Defense of Hill 781 (23 page)

Captain Dilger declared that he could ensure forcing the enemy to deploy and still cover his withdrawal if he were given a four-platoon force—two tank, one Bradley, and one antitank. He explained how he would deploy them in depth to allow withdrawal
by bounds, and what signals it would take to get them moving in time. The artillery officer had worked up a plan to slow the enemy’s attack with fire and cover Dilger’s withdrawal by smoke.

Captain Baker, positioned in BP 32, argued for control over the development of the battalion obstacle by CP 6. It was in his battle position, and he could best integrate the fires covering it. He would use it as a linchpin in his own defensive scheme.

Similarly, Captain Archer argued for control over the obstacle in his battle position (BP 34). For a while a debate raged over who had the responsibility to close the gap, Archer wanting to do it since it was in his area, Dilger wanting to do it since he was withdrawing through it, and the staff wanting to control it since it was key to the battalion’s defense. Always directed that Archer could coordinate its emplacement but that Dilger and Major Rogers would jointly agree when to call for the FASCAM (the artillery-delivered mines) from a position adjacent to the gap. Further arrangements were made should one or both of them become casualties.

Both Archer and Evans had discovered a hitherto unnoticed avenue of approach to the east of BP 34. A narrow canyon broke out to the south on the east flank of the battalion, and would have to be watched by antitank weapons and infantrymen. Since Archer would be busy enough at BP 34, commanders and staff agreed that Evans could best cover this sandy wash area if he were given an attached platoon of infantrymen, who would come from A Company minus their Bradleys. They and the ITVs (antitank tracks) would cover that approach. Additionally, the mortar platoon would be in direct support of Captain Evans should the enemy try to dismount and work his way through the canyon.

Charlie Company would defend from BP 36, covering any penetration down the sandy wash through BP 40 or through the gap at BP 34. Carter felt that both these were bets that should
be hedged, and suggested he could do the job with a tank platoon, a Bradley platoon, and one platoon of ITVs. This gave him the range to cover any avenue of approach breaking out to the south. Always agreed and gave him a platoon of Bradleys from Captain Archer, the infantrymen from that unit already having gone to Echo.

The air defense platoon leader offered that his best forward defense against enemy air was up on Hill 760, but was concerned that he would be stuck out there when Delta withdrew. After some discussion by the S-2 and the S-3, it was determined that initially a section of Vulcans (two-tracked vehicles) would deploy forward, adding to the deception of a forward defense, but under cover of darkness on the second night would fall back to the reverse slope of 781. Here they would not be seen by the attacking enemy, would have some cover from an air attack, and would have a chance at ambushing the aircraft as they passed over the main battle area from north to south. The other section of Vulcans would track and fire from BP 34, while the Stinger missiles would cover each of the maneuver companies. It was somewhat risky, but if it worked it would surprise the enemy air forces.

The aviation battalion commander was in attendance at the meeting and held a discussion with the commanders. Major Walters joined in, as did the air force liaison officer. Agreement was reached that helicopters approaching from the west, staying low and to the south of Hill 867, could remain unseen until they were able to bring their fires to bear in the passes on either side of Hill 781. Moreover, should the enemy penetrate, they could quickly cut south and chew them up from behind. The helicopter commander promised to return the following day with his staff and company commanders to flesh out the plan and, upon Always’ request, to conduct a rehearsal of his planned approaches, mixed in with a few phony rehearsals to delude the watching enemy.

Always listened attentively, somewhat refreshed by his short nap, and chimed in when a decision needed to be made or when he felt it necessary to redirect the discussions at hand. The meeting took a little longer than normal, and when it broke up, Always held a smaller meeting with his commanders and his S-2. They reviewed some of the bidding again and closely coordinated the counterreconnaissance plan. Always did not want to take out all of the enemy’s eyes too early, but he did want to identify where they were so that he could blind them when the time was right. This would consume many of the infantry resources needed elsewhere for the defense preparations. The aviation battalion would assist during the daylight hours the following day. The chemical officer suggested hitting likely enemy scout positions with a strike at a prearranged time. All agreed that this would diminish the chance of enemy reconnaissance escaping the sweep. The friendly scouts would be positioned in depth, with the triple mission of cutting off enemy penetration by reconnaissance elements, giving early warning of the main attack, and by continued reporting from all key terrain throughout the depth of the battlefield. Always would not fight this battle blindly.

Much had remained unsettled, but direct coordination the following day would allow further adjustments. A great deal of coordination was yet necessary on obstacle emplacement and the fire plan, to include the air force targets. The staff would have a full night’s work ahead of them, both in planning and positioning the heavy equipment for the obstacles. Commanders would keep the work effort going through the night, but would be careful not to waste energy with inefficiencies created by the confusion that darkness brings. Before sunset the following night all movement rehearsals would be completed. Delta would conduct its rehearsals only after dark, and then one platoon at a time. Dilger did not want to give away his plan.

