Location: North of the Sieradz-Kalisz Road
Time:0730 18 July 2000
The first rounds did little real damage to Captain Cappanetti well organized supply dump. The rounds did, however
turn the once organized supply dump into a chaotic scene of panic. The following rounds are what caused the true
death and destruction as incoming rounds hit stockpiles of ammunition and fuel. These secondary explosions gave
Captain (CPT) Cappanetti just a little more encouragement than he really needed. "I'm too old for this crap"
he muttered as he threw the last few boxes of ammo on his truck. Now that the truck was loaded, it was time to
get out while he still could. As he moved towards the cab of the truck, he noticed a soldier taking cover in a
nearby crater. "GET IN THE TRUCK!!" he yelled over the roar of the explosions. The soldier looked at
him, nodded, grabbed the duffle bag that was nearby and ran for the truck. "I'LL DRIVE" he yelled as
he threw his duffle in the back of the truck. The soldier jumped up in the cab and slammed the truck into gear
before CPT Cappanetti even sat down.
"TIME TO GET THE HELL OUTTA DODGE!" exclaimed the soldier as he weaved his way around craters and burning
vehicles. The soldier then looked over and said "by the way, I'm Staff Sergeant (SSG) Martinez, and you are?"
CPT Cappanetti replied "Captain Cappanetti, Quartermaster Corps." SSG Martinez then remarked, "so
that's how you got this truck and all the stuff in back."
After about 4 klicks (kilometers), CPT Cappanetti notices that they have left the immediate area of the battle,
and finds a good place to stop and decide what to do next. SSG Martinez says "roger, sir." then dismounts
the truck and pulls security with his M16, facing the direction they came.
"SIR! MOVEMENT AT 2 O'CLOCK!!! LOOKS LIKE ONE OF OURS!" says SSG Martinez rather excitedly.
"MAJOR! Deuce and a Half at 8 o'clock!" exclaims SSG Cutter from the behind the 60 of the humvee. "Roger
that. Any sign of movement?" asks the major. "Negative Sir" is the quick and short response of SSG
Cutter. "I'm going to move us in to check it out, so keep it covered." says the major. "Roger that."
replies SSG Cutter.
"Sir! It looks like a humvee with a 60, and it's pulling a still!" calls out SSG Martinez. "Don't
show yourself yet...the gunner might be scared and get trigger happy" says CPT Cappanetti as he loads a grenade
into his M203 grenade launcher. "Can never be TOO careful" he thinks to himself.
About 150 meters out, the humvee stops and the driver gets out, crouching as he exits, using the humvee as cover.
The driver keeps low as he approaches, sweeping wide around the Deuce and a half, looking for danger. About 50
meters from the truck, he hears the metallic click of a weapon being taken off safe.
"HALT!" "WHO GOES THERE?" comes the challenge. The Major replies "friendlies from 3-10
Infantry." "He's a friendly" says CPT Cappanetti recognizing the Major as from being part of the
headquarters of the 3-10 Infantry.
The Major and CPT Cappanetti quickly decide to link up...a Deuce and a half is too easy a target, especially with
only 2 people.
Suddenly, SSG Cutter exclaims "INFANTRY! 1 O'CLOCK! RANGE 125 METERS!" "I SEE 3 WITH RIFLES AND
SUBMACHINE GUNS! AND THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE OURS!"