The Great Seam Ripper Raid of Hinesville
The day was bright and sunny, and there was a smell of DEET in the air. A Soldier stood 15 feet to either side of me awaiting a compass heading and orders. I took a sip from my Camelback and peered into the palmetto and scrub in front of me. Watch out for timber rattlers, wild hogs, and 4 inch spiders. When the order came, we started into the South Georgia swamp on a search and rescue mission.
We found the first victim after about 15 minutes. He was suffering from hypothermia, altered mental status, and exposure. We treated and evacuated him from the swamp, but not before he told us that he was afraid his buddy had fallen into a ditch. We pressed on, coming finally to a tank trail. We walked about a half-mile when we came upon the other team, who had located the second man in a ravine. Their medic was down there with the man, who had apparent spinal injuries. I left my pack with my team, grabbed my aid bag and proceded down the trail to a point where I could safely get into the ravine as well. I began to radio patient status reports back to the Incident Commander. Reality set in...We have a large, medically compromised victim lying by a creek in the bottom of a ravine in a swamp, and we have to get him up and out. "Anybody know anything about a SKED?" I did, so I passed the radio to another medic, and climbed back into the ravine to set it up. My former WSAR School commandant threw me a rope and told me what he wanted tied in and how he wanted it laced on the SKED. In a few minutes we had the victim secured in the SKED and were ready to get him out. I took one of the anchor ropes and held fast as the men hoisted him out. As I looked up out of the muddy ravine I spotted the General watching from above, and he gave me a smile.
I felt pretty good about this Annual Training so far. It had been a good day at Fort Stewart. We had found and rescued both victims and were packed on busses heading back for chow. Afterward there was an orientation meeting for all OCS candidates, so I jumped in the truck with two men from WSAR school, and off we went.
"ON YOUR FEET!!! TAKE A SEAT!!! ON YOUR FEET!!! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR EYEBALLS, CANDIDATE????"
Oh my goodness! What have I gotten myself into? And I have to be screamed at like this until June????? We were given bright, shiny OCS brass to wear, and temporarily told to put it over our current rank insignia. We were also instructed to procure a blank patch for that spot on which to pin the OCS by the next day. We were dismissed about 2045. Great. I knew for a fact that Clothing Sales closed at 1800. What about Ranger Joe's off post??? Could we be lucky enough to find them still open??? Back into Sandy's truck we went...only to find that they were closed as well. What are we going to do??? Jonathan said that he should just try to pick out the stitches in the old patch. That's an idea!!! Off to WalMart we go! We bought three seam rippers and piled back in the truck. Now everything was funny. The three of us smelled like swamp and sweat and bugspray. We were dirty, a little unnerved by the meeting, and just plain goofy. Jonathan was trying to pick stitches out using a map light, while trying not to tear the cloth or puncture himself. I don't know when I have laughed so hard! Some of our buddies were at the bowling alley or clubs off post, spending money on alcohol in order to have a good time. We were laughing like hyenas because of a couple of $1 seam rippers! We parted company and went off to work on our patches. I'm sorry to report that they were successful and I was not. The women in the barracks turned off the lights and I was stuck trying to pick out threads that did not want to go using only a flashlight. Luckily I had permission to leave early that morning to attend the promotion ceremony of an Officer I respect very much.
COL Britt received her star today, becoming the first female Brigadier General in the Georgia Guard's 275 year history - and it was a very well-deserved promotion. She was glad to see me there, and I was honored to be there as well. Barry seemed to take great pride in telling everyone in Creation that I was now an OCS candidate. (Gee Honey, why don't you just paint a big target on me?) I have so much to learn, and I am scared to death! I have never really considered myself a leader, and hope I can make it through OCS. A lot of folks have put their faith in me and I don't want to let them down. I don't want to let Barry down either. Pray for this poor little Candidate come January 11!!!
We found the first victim after about 15 minutes. He was suffering from hypothermia, altered mental status, and exposure. We treated and evacuated him from the swamp, but not before he told us that he was afraid his buddy had fallen into a ditch. We pressed on, coming finally to a tank trail. We walked about a half-mile when we came upon the other team, who had located the second man in a ravine. Their medic was down there with the man, who had apparent spinal injuries. I left my pack with my team, grabbed my aid bag and proceded down the trail to a point where I could safely get into the ravine as well. I began to radio patient status reports back to the Incident Commander. Reality set in...We have a large, medically compromised victim lying by a creek in the bottom of a ravine in a swamp, and we have to get him up and out. "Anybody know anything about a SKED?" I did, so I passed the radio to another medic, and climbed back into the ravine to set it up. My former WSAR School commandant threw me a rope and told me what he wanted tied in and how he wanted it laced on the SKED. In a few minutes we had the victim secured in the SKED and were ready to get him out. I took one of the anchor ropes and held fast as the men hoisted him out. As I looked up out of the muddy ravine I spotted the General watching from above, and he gave me a smile.
I felt pretty good about this Annual Training so far. It had been a good day at Fort Stewart. We had found and rescued both victims and were packed on busses heading back for chow. Afterward there was an orientation meeting for all OCS candidates, so I jumped in the truck with two men from WSAR school, and off we went.
"ON YOUR FEET!!! TAKE A SEAT!!! ON YOUR FEET!!! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR EYEBALLS, CANDIDATE????"
Oh my goodness! What have I gotten myself into? And I have to be screamed at like this until June????? We were given bright, shiny OCS brass to wear, and temporarily told to put it over our current rank insignia. We were also instructed to procure a blank patch for that spot on which to pin the OCS by the next day. We were dismissed about 2045. Great. I knew for a fact that Clothing Sales closed at 1800. What about Ranger Joe's off post??? Could we be lucky enough to find them still open??? Back into Sandy's truck we went...only to find that they were closed as well. What are we going to do??? Jonathan said that he should just try to pick out the stitches in the old patch. That's an idea!!! Off to WalMart we go! We bought three seam rippers and piled back in the truck. Now everything was funny. The three of us smelled like swamp and sweat and bugspray. We were dirty, a little unnerved by the meeting, and just plain goofy. Jonathan was trying to pick stitches out using a map light, while trying not to tear the cloth or puncture himself. I don't know when I have laughed so hard! Some of our buddies were at the bowling alley or clubs off post, spending money on alcohol in order to have a good time. We were laughing like hyenas because of a couple of $1 seam rippers! We parted company and went off to work on our patches. I'm sorry to report that they were successful and I was not. The women in the barracks turned off the lights and I was stuck trying to pick out threads that did not want to go using only a flashlight. Luckily I had permission to leave early that morning to attend the promotion ceremony of an Officer I respect very much.
COL Britt received her star today, becoming the first female Brigadier General in the Georgia Guard's 275 year history - and it was a very well-deserved promotion. She was glad to see me there, and I was honored to be there as well. Barry seemed to take great pride in telling everyone in Creation that I was now an OCS candidate. (Gee Honey, why don't you just paint a big target on me?) I have so much to learn, and I am scared to death! I have never really considered myself a leader, and hope I can make it through OCS. A lot of folks have put their faith in me and I don't want to let them down. I don't want to let Barry down either. Pray for this poor little Candidate come January 11!!!
posted by Jennifer at 10:28 PM
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