Location:5 km West of Base Camp
Time: 0440 20 July 2000
<SGM Brantley (Viper 1) calls back "We obviously want to salvage the vehicle. If I dismount and get close
enough, I can take out the crew, and then we have ourselves a new duece...no holes in it hopefully. I just need
someone to watch my back.">
Rattler 1 (CPT Cappanetti) keys the mike and says "You've got a co-pilot, son. That what he's for. We don't
have time to be dickin' around gettin' the best swinger for the job on hand... Just do it. Here's the plan: ground
your wheels and get 'em outta sight. I want the Cobras keepin' an eye out for company from their way. Rattlers
will standby as reserve to support in either direction as necessary. Vipers, do 'em the kindness."
Viper 1 calls back "roger that Rattler 1"
The vehicles are pulled off the the side of the road into concealed positions. SGM Martinez and CPT Wolfe cover
the western approach with the M60.
Brantley brings his humvee to a position about 100 east of the Big Bertha (CPT Cappanetti's duece). SSG Martinez
takes the gunner's position. SGM Brantley and SSG Cutter check their weapons and move out towards the truck. (The
target is about 1300 meters from Big Bertha).
SGM Brantley gets eyes on the target duece about 200 meters out. He sees 1 individual in the truck, wearing a Warsaw
Pact style helmet. At about a 150 meters, Cutter makes out a red star on the door of the truck. Cutter covers Brantley
as he manuevers for a clean shot. Brantley takes aim as soon as he has a clean shot (about 80 meters out). The
single shot takes the soldier just below the helmet. Cutter grins and says "somebody is going to have to clean
off the front seat of the truck, and it ain't gonna be me." Cutter and Brantley advance on the truck watching
for more unfriendlies...just to be safe. As Brantley and Cutter circle the truck, a soldier bolts from the bed
of the truck. Brantley snaps a shot at him, unfortunately hitting a tree. Cutter takes off after the runner, but
loses him in the thick brush.
Over the radio everyone hears "This is Rattler 2 (SSG Martinez), I hear an unknown vehicle coming hard down
the road, it'll be here within a minute!"