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Jeff Dodson

P. O. Box 2438

Novato, CA 94948 (USA)

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Jeff Dodson, P. O. Box 2438, Novato, CA 94948 (USA)

Email: jeffreypdodson@hotmail.com

All the blogs of JEFF DODSON: here.

MR LUCKY GOES TO WAR by Jeff Dodson

1. ALERT 2. FLIGHT 3. IN SAUDI NOW 4. WAREHOUSE 5. TENT CITY 6. TO THE DESERT 7. MECH BY GOD 8. FLOATING FLOTSAM 9. FLORA & FAUNA 10. WATER…WATER 11. MRE 12. THE CHOWLINE 13. THE TRASHPIT CATHEDRAL 14. NIGHT SHIT 15. THE PLASTIC WOODLINE 16. ROCK STADIUM 17. OMAR’S 18. HOW TO END WAR 19. STAY AWAKE MAN 20. A LIMBO NIRVANA 21. WEAPONS MAINTENANCE 22. PREPARING FOR THE STORM 23. MY DAY OFF 24. R & R 25. HAPPY THANKSGIVING MR PRESIDENT 26. OFFWHITE CHRISTMAS 27. HAPPY NEW YEAR 28. NO EASY GIG FOR GREEN MEN 29. IN HOLES 30. 15-HOUR RIDE TO IRAQ 31. THE COMBAT CLERK 32. REASSURANCE 33. E-TOOL SHIT 34. WHORE BATH 35. YES SIR 36. THE MISSION 37. GROUND WAR 38. SAPPERS RULE 39. ITCHY FINGERS 40. IRAQI PANCAKE 41. CEASE FIRE 42. GIMMEE 5 43. 2 STAR STAR 44. BYE-BYE IRAQ 45. AL KHOBAR APARTMENTS 46. CIB CEREMONY 47. MANIFEST 48. WELCOME HOME 49. SOS 50. MR LUCKY

MLGTW is…

MR LUCKY GOES TO WAR is my 50-poem chronicle of The First Gulf War (Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm). My intention was to write something that could be read in one sitting and give a hint of what it is like to go to war. I tried to get it published 15 years ago to no avail, so I’m publishing it here. It’s yours free, or donate to the TIP JAR. I’m also writing a sequel, PEACE CORPSE, about my time in the U. S. Peace Corps.

Background

Late summer, 1988, I was 28, living in Union City, NJ, failing as a freelance editorial illustrator, down to my last $1000, with outstanding college loans, and needing to escape…and it hit me. Join the army.

Foreground

I was an Infantryman in Headquarters Platoon, Charlie Company, 2-18th Infantry Battalion, 197th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) (Separate), Kelley Hill, Fort Benning, GA. Our brigade was attached to the 24th Infantry Division. When we returned to the U.S. our unit was redesignated as 3rd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division.

We served 7 months (from 01 SEP 1990 to 29 MAR 1991) in Saudi Arabia and Iraq during the First Gulf War. We were the first mechanized infantry unit to arrive and were there for the entirety of Operations Desert Shield/Storm. Our mission was to cut the main supply route between Baghdad and Kuwait and to be prepared to face the Iraqi Republican Guard in the event that they might opt to retreat toward Baghdad. We were near Basra when the cease fire was called.

Although my MOS (military occupational specialty) was Infantryman, I also had the additional duty of being the Operations Assistant/Training NCO (the company clerk). The Opns Asst/Trng NCO is a slot for an E6 (Staff Sergeant). I was a measly E4 (Specialist), but I had a Bachelor’s Degree so I couldn’t escape my destiny…Combat Clerk (what the heck?). I rode on and drove (part-time) the XO’s (Executive Officer) “track” (APC…M113 armored personnel carrier) along with attachments including a commo specialist, a combat medic, and a squad of combat engineers (sappers). A squad of mechanics and a Fire Support Team were also attached to our company. I was situated in the company TOC (tactical operations center) and was responsible for maintaining the link between company and battalion, and company and platoons. Even though my rank and position garnered little respect, it did provide a unique perspective.

After 3 years of service (10 NOV 1988 to 16 DEC 1991) in the U. S. Army, I was released from active duty with an honorable discharge.

Immediately following my discharge I moved to South Beach in Florida. I had saved $10,000 so I took the entire next year off. That is when and where I wrote MR LUCKY GOES TO WAR. I lived 2 blocks from the beach. Much of MLGTW was written on my hand with a ball-point pen while walking on the beach.

And…

for the record (here and here)…even I, with what little experience I had, knew before it started that this current Iraq War was a dumb idea.