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The following is an excerpt from an email home from an Air
Force ordnance demolition unit team member describing his first
night at Kandahar airport:
"One of the perimeter positions only a hundred yards or
so to our left took some incoming fire and we all went to general
quarters, taking defensive fighting positions in our bivouac
in case they penetrated to our position. The Marines quickly
repelled the attack. It will not bother me should I live my
entire life without having to kill a man but I have to say I'm
glad to be surrounded by a thousand 19 year-old Marines who
can't wait to. They will be leaving in a few weeks and turning
over the base to the Army. I will miss them.
"The only tents the Marines use are one-man pup tents and
they are everywhere. Each foxhole and DFP (defensive fighting
position) around the camp is accompanied by two of these humble
little tents.
"I have a renewed respect for the Marines. They arrived
a month ago, dug in, and have been living out of these ridiculously
small, 5 x 5 tents ever since. No heat, no latrines, no showers,
nothing but backpacks, weapons, helmets and flak vests, and
lots of ammo. And they've been doing it every day. Four man
teams at each position, two sleeping, two on watch. God bless
them every one."
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