The following was related to me second-hand. It comes, however, from someone who I trust \u2013 and who claims to have heard it personally from one of the US soldiers involved.\u00a0 I believe it to be true, but cannot swear to that as fact.<\/p>\n
But if it\u2019s not true . . . it should be. (smile)<\/p>\n
I am not an aviator, so I apologize any minor procedural or equipment-related errors in the account which follows.<\/p>\n
. . .<\/p>\n
Friendly Activity at Time of Incident:\u00a0 routine air recon patrol vic Kuwait-Iraq border during DESERT SHIELD<\/p>\n
SALUTE Report<\/p>\n
Size:\u00a0 one (1) enemy soldier, one (1) other<\/p>\n
Activity (Enemy):\u00a0\u00a0 well, that\u2019s kinda . . . complicated. See below.<\/p>\n
Location:\u00a0\u00a0 vic Saudi-Kuwaiti border<\/p>\n
Unit:\u00a0 unknown<\/p>\n
Time:\u00a0 sometime during hours of darkness<\/p>\n
Equipment (enemy):\u00a0 mil uniform, some personal gear<\/p>\n
As for “enemy activity” . . . well, the incident was, as noted above, observed during a routine recon patrol by the crew of a US Army helicopter.\u00a0 The cockpit conversation – presumably over the aircraft’s intercom system – probably went something like this (the names \u201cBill\u201d and \u201cJack\u201d used below are intentionally fictitious):<\/p>\n
COPILOT: \u201cWhat the . . . damn. Bill, check this out. You ain\u2019t gonna believe this sh!t.\u201d<\/p>\n
PILOT: \u201cWhat, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n
COPILOT: \u201cCheck out the enemy troop over there.\u201d<\/p>\n
PILOT: \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
COPILOT: \u201cApprox 11 o\u2019clock, top of the second line of dunes.\u201d<\/p>\n
PILOT: \u201cRoger . . . . OK, got it.\u00a0 Wait, what the . . . oh, Jesus H. Christ!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The two had observed an Iraqi soldier who was outside the enemy’s perimeter. The Iraqi soldier apparently was unaware he was being observed.<\/p>\n But the guy they observed probably wasn’t on sentry or patrol duty – because the guy also wasn\u2019t alone. Let\u2019s just say the Iraqi soldier they observed using their NVG was at the time thoroughly enjoying himself with some (apparently) female company.<\/p>\n Problem was, that female company was from the species ovis aries<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n To the pilot and copilot\u2019s credit, they did manage to control their laughter (and\/or revulsion) well enough to keep from crashing. The remainder of the mission was reportedly uneventful, and they returned to base at end of mission.<\/p>\n No word on whether the Iraqi soldier and his \u201cfriend\u201d did likewise. (smile)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"