As the commanders left they had a good picture of what the defense would look like. The second meeting the next day,
in which the overlay with all of the details of the order on it would be passed out, would take place at 1200. That would still be twenty-four hours before the expected attack. All of them, with the command encouragement of Lieutenant Colonel Always, were to get at least three hours’ sleep during the night, and then to sleep at least three more hours during the next twenty-four hours. Similarly, they would ensure that all of their subordinates took the time to sleep, even if only a few men at a time. Sleep had become as important as ammunition.

The task organization seemed a little complex, but the commanders understood it and were already linking up all forces in the appropriate areas, orders having been passed by radio.

Team A

1 tank platoon

2 Bradley platoons

1 Bradley platoon (dropped off by Delta upon withdrawal)

Team B

2 Bradley platoons

1 tank platoon

Team C

1 Bradley platoon

2 tank platoons

1 ITV platoon

Team D

2 tank platoons

1 Bradley platoon (dropped off to A upon withdrawal)

1 ITV platoon

Team E

1 ITV platoon

1 infantry platoon (without Bradleys)

1 mortar platoon in direct support

Task Force Control

Scout platoon

Engineer platoon (reinforced with 5 operating bulldozers)

Air Defense platoon (4 Vulcan antiaircraft gun tracks)

Chemical Section (Smoke)

Supporting Elements

155 artillery battalion in direct support to Brigade, aviation battalion to be committed during the main battle, air force sorties (number uncertain) during main battle

Lieutenant Colonel Always and his jeep driver, Specialist Sharp, left the TOC shortly after 2100 to check on the troop work effort and to talk with the men working through the night. Working the opposite end of the battalion was Command Sergeant Major Hope. By 0200 Always pulled back into the TOC area, reassured that morale was good and operations were proceeding according to plan. He passed notes to the staff whose work he checked and modified where appropriate, and then retired, stretched out astride his Bradley in die open night air. He enjoyed the best sleep he had had in ages, awakening only after the sun had peeked over the horizon. As Always reached into his gear for his razor, Sharp handed him a cup of hot coffee.

It was still early when the battalion commander moved over to the TOC. Many of the staff principals were getting some sleep, but their assistants, most of whom had slept earlier during the night, were busily updating work reports on the defense efforts, coordinating fire plans and obstacle emplacements, and requesting of higher and supporting headquarters more of anything they could get—equipment, combat power, supplies, personnel, and so on. The assistant S-2, a senior sergeant, immediately
reported to Always when the commander entered the TOC and updated him on the various bits and pieces of intelligence that had come in during the wee hours of the morning.

Command Sergeant Major Hope stopped by and joined Always in his second cup of coffee. They both agreed that this would be a day of maximum effort, but that they would insist on the highest degree of discipline throughout the battalion. Both were savvy enough to know that whenever pressure increased it was time to raise standards, not let them be lowered. As they set out upon their morning rounds, the two men—the ranking officer and the ranking noncommissioned officer—exuded an air of confidence and control. The effect on the men of the unit was electric.

In Bravo Company, young Sergeant Schwartz was bemoaning his attachment to an infantry company. He was the youngest tank commander in the company as well as the platoon, and his reputation over the preceding days of battle had gone sky-high. He felt that the tank, and particularly his tank, was the top gun in this style of desert warfare. He and his machine were as one; it responded to his touch like a well-trained horse. He resented an infantry commander pretending to have the wisdom to deploy his platoon. After all, what did the infantry know about tanks?

Bud Schwartz, though, was a professional soldier, and he knew how to take orders. He also knew how to give them, and he was now admonishing his crew to tighten the track tension on the left side. This was going to be a tough job, requiring the four of them to pull together to get it right. They had not gotten much sleep the night before, having to top off with fuel in the dark, reload ammunition that came up just before dawn, and prepare range cards at the crack of dawn. Then the platoon leader had arrived with the disconcerting news that the obstacle being emplaced to their front had shifted its positioning slightly, requiring the tank to be shifted as well, with a new range card
to be computed along with the setting in of new target reference points.

Bud was a tough kid from Flint, Michigan. Tired and short of temper, he was trying not to take out his frustrations on his men. They would have to pull together as a team to get through the next couple of days. With the exception of his loader, Private First Class O’Donnel, who had joined them the previous evening, they were a well-drilled crew, having trained and fought together through all the battles. It was that new kid that bothered Sergeant Schwartz. He wondered if he would hold up in the heat of battle.

Always spent a good part of the morning with Captains Archer and Evans over on the right. He was troubled that the two of them essentially split a common piece of ground. Yet he felt that command at the gap was important enough to the plan to require a company commander to focus on the terrain immediately around it. It was while walking the sector that the colonel came across Sergeant Schwartz and his crew.

“How’s it going, Sergeant? Men?”

“Just fine, sir. We’ll be ready for them when they come.” The tone was flat, but there was just enough irony in the sergeant’s answer to make Always note the toughness in die man. He liked that, recognized the posturing of the delivery as big-city tough-guy talk, and took a second to eyeball the crew.