Today, we fired more weapons than I thought we would. we were drilled on how to properly set up an M18A1 Antipersonnel mine or claymore using M40 test set and M57 firing device. It wasn’t that hard, but later, we went and fired 50 rounds of 5.56 mm M249 SAW machine guns at a target 300 meters away, every 5th shot being a tracer. That thing had a little kick to it, but the worst part wasn’t the weight or the kick, the gunpowder was so awful, my glasses was black from it after I was done. I wasted all 50 rounds in about 5 or 10 seconds, it could fire 720 rounds per minute, and we were taught how to use a belt, clip or box ammos to set up the machine gun. Drill sergeant Nethercutt told us how one time he saw the barrel turned so hot it turned red and you could see bullets traveling through the barrel, and how sometimes the weapon doesn’t stop firing till it runs out of ammo cuz the bolt gets too hot. So we switched barrels every 200 rounds, or every 4th person. Then we had practical dummy round exercise with M136 anti-tank round, 3 in standing, 3 in kneeling positions. then some dummy rounds with M203 grenade launcher that fits on the M16. We’re only supposed to fire 2, but since we were the last group to go through that class, about 8 of us took the opportunity to fire some more. I fired about 4 times when I made it through a target window 100 meters away, then we aimed at old tanks about 200 meters out. We had 4 people fire 2 rounds of real ammos for M203 each, and 2 people had blow up targets 25 meters away where their claymore was set. When that target came back, their body was filled with holes, maybe up to 100 of them. All we really heard was a loud boom, a flash of fire, and a lot of smoke, but I got scared of claymore after the real weapon was blown. A pound or so of C4 blows 200 pellets in 60 degree range. Well then, we had the real bazooka fired. One lucky person fired that at an old tank, and hit center mass. The AT4 rocket went so fast, the rocket hit within a split second at a target 200 meters away, the entire range got filled with smoke and dust. We had a demonstration of a large scale 50 caliber machine gun, too. That thing was bigger than me. Lots of things blowing up today, really, fun, too, except the heat CAT V. The sucky part was about 60 people were in KP and didn’t get to participate.
Martinez just got word, all his stuff issued by the army is being taken away, PTs, BDUs, the whole thing, tomorrow. I guess time is finally coming when he had to leave, we’ve been waiting for 4 weeks now. He also got a letter from his girlfriend that she had a dream how his knee was messed up too bad but he didn’t wanna let people know, and she found out when she called his house and Martinez picked up the phone. Really weird dream, how accurate it was freaked me out. He’ll probably leave in 3 or 4 days.
Next Saturday we have our final PT test. Last Saturday, we had our third and last diagnostic PT. I have no idea why, but I had a huge cramp on my left calf when I woke up, and my body was feeling weak from mild fever and some signs of cold. Did 58 pushups, 73 situps, and 14:26 2 mile run. Will do more next PT test.
On Saturday, we also had DNC-9, or battalion marching competition amongst the companies. The best showed off their DNC-8 and some cool marching exercises with and without arms after that. We lost to Delta company, the Recon 2nd platoon couldn’t bring it home. We also didn’t get BRM banner, just lost that to first platoon in Bravo company. The rest of the day, we slept, for about maybe 3 hours so. The drill sergeants let us, they all went home. The nap felt real good, till come chow time, when I didn’t feel like getting up.
Today is Sunday, and when about a dozen people got baptized. I was about to go get baptized again, but I decided it’s best for me to not go. I saw my battalion commander LTC Currie at church today, like any other Sunday. But I guess he felt emotional and spiritual, cuz he looked around and saw how much heart we had in worship, even though we went through a lot last week, and the 24 year veteran shed couple tears he hid quickly. If one person makes me feel honored more than anyone other than the chaplain, it’s him.
Tomorrow, we have 10K march, or 6.4 miles to practical grenade exercise range. Some people are on KP. We have to carry 50 lb rucksack, 10 lb LCE and M16/A2 at port arms all along. Will write more later. 2130 hours, 12 AUG 01