Death in the Corn: Part II of III (Michael Yon)

Michael Yon Online ^ | 9/17/08 | Michael Yon

[Dawnsblood]

The ambush was set, but “Terry” Taliban didn’t step into it. The most successful hunters are not the ones who bag something every time, but the ones who hunt all the time, and 2 Para has been hunting the most dangerous prey. The soldiers of C-co 2 Para are not sure how many they’ve killed in the past five months, but the estimates are around 200, and during the days I spent with them, their average daily kill would put them well over that number.

Moving out of our ambush position, we set off from the ANA (Afghan National Army) compound to “tab” (walk) back to Gib, watching every step. While a soldier with a metal detector swept a skinny path ahead, other soldiers scanned the flanks, simultaneously trying to step in the prints just laid. The soldiers watched not only for ambush and mines and other bombs, but for “dickers.” Dicker is a British term derived from the war in Northern Ireland, where the enemy had a simple but effective system of look-outs to track British patrols and activities.

We arrived safely back on Gib, and the soldiers went about their business. Some headed to the outdoor gym nestled among the mortar pits, while others cleaned their dusty weapons. By 0800, the heat was already rising, but I fell asleep, sweating on a green canvas cot under a mosquito net inside a tent that trapped heat during the day.

[Dawnsblood]

More great info and pictures at the link.

[Travis McGee]

MUST reading!

[txzman]

Great articles - great writing. Didn’t know how hairy Afghanistan really was. The fuzzy-wuzzies are just as tough with us as they were with the British. Good thing we have bigger guns!

[fso301]

Thanks for posting

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Must read, indeed.

[Gritty]

What marvelous reporting!

[EEDUDE]

Bookmark

[CPT Clay]

Godbless Michael Yon!!!

[archy]

we set off from the ANA (Afghan National Army) compound to “tab” (walk) back to Gib, watching every step.

Good thing they didn't have to yomp.

[archy]

Perhaps an hour into the slumber, a British sniper and his spotter were up scanning the corn, tree-lines and buildings with their optics. The sniper’s .338 caliber bullets are powerful enough to flat-blast a Grizzly. The bullet is powerful enough to penetrate most body armor, and still kill the wearer. The sniper scanned through the crosshairs while corn tassels waved in the hot breeze, until the image of a dicker fell under the reticule. The bearded man wearing a turban was observing a British patrol, apparently thinking he was hidden by the trees. The sniper dialed in the range.

I have GOT to get myself an L115A3....

[Travis McGee]

Yon’s reportage is the best of the best. I just hope he lives long enough to enjoy the royalties of the many best sellers he should write.