[b][u]Lucius D. Clay Kaserne
Garlstedt, Germany[/u][/b]

[b][i]Four days earlier...[/i][/b]
"Monday I want everyone in the motor pool. We need to make sure the tracks are at a hundred percent. We are participating in Operation Able Archer in two weeks," Captain Stewart addressed the assembled group including the company executive officer, first sergeant, platoon leaders, and platoon sergeants in his office on a Friday afternoon. B Company, was one of four line companies in 3rd Battalion 41st Infantry (Mechanized) in the 2nd Armor Division (Forward) or 3rd Brigade assigned to the Kaserne in Northern Germany. The Brigade was planning to travel to their General Deployment Position (GDP) and fight a BLUFOR - OPFOR battle with some of the other NATO units in Northern Germany. 

"As you all know, we will initially act as OPFOR for the Dutch 41st Armor Brigade, a Bundeswehr Panzergrenadier Brigade and a British Armor Brigade. Then three weeks into the rotation, we move to BLUFOR and the Germans assume the role of OPFOR. I want all our equipment squared away. Use this time to take care of business." OPFOR is the acronym used for Opposing Forces and BLUFOR represents Friendly forces. Often times, units act as OPFOR for one another during Force on Force training in order to provide realism to the training. The units plan to use the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) in order to determine hits and misses during training. MILES works two-fold; first, each soldier wears a harness with several receptacles on the torso and helmet and each vehicle mounts side straps with receptacles attached. An onboard computer determines what type of weapon fires at it and informs the crew if their vehicle is disabled. There is a yellow light attached to the top of the vehicle which flashes if the vehicle is disabled or destroyed. The crew, if they perish, remains with the vehicle until an Observer/Controller (O/C) has cleared them to move back toward friendly lines. The other aspect of MILES, is a laser transmitter is attached to the barrel or muzzle of a weapon system and transmits a laser beam every time a high intensity noise passes it. The loud noise is generated by blank cartridge for rifles and machine guns and a special Hoffman tank gunfire simulator for tank main guns. Blank cartridges and Hoffman simulators create the sound emitted by the weapon system and trigger the laser for the MILES transmitter. The Observer/Controllers are either battalion or brigade primary and special staff officers and NCOs.

Captain Stewart went on to discuss Non-Commissioned Officer Evaluation Reports (NCO-ERs) that were due to Battalion as soon as possible (ASAP) and briefly touched on a planned training meeting coming up next week to discuss the next training cycle. When the meeting was over, the assembled officers and NCOs, stood, rendered a hand salute to the "Old Man" and left the room.

"First Sergeant?" Captain Stewart called to his Company First Sergeant. At 29 years old, Captain Stewart was referred to as the [i]Old Man[/i] an American expression for a unit commander dating back to the 18th or 19th century. The US Army is steeped in tradition.

"Yes, sir," First Sergeant Marsh clicked his heels, simulating coming to the position of attention. Something he did not have to do, but did anyway. At 35 years old, First Sergeant Marsh was the oldest man in the Company, the senior NCO, who actually ran the company. The Old Man simply got the credit for everything his NCO corps did and the blame for what they failed to do.

"First Sergeant, have you spoken with Sergeant Carlson yet?"

"Sir, I intend to speak to him in the next thirty minutes," the first sergeant responded. They were talking about an NCO who they recently discovered, received a positive report on a recent random Urinalysis test. The US Army implemented a random drug search and urinalysis system to help stop the drug problem plaguing many of the American Army units stationed in Germany in 1983. Drug sniffing dogs, guided by Military Police Officers conducted random searches of the soldiers' barracks while they slept. The dogs sniffed wall lockers, looking for drugs and the Drug Control Officer, first lieutenant Cole would administer a urinalysis test at random times throughout the year. Sergeant Carlson received a positive result. The problem with this, the Army's policy on an NCO receiving a positive report meant he was automatically separated from service and would receive a less than honorable discharge, which could be upgraded to Honorable six months after discharge if the soldier wished to do so. For lower enlisted soldiers, they were counseled, received an Article 15 and given time to rehabilitate themselves. An Article 15 is a non-judicial punishment including the loss of one month's pay and loss of one pay grade. If a soldier failed an additional urinalysis, they would then be separated from the Army.

"Thanks, top. Keep me informed," The CO stated and then the first sergeant went to his office.

[i]Three Days Later...[/i]
"Did you hit all those lube points?" Staff Sergeant Beaudoin asked, referring to the lubrication points on the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier the soldiers of his Section would need to push grease into with a grease gun.

"Yes, Staff Sergeant," Specialist Mark Rose of Biloxi, Mississippi answered. "We was going to break some track and replaced those worn pads."

"OK, Rose. Why don't you let those other fud puckers do that, you come with me." Specialist Rose fell in with Staff Sergeant Beaudoin and headed off to speak with the Lieutenant.

