Men in Green Faces Read Free Page B

Jim’s eye, who looked at Brian and Roland, who stared first at Doc, then Gene. Gene shook with silent laughter. Tears came to his eyes. When he saw Alex struggling not to laugh, and Alex saw him, it was too much. The entire squad lost control. Tears streamed down green and black faces. They roared. Arms around their stomachs, holding their sides, rolling on the ground, they howled, while Doc called them every SEAL and Vietnamese name he could come up with.
    With their location completely blown, Jim aborted the mission. When they could stand up, six re-crossed the monkey bridge to head back to Seafloat. Doc refused. He waded. Dripping wet, testicles swelling, he waddled along at rear security, hissing unprintable things with every step. Gene couldn’t remember ever laughing so hard and so long. The 60 and its ammo had weighed a little less on the way back from that op…
    Gene looked away from the no-contact green pin just in time to catch Brian grin at him and shake his head. He knew their point man had also been remembering Doc and the monkey bridge.
    “Okay,” Jim said, and took a deep breath, “let’s get on with it. Patrol Leader’s Order.”
    Gene straightened slightly in his chair and prepared to listen to the tactics he and Jim had worked out. Under the layers of bandoliered ammunition, he flexed his shoulder muscles and the patrol leader began.
    “
Situation:
As indicated in the Warning Order. Our target is an R&R Center for approximately ninety NVA officers who have been released from hospitals and are being…are getting ready to take command of enemy forces throughout the Mekong Delta.
    “
Enemy forces:
Intelligence reports there are a minimum of three companies of NVA, constantly on patrol around the NVA officers’ R&R Center.
    “
Weather:
Tonight should be overcast, possible chance of rain. Sunrise at 0530. Sunset at 2050. The tide will be going out during extraction. High tide at 0130.
    “
Terrain:
Basically a triple canopy, as indicated by the visual reconnaissance that took place earlier today. If by any chance the weather clears up, there’ll be very little light coming in due to the triple canopy.
    “
Identification of the enemy forces:
Not known, other than the fact that they’re NVA, who are used to protect the R&R Center.
    “
Enemy strength:
Seven hundred fifty to a thousand enemy forces.”
    Seven of us, Gene thought again. The hard grin flashed. Good odds.
    “They are not based at the R&R Center. They have company camps set up in different locations around its perimeter, ranging from five hundred to a thousand meters from the R&R Center.
    “
Friendly forces.”
Jim looked up. “There are no friendly forces.”
    There never were. Gene adjusted the position of the 60. Before they ever went into an area, they made sure no other operations were going down. When the SEALs operated off the Float, the area they went into became a free kill zone. Anybody they encountered was considered the enemy and therefore a target.
    “
Mission of the next higher unit,”
Jim continued. “Again, there are no other operations taking place in the AO.
    “
Location and planned action of units on the right and left: Again, there are no other operations within the AO.
    “
Fire support available for the patrol:
We have two Sea Wolves, which we’ll be using for air support, and they can be called upon for emergency extraction. We have two MSSC units.”
    The SEALs looked at the Sea Wolf and MSSC personnel, studying them, watching their expressions, making sure they understood, would be ready.
    “
Mission and routes of other patrols:
Not applicable. We are the only friendly forces within the Secret Zone.
    “
Attachments and detachments:
None, other than the Sea Wolves, who will remain on Seafloat up until the time they are called by radio to bear fire support, and our MSSC vehicles, which, after insertion, will be standing by on the Son Ku Lon river until the time the extraction is called for and/or