(C-31)
The Right Choice
‘If you get there the fastest with the mostes, then you have a chance to win.’
An Old Calvary saying
‘Hold him by the nose and kick him in the Ass’
Gen. George S Patton
‘Heed this warning, oh ye king of the high mountains,
the ruler of the land whose people are as countless as the stalks of wheat in my land.
And to the Princes of the Deserts BEWARE,
BEWARE, for we will not forgive or forget.
The Huns pushed us twice, the men of the rising sun just once,
Years ago they forced us to fight, in lands beyond the sea.
In countless battles we fought, we died.
But Liberty won, Liberty survived.
Dare not to come into the house of the prairie ghost,
I see you but you can’t see me.
Do not push me or force my hand, leave America now,
Leave me alone as we are free men in a free land.
Thus do I warn you,
America will fight.
And soon you will know the wrath of the people,
The people of the flatland’s.’
From a note pinned on the bulletin board out side of the S-5’s office
1st Kansas Brigade
“General Greene you have a visitor sir,” Knocking on the open door, Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Cooper announced his guest with a smile.
“Show him in CSM, and it better not be some senators aide wanting another favor,” the general answers gruffly without looking up from his paper work.
General Greene hearing someone approaching his desk looks up and then with a genuine smile says, “Well, well welcome Colonel. Good to see you, have a seat Dan, I wasn’t expecting you for another two days. What did you do, catch a ride aboard a supply flight?”
General Greene hearing someone approaching his desk looks up and then with a genuine smile says, “Well, well welcome Colonel. Good to see you, have a seat Dan, I wasn’t expecting you for another two days. What did you do, catch a ride aboard a supply flight?”
Dan comes to attention and salutes as the General asks his questions as he returns Dan’s salute.
“No sir, we have our own air service, you remember Lt. Col. Williamson, the man who had the collection of antique and modern Armor?”
“That’s the money man right?”
“Yes sir, but he’s one of two money men, anyway one of Bucks companies has quiet a few large aircraft, where he has a deal worked out with the Air force, so when we got our orders he flew me and my command staff out plus four hundred men of my first battalion on one of his 747’s. The rest of the battalion will arrive in about,” Dan glanced at his watch, “right now, also in another 747. These two planes will make two more trips today and one more trip tomorrow bringing the majority of the Brigade in. A few men are riding in his other planes the C130’s, C54’s or C47’s, and they will all get here in the early afternoon, a slower ride but a lot better then waiting until a trip tomorrow in the 747’s”
“Good, I sure can use the reinforcements, don’t know how much good your men will be without vehicle support though? I can move about one battalion forward a day.”
“To be honest sir, I sort of cheated there too, I knew about our deployment a week ago before we got the official word, and I got the supply people back at Riley to cut some general transportation orders. Our first convoys rolled into Fallon Navel Air Station this morning at zero two hundred hours, with the other four convoys following, all spaced apart at two hours intervals. The last vehicles will be arriving there before 1000 hours, not counting any breakdowns. We are very lucky to have so many qualified drivers, three per each vehicle for the semi-trucks, and two drivers in the 5 and 10 ton trucks, so except for the fuel and pit stops they all drove straight through.”
“Your armor and APC’s too?”
“Yes sir, all of the APC’s, either on flat beds or low boys, the freight haulers, contractors and heavy dozer people offered more low boy’s then we could use. The people all across Kansas responded to our request when we asked over a month ago for assistance. They agreed to the Army’s flat rate to haul and came through with out a hitch. The heavy Armor, the M60 tanks are supposed to arrive at Bango siding later this morning, where the bulk of the crews will join them. When we know where you want them we can unload them closest to our lager.”
Gen Greene smiled again as he said, “Normally I don’t like to be surprised by my Brigade CO’s Dan, but I’ll make an exception this time.”
“I was just trying to show some initiative sir,” Dan answered with a wiry smile.
“You did just fine,” the General said with a hearty laugh, “And I mean that Dan. I take to heart Old George Patton saying, ‘Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.’ I tell my Brigades what to do; it’s up to you as their Commander to figure out how to get the job done. Unless it part of our battle plans, where I expect results within the context of the orders, I’ll leave the rest up to you. “
“Before we deployed from Ft. Riley in September I was impressed with your people’s effort in fixing up the old Camp Forsyth facilities. If that example represents you and your unit’s ability, the quality of work they will do to get a job done, I’ll be satisfied. Fair enough?”
“Yes sir,” Dan said.
“While I’m quoting Patton, one more to remember, ‘If everybody is thinking alike, somebody isn’t thinking.’ I hate yes men, I fire yes men, period, understood!”
“Understood sir, one of my favorite quotes from Gen. Patton is, ‘Always do more then is required of you.’ I’ve tried to do that my whole life; for my God, my family and for my country and always for my men.”
“Good, that’s the right attitude Dan I’m glad to have you in my command, time will tell all. One question before I fill you in on the local situation, where do you want to be one year from now?”
“Sir,” Dan asked not sure he understood what the General was asking?
“It’s an honest question Dan, all things considered. Where do you want to be one year from today?”
“To be back home with the family and my friends sir, having a big Bar-B-Q?” Dan wasn’t sure what Gen. Greene was alluding too.
He was answered with a smile and a chuckle, “Good answer, as that means you’re not a glory hound, that your men and your friends lives mean a lot to you, as they do to me too. Because what we do in the next weeks, and months affects what we will be doing one year from now.” With a chuckle he added, “If we make it through this, I’d like to be at that Bar-B-Q with you.”
“You would be more then welcome to join in sir. The only Glory I want is the type that comes from inside sir, the satisfaction from having done the right thing for the right reasons.”
“That’s what I figured when I first met you Dan. Now don’t get me wrong but what’s with the two pistols?”
Dan with a sheepish smile knew that the General was referring to the two guns Dan worn, the one in the left shoulder holster and the one on his left hip, “The shoulder holster one is my primary defense weapon, having been in armor I like the shoulder rig. The one on my hip is a Taser Sir, a stun gun for the taking of prisoners. If that ever becomes possible?”
Gen. Greene said, “It always pays off to be thinking of possibilities”. My G-3 told me about your soldiers basic and advanced test scores, he was very impressed. Also with your units progress, less then three months to get everyone up to speed and fully trained.”
“I'll pass that on to the men sir. Most of them have been training for over four years together, and we do have close to 45 percent of prior-service people in this one brigade.”
“Thank you Dan for training them so well over the years, it will make a difference,” he then added.as he walked over to a map of Western Nevada and pointed to Reno. “Now I’ll give you a quick run down and then the G-2 can fill in the finer details later for your units deployment. Up north I have one Company deployed here at Palomino along Highway 445 and another up by Sutcliffe on this end of 445. They are to give me an early warning just in case the Chinese decide to try an end run around my right flank. For now I have close to seventy-five percent of my combat troops deployed here on the east side of Reno, two Brigades forward and one held back here behind Sparks as our main reserve.”
“We are in a defensive line stretching from above Sun Valley here on the north side of Reno down below to Rattle Snake Mountain here on the south side. Highway 395 separates us from at least four full strength Chinese Divisions to the west. With another light Chinese Division deployed down around Lake Tahoe. For my southern defense I only have three National Guard companies plus some engineer teams to blow the bridges if it becomes necessary. They are there as a token force, positioned to deny the Chinese from just walking in and taking Carson City and Virginia City. Really not enough men down there to do any thing except warn me of any trouble. If the Chinese were to mount a recon in force with a Brigade size unit there, I don’t except a rump battalion could do much to slow them down. Down below them I have a battered force of National Guard soldiers holding on to Bridgeport, one good push by the Chinese Division facing them and they will have to exit California.”
Pointing to the middle of the map he said, “I’ve started forming a fourth Brigade made up of reservist and several small national guard units here on the west side of Fallon. So far I have three under strength battalions and they are just starting to train as a unit. Up till now they were my only deep reserve force, they do have a lot of Gulf War and Iraqi hardened veterans in their ranks. Experience helps, but there's not enough men and almost no heavy support weapons right now. To be honest no matter how we look at the situation it boils down to not enough men, not enough tanks, and not enough artillery. But now that you’re here in force that changes the whole picture.” General Greene looked at Dan and asked, “You have four infantry battalions and one armor battalion right?”
“Yes sir, each Leg Battalion has four infantry companies and a full support company plus the HQ Company. The Armor Battalion has three Tank and two Mechanized companies, plus their Support company which is made up of two scouts and two heavy mortar platoons. If you count all of the support companies within my Brigade HQ you will see almost a whole battalion their too.”
General Greene looked back at the map as he thought for a few seconds then pointed in the area of Carson and Virginia City and Lake Tahoe as he said. “I’m giving you and your Brigade the task of defending those two cities as best you can, we can’t afford any heroic last stands. I’ll have no Bataan’s or an Alamo do you understand?”
“Yes sir, I understand. None of us have a hero complex, or a death wish.”