After they left, Private First Class Antoin Thomas of Baltimore, Maryland asked the other soldiers of his team, "Did you hear what happened to Sergeant Carlson?"

"No man, what that niggah do now?" Private Felton, an African American from Atlanta, Georgia asked.

"He popped hot on a piss test. He's gone, bro."

"Straight up?"

"Word."

"Shit. That's some fucked up shit, man."

"You tellin' me." The two African American soldiers along with the other three soldiers worked on replacing track pads on their M113, bumper # B-13. They were member of Staff Sergeant Robert Beaudoin's 1st Team, 2nd Section.

[i]Meanwhile,[/i]
"Specialist Rose, you are going to be TC on the Lieutenant's fifty when he dismounts." The section sergeant referred to the position of Track Commander and the fifty caliber machine gun mounted on the track.

"What happened to Sergeant Carlson?"

"Consider him ETS'd," the section sergeant responded.

"I hear he popped hot on a piss test."

The Staff Sergeant looked at Specialist Rose with a smile, "See, you're smarter than you look, Corporal."

Mark Rose didn't pick up on the word, [i]Corporal[/i] right away and asked, "Why did the Lieutenant pick me?"

"Three reasons, you keep your nose clean, you just re-enlisted for another three years and he trusts you," Staff Sergeant Beaudoin told it straight to the 21-year old infantryman. 

"Wait, Corporal!?" Mark Rose finally picked up on the section sergeant calling him by the new rank.

[center][b]Contact, Action Right![/b][/center]

[center][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/z3a7SEd.jpg[/IMG][/center]

The first indication something was afoot was the number of combat aircraft taking to the skies over East Germany and Czechoslovakia shortly after 0130 hours. 7th Army Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany received the report at 0136 which was logged immediately. The American 7th Army Commander was notified along with his staff. The Battle Captain in the 7th Army Operations Center contacted VII Corps, V Corps and 2nd Armor Division (Forward) at Garlstedt, Germany by landline (telephone) of the alert. This was no drill. Each of the Corps Commands would notify their divisions and the Division Operations Centers would notify their Brigades and on down the Chain of Command.

Captain Stewart received a phone call from LTC Mason to put his company on alert. He grabbed his call list and started calling platoon leaders, Charge of Quarters at the barracks and the First Sergeant. By 0220 hours, everyone in the chain of command was notified. For the soldiers of B Company 3rd Battalion 41st IN (M), SSG Garrison was on CQ duty. He would knock and open each door in the barracks and yell, "Lariat Advance! Lariat Advance!" This warning alerted all soldiers of the company that they were to wake up, get dressed, grab their ruck sacks and duffel bags and head to the Motor park. The ruck sack would go on their tracked vehicle with them while the duffels would be stacked on the company deuce and half.

The order had been issued, the Soviets and their East German lackies were coming across the one K zone. Everyone was to move to their General Deployment Positions. All personal possessions not going to the front were locked in a footlocker to be shipped home at the earliest convenience. Spouses and all non-essential personnel were cleared out of the housing area and sent back to the United States of America. The day we all have been waiting for, finally arrived. the US and the USSR were at war.

[center][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1BaQTEi.jpg[/IMG][/center]

By 0900, the 3rd Battalion was in its GDP awaiting instructions. By 1000 hours, B Company was ordered to report to the Battalion Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 66th Armor, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Funari. By 1400 hours, Captain Stewart was instructed to give up his 3rd Platoon and by 1430 hours, 2nd Lieutenant Frances Leahy of Worcester, Massachusetts reported to Captain Tom Stewart of Boston. Lieutenant Leahy brought four M60A3 Main Battle Tanks with him. Captain Stewart gave the 22-year old lieutenant a place on the line to cover. The S2 said it would be still another 60 - 70 hours or more before the East Germans reached their positions north of Lauenburg on the north edge of the Elbe River. By 1600 hours, Staff Sergeant Ray Nolan, 3rd Squad Leader, 3rd Platoon, D Company, 17th Engineers reported for duty. He would begin working on an obstacle plan as soon as possible. By 1730 hours, 1st Lieutenant Greg Butanowicz, Fire Support Officer for the newly formed Team Bravo, 3-41 IN (M) was ready for action. The Battalion staff for the 2-66 AR would be ready to issue their Operations Order at 1800 hours. Captain Stewart would attend with first Lieutenant Joel Cole (XO), Lieutenant Butanowicz (FSO), SSG Nolan (ENG) and First Sergeant Marsh (Co 1SG).

It was almost 2100 hours when the meeting was over and LTC Funari had a solid plan for the Battalion Task Force which included three companies of Armor, one company of mech infantry, a 4.2" mortar platoon and its inherent Scout Platoon. C Company, 2-66 AR had been detached to 3-41 IN (M). Team Alpha would be main effort with three platoons of Armor, one platoon of Mech Infantry (3/B/3-41 IN), FIST and a squad of Engineers. Team Tank consisted