mr lucky goes to WAR

by Jeff Dodson

I was an infantryman.

MR LUCKY GOES TO WAR is my chronicle of Operations Desert Shield / Desert Storm (the first Gulf War). 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 wrote it in 1992.

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

My unit was Headquarters Platoon, Charlie Company, 2-18th Infantry Battalion, 197th Infantry Brigade, Mechanized, Separate (C-Co, 2-18 In Bn, 197 Inf Bde, Ft Benning, GA, (M) (S), attached to 24th Infantry Division, redesignated 3rd Inf Bde, 24 ID, the first mechanized infantry unit to arrive and there for the entirety of OPNS Desert Shield / Desert Storm, 01SEP1990 to 29MAR1991, Saudi Arabia & Iraq. Our mission was to cut the main supply route between Baghdad and Kuwait and to face any retreating Iraqi Republican Guard. When the cease fire was called we were near Basra, Iraq.

I had the additional duty of being the Opns Asst / Training NCO, a slot for an E6 (Staff Sergeant) – I was a measly E4 (Specialist), but with a college degree, I couldn’t escape my destiny…Combat Clerk.

My unit maneuvered via “tracks” (M113 armored personnel carriers).  I was part of the XO’s (Executive Officer) “track” which included the XO (track commander), the driver, a communications specialist, a combat medic, and a team of combat engineers (sappers). Though my position (and rank) garnered little respect and no admiration, it did provide a unique perspective.

I ended my 3-year term of service with an honorable discharge.

Immediately following my discharge I moved to South Beach in Miami, Florida. I had saved $10,000 so I took the entire next year off. I walked the beach at least 3 hours a day – much of MLGTW was written on my hand with a ball-point pen while walking on the beach.

Two years later I joined the Peace Corps.