“Good, if the Chinese advance your way in force, stop them if you can or do your best to slow them down, to fall back as necessary to preserve your command backing up highway 50. I don’t think I need to tell you to make the bastards pay for every foot, I know you will do that on your own. I haven’t any artillery of any type to spare for support of your Brigade, but somewhere I read a report that you have eight 155’s, is that right?”
“Yes sir they are the South African G6’s, the crews are well trained and we have plenty of ammo for each cannon. We also have two batteries of six vehicles each equipped with twin 40mm cannons; they’re the 40mm dusters, they can be used in the medium Anti-air role or for ground fire support. Each of my Battalion’s has their mortar platoon of eight tubes, they are the 81mm M252 Mortar, and we have three strong platoons of ten tubes of 120mm mortars, one at Brigade level and the other two in the Armor squadron, we should be OK in Artillery or at least I think so.”
Gen. Greene nodded his head, “Don’t know anything about the G6’s capabilities but they are artillery and that’s a plus for us.”
“Trust me sir they are a good gun, they do have a bit more range then the Paladins do. But there is one draw back, they are on a wheeled carrier though, not a tracked chassis.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Dan one thing you need to know about the Chinese, they have a lot more of everything. We are out-manned, out-gunned and almost out of time. And by using their superior manpower numbers we are also out maneuvered.
If they were to mount a determined push that would be it, they could push us back and out of Nevada in less they a week. I’m not saying were beat, we aren’t even close to that yet, at any time they can mount a frontal attack and flank us at the same time forcing us to fall back or be destroyed.
And their artillery and rockets are accurate, so make sure your men dig in with good overhead cover. And hide all of your positions from their twice a day satellites passing view too, the G-2 will give you a time table of their over flights. No battalion size mess halls, have the chow carried forward to the platoons, disperse everything don’t give them any large targets to shot at. I’ll leave it up to you, on how you deploy your men; see the G-2 for maps and Intel on enemy forward combat positions and capabilities.”
“We still have guile and deception on our side sir.”
“Yes, we have that Dan, and unfortunately the advantage of playing on our home field” Gen. Greene agreed with a sigh, he didn’t confide out loud, ‘but will it be enough?’
He continued, “Most of your communications between your sub-units will have to by land line or by hand carried messages. It’s OK using the scramble satellite phones, but as for medium and long range radios they either get jammed or will bring down long-range rocket fire, as I said that fire is very accurate and deadly. GPS close to the front lines is almost non-existent, as they have effectively jammed those frequencies. And don’t point a laser range finder they’re way either as they have very powerful counter lasers on most of their armor. The Lasers are on a quick reacting turret that automatically homes in on the incoming beam and shoots a pulse back at you. It will blind your operator or burn out the laser receiving unit at the least.”
“Have your staff coordinate with my people and assign one of your assistant S-3 people to Division, have him report to my G-3 he will be your point of contact with my HQ and as your liaison officer here. The G-3 will give you one of his men as our contact man in return. At the same time they will have a couple of forward air controllers from the Air Force, or the Navel Air teams whichever ones are available to join your Brigade. Just to let you know Dan I’m not spying on you, my reasons are pure and simple, by having one of your men here so he can explain your tactics and abilities as we develop plans.”
“Fair enough sir I expected this and our man will report as soon as he gets his third line gear from the convoy.”
“Dan I want to say thank you again for getting here sooner then expected, your Brigade is a God send. With them and some luck on our side we ought to be able to stop the Chinese here.”
“We will do our best sir.” Dan then saluted again, turned and left the office and asked the CSM where the G-2 was located. With his waiting Brigade XO the S-2, S-3 and assistant S-4 they were given a very detailed briefing of the enemy’s capabilities and tactics, which lasted over an hour.
The situation wasn’t grim for the moment, we were holding the line. The one big question was, why were the Chinese taking so much time? One good push and most of Nevada would be in their hands, and as Gen. Greene had said they had a lot more of everything, except air support, that was close to even for both sides, they have the numbers but we hold the edge in technology there, but again not by very much. They could achieve air superiority any time they wanted just by hammering the field and support facilities at Fallon and the reserve field at Lander with their long rang missiles. Again what were they waiting on?
But the biggest advantage for the Chinese was in they’re inter-graded Air-defense system as it had effectively neutralized most of our Air Forces tech advantage there, limiting the Air Force to just high altitude recon and limited bombing. Anyway most of our air assists available were down south, being utilized in stopping the Chinese advance toward Las Vegas and Yuma, the two air bases located there are just too important to lose. And up north along the border with Canada; if we lost Seattle or Bremerton we would lose most of the navel support for our forces off the west coast. And we needed the Navy because they were tying up over a million Chinese troops guarding against raids and possible landing beachheads.
Dan knew that if push came to shove we might get some air support from Fallon NAS, but it would have to be a dire situation to warrant that. If nothing else we had the fixed wings support of Bucks few Sky-raiders, to bad we didn’t have two dozen of them. Mike said we would have more help arriving in a few days, he wouldn’t elaborate as they were still iffy, just a few little tech type glitches to finish working out, as he had assured me. Thank the lord for the quality men and women in the Militia, without them we would be a lot worse off.
Stepping away from the Intel officers talking shop Dan uses his secure satellite cell phone to call his 1st Battalion Commander at Fallon NAS. Major Green the executive officer answers on the second ring, “Jeff here.”
“I was wanting to speak to your dad but you’ll do, how soon before your family is ready to move Jeff,” Dan asks? He is using an abbreviated code the word Dad stood for the CO, family meant his Battalion. Easy and simple and very confusing just in case the Chinese was able to decode the encrypted electronic scramble and listen in.
“Fifteen minuets, the other kids are making a last look for one lost tennis shoe.” That was the code for, distribution of hand grenades, rifle grenades and M203 rounds.” The 747 pilots had insisted that none were to be carried on board the aircraft, so we complied.
“Well hurry them up, the Smiths are expecting you guys in about four hours and you have a long drive ahead of you.” By using the code words long drive, Dan had ordered them to Carson City. The code word expecting told Jeff that either Dan or the S-3 would meet them there. The word Smiths meant two companies of Armor were to be attached to 1st Battalion and head with them to Carson City.
“Now, do I need to worry about the dogs, and I won’t forget Rusty.” Dan asked? This was asking about the Brigade HQ unit’s four helicopters that had been shipped in the first convoy and for Jeff to include Dan’s Hummer in the group for Carson City.
“Nope fed and watered, they will be just fine for the night.” Jeff was saying that they were up and running.
Dan glanced at his code sheet and then said, “I’ll still stop by later and check on the little one, Spike,” Dan had asked for one helicopter to be sent to his location now, Spike was the code word for that order.
“Sounds OK, Uncle Dan.”
“Alright then go on and hurry the others up, I’ll see you guys later, bye.” Both men hung up, Dan was satisfied in knowing that Jeff understood what he needed to pass on and would see that his request were carried out.
Dan again looks at the military topographical map for the Carson City area and starts to jot down some of the coordinates for position of where he wants to place the Brigade units, all of these are on the west side of the city where he thinks William could deploy his people best. The final places for the 1st./1st. will depend on where the National Guard troops positions were, good lanes of fire and the visual lay of the ground were necessary for making the final decision on exactly where to deploy the forward companies.
Dan’s secure cell phone rings, he answers, “Dan speaking.”
“I’ve crossed the river a few minuets ago, can we get together for afternoon Tea?” Dan recognizes Eli’s voice, crossed the river means state line, and afternoon Tea meant a 10 AM meeting.
Dan laughed, “Better then that, I’ll buy lunch, first I have to get a spider the wife saw, where do you want to meet?” The word Spider was the Rhodesian codeword for a helicopter.
Eli understands and gets out his map, he sees the Douglas County airport and says, “How about the Runway dinner above Buckeye, they have good Acorn Squash!”
Dan pauses searching the map in front of him looking for the location, as he remembered that Acorn was the Rhodie term for Intelligence. Eli must have some hot information to pass along and or a plan in mind that needed help with. Dan quickly finds Buckeye and then above it the Douglas County airport. “I can do that but it will take at least four hours to get there.” Cut the time in half to mean two hours per their simple code.
Eli says, “Gnaw, can’t wait that long.”
Dan looking for a place closer to Carson City says, “Well how about the Parker-C and B.B.Q. on the north east side, I’ll be meeting friends there later?” He means the Parker Carson Stolport.
It takes Eli a couple of seconds before he finds Parker Carson, then he says, “Good spot. About the same time?”
“A little less, anything else,” Dan answers?
“I’m on my way, see you there,” Eli replied as he turned off his phone.
Dan walks back into the G-2 office and tells James his XO, Gary the S-3, and Andy the S-2, “I have a chopper coming for me, James I want you to head back to Fallon by road in a little while and hurry the rest of the brigade up. I’ll take Gary and one of Andy’s S-2 people to tag along we’ll meet the 1st. Battalion down at Carson City. Andy we will need to take the battalion 110 sets of maps for that area, which should be enough for them today to hand down to the fire team and vehicle level. You’ll give them a briefing later on, for what they might be facing.”
