JOURNAL ARCHIVE: August 4, 2006
I think I was drugged this morning. Feeling very jittery. Slight tingling in my face and especially my mouth. Thought it was from too much caffeine, but I shouldn't have that tingling sensation.
[JOURNAL ARCHIVE 4 August 2006 excerpt ends]
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: August 4, 2006
I was thinking a few days ago about something that happened on the Wainwright and I wonder why I have that memory. It was during the deployment to the Arabian Gulf in 1988. We had to increase roving security patrols on the ship while in the Gulf. As a result, we were shorthanded because we also had our primary watches to stand, which in my case was in the Fire Control Computer Complex. The people who typically were assigned to roam the ship with a sidearm came from my division of Fire Controlman as well as the Gunner's Mates. To cover the patrols, we brought in people that didn't handle guns very much and one of them had an accident on the bridge one day. People without proper training would pull the trigger to release the hammer instead of doing it the proper way of holding the hammer all the way down and then using the trigger to slowly release the hammer. This one bonehead did that one day during watch turnover on the bridge and fired off a round in the .45. He hit a camera that was sitting on the duty Boatswain's Mate's table there on the bridge. It was damn lucky that no one got hurt. But I wonder now about this memory and if it represents a combat experience of mine in the Gulf
[JOURNAL ARCHIVE 4 August 2006 excerpt ends]
"Space: Above And Beyond"
"Toy Soldiers"
18 February 1996
Episode 16 DVD:
00:11:05
US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel T.C. McQueen: This one's a recon mission - strictly intel gathering. You will be deployed to the planet Mors. You will be dropped behind enemy lines where you will remain undetected until extraction. Your mission is simply observation and information gathering. You are not to engage the enemy unless under attack. You will take digital photographs, mark coordinates of enemy facilities, document any transport activity including ammunition convoys and artillery batteries. The directives of this mission are not to leave this room.
US Marine Corps 2LT James Herrick: Sir. How can we be certain we're achieving our objectives if we don't know the plan?
US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel T.C. McQueen: The greater plan isn't your concern, Lieutenant. The 14th, 19th and 33rd squadrons will be deployed to the eastern region of Mors. The 58th to the north.
US Navy Commodore Ross: Colonel, that leaves the Five Eight uncovered to the west.
US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel T.C. McQueen: We don't have a choice. The 47th squadron was expected to be a part of this mission, sir. They didn't make it back from Ceres. Right now there's a shortage of available men.
"Space: Above And Beyond"
"Toy Soldiers"
18 February 1996
Episode 16 DVD:
00:02:25
US Marine Corps 1LT Shane Vansen: Look at the way they're looking at us.
US Marine Corps 1LT Cooper Hawkes: Like we know something.
US Marine Corps 1LT Nathan West: You think you're bad, Private?
US Marine Corps Private Neil West: Sir, I do, sir!
US Marine Corps 1LT Nathan West: You think you're mean!
US Marine Corps Private Neil West: Sir, the meanest!
US Marine Corps 1LT Nathan West: You think you're going to kill some Chigs, don't you?
US Marine Corps Private Neil West: Sir, yes, sir!
US Marine Corps 1LT Nathan West: Look around, puke, what do you see? What do you see?!
US Marine Corps Private Neil West: I see life takers and heart breakers, Sir!
US Marine Corps 1LT Nathan West: You see blood! You see sweat! You see believers coming home in mummy sacks!
US Marine Corps 1LT Shane Vansen: Nathan, take it easy.
US Marine Corps 1LT Nathan West: You take a good look at those glad bags, boot. Because some Chig's going cut your cable, and you'll be seeing one. You'll be seeing one from the inside out!
