from my desert Journal ...
APO Date stamp - 26 March
1991 via MPS
Hello Cpl. S.;
I know you are very busy with the closing down of the war, but I thought I'd write to tell to you we made it through safely. Our company did very well. I'm really proud of my platoon they really shot well. When our company approached a sand ridge we saw the Telecama advancing toward us. I destroyed 1 tank and a BMP then my main gun went out right there in the heat of the fight. I got frightened for a moment but we stayed on line with the platoon and I continued to fire my 240 COAX Machine Gun. I felt kinda depressed afterward. The other gunners were bragging about how well they did. My tank commander assured me that I did well because I had the courage to stay on line with my platoon and fight to the best of my ability.
Later I re-thought what happened through the battle. When I shot those vehicles I realized I killed Iraqi soldiers. They had fired at us. I fired my machine gun at Iraqi soldiers who were running toward a bunker with tanks in them. Now I know that suppressive machine fire kept those guys from getting blown up. Our company blew up every bunker in sight. I've seen soldiers get blown up and the charred bodies in vehicles throughout the Iraqi and Kuwait. I figured that's a terrible way to die.
I say this because the eveing we crossed the Iraqi border we set up a temprorary defensive position, I had been watching my sector in tis where I saw a T-72 come up over the hill and stop. I was positive it wasn't our tank because a soldier was riding on the outside of the tank. It wasn't even two minutes when I saw a TOW missle hit the tank and burst into flames instantly. You don't know how shocked I was to see three men burn alive like that. War Sucks!
Well an hour later I learned that two fellow soldiers in my battalion were killed and others injured in a Bradley. That T-72 had fired 50 Cal. Rds at a Scout Bradley. Our Scouts. What makes me so angry is that it didn't have to happen like that. The Scout Bradley had asked Higher, our beloved Lt. Col., for permission to fire upon the T-72. Permission was denied and the T-72 fired upon them.
I'm really glad its mostly over. I hope you make it back to Germany safely.
I know you've heard and written many war stories, its something I had to write. You know how things got through your mind. You don't have anyone to talk to about it so you write it down.
I hope I haven't really bored you or anything. But I wanted you to know we are waiting to return home soon. Hernandez and Sizemore did an outstanding job. Our TC's got his hands filled writing awards. You take care and please let us know you got our letters.
Sincerely,
Sgt. Charles
K.
P.S. Please forgive me for my awful grammer and handwriting.
Postscript: This letter from Sergeant King finally reached me in May 1991. This letter tells much about the essence of war - from the men in the front lines who have to do the fighting - and ultimately these are the ones who come face to face with the dying .....kmj
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