Turning back to the S-4 and S-2 he says, “When your guys are finished here with the final coordinating collect the maps for the rest of the Brigade and take the S-3 people with you and head back to Fallon NAS. By then James will have briefed Buck, the CSM the MP CO, the two Air defense batteries CO’s and the rest of the Armor Battalion Company CO’s by then, and send them and their units on to Virginia City.”
“I then want you to get everything ready with the drivers and crews of our ground convoys so that when 2nd. Battalion arrives by plane, you can quickly brief them and Andy can bring them on to Virginia City, with the rest of the Brigade HQ, and support people.”
“James when the third Battalion arrives late this evening keep them at the air base so that when the last of our fourth Battalion people arrive tomorrow morning you can Convoy both up to Dayton located here on highway 50, the MP’s will then direct them into their separate lager areas. We will have the Brigade deployment order written out by then, and by late Wednesday afternoon we will have the Brigade in a defensive position, and we will see what happens after that. Are there any questions; none, good. Then less get to planning the details, the Huey will be here in about half an hour, once it’s refueled I have to move out, I have a lunch appointment to keep with Eli, I’m sure he will have a few good ideas on how to get us into all types of mischief.”
“Sir almost forgot there is one other issue,” Lt. Col. Dix asked?
“Yes Jim,” Dan said waiting.
“The G-3 said there are a lot of men from California over by Fallon who have been trying to organized themselves into a unit, he said they had maybe close to two or three brigades worth of men. Gen. Greene and his people have their hands full and haven’t been able to help them much. It seems no one else wants to take the time to offer a hand or to assist them, or even suggest a use for them. He said it might be worth our while as they also have over two-dozen civilian aircraft, mostly crop dusters that they are trying to modify into close combat air support. I thought we might have Buck or Mike take a look, it couldn’t hurt?”
Dan agreed, “Couldn’t hurt, have the Brigade CSM take a closer look and report back to you, I’ll leave it up to your discretion, if there is any potential there, and if we can help them; do it. Maybe with three months or so of hard training they might be able to help us, that’s about the same time we can expect the fifth brigade to have completed their training too and be deployed, hopefully up here to Gen. Greene’s command. A unit of the California Militia that sounds pretty good huh.”
“If you say so sir.” The S-2 said, “But if I remember right, there wasn’t an addition to their states constitution allowing a Militia?”
“I don’t think anyone of there elected officials will complain now, if they do the hell with em’, and as for the aircraft they have, that falls in Mikes department, so far he’s worked wonders, two dozen more couldn’t hurt. If the Air Force and Navy don’t want them they are fools, we’ll figure out a use for them, or one of our people will.”
“Someone’s going to think your Empire building!”
“I don’t care, I believe in Murphy’s Law.”
“Which one is that sir?”
“That the buddy system is essential to your survival; it gives the enemy somebody else to shoot at. So the more of use around the less likely hood on any one of us being hit.”
Dix laughed as he said, “Thanks sir, that makes me fell good. Having me around you, gives the enemy a second target to consider.”
“That’s right, you never know when a Murphy will bite,” both men had a good laugh at that one.
(C-32)
Full Stop
Late Fall 2006
“Nothing is so simple that it cannot be screwed up.’
--- ANON
‘Three things it is best to avoid: a strange dog, a flood and a man who thinks he is wise.’
Welsh Proverb
Careful what you wish for,
You just might get more then you wished.
Anon
Three things it is best to avoid: a strange dog, a flood, and a man who is best to avoid: a strange dog, a flood, and a man who thin
The 25th Army Corp General, Jiu Chen was beyond the point of boiling mad, if he didn’t calm down he would burst. But this latest order from that pig thief who supposedly commanded Army Group X was insane.
No it was two steps past insane, the man was incompetent, and because of him we will lose the battle for the American west. He had no concept of strategy or even basic battlefield tactics. Many of my Sergeants could do a better job of commanding, the almost one million men force he was suppose to command. At least they know how to win battles and when and where to hold in a defensive poster.
The first order to go slow was bad enough, but the added insult of chastising him because he had tried to keep to the original time table for advancing up to day 5 on schedule, I should have been praised or commended instead he insulted me. In the first twenty days I would have occupied half of Nevada. All I needed was transportation to build up a supply base to continue the push. But no, go slow the Americans are laying a trap. Instead, it is now day 53 and we occupy only half of Reno and we are ordered to sit and wait again, we wouldn’t be this far if I had obeyed his orders.
But now the order for his front units to fortify there positions, so that the other Army to the north and especially the ones in the south could catch up, that was not his fault, those other unit commanders could have pressed on, and should have kept to the schedule.
The only place his Army was behind schedule was his third Corps down by Bridgeport and that was no fault of his, the southern commander of Army Group XV had taken over half of his Division there, robbing him of tanks and men so that his southern command could try and push the American Marines out of California then attacking into take Las Vegas and western Arizona.
We had caught the Americans completely off guard; they were so weak, so much for their vaunted military prowess. How did that British phrase go, ‘there was no there, there.’
The American forces they had faced at first were hollow, with little fire support and with few reserves or flanking units. My units used quick attacks, attempting to pin their front down and start a right or left envelopment and the Americans had to fall back; or be destroyed. Once destroyed there would be no forces available to replace them with, so they retreat and buy time by giving up land. The more land they lose the more refugees who flee, and if columns of refuges were in the way, we will drive straight through them, force them off the roads as we have battles to win. Civilian casualties I haven’t got time to worry about, better them dead then my soldiers dying.”
We crushed the student protester at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, with our tanks, our own people. So why not here, they are our enemy are they not? Besides the victor always writes the history books, and so far the Khan armies worldwide are winning the victories.
But today this latest order, stripping him of his Armies Artillery division and a heavy tank company to support it was too much. Last week he had to send two of his tank and one mechanized infantry divisions back to Sacramento so the Army Commander could set up a reserve of veteran units, but why his units. He knew the man did these things, just to stop my advance. I win battles, and my reward is to watch my enemies back at X Army Group HQ take unit after unit from my command. I make plans to attack and I’m ordered to wait again and again.
My arguments have been in vain, “No Sir, your wrong to stop now that is to admit defeat and we have won every fight to date. We must continue our advance,” he had protested. Then came the stock answer from his over cautious commander “Soon the American military forces stationed in the east will show up and stop us. And then push us back as we will be over extended.”
Then the fool laughed at me, as I asked him what forces in the East? Do you mean the two Divisions just off of rotation from Iraq that where at 75% strength, one of them is deployed to Washington State the other to Arizona. You must be talking about the parts of four divisions that aren’t deployed over in Europe or to the Mid-East, they are more like four brigades not divisions? And they have deployed most of those units again down to Arizona. Still laughing he then says, ‘surely your not forgetting the National Guard are you, that’s 480,000 men and women.’
I almost lost my temper as I say, “Yes 480,000 troops most of them out of shape, overweight and scattered across this huge land? MP’s, postal and dental units a few engineers, with only a very few of them trained infantry, armor and artillery units. And most of their equipment worn out or still in Iraq or Afghanistan, they are not ready for a fight here.”
He’s reminded, “General do not forget, I give you orders.”
Again Jiu stated the facts, “Yes sir, but can’t you see, there isn’t a complete division of Americans to my front, just a couple of reinforced brigades from Ft. Carson and Ft. Riley, with a few of the National Guard units thrown together, it would be easy to crush them or force them to retreat from Sparks and the high ground around Vista and then back along highway 80.”
He knows that, I as his best commander have advanced into Nevada and control most of Reno, right now I should be seizing Virginia City and Carson City and then advancing onto the Navel Air station at Fallon in two days. That would make the US Air Force attacks less in number against our units here in the middle, forcing them to fly longer distances. Then we could attack southeast to capture the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot, depriving all the units we face of a ready supply of ammunition. In that position we would be flanking the forces that are holding our southern Armies from driving into Las Vegas and Arizona.
If the man, no I was correct in my calling him a pig thief, and he wouldn’t be good at that job either. If the pig thief would get back to our original battle plan we would have occupied all of Nevada in less then a week and Arizona soon after. Then the Americans would have to beg for peace, the advantage of their superior Air Force would be completely neutralized. Without the military airfields there, they couldn’t attack our forward forces in Eastern California unless they fly in from Utah, Idaho or New Mexico.
Then if the Americans wouldn’t ask for terms, they are fools; with Nevada under our control it would be easy to attack into eastern Oregon and Washington to isolate the American Northwest. Our Army that is trapped in Vancouver Canada would then be able to capture the Seattle area and the large number of military installations there. Especially the navel bases, this would cause the American Navy to relay on the limited resources in Hawaii and Alaska and stop their constant air assault against our coastal defenses.
Why, but why can’t the man see, haven’t I pointed out the overall picture to him at the staff meetings, with the other Corps Generals and Division commanders all backing my plan. Another thought comes to mind, maybe he was jealous of my abilities to lead. As Northern commander he should be able to put aside his pettiness and continue the attack. Why doesn’t he act?
