Missing U.S. tanks were broken, stranded in desert (8 MIA Marines Found)

McClatchy News Service via Fresno Bee ^ | April 1, 2003, 5:43 AM | Sharon Schmickle

[11th_VA]

Britons rescue the two American crews after days of hobbling along.

CAMP VIPER, Iraq -- Learning Sunday that they had been considered missing in action was only the latest nightmare for eight Marines whose M1A1 Abrams tanks broke down in the Iraqi desert and lost contact with U.S. forces.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks! bump ! . . .

[geopyg]

I can't ever remember that quote, so I end up saying something close: "persevere, adapt, and overcome". I think it makes more sense anyway. Don't give up, figure out the solution, and overcome the problem. I sure hope this story is true. PLUS - the rescue of the female Marine in Nasiryia - IT'S a great day!!!

[archy]

By the fourth day after the breakdown, they were out of water and low on food and fuel.

"Suddenly a little moped dirt bike came speeding out of nowhere," Webster said. "We knew for sure it was British."

A British air-naval unit was camped nearby. For three days, the Marines helped guard the camp while British mechanics patched their tanks.

Thank God the Brits still use motorbikes for despatch runs and recce on their flanks.

[Darksheare]

SINCGARS radios have a coded transmit.
Your commo guy has to program in the daily 'fill' code so that you radio can talk to the other radios.
Otherwise you're broadcasting in the clear, unencrypted.
And that isn't good.
Besides, if you don't hav ethe daily 'fill', you only hear static when you try to talk to anyone.
Not a humorous thing when you get stuck before getting the code update for the day.
Happened to my artillery unit during AT at Fort Drum.

[archy]

SINCGARS radios have a coded transmit.
Your commo guy has to program in the daily 'fill' code so that you radio can talk to the other radios.
Otherwise you're broadcasting in the clear, unencrypted.
And that isn't good.
Besides, if you don't hav ethe daily 'fill', you only hear static when you try to talk to anyone.

Could have lost their time sync, too. I don't suppose the SINGCARS rigs can talk with the British Clansman and Bowman radios, either, especially those little shirtpocket Personal Role Radios the Brits use.

-archy-/-

[crazykatz]

I know Dr. Julie Kellogg personally. She is a wonderful person. I can just see her being so very kind to that very ill Iraqi.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Depends on whether they're using NATo-combined codes or US-UK specific (since Germany/France are not in theater.)

Any more confirmation of the baseline story?

[LaineyDee]

Duct tape?

Must be the Red Green Unit. *chuckle*

[happygrl]

Shades of Jason Rother at 29 Palms.

Yes, the "bravest man who never fought in a war," as they called him.

I haven't forgotten and I'm glad you haven't either. It has been all those brave men willing to train in hellish conditions that make it possible for our armed forces to have the success they do TODAY in Iraq.

Jason Rother, not forgotten.

[happygrl]

I hope one of these MIA is our local Marine.

Who is your local Marine MIA ?

[mystery-ak]

Jonathan Lee Gifford Jr, of Decatur, Il....

[happygrl]

Jonathan Lee Gifford Jr, of Decatur, Il....

He's in my prayers now.

[Coop]

"Up jumped a monkey from the coconut grove..."

That's really profound. Thank you for sharing.

[archy]

Depends on whether they're using NATo-combined codes or US-UK specific (since Germany/France are not in theater.)

Any more confirmation of the baseline story?

No press confirmation yet, but I've sent some e-mails off to tankers in theater, including some in my old unit. It'll be interesting to gety their take on this. I suspect I'm either gonna hear a lot of *there but for the grace of God go we* or *Hey, we could have pulled off that green tape/safety wire fix* or else *those #@$&-ups!- they never could have made it in our outfit.*

[archy]

I just heard on Fox that the tanks are supposed to have devices, whereby the Command knows exactly where they are at all times....strange. Great story.

That's the Army's 4th Infantry Divisions M1A2 SEP *Borg Tanks* and Bradley M3 SEP Infantry vehicles, which can transmit LocStats digitally, based on GPS readings. The Marine M1A1s aren't quite that far along. Yet.

[archy]

Duct tape?

Must be the Red Green Unit. *chuckle*

Known in the military as *Green tape*- the Vietnam-era srolls really were a fairly verdant green, the current issue is a more pedestrian olive drab.

It's useful for all sorts of things besides the usual civilian roles, including taping over vision blocks and periscope heads during sandstorms, securing prisoners, and marking kill rings around the gun tube for enemy tanks knocked out.[love that hood ornament on the gun mantle!]

-archy-/-

[archy]

Thank God! Why did the Brits not communicate with American units, that these crews were alright?!

They probably tried impressing them into the Queen's service for all the trouble they went to, until they found out just how much young American Marines can eat. And too, I expect the thought of having some more young Yank tankers around the girls back in Britain was not a cheerful one either.

Besides, they speak different languages.

-archy-/-

[af_vet_rr]

The next morning, the crew went to work with rope, wire and duct tape.

Can we set aside a section of the Smithsonian for duct tape already?

[af_vet_rr]

Must be the Red Green Unit. *chuckle*

My thoughts exactly...after reading through this thread, an awful lot of us had the words "duct tape" jump out of us.

[jt8d]

Different languages... Yes, I know: You speak "the King's English," and we Yanks slaughter it with "embellishment"... Yadda-yadda-yadda.

But come now, sir, be fair--London "cocknee" (sp?) is not exactly the model of gramatic prose! And reading "the Barb" generally inflicts a severe case of frustration... sort of similar to doing "literary" calculus! Ouch!!!

And as far as the English birds are concerned: What's the matter? Y'all don't much like a little competition? At least English girls are loyal to principle... I sure would not opine that of the French... and I'm French!