those of us that have never experienced being under fire have a lot to say about it. hearing from someone thats been there may enlighten people with so many ideas about what war is really like.
2006-12-03 18:18:52 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Combat is terrifying.
Combat is confusing
Combat is LOUD
Combat is a disorganized, bloody, sweaty mess, and thats if things are going well. ( which they are not, if you are under fire)
Imagine: You've been up for three days straight, and are soo tired that you're body is completely numb, a state I call the Zombie Zone. You are filthy, not like playing in your yard as a kid, but nasty in a way that makes YOU sick. Scratching anywhere on your body, you fingers come away with this layer of sweat and dirt that is caked on you like mud. Evey time you open your armored (flak) vest, the stench knocks you out.
Then- BOOM, BOOM, BOOOM!!!!---not like the cool sound effects you hear in war movies, but a sound 'felt' in every body cavity, pressure waves crushing the eardrums. You're on the ground before you realize, sucking in hot dust while you call out to make sure your buddies are okay-at the same time others are crying out, or giving orders, or on the radio, or praying , all screaming, all deaf, all at once and at the same time.
You've just 'made contact' with the enemy, and no-one has any idea what's going on.
In a few seconds, the dust and cacophony settle and you hear it; metal-on-metal, a hollow sound, like hitting a metal tube: mortars!
Mortars are the worst, in my opinion, because you can be close enough to hear it firing, but you can't see where it's coming from. Mortars fire high-explosive shells almost straight up, and come almost Straight down, meaning the 'tube' can be behind a buliding or a wall or hill, and there's no place for you to hide.
Meanwhile, you're heart is going like a triphammer, hoping the next round doesn't drop on your head.
On a bad day, you ride out the attack, and the Bad Guys get away.
On a worse day, you go looking for them, or they find you.
Firing your weapon is not the big deal that it seems it would be, and you spend half the time trying to get sweat, dirt or dust out of the eyes. For me there are two modes: 'robo' mode, you go through the motions shooting a 'targets' or 'detached' or 'movie' mode where you kind of watch yourself from the outside, in disbelief.
No matter how the firefight ends, there are the shakes. You are rubbery and wobbly, you want to puke, cry and laugh like a maniac, all at once. For some it is right away and a shared experience. For others, it hits them when they are alone.
No matter what, however, you never forget, NEVER.
2006-12-03 19:35:08 · answer #1 · answered by cyberknight 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll tell you about when I was in Baghdad.
We were in a large convoy and had just been hit by a small IED. It didn't hurt anyone, it went off a little late and destroyed the trailer a truck was towing. When it exploded, I saw the puff of smoke and the yellow blast and thought something about how that was weird. Then I heard and felt the shockwave and got pelted with dirt and rocks. Being the driver I skidded to a stop and sat there for a second to digest what had just happened. It felt just like training until the smoke cleared and I saw the mangled trailor and leaking gas. Once the training phase had worn away into reality I became angry. I hated whoever had put that IED there and I hated all of the civilians who were nearby and undoubtedly watched them dig the whole, plant the IED, hide, watched us drive by... and did nothing.
After we started moving again we came under small arms fire. I was a little scared and I remember thinking how strange it was. I thought it'd be a lot more scared, especially since my truck had no armor, just my vest to stop the bullets. I felt helpless since we couldn't see where the shots were coming from, all we could do was drive through it. We were like automatons set on drive, that's all there was to do. I got angry at being helpless.
The whole time the adrenaline was flowing, but about 30 minutes afterwards I crashed, which wasn't very good since I was still driving.
That was my first time under fire. There would be many many more times and each time it became less and less a big deal to me. It got to the point where I didn't jump at the sound of gunfire or a mortar round exploding.
It's hard to describe the exact feelings of it, and it's a very personal thing. I'm sure other people felt differently.
2006-12-03 18:41:24 · answer #2 · answered by justind_000 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with most of the other answers, about how every fire fight is different. I was in Fallujah in Nov. 04, it was definetly unforgetable. Rounds hitting all around you, rpgs hitting walls, or going right over you, and clearing from house to house hoping they haven't fortified before you could get to it. but for me I couldn't think about what would happen to me until it would calm down, and then I was thankful that I hadn't been hit, I didn't even realize how close some of the rounds had came until I looked down and had a bullet hole in my trousers, but not even a scratch on me.
Semper Fidelis
2006-12-03 19:04:48 · answer #3 · answered by Sgt Hess 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Chaos, Anger. The fear dont hit till after. There is nothing i can tell you that would even come close to makeing you understand. The IED's are by far the worse.we had a lot of engagements by having to respond to other units making contact. I got hit 27 july 06 (severly injured). Quite honestly you have very little time to feel anything till after. Just to busy trying to get your job done. rounds sound like bee's weapons fire becomes muted or disappears. To tell you the truth i hope this is as close to it as you come. 19 yrs US ARMY Military Police.
and worth every damn pain and trial.
2006-12-03 18:32:33 · answer #4 · answered by horgurce 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I imagine that most people will tell you that it is a uniquely personal experience.
Trying to fully explain it would,at least in my opinion would be of little value to those who have no point of reference. All I will say is that when it is over you are grateful to have survived and grateful that the men next to you have survived also.
2006-12-03 18:24:54 · answer #5 · answered by iraq51 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have and I have done that. Honestly, It's kinda like I hope the kids will be OK and I hope I don't soil myself.
2006-12-03 18:31:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