And now instead of attacking I get striped of my three best combat divisions, plus now my army’s main artillery division. He takes four combat tested units to be replaced by the 66th Infantry and 5th Motorized Infantry divisions; both of them are reserve units, only fit for garrison duty at best.
And then he insults and shames me with the added suggestion of how I’m to manage my command, to be less aggressive. Add to this the micro-managing of my command by ordered me to place both of these reserve units in as front line combat divisions, the man must hate me.
All just because the 25th Corps General, I Jiu Chen, I am the better man and my Corp is the largest in his Army. But this order to place the 5th division who’s General is the nephew of the Kazakhstan Theater Commander, and the 66th General is the son of a close friend, all three men should be shot for the crime of being stupid, these two divisions weren’t battle line units with proven commanders. And from what I know about them those two Generals do not have the ability for learning such tasks, they are too busy playing general, they don’t care if it is their troops lives on the line. They are here to get command time, and then to be promoted to a safe staff position.
I’ll follow orders and put them on line all right, but out of the way of any chance for combat. The 66th Div I had already given them orders to replace the Mechanized Infantry that departs for Sacramento soon; their units can switch out in the next two days. They should fit in fine on the North and South side of Lake Tahoe, as an occupation and blocking force watching while we finish pushing the Americans from the east side of Reno, ha, let them sit!
As for the 5th a whole Division, checking his map and his forward units dispositions, the area below Bridgeport is where his troops will be the thinnest on the ground after the push later this week to take that town. His weather people told him it has lots of snow this time of year. In the high ground below Bridgeport no large towns either; and only a few old buildings, good a cold winter camp in tents. Fitting and just, the right place and perfect weather conditions for REMF’s, to use a good American term for these troops.
As for the 66th my supply depot commander has the resources at hand to move them, it’s a short distance and they will deploy as ordered, and be in position and out of the way. With only one light organic tank battalion of three companies the commander will have to place them in forward defensive positions with no reserves. It’s a good thing that the region around the lake does not favor an attacking force of Armor.
As for the 5th. division I won’t be able to place them all at once, there is too much distance to cover with so many roads closed due to the early heavy snows in the southern passes. It will take three to five weeks to redeploy them. He chuckles, this is a motorized unit with almost no trucks, that’s not acceptable their commander should have taken what he needed from the civilian companies that just sit now unused. I’d have to use assists from my transportation unit to speed things up, no I’ll let their commander move his own troops as fast as he can and as best as he can. His time in a cold hell will last a whole winter that is a just and fitting compensation for his father’s friend and the interference with my command.
The only thing in my favor is that the weather here is still pleasant, no snow or rain for the last two weeks, just give me one more week of good weather and I’ll have enough supplies on hand to push forward another one hundred to two hundred kilometers. With or without authority I’ll attack and win another two battles, the pig thief can’t stop what he doesn’t know is happening. I know he isn’t stupid enough to hand back ground that is captured. If I don’t do the dirty work and risk censure the Xth. Army would just plod along and we would still be sitting still on our butts around Sacramento waiting on orders that would never come.
Once the cake is backed it can’t be unbaked, in ten days even with out his artillery and two heavy tank divisions that he was ordered to give up, I will hand them western Nevada and shorten this war.
Now if the Damned Americans would just stand and fight, one good battle is all that I ask for, and I will finish off the enemy to my front and we are back on schedule.
(C-33)
You gave me a Command,
After that I gave the orders.
(Operation Trenton)
‘Professional soldiers are predictable; the world is full of dangerous amateurs.’
Murphy’s Law for War
‘A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.’
General George S. Patton Jr.
‘It’s a good feeling, having done what’s right,
even when most people laughed at you before.
And its sort of a bad feeling too,
cause now I know how Noah felt when those first rain drops fell.’
Daniel Francis Marion
“Dan from what you have outlined so far it sounds like a good plan, and the selection of the name is perfect, Operation Trenton, Now what’s your COA , (Course Of Action) plans and take on the enemies capabilities?”
“The same in what your people briefed me a couple of days ago. They have more equipment, more men and maybe even a better tactical advantage as they can attack at will. I live by this,
'Any General that treats his enemies as equals, but out smarts them, will win. Any General who thinks that the enemy is inferior in any way will have his Little Big Horn.' I want you to know that I didn’t bring my command here for our own funeral.”
“That’s a good motto to have, now about OP Trenton.”
“Op Trenton as I out lined is the overall plan sir, but it has two sub parts, OP Snot Squirt that’s the attack on the supply dump and OP Weasel for the extraction and the follow on attacks on the Chinese forces at the north end of Lake Tahoe. We have tried to look at the many scenarios, and we have war-gamed the worst options possible, in those it came out a draw.”
Laughing the General said, “Contingency plans are a must and Snot Squirt, as in giving a hard rap to your opponents nose?”
“Yes sir, it’s just a wake up shot that’s all,” Dan answered with a chuckle.
Gen. Greene laughs, “Both of those names are very fitting, though your plan might be a little bold for a single battalion with limited support, but it should be do-able. Hmm… from the SF Intel report and a few whispers from DC calling for some action on this front, it’s a lot better then us waiting for the Chinese to attack first. My men are itching to go on the offensive but I face almost impossible odds up here. Since it’s your plan, how soon before you can work up all of the details and brief the G-3 and G-2?”
“We are ready to brief your people now, I have my S-3 along and his people are busy setting up Maps and the rough terrain board in your conference room right now, it’s when ever your people have a spare hour or so sir,” Dan answered right back.
“I’m not going to use the word Gung-Ho Dan, but you have been here four days, and the last of your Brigade finished arriving just two days ago. Now your telling me that your scouts linked up with one of the SF teams and conducted an in and out reconnaissance 20 miles deep west from Washoe City, that’s just over 17 kilometers behind the Chinese lines. Then returned and have been DE-briefed and you have not only made plans but have also completed the written orders for a raid?”
“Yes sir, that’s is exactly what we have done, so far the heavy snows are holding off, the weather is favoring us and to cross the high country we have to move fast, before the weather turns. You see sir, from what I see now and understand about this war, the only why home for my people goes through San Francisco and LA and maybe through Seattle too. So the sooner we start, the sooner we get to go back to the wife and kids. I know better then to underestimate the enemy and all of my actions will always come after a through recon and other Intel gathering of all date that's available. To be honest most of the planning details was handled by your well trained retired friends who make up the majority of my senior staff.”
General Greene shook his head in agreement, his first assessment of Dan had been correct; he wasn’t one to waste time. He just hoped he was one who wouldn’t waste lives either, so he said,
“I think your going to be a leader Dan.”
“Thank you sir. Leadership can be learned, but it must never panic. I’m still learning.”
“Good thing too, ever read The Art of War?”
“Yes sir, I read the Art of War by Sun Tzu as a young man, and I keep a copy of it with me and re-read it or parts of it when I can, especially the five essentials for victory,” Dan pulled a small well used note book out of his BDU’s leg pocket, turned to a paper clipped page and read.
“The five essentials for victory:
(1) He will win who knows when to fight and when
not to fight.
(2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior
and inferior forces.
(3) He will win whose army is animated by the same
spirit throughout all its ranks.
(4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take
the enemy unprepared.
(5) He will win who has military capacity and is
not interfered with by the sovereign.
Hence the saying: If you know the enemy
and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a
hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy,
for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will
succumb in every battle.”
“And to be honest sir, I pray every day for guidance from the Lord.”
The General smiled at how knowledgeable Dan was, and also in knowing that his old friends had come through again in helping the Militia commander. “Knowing those essentials, having a good staff and maybe a little luck on your side will go a long way Dan. And as for prayer, never enter a battle with out it!”
“Thank you sir, knowing that really helps. Four days ago you told me with a little luck we might be able to stop the Chinese here at Reno. I think you and your men have done that Sir. Because the 25th Corp along its whole front hasn’t advanced over ten miles in the first month not like they did in the first weeks after they landed.”
“Except down south on its southern end and because of your presence here they have been static on the west side of Reno and down by Lake Tahoe for almost that whole month. So my plan is simple, to destroy there major forward supply base and turn their right flank by our holding on to the north side of Lake Tahoe.”
“With out that airfield and its stockpile of stores the 25th Corp has no large ready reserves of supplies for the Divisions facing you, they will have only their smaller Division reserves, and they can’t ignore us threatening them on their flank. So after the raid we pull back and hold the north shore of the lake and keep highway 89 under observation and fire. The Chinese units at the south end of the lake are then restricted in using that highway as their main supply route, I don’t think they will attack us; if any thing they either hold in place or pull back west or south.”
“As for the Chinese Divisions in and around Reno, if they were to turn to attack us they won’t know our true size, because I plan on leaving there worse wounded and a few of their medics behind with the impression that we are a full Division.”
General Green nodded his head as he said, “I see what you’re getting at, but go ahead.”
“So if they were to attack and drive my unit back from the top part of the lake, and the normal thinking would be for them to commit at least three divisions, that plan would leave them short of enough men and ammunition to stop a possible counter attack by you. By using that reverse logic, if they were to attack you they will have very little left to face us if we were to attack and cut them off from their main supply line, that has so far been coming up I-80.”
