ Because of my son, my blood boiled when I heard about these incidents, and my heart goes out to all those families who lost members in the war, especially to "friendly" fire. Nevertheless, we could have suffered many more losses than we did. Again, I attribute it to prayer.

I think that the Recon Marines' experience was a microcosm of the entire Gulf War. It as not by superior technology, tactics, or training that there were so few losses; they helped, but it was by the grace of God that there were so few casualties.

Epilogue

While stationed at Camp David, Maryland, Brenden made an urgent trip to the West Coast. He attended a 20 December 1999 memorial service for friends and comrades in Force Recon who were killed in a practice assault on the U.S.N.S. Pecos. Their CH-46 helicopter got tangled with the netting on the Pecos and pitched upside down into the Pacific Ocean off Point Loma, CA. All Force Recon personnel were from the 5th Platoon. They were standing up and preparing to "Fast Rope" onto the deck of the Pecos as part of a training exercise in preparation for deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. This was a Joint Operation with the SEALS, who were aboard their boats in the water, preparing to assault from the sea. As the "chopper" quickly sank (five seconds), eleven survivors popped up to the surface and were immediately picked up by the SEALS.

The Eleven (11) survivors were:

CAPT. JAMES I. LUKEHART, JR., HMM-166, CLARK, OH.

CAPT. ANDREW Q. SMITH, HMM-166, GA.

CAPT. ERIC L. KAPITULIK, 1ST FORCE RECON - GROSVENORDALE, CT.

1STLT MICHAEL J. BUTLER, 1ST FORCE RECON - COBB, GA.

GYSGT. VOJIN MARJANOVICH, 1ST FORCE RECON - LAKE STATION, IN.

SSGT. TIMOTHY J. MUELLER, 1ST FORCE RECON - DONIPHAN, KS.

SSGT. MICHAEL S. ARCHER, 1ST FORCE RECON - ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL.

SSGT. MARK R. SCHMIDT, 1ST FORCE RECON - MARSHALLTOWN, LA.

SSGT. ROBERT G. WARD, 1ST FORCE RECON - TACOMA, WA.

SGT. ROBERT T. EVERS, HMM-166, SPOKANE, WA.

CPL. ADAM L. JOHNS, HMM-166, BUTLER OH.

What follows is the order of the memorial service for those who died:

MEMORIAL SERVICE

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

20 December 1999

Camp Pendleton, California

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PRELUDE - Organist, Todd Bell

POST THE COLORS - Color Guard & Bagpiper

INVOCATION (standing) - Chaplain Jerry Shields, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force

HYMN (standing) - "O God Our Help in Ages Past" - Leader, Roger Minkle

1. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

2. A thousand ages in your sight are like an evening gone, short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.

3. Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all its sons away; they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.

4. O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, remain our guard while life shall last, and our eternal home.

RESPONSIVE READING of Psalm 23 - MSgt Michael Halpin, HMM-166

Leader: The Lord is my shepherd;

People: I shall not want.

Leader: He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

People: He leads me beside the still waters.

Leader: He restores my soul.

People: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His sake.

Leader: Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

People: For You are with me, Your rod and Your staff comfort me.

Leader: You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;

People: You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over.

Leader: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

People: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Old Testament - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - SSgt Mark Schmidt, 1st Force Recon Co.

New Testament - John 11:17-27 - SSgt Gavin Lathrop, 7th Eng Supt Bn

MEMORIAL MEDITATION - Chaplain Alex Borzych, 15th MEU, Command Element

OFFICIAL REMARKS

Commanding Officer, HMM-166, LtCol Matthew D. Redfern

Commanding Officer, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company,

LtCol Robert J. Coates

Commanding Officer, MSSC-15, LtCol Robert R. Ruark

Commanding Officer, 15th MEU, Colonel Richard C. Zilmer

Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James L. Jones

Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Richard Danzig

MEMORIAL PRAYER - Chaplain Mark Reschke, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines

RENDERING OF HONORS (standing in silence) - Firing Party

TAPS (standing in silence) - 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Buglers

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS & FLAGS (standing) - 15th MEU Commanding Officer

HYMN (standing) - "Eternal Father" - Leader, Roger Minkle

1. Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea!

2. Lord, guard and guide the men who fly through the great spaces in the sky. Be with them always in the air, in darkening storms or sunlight fair. O hear us when we lift our prayer for those in peril in the air!

3. Eternal Father, grant we pray, to all Marines, both night and day, the courage, honor, strength, and skill; their land to serve, they law fulfill; Be thou the shield forevermore from every peril to the Corps.

BENEDICTION (standing) - Chaplain Jerome Cwiklinski, 1 MEF Headquarters Group

RETIRE THE COLORS (standing) - Color Guard and Bagpiper

POSTLUDE - Organist, Todd Bell

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The following are the names of those we honor today from the 15th MEU who gave their lives in service to our country:

GUNNERY SERGEANT JAMES P. PAIGE, JR.

