The Sierra Chronicles - Part 3

PRODIGY(R) Service Personal Message 01/14/96

From: AFWA58A To: AFWA58C

Subject: Sierra Chronicles-Part 3 Date: 11/04/9502:22 PM

SIERRA CHRONICLES-PART 3

Finding game to eat had not been easy in the base camp, but it was nearly impossible on the trail. Because we had a limited time to make the journey, we used almost every minute of daylight just slogging through the snow, up and down hills in the direction of our destination. We drank a lot of water, which we found took away the hunger feeling and left you "full" for a while. We also ate things like watercress and other edible plants and berries that we found.

Having that little bit of dried beef jerky still in your pocket helped a lot. It brought out the importance of finding enough food before your journey to carry you through to your pickup point. It was funny though. From day-one, the primary topic of conversation between any two or more people in the camp or on the trail was "FOOD!" We talked about all of our favorite restaurants, all of our favorite dishes, where we were going to go for dinner if we ever got out of those mountains! (Not surprisingly, when I interviewed returning POWs in Project Homecoming, I found that was their primary conversation piece as well!)

Well, after almost a week on the trail, we successfully found the pickup point. The closer we got to it, the more stealthy our approach. The story-line was that we were in enemy territory and avoiding capture all along the way from the time we left base camp. In the thick of the rugged mountains, it was not a worry. As we approached the pickup point, the story was that it was an area well-traveled by the "enemy". Our pickup was actually a big military truck and we had to wait for him to appear at exactly the designated time and give the designated signals. (In reality, this would have been a rescue helicopter gunship which would have darted in, probably following our emergency radio signal or smoke grenade or flare, landed briefly last long enough to haul us aboard, then lifted quickly to make it's getaway, guns blazing if necessary.) (The real stories of military helicopter rescue missions far exceed the imagination of any book writer. During the Vietnam war, rescue helicopter crews flew right into the suburbs of Hanoi, under extreme defensive fire, and hauled downed crewmembers to safety. We know better, but it was almost as if they knew no fear. In the midst of all that war and destruction, they were real lifesavers!

So to this point, our training had simulated bailout in rugged terrain, survival under difficult conditions, living off the land, and making our way across mountainous terrain to a "safe" pickup point. When we were all on board the truck, we were congratulated on our progress and told that the next stop was a simulated border crossing. This would simulate a situation where you bailed out in enemy territory, but close to the border, and tried to slip across the border to friendly territory. We knew it had been done before. None of us imagined how difficult that could be.

We were briefed on our location, just a mile short of the enemy border, and, told to avoid capture if at all possible. (But strong rules were also explained that we couldn't really "hurt" anybody. This was to be a VERY realistic "game" and it could be easy to forget that we were all on the same side.

Just at dusk, we were put on the ground a mile short of the border. In the distance, you could see tall guard towers with searchlights. As we crawled closer, you could see the miles of concertina wire (coiled barbed wire with razor-like barbs every few inches.) We had been briefed that there was a double fence, ten-feet tall, separated by about 100 yards of 6-foot deep ditches, concertina wire and mines. The wire and fences were all alarmed to notify guards whenever there was an attempt to breach the "border" .In addition to the guards on the towers, there were roving guards on both sides of the "border" . This was NOT going to be a good night. Besides, though we had all been told to do our very best to avoid capture, they told us that EVERYONE would then be thrown into the POW camp for POW training afterwards. It was a real nightmare!

* * Next time the border assault * *

Letter to follow. We love you!

John & Betty Mom & Dad

Grandmommy & Granddaddy

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