“As you can see by us destroying that supply depot their four divisions facing you are stuck out on a limb, safe up to now if they had continued attacking which they haven’t. In the defensive mood they sit and wait on us, so if they are prepping to attack with out the back up supplies it’s not practical.”
“I know the tactics Dan, but until now I didn’t have the manpower to make this move. In fact I thought the Chinese might do it to me, by taking Virginia City and turning my flank. Tell me about your recon mission.”
“Most of the deep Recon was already done by the SF sir, and most of that by Capt. Elijah Maritz and his team, I’ve known him for almost two years before the war started sir and I trust him. He is working with Maj. Salvador, the same people who are supplying your G-2 with Intel. They also have a group who are doing some of the harassing operations down along I-80 closer in to Sacramento.”
“Anyway sir I meet with Capt. Maritz on my first day here and he told me about the supply dump, and the importance it plays in supplying the Chinese units that are facing your people here in Reno and down around the lake. I asked him to take my Recon Lt. and a squad of our people by dirt bikes using the back trails to check out this Supply dump and the forward Air base at Truckee. He has pointed it out to your G-2 people before, and has shown them that the Chinese front is not a continuously manned line between Reno and Lake Tahoe.”
“I know that Dan, as I said we just didn’t have the manpower to spare or attempt this mission, that was before your people got here.”
“We’re hoping to change that sir, the recon team crossed the front lines here, Capt Maritz said there was more then a nine mile gap between the units facing you here in Reno and the Chinese troops down by Crystal Bay.”
“While on the subject of Crystal bay sir, your units we replaced down there reported to the G-2 yesterday afternoon that the units of the Chinese mechanized Infantry division down there started pulling back and were replaced by a leg infantry unit with very limited armor support attached to them.”
“I got the word, you haven’t made contact with the enemy have you Colonel,” Gen. Greene asked a bit irritated?
“No sir, no contact, our 2nd. Battalions recon platoon has a squad observing them from up here on this ridge above Incline Village. And another squad observing, just west of them above Kings beach.” Dan pointed at two locations on the map. “To back up this two squads or extract them if necessary we have the 2nd. Battalions motorcycle platoon in hiding they are about a half kilometer north of them just off of highway 431.”
“My orders from you were to defend the two cities, so I pushed my scouts forward to observe only and report on enemy movements. I didn’t exceed my orders, but I want to know as soon as I can if the enemy units are moving forward toward our position.”
General Greene nodded his head for Dan to continue, he wasn’t mad at Dan just concerned that he might be to eager to get a battle started, one that his people weren’t ready for.
“This new Chinese infantry unit didn’t occupy all of the forward prepared positions of the unit they replaced; because of this I suspect they are a smaller unit; it looks like a single leg battalion with at most a light armor company in support. I suspect they have also taken over the positions on the South side of the lake too. If that is true they are spread very thin.” Dan wasn’t sure if Gen. Greene was upset with him, any good commander would take the opportunity to locate an enemy unit to his front and observe them, which was standard S.O.P. for any size unit in the military.
“My Intel people are 90 percent sure it is a single battalion we face and not a brigade size unit, it makes our raid and withdrawal chances even better.”
“OK, go on.”
“Yes sir, getting back to the recon patrol. To get to Truckee I made sure that my recon team had a clear route across the front lines to the supply depot and airfield. Capt. Maritz mapped out his route in and then the S-2 had two of our UAR’s, that’s unmanned aerial recon, fly ahead of them using thermal imaging camera’s to detect any hidden enemy and to fly within five miles of the valley. The controllers took their time going in and again coming back out and swept a corridor over two miles wide. Then when the scouts went in we had another UAR patrolled overhead of them, again breaking off five miles short of the objective. When Capt Maritz and my people finished the recon early this morning they got back to the RV point and called for another UAR to check for any enemy activity along the front line again on their way out.”
“How many UAV’s, that’s the Army’s term for your UAR’s, does your unit have Colonel, I only have six for the entire Division?”
“We have twenty two units Sir but they are smaller aircraft then yours, six have a dual thermal system that scans downward at 45 degrees to either side, unfortunately that leaves a 15 degree blind spot directly under each unit, that’s why we fly two in tandem, to overlap. Then we have another dozen units with either inferred or normal camcorders and two larger units that can act as aerial radio relays. And the last two units are our kamikazes and they carry six sticks of TNT, they will be our guided missiles or can be used to attack helicopters from above. All units are on a live feed back to their control centers, all of them are amateur radio controlled models, and the largest four are the bye-plane type models that can carry about sixty pounds of gear and stay in the air for over eight hours. And a few of the units are small jet powered craft that can fly at over 200 miles per hour.”
“The Chinese can and will jam all of those frequencies once they know your using them, Dan.”
“My people thought this through and they are using a frequency jumping modified ham receiver, it has a chip that is programmable for each mission> They also have a dead man switch that will return the unit back to the point of launch if that chip fails or all of the frequencies are jammed. And recently they have added one ounce of C-4 for a self-destruct if it’s tampered with. It’s a good system with state of the art electronics. The S-2 RC team people are some of the best and sharpest computer people I know, I think they will hold their own.”
“OK then your going to have to help me out Dan, I’ll need to have at least half of your UAV unit and equipment to assist my G-2, have your S-2 see him to coordinate this transfer of equipment and people. He can reciprocate and transfer you one of our armed units and a controller directly to your people, fair enough.”
With a smile Dan replied, “I sort of figured that out a month ago and doubled my people and equipment in that unit. Our stuff isn’t quiet as durable as the normal military equipment goes, as I said we do have some of the latest tech available and some very good operators that know how to use what they do have.”
“Again your people are thinking way ahead of the curve Dan, we can also call on the Air Force and Navy from time to time and get one of their UCAV, that’s unmanned combat aerial vehicle, but we better have a good reason. They don’t have a lot of that equipment up here so they’re keeping their assists mostly to themselves, and right now their busy trying to figure out the Chinese Air Defense systems.”
“We’ll get by, I’ll have the UAR sorry the UAV people,” Dan corrected his terminology, “with there equipment report to the G-2 tomorrow sir, right now I have the entire unit out checking the Brigades front from just north of Steamboat along highway 431 and down to South Lake Tahoe then following the Nevada state line down to below Paynesville California on 88 highway.” Dan pointed to the Map and indicated the area his unit was checking.
Shaking his head in astonishment at Dan’s desire to go after the Chinese and test his brigade in a fight Gen. Greene says, “I guess it runs in your blood Dan. Your wanting to attack and keep the enemy off balance, to give his support units no rest?”
Dan smiles and says, “If you’re referring to my great, great Uncle many generations removed sir, that is correct. He and the men of his unit fought to be free from tyranny, to help establish freedom for all Americans. The men and women of our modern militia units are fighting once more to free Americans from just another want-to-be tyrant. It’s just about using the same tactics now as it was back then, if we deprive the enemy of stores we weaken their troops on the front line, saving the lives of our soldiers.”
“History does repeat itself all to often Dan, as in your and my case with our past relatives that fought side by side before over 200 years ago. They didn’t win the war back then by themselves but they sure delayed the enemy and helped make the difference. When you got here I didn’t think your men would be ready to commit to a major battle so soon, and I still have my doubts because that’s not how the Militia has been used in the past.”
Dan smiled at that thought; history does have a habit of repeating itself. “If we can help make the difference again, that would be good enough for me sir. And as far as a head on attack we aren’t ready to do that, but we will be very soon. When Gen. Washington got to Boston after Bunker Hill in 1776, he knew that the Militia wouldn’t march in close ranks boldly going into battle with the British regulars. But he did know that they were good shots and so he decided to use that strength in his favor. To have them fighting from behind prepared positions or scurrying through the woods ambushing and surprising the enemy, they did there job very well. And that is our best chance too, if I can do the same with my command now as our forefathers did back then, to maneuver and keep stinging the enemy hard where he doesn’t expect it, then we have a chance.”
Gen. Greene smiled as he said, “All right you have the go ahead, brief my people with the plan. I do want you to use the tactics your ancestor perfected of hit and run. It’s time we started taking the fight to the Khan’s bastards he sent over here. One warning and to let you know that the brass hats back in DC said to let you have enough rope to hang yourself, so they can replace you. That’s not what I want but I can’t stand the idea of loosing soldiers regular or Militia on a failed attempt, so from the get go we have to make this operation a success, understand?”
“Yes sir, I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”
“OK then, have at em.”
After the attack plan is given the go ahead, the Kansas Militia’s 1st. Battalion is pulled back from their forward positions as the 4th. Battalion moves forward and takes their place.
Then three additional Companies are assigned to assist, two from the armor Battalion. One tank Company consisting of five platoons and their HQ element and one mechanized infantry Company of five Platoons and their HQ element.
