Status Updates From Infantry Combat The Rifle P...

"When the larger force concentrates its combat power on a narrow front to break through enemy defenses, the air assault task force may bypass main defenses to destroy artillery positions, command posts, logistics and communications facilities and to secure key terrain in the enemy's rear" (263).

"No, we can't quit now. We have to find a way out of this before daylight. I have an idea...Mizogouchi, Cowper, and I will move forward to higher ground and try to establish radio contact. If we can reach someone on the radio, maybe we an get help" (255).

"It makes little difference how clearly the circumstances say that the fault was not one's own. The shock which comes of seeing one's own men...killed & of pondering one's own hand in the making of their fate leads almost inevitably to a mood of self-accusation & bitterness - the tokens of moral defeat. The more able & conscientious the commander, the more likely it becomes that he will react in this way" (246).

"No, the slaughter comes in the pursuit, Davis thought steeling his soul with determination. If we run now, they have us. If we fight, we can take some of these bastards with us. 'Stand fast. We're fighting here. Keep up the fire!' Davis shouted" (227).

"The greatest weakness of the BP Alamo position was that the defense was linear and placed the entire platoon within the range of all the attacker's weapons. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel once said, 'It is easy to break a line.' The disadvantage of a linear defense is that the enemy can mass superior combat power and break the defense an any single point" (217).

"'Don't move, Piper,' Davis shouted, almost out of breath. 'We must have stumbled into an enemy observation post. I'll get you out of here.' 'No, get the-' 'Hang on, Sergeant!' Davis exclaimed. Piper was only a few feet away. The short, sharp burst from the enemy sniper rifle was the last thing Davis heard before the enemy bullet entered the back of his neck. He lay facedown in the dirt and died" (202).

"'Negative. No one is going anywhere until we patrol the high ground on our flanks'...The lieutenant unfolded his map & beckoned for the platoon sergeant to bend down to see as he pointed out key terrain. 'Send Jordan's squad to check out the high ground on the south wall...Send Tyler's squad to check out the north wall. Get Mizogouchi to work on putting in Minefield M1'" (191).

"Security. Take away the enemy's reconnaissance & you are on the road to victory. Deny him the ability to see your preparations & you add to your ability to win. There are many ways to protect your platoon from surprise attack. Some ways are passive...others are active. The most critical active security measures are to conduct patrols against enemy observation posts 7 to establish your own observation posts" (186).

"Tyler, your mission is to establish and man two observation posts. Establish one on the north wall, on Hill 865. We'll call that one OPNorth. Establish the second OP on the south wall, high enough to see both the east and wet sides of Wadi Al Sirree. Attach your SAW gunners and the rest of your squad to Sergeant Piper" (175).

"Observation posts must be sited for maximum view of the surrounding area, for clear radio communications, and for defensibility" (162).

"'One-six, this is OP North. I've got infantry heading up into Trail 4.' Davis held his breath. A night infiltration followed by an early dawn attack by armor was the worst possible scenario. It now made sense. The enemy had launched an air assault to hold the north end of Wadi Al Sirree, the exit. He was now launching a dismounted attack to secure the entrance" (148).

"'1-6, this is OP North. I've got infantry heading up into Trail 4.' It was all beginning to make sense now, Davis realized. The enemy had launched an air assault to seize the north end of Wadi Al Sirree, the exit. Now he was conducting a night infiltration attack to secure the western entrance of the valley. The enemy might have tried to air assault right on BP Yankee if our surprise fire hadn't scared him" (134).

"One of the major reasons that Davis lost was that he failed to secure his position before he established his defense...platoons & squads use both active & passive measures to enhance security. Platoons...add to their security by actions taken to deny enemy reconnaissance elements accurate information on friendly positions. This includes the destruction of enemy reconnaissance elements & the use of deception" (127).

"All right, this is it. You all know the plan. Move to your ambush positions along each trail. I'll set up Position Yankee looking both ways. You stop them from the front. I'll back you up and block any attempt by their infantry to take us from the east. If you see a dismounted attack developing, call me ASAP, and I'll call for fires through Sergeant Mark. Any questions?" (109-10).

"'We don't intend to fight from these positions. I plan to defend in each of the four trails of the western entrance...We'll move to our actual ambush positions along each trail early tomorrow morning. If hey try to come this way, we'll block them in these narrow trails,' David explained, pointing to the west. 'Bold plan,' Sandburg replied...'By the way, good job on bagging that enemy OP yesterday'" (101).

"'The artillery fire you called must have scared them away,' Piper said...'That was a damn good move...I always wanted a lieutenant who could call for fire.' 'Thanks,,,but Sergeant Mark deserves the credit.' 'Yeah, well, I'll bet you a month's pay that what we fired at last night was an enemy reconnaissance patrol, aiming to check us out. I doubt that they saw any of the positions we'll occupy tomorrow'" (95).

"In offensive & defensive tactical actions, commanders fight the enemy throughout the depth of his disposition with fires & with attacks on his flanks & rear. They attack committed & uncommitted forces & synchronize the attack of enemy artillery in depth with close operations. Such in-depth operations degrade the enemy's freedom of action, reduce his flexibility & endurance, & upset his plans & coordination" (82).

"The point of our defense is to maximize surprise & offensive action to stop the enemy in the trails. We'll place most of our obstacles in the south to help drive him north into the narrowest trails. Once the enemy arrives at the tank ditch, he'll either try to cross it or go north... As he enters the trails, I expect you to destroy the lead vehicle in each trail" (64).

"Piper hadn't taken the time to look at his position from the enemy's perspective. The shallow holes that the platoon was digging on the rise seemed awfully open and very obvious. the dark dirt and the black rocks piled in front of the holes clearly identified each fighting position. It was instantly apparent that the platoon would be fully within the range of he enemy's supporting fires" (45-46).

"Davis quickly saw that there were three ways to defend the valley: forward of the trails, behind the trials, or in the trails...A forward defense was the simplest option...Davis's second option was a reverse-slope defense...[It] would deny the platoon clear observation of the enemy...but it would provide better protection...third option was to block the enemy in each of the four trails that led into Wadi Al Sirree.

"'...I'm out all on my own, defending a position four klicks away from the rest of the company, and I hardly know my platoon. How can I complain?' Davis said with a laugh'" (35).

"In war one should never wait to get the best possible plan. On account of the scarcity of reliable information, the best plan is unobtainable. The most important thing is to have one plan and to adhere strictly to it, so far as possible...There is some truth in the old rule that, in war the simplest plan is the best" (18).

"A light infantry brigade...was given the mission to defend the critical sector that blocked the major axis of the aggressor's line of attack. The light infantry was ordered to dig in & be prepared to fight an uneven battle against an enemy with superior numbers. The stark truth of this situation is now crystal clear to the riflemen of Second Lieutenant Davis's 1st Platoon" (7).

Really dense. And you need dice and time and space to get everything out of it that you can.