Funny Things Can Happen In War
In Desert Storm, after the airwar had started and before the ground assault, we were hit by a trememdous sand storm know as a Shamal. Our group had 6 GP Medium tents, each staked to the sand with special, 4 ft rebarr tent stakes. We were all nestled in out sleeping bags when it hit. I remember seeing the air clouded up with sand and CPT Pierre hanging on for dear life from the center beam of the tent. He screamed “Get Out!” and flailed back and forth with the shaking of the tent. Pierre was no small man, he was a college linebacker and probably weighed 245 or so. We had to be told but once. We all raced out of the tent…all except the new guy who sat up and asked “Where are you guys going?” We didn’t reply, we just ran as fast as we could to the shelter of our radio truck. SFC Powell was inside, on radio watch. She was somewhat less than attractive. All 6 of us burst through the door, half dressed, glistening with rain, and out of breath. She calmly looked us up and down and without missing a beat, said “I havn’t seen this many naked men all at one time in quite awhile.” Only then did we realize that we were practically naked. When the storm passed, we went to survey the carnage. Of the 6 tents, 5 were flattened. Ours emitted a muffled scream. Yes, the new guy hadnt gotten out and was now rolled up like a burito in is sleeping bag and wet tent. It is always the new guy who has to be told twice, but that night it was every man for himself. Of course though the rest of the deployment we all wondered what SFC Powell meant by “all at one time.”