From Brigade came a mixed battery of dusters and four quad 50’s mounted on the flat bed Alvis Stormer APC’s for anti-air and direct fire support. Also from Brigade comes the Recon platoon, one platoon of scout cars (8-ferrets) four Ratels with the mini-guns, two squads of the sharpshooter platoon and one platoon from the Anti-tank company and half an engineer company is added, this brings the force to over 1540 men including Dan and his security element. Plus Eli and his scouts who add on another thirty-five men for additional deep reconnaissance and extra eyes to watch the roads that lead in to the supply dump. D along with a team of his Intel people and interpreters will assist in gleaning intelligence from the computers and files at the dump.
Eli’s original plan of a small raid intended to destroy equipment, has grown. Dan has bigger plans.
Courage is being scared to death---But saddling up anyway.
-John Wayne
With a little less then twenty-four hours before move out everyone involved gets really busy readying their equipment, checking night vision, short range radios and drawing extra ammo, grenades and batteries.
The infantry soldiers involved have silenced their equipment by taping everything down or by padding it with cloth. The team leaders check each man in turn by making them jump up and down, if it rattles or clanks more tape. This process is repeated until the only sound that is heard is their boots hitting the ground. The battalions Sharpe shooter platoon and the attached squad member’s from Brigade with their.50 rifles head to the range to confirm there rifles zero, and are quickly joined by the infantry. Most men take only a few shots as they are satisfied with the results, then heading back to get in some IA drills and to study the map of the infiltration route and their duties during the attack. And then to study other sub units target areas, this way each man will know their role and place in the raid and practice it, then practice it again and again.
Medics check and re-check their supplies; the two Doctors coming along do the same, as does the Ratel mounted mortar platoon, and the duster crews. The tank crews load extra small arms ammo cases to be strapped onto the back deck of their vehicles as a means of quick resupply for the infantry. They tighten tracks and give everything that takes it, an extra shot of grease. To say that everyone is anxious and ready to go and just a degree fearful would be an understatement.
Dan had worked hard these last few weeks to prepare his men for combat, even if he had been given months he knew that wouldn’t be enough time. No amount of preparation would ever be adequate for what they were about to experience and he knew it. What he had accomplished over the past years and in the last months would have to suffice, time was up. On some of the faces anxiety showed, men and women both a little fear was setting in. While others displayed a sense of bravado and enthusiasm to get the job started, finished and over.
Dan from experience knows all of these feeling first hand, as he makes the rounds talking to each platoon or company while the men are busy getting ready. “A few of us have seen combat before, most of you haven’t. I know for a fact that what ever happens, everyone of you will do just fine. So don’t worry when the shooting starts, you won’t have time to be afraid,” he says with a smile. “You won’t have to remember to do your job, to cover your sector and watch your buddies back, that’s has been burned into your sub-conscience, with the countless hours of patrols and immediate action drills we have practiced the last two months, as for the rest it will work itself out. Except for when it comes to shooting straight, that all comes down to you, either kill the enemy first or he will kill one of us.”
“Them or us, it can’t be simpler or said any other way. As you know I’ll be there in the middle of the line sharing the danger and firing away, the same as you.”
“Make your shots count we need to kill them, not to let them kill us. I know that you guys feel the same way, them not us, right.”
To the man they all yelled out, “That’s right sir.”
“Good enough, we have trained hard these last few weeks and for some of us it has been a short fifteen years together. Look around you everyone is a volunteer here, all of us are friends, some of you are related to the men around you or they’re your next door neighbors, all of you are patriots, simply put gentlemen, We are the Militia, we take care of each other, watch your buddy’s back. Once more our country need’s us, and because we were true to the Constitution we are ready. ”
“Not so long ago most of America called us a lots of names, none I care to repeat today.” Dan smiled and some of the men laughed, good that lets off a little of the tension. “In a little over 48 hours from now when we are successful and back within our lines safely, it won’t matter what they called us then, will it.”
“No sir,” they roared in unison.
“That’s right, because after our little hike tomorrow, moving into position early the next day, and through out the battle that follows, we will have shown them that their name-calling was from people with little minds. Because our success in the next two days will show them that when the call went out, it was answered by the Militiamen once again, not sunshine patriots like them but by men of courage. One last thing we work as a team, and there are no I’s in team. As Rudyard Kipling once wrote, 'The strength of the pack is in the wolf and the strength of the wolf is in the Pack,' and as for our Chinese foe, Chingera Imbawa, the Prairie Ghost are here.”
The troops hopped and hollered in unison releasing more tension, Dan similes with them he just hope’s that he wouldn’t regret his words or the attempt at bolstering their moral later.
(C-34)
Bad Timing
(For The Want of a Nail)
For the want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For the want of the shoe, the horse was lost;
For the want of the horse, the rider was lost;
For the want of a rider, the battle was lost;
For the want of the battle, the kingdom was lost;
All for the want of a nail.
For the want of the shoe, the horse was lost;
For the want of the horse, the rider was lost;
For the want of a rider, the battle was lost;
For the want of the battle, the kingdom was lost;
All for the want of a nail.
Anon
When a strong man armed keepeth his place, his goods are in peace.
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted and divideth his spoils.
Luke 21/22
General Jiu Chen had delayed as long as possible in giving up command of his 25th Corp’s Artillery Division. But no longer, in his hands were written orders from his Commander, orders from the 10th Army directing him to dispatch the unit immediately back to Sacramento. Along with their attached Armor Company and all of their support equipment. He time was up and he can't delay any longer, he had ran out of excuses to keep them forward with his Corp.
After reviewing these written orders he is now forced to send out his own orders and arrange for the main rally point and assembly area to be near the forward support airfield. It will take them almost two full days to pull all the units together to form one convoy as they are now spread out over a fifty-kilometer front.
To the Artillery Division Commander he says, “The commander of the Depot and his people are expecting your Division, the Quartermaster kitchen units stationed there will be responsible for preparing your meals, your people can use the mess halls already in place saving them the time from unloading and then reloading there own facilities, they will also provide fuel and any repair work to your vehicles if it becomes necessary.”
“Plan on having all of your units converge at the assemble area in two days no-later then noon, you can leave all of your equipment in convoy formation. The RV area is over forty kilometers from the front and out of range of the American Artillery stationed east of Reno and well within our Air defense umbrella, so you are safe from attack.”
He then tells General Qigong, “Just after the noon meal you can move back to the rear as a complete unit. I will have a dozen of my helicopter gun ships flying in support to provide overhead protection. Let the American guerillas beware, if they decide to go ahead and try to ambush your convoy, they will be the ones surprised this time.”
Jumping off
(Hunter’s Moon)
A little over 30 hours before the attack was to start the militia lead units are at the departure point; 700 meters south west of Mount Rose Summit Nevada, where several 4x4 trails lead off to the northwest, and they are about a mile behind their forward reconnaissance patrols.
The raid force has been divided into four groups for the infiltration. With the first three groups of Infantry leading, they will be walking ahead by half a day before the Armor and other support vehicles were to depart.
The ground is solid and dry and each section of the force is lead by a couple of Eli’s men, ones who had backpacked this country for years. It’s best not to have part of the force lost or delayed, not with the odds they faced. The weather favored them, as it was cold, windy and overcast with heavy clouds. The nights hide or rendezvous point, as the crow fly’s is a little over 11 miles west by north west, with the total walking distance up and down the mountains a little less then 25 miles. Eli joked with some of the men and said it was ‘just a walk in the park.’ They laughed a nervous laugh, which is good as it helped to release that knot in their stomach and the mental anxiety that most of them felt.
“If your ready to go Eli, have your men lead the way,” Dan said.
Before he can give the order they hear, “Hold just a second,” Major Hartwell asks? Reaching into his vehicle he takes out a couple of large speakers and places them on the hood, then he reaches back inside and switches on a CD player. The music that comes out is a fife and drum tune with a nice marching beat to it. “Have to have the proper mood when we start boys,” Victor says with a light laugh.
Dan has to chuckle to, “Good choice of music, just hope we have the same success.”
Eli has a puzzled expression on his face as he says, “You guys are different.”
“What, you don’t like my choice? I knew I should have opened the phone lines and taken some request,” Victor laughed.
“No it’s OK,” Eli said, “but if it were up to me I would have played some good old CCR say something like ‘Bad Moon a Rising.”
Victor laughed again, “That would be a good one to use as a send off, but this is more fitting, it’s called the ‘White Cockade.”
“The White Cockade,” Eli asks?
Victor explains, “There are many stories but I like this one. After the one sided exchange of gun fire at Lexington Green on the morning of April 19, 1775, the British Regulars drove off Capt. Parkers Militia. They continued their march on to Concord, to burn and destroy the supplies stored there. Only finding a small amount of military stores, as most had been taken and hidden away, they set fire to what they had found and prepared to leave. They had a seen a large number of Militia along the way in but they weren’t worried. One of the British Captains supposedly remarked ‘for Gods sake their only Militia, farmers and clerks, not regulars, not soldiers like us not professionals.’ Any way, at one of the bridges leading into Concord a company of Militia advanced against the Crown’s troops that were holding it and drove them off, that exchange of musketry started the long running fight back down the road to Boston, and through Lexington.”