Gunnery Sergeant James P. Paige, Jr., was born on February 2, 1962, in Westwood Union, New Jersey and attended Sayreville War Memorial High School until he enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 1979. He completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. He was most recently assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California. Gunnery Sergeant Paige is survived by: his wife, Marrianne; his daughters, Annalee Marine and Jessica; his parents, Roberta and James Paige Sr.; his stepbrother John Sieke; and stepsister Ellen Sieke.

STAFF SERGEANT VINCENT SABASTEANSKI

Staff Sergeant Vincent Sabasteanski was born on October 30, 1965, in Westbrook, Maine, and attended Baney Eagle High School, graduating in 1984. He completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. He was most recently assigned to 5th Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Staff Sergeant Sabasteanski is survived by: his wife, Julie; his son, Nicholas; his parents, Jean and Walter Sabasteanski; his brother, Matthew; and sisters, Jaquline and Josephine.

HOSPITAL CORPSMAN PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS JAY J. ASIS

Hospital Corpsman First Class Asis was born on March 18, 1966 in Republic of the Philippines. He attended Siliman University, Republic of the Philippines, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree. In 1990, he completed recruit training at Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, and was most recently attached to 5th Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Hospital Corpsman First Class Asis is survived by: his wife, Kathryn; his parents, Fe and Fernando Asis, Jr.; his brother, Jon; and sister, Jeny.

STAFF SERGEANT DAVID GALLOWAY

Staff Sergeant David Galloway was born on February 9, 1971, in Milwaukee, Oregon and attended Oregon City High School, graduating in 1989. He completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. He was most recently assigned to 5th Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Staff Sergeant Galloway is survived by: his wife, Holly; his sons, William, Stetson, and Frederick; his father, Rufus; and his sisters, Darcy and Denise.

STAFF SERGEANT JEFFREY R. STARLING

Staff Sergeant Jeffrey R. Starling was born on May 27, 1972, in Jacksonville, Florida, and attended Spruce Creek High School, graduating in 1990. He completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. He was most recently assigned to 5th Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Staff Sergeant Starling is survived by: his parents, Charlotte and Grandle; and his brother, Randall; and his fiancee, Chisato Tada.

CORPORAL MARK M. BACA, JR.

Corporal Mark M. Baca Jr. was born in Denver, Colorado, on January 30, 1977, and attended Arvada Senior High School, graduating in 1995. He completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego California. He was most recently assigned to 5th Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Corporal Baca is survived by: his wife, Jean Marie; his son, Derek Bane; his daughter, Kylie Anne Wood-Baca; his parents Arlene and Mark M. Baca Sr.

STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAM CRAIG DAME

Staff Sergeant William Craig Dame was born on October 18, 1966 in San Diego, California, and attended Grossmont High School, graduating in June 1985. He completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. He was most recently assigned as an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician with MSSG-15, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Staff Sergeant Dame is survived by: his wife, Lena; his stepchildren, Michele and Christopher Hevener; his parents, Susan Rundle and Richard Dame.

15th MEU MEMORIAL FUND

The Force Recon Association has established the "15th MEU Memorial Fund" to provide support and financial assistance to the families of our seven fallen comrades. All funds collected will be distributed to surviving family members. Donations should be made payable to the "15th MEU Memorial Fund" and addressed to:15th MEU Memorial Fund, c/o Force Recon Association, PMB 1775, 3784-B Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92054-1460. If you wish your donation to benefit a specific individual or family, please indicate your desires with your donation. Point of contact at the Force Recon Association is Major Gary Marte, USMC (Ret.) at (760) 439-8633.

THE MARINE'S PRAYER

Almighty Father, whose command is over all and whose love never fails, make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Marines, my loved ones and Thee without shame or fear. Protect my family Give me the will to do the work of a Marine and to accept my share of responsibilities with vigor and enthusiasm. Grant me the courage to be proficient in my daily performance. Keep me loyal and faithful to my superiors and to the duties my country and the Marine Corps have entrusted to me. Make me considerate of those committed to my leadership. Help me to wear my uniform with dignity, and let it remind me daily of the traditions which I must uphold.

If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again.

Guide me with the light of truth and grant me wisdom by which I may understand the answer to my prayer.

Amen

References

1. From Capt. R.A. Jones, "Firefight at Hamaltyat," Marine Corps Gazette, June, 1991, p. 31.

2. F. Chadwick, et. al., Desert Shield Fact Book (Bloomington, IL: 1991) p. 50.

3. General George S. Patton, Jr., War as I Knew It (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1947) p. 282.

4. Ibid, p. 338.

5. This account is condensed from that in M.L. Lanning and R.W. Stubbe, Inside Force Recon, Recon Marines in Vietnam (New York: Ivy Books, 1989) pp. 206-211.

6. Col. C.J. Quilter II, U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf, 1990 - 1991 (Washington D.C.: HQ U.S.M.C., 1993) pp. 62-63.