“Well the Lexington Company of Militia after losing one fourth of their assembled men killed and wounded by the surprise volley of fire from the British early that day, decided to give them a little pay back. The fifer and the drummer played this tune the ‘White Cockade’, when they left Lexington to take up ambush positions for when the British returned heading back into Boston.”
Eli cocks his head slightly nods a couple of times and with a smile says, “Fitting, a long road back. Next time maybe we could have some bagpipes playing the ‘Campbell’s are Coming’ that’s fitting.” Looking to Dan he says, “I’ll see you later this evening Colonel.” Turning away and walking past the men along the tract Eli says, “Off and on lads, we have a way’s to go,” as he leads them down the trail.
With the first tone finishing Victor hits two buttons on his control pad and the music changes to some bagpipes playing the ‘Campbell’s are Coming’, Eli had slipped on his Earshot hearing amplifiers, when he heard the bagpipes playing he turned with a smile on his face and gave Victor a thumbs up. Now that was fighting music, he just hoped that their movement was going unobserved and the Chinese didn’t know that the Militia was a coming for them, heading for a battle and bringing them death.
Watching the first Company going by and the turning back to Dan, Victor says, “Sir I can see the enthusiasm in each man as they walk past. I can also see that most of them are so green.”
“Yes they are,” Dan answered. Then said, “And in a little over 35 hours they will be Jaded Veterans. Knowing what we both know Victor, that war is hell!”
(C-35)
Before Action
(Murphy is always around)
In war there are no good alternatives. Sometimes Leaders must select between a very bad and often an even worse choice.
In warfare: whatever the choice,
Mission is first then your men’s safety.
(Kansas Militia Leaders Handbook)
Being the leader, you have to be that pillar of strength,
the example for those who follow you.
It ain't all that great of a place to be.
JN
“Listen James, you have to get the Air Force to approve the flight; they either let the two planes fly in the people we need or we will use all of our helicopters to bring them in. Trust me we are going to need those drivers here, there are that many trucks lined up, loaded up and ready to go. I know it’s not part of the original plan but opportunity is a knocking, and it would be a shame to destroy all of this good equipment. And we sure could use these SP guns, and their fire support vehicles and radars, over.”
“We are trying sir, Lieutenant Commander Kincaid our Navy liaison officer is working on it as we speak. He’s called Division to have them to put the pressure on the Air Force too, and Gen. Greene is on our side in this, he said we will fly the men in, with or with out permission, over.”
“Sounds good, get with Mike, I need to have two extra air crews included, people that can fly C-130’s, the Chinese just landed a couple of planes and we are going to try and take them intact. And at the least we will need most of our best helicopter pilots, the Chinese have over twenty gun ships parked and ready to go, if we can grab a few the Army Intel people will have a field day.”
“Buck will need to have his best pilot fly the lead plane in, right now we have a light wind out of the Northwest. It’s blowing at about 10-12 miles-per-hour so when they come out of that narrow pass below the ridge lines they will have less then a mile before they land. We have to be sure we are safely below any radar from outside the valley, so they will need to drop down and fly at tree top level as they approach the runway.”
“Buck will need to have his best pilot fly the lead plane in, right now we have a light wind out of the Northwest. It’s blowing at about 10-12 miles-per-hour so when they come out of that narrow pass below the ridge lines they will have less then a mile before they land. We have to be sure we are safely below any radar from outside the valley, so they will need to drop down and fly at tree top level as they approach the runway.”
“And the timing has to be exact, he has to land within five minuets after we take the strip, with the second plane right on his ass that should be at tango plus 6 max. Both will have to unload and turn and take off as fast as possible and get back into the mountains and stay low to mask their radar signature in case the Chinese scramble any fighters or recon units from the Mather AF base in Sacramento, over.”
“Copied, I’m working on it give me a least ten, I’ll call you back, I should know more by then, over,” James Dix says.
“OK, out,” Dan, says as switches his satellite scramble phone off and looks through the binoculars again.
Thinking back at the hump to get here, it hadn’t been to bad, we got into our night hide or bivouac position just before last light yesterday, close to 1720 hours, the men quickly digging defensive positions, then set up their shelters and the last thing preparing a hot meal of MRE’s. After a long day’s march a hot meal really helps. With one man in each buddy team on guard, the other eating a hot MRE, with no fires or open flames used, as that might give away our hidden position. Only heating the meals by using the meal-ready-to-eat water activated heater that comes packed in each individual meal, MRE’s are OK and hot it made everything taste better.
Some of the older men close to Dan’s age had said they missed the old C-ration days, several had complained about the taste of the MRE’s during training, until they used one of the heaters to heat up an otherwise cold meal. After that the complaints changed to, ‘weren’t half bad’, still they ribbed the younger men about the tootsie rolls, and M&M’s in the accessory packs. And a few of them did complain about the lack of four free smokes from the old C’s.
And they still couldn’t understand the Army’s insistence over all these years, that four sheets of toilet paper with each meal were enough. Bet-ya who ever came up with that count never had to take a dump in the woods with just four.
The Armor and one Mechanize Infantry Company along with all of the other support vehicles were in their hide position four miles south of us on a side trail just off the Martis Peak road and less then three hundred meters north of the road junction with highway 267. They would have stopped a mile short of this position except their advance scouts reported that the junction didn’t have a standing guard post, Eli’s people had told them that sometimes a guard was posted there. The scouts would keep a watch just in-case one did show up.
All of the men had at least a full six hours of sleep before stand-too at 0200 hrs, even with one in four men pulling guard duty for two hours each. Then on schedule everyone quietly breaks camp at 0300, and then we finished the job of infiltrating the last four miles, getting into final positions by 0700 hours then the waiting, again, first on sunrise and then on the long hours until noon. Dan would have preferred an early morning attack during the morning meal. But D had intelligence that said a noon attack would net the biggest prize, and he was correct.
An hour after sunrise an almost continuous stream of vehicles started arriving and were busy being directed into a big, then bigger and now a huge convoy. We had counted a thousand fifty vehicles before they stopped arriving. Or at least we thought they had stopped until ten minuets before 1100 hours when the last battery of six towed type 66 152mm gun-howitzers arrived with their support vehicles, after turning around down by the quarry they were directed to their battalion which was close to the middle of the convoy and then took their place in line.
Earlier that morning and just after half of the convoy had arrived, fuel trucks had been making the rounds, topping off all of the vehicles fuel tanks, with the drivers and vehicle commanders doing last minuet equipment checks.
I have to admit these were well trained soldiers, everyone of them were busy doing something in making ready to move out, pity we were about to rain-on-there-parade. But don’t you know, in war you have to play for keeps.
Then just before noon some bugles sounded and the division formed up by companies in front of their vehicles, it looked like a role call was being taken.
Turning to his signals officer he said, “Things will be hectic, and I’ll be busy, so when William calls in that the airfield is secure give the air transports the go ahead to land.”
“Yes sir,” he replied.
The Chinese bugles sounded again and then each unit marched across the road on to the soccer field and formed into Battalion size units within a Division formation and waited, but not for long.
Down the road came six large new American SUV’s the third one back had two small flags flying from the front. “The Division commander has arrived,” Eli said. “D was right there was a lot of equipment coming in and that guy and his staff are the cherry on the cake.”
“I just hope we didn’t bite off more then we can chew,” Dan whispered.
“There must be at least a division of soldiers on parade then add in the normal airfield and supply dump people present. Thank goodness most of them will be eating at the time when we attack. One thing sir, when we are finished and getting ready to load out, don’t forget D has two helicopter pilots and he wants two of those Puma’s. I mean the SA321J’s.”
Dan chuckled as he said, “Know what you meant Eli, I still use a lot of the Rhodie terms when I refer to equipment too.”
“Old habits die hard, at least for us old guys ehh?”
“Sure does.” Dan answered. “With all of those lowboys loaded with those tracked SP guns and the 89’s that their MLRS’s it looks like we have a big part of the Artillery Division for the local Army group. Wonder where all of there truck mounted 122mm MRLS’s are?”
“Those the ones we called the Stalin Organ right.”
“Yes the same ones.”
“They might have them covered with canvas tops and they will like just regular trucks from here, and we wouldn’t be able to tell. Are we still going to make the try,” Eli asks with a smile?
“No, we are going to do it, not try! Its going to be just like the Nyadzonya base camp attack you help pull off a few years ago.”
Eli raised an eye brow as he said, “You remember we only had 70 men in that attack you know, no mini-guns no quad 50’s, man just having one of each would have really helped then.”
“You and your friends back then did alright with the limited equipment we had at the time, the odds are a little more in our favor now.”
“Ha, not really,” Eli said as he let out a short laugh, “because I know these Chinese are a lot more dangerous enemy then the Terrs were, and we still have odds of almost a 10 to 1 force against us, and we are attaching them. That doesn’t count their support units up by interstate 80. Or the other line units stationed down at Kings Beach and Incline Village that we have to pass back through.”
“Don’t worry about the troops by Lake Tahoe, the 4th. Battalion will take Incline Village as we drive right into Kings Beach. Once we take the supply depot here we will send the Chinese unit a message by land-line telling them to expect a unit passing through them, one that is going to attack Carson City. Our Signal unit up at Mount Rose will jam any radio signals that their commander up by Reno tries to send down to them. So except for the false messages that we will send from here they are cut off from knowing what is going on.”
“By the time we finish here and head out it will be after fifteen hundred, taking our time we will arrive at the rear units in Kings Beach just after dark. Our attacking lead companies will catch them in their mess hall too. We will only get one chance to use this tactic, so I’m going to use it all up in one day, by this time tomorrow the word will get around to all of their commands to guard all mess halls.”
Hunkering down behind a small rocky out crop Dan takes out his map and by pointing at the various places goes over the revised plan for Eli. “There are at the most fifty Chinese guarding all of the vehicles in the convoy. And these vehicles are parked just to the north side here, off the road. Right now there are well over 6000 thousand troops in formations on the sports field between the convoy and the tents. Soon these men will either be lined up to get chow or have started eating in the tents with most of the depots support people. So when our assault column drives down the road they will be between the troops in the mess halls and any of their heavy support weapons.”
Eli nods his head in agreement. “Over here is the Anti-aircraft unit, D said they are going to surrender. I’m not sure I would try this plan, if I though that the AA battalion wasn’t going to switch sides and stay out of the fight. Which is good for us because their positions are too scattered for us to assault all at once and to be sure of taking out all of the troops eating their noon meal at the same time.”
Eli again nodded his head in agreement. So Dan continued, “As planned our convoy comes down the road spaced out to cover their three objectives. The first two tank platoons of M60’s and M41’s, and a mechanized infantry platoon with two 120mm mortars and two dusters rush up to the road junction. Half of this unit will move up Brockway road and the other half up the Glen Carlson Memorial bypass, both platoons will take hull down positions and secure and hold. To the west of them they will have one section of Lyles people with the two attached TOW teams, they will be watching the road from this tree line just below the cemetery. They also are watching the bridge over the river which is close to a mile away and if necessary they have a clear line of fire to stop any armor coming across.”
Eli added, “As my scout team told you sir, there is maybe a company at the most of either Infantry or MP’s up by I-80. They have two 6x6 wheel APC we think they are the WZ 551’s both have either a 20 or 23 mm cannon mounted and the unit has two 120mm mortars in sandbagged positions. The two mortars are more of a threat then the light armor.”
“True, and our mortar platoon has their exact coordinates so if they want to play we can neutralize them pretty quick.” Dan said, “Now the second section of the convoy, one tank platoon with two of the mechanized infantry platoons are to crash the airfield, by driving up the main access road leading into it and squish any opposition that might come from there. Just in case I have a follow up Infantry Company moving in from the east to assist them. I gave William that job he’s the CO for the 1st Battalion and has command of the airfield operation; his orders are to secure the two C-130’s and the helicopter line with as little damage to the aircraft as possible. Once we get our two transport planes on the ground and our people off loaded, we are going to fly those two C-130’s and at least twenty-six of the helicopters out and back to Carson City. If time allows us we bring our pilots back for a second trip and more drivers for a bigger haul.”
“Now back to the third section of our convoy, they will be right on the heels of the second and they start the attack by firing up the mess area; this third force will consist of the platoon of eight ferrets, the four mini guns and the four quad 50s mounted on the modified APC’s, the two M41’s from the tank company HQ, their commander is in charge of this section, and they will have the last two 40 mm dusters with them. They will be spread out in four mixed teams and will make quick work of the troops eating in the mess tents here on the south side of the road. Also spread out in this last packets is the two platoons of Ratel mounted infantry whose job will be to kill any guards who resist and to seize the convoy vehicles.”
“For the scattered guard position that are hard to reach, your men took most of the scouts from Lyle and the sharpshooters platoon, and you have the attached anti-tank sections, that will take out any other hard targets that care to resists, or ones that weren't detected by your recon.”
“When our two Companies of infantry just below us here begin to fire up the tents, the Battalions HQ plus the rest of the mortar platoon people and my comms and security team are to support by fire any follow up assault, if it becomes necessary. Once the firing stops here, one company will sweep into the mess areas and finish off any resistance. Once it is secure the second company will assist in securing all prisoners, just not sure how many that will be though. Then we clean up weapons and move over to the convoy and the airfield to size up the supply dump an what we can take back with us.”
“It might sound complicated but it’s not, each unit has been assigned three tasks and they go one, two, three. If any part fails or a large force comes to the rescue; we destroy by tank and mortar fire everything we can and ex-filtrate again if necessary. I don’t think we will fail, as you original told me five days ago, and seeing the few guards that the Chinese have posted proves it, these guys figure they are out of harms way.”
Eli answers with a, “Lekka,” as he smiles.
Dan laughs as he says, “More like mushi I would think.”
Dan turns to the signal captain who has a perplexed look on his face, and explains, “Lekka and mushi mean the same thing, very nice. Our operation is going to run smoothly.”
The captain wonders what language were they using?
Dan turns back to Eli, “One thing though, as I said I still don’t completely trust the AA battalion over by the Alpine meadows campground to set on their hands. So I’m having Charlie Company and one platoon of tanks standing by and watching them. That leaves me a reserve force of Echo Company, one-tank platoon, the motorcycle platoon, two sections of 120mm mortars, the half platoon of engineers and the tank mechanics in their M-88’s and duce-and-half’s, a signals squad and the battalion’s medical platoon.”
“And as you know the rest of the Battalion’s recon platoon’s people are scattered around with some of your people watching all the other avenues of approach.”
Eli shrugged and said, “D assured me that after he talked to the AA Brigade Commander last night, they are out of the fight. He said to look for all of their AA weapons to be pointed north away from us, and once the shooting starts they will start getting all of their equipment ready to road march out with us. Every one of their gun vehicles and all of their supply trucks will be loaded with as much ammo and spare parts that they can carry.”
“Their commander also said he will supply as many drivers as he can spare, to help us move as many of the convoys vehicles as possible. I can’t give you D’s source but he said we wouldn’t have to worry about the AA Brigade CO and his unit, they will surrender.”
Eli looking at Dan and he can see that something is bothering him so he asked, “Are you alright sir?”
“Yes, well not really. It’s just that I have seen so much death and destruction in two wars, and now it starts again.”
“I don’t think it ever stopped Sir, this fight between good and evil.”
Dan looks at Eli as he regains his best poker face, not a hint showing of the doubt he cant’ help but feel as he starts to say. “We will know in …” His satellite phone rings and he answers, “Hello.”
Lt. Col. Dix says with out introduction, “Your on, we got the go ahead to fly, we are just about finished, maybe ten minuets at the most to round up the necessary bodies and load up, at the latest they will in the air at 12:10, then maybe ten minuets more to arrive. No need to delay the party, we will be a few minuets late, and making a grand entrance.”
Dan asked, “Your staying right?” Dan wanted to make sure his XO was staying back with the rest of the Brigade.
“This time,” Jim laughed, “Next time I get to go forward, and it will be your turn to stay at home.”
“OK, just in case we change plans, round up more drivers and any one who can fly a chopper, better yet when the first batch fly back to your location grab those pilots, and have them ready to go again, they might be needed to make a second trip, talk at you later, bye.” Dan hit the off button as he smiled and looked at his watch then at Eli as he finished, “As I started to say. We will know in fourteen minuets and fifteen seconds from now if they surrender or fight. For their sake I hope they do surrender that ‘s close to another 1200 men we won’t have to kill today.”
Dan turned and raised his head above the rocks but was still concealed by the scrub brush as he looked through his binoculars again, he whispered quietly. ‘Oh Lord help make our aim true and deadly. Let those who receive our arrows and spears suffer not. Let their passing be swift, your justice will be done, Amen.’
Then in a louder voice so that Eli and the other ten people in the command group with him could hear what he said. “The world is about to hear the bark of Freedom’s Right Arm again. Close to a thousand FN’s are going to be speaking load and clear, the world will stop to listen and know that we in the American Militia are back. With a warning that the enemies of freedom forgot to heed, ‘Don’t Tread on Me’, and after today they will have to watch where they step.”
The men shake their heads in agreement, as Dan continued, “And gentlemen our command group is going to join in the fighting, I estimate we are a little under three hundred fifty meters from the closest tent. Set your sights and get two spare magazines ready to reload cause when the second part of the convoy starts shooting up those chow halls we will have a lot of targets running towards us. Try and not shoot up those command vehicles we want the radios and equipment, if we’re lucky there will be a secure scramble system in a couple of them and I know Army Intel would be mighty grateful to have that. Hell I know our own Intel people at Division will want them working or not.”
“Gary and Pete I want you both to but four rounds of HE each into the closest tent from your M79’s as quick as you can fire and load, then you can use your FN’s OK. Good now we wait, remember everyone keep your heads down, to work as buddies, and good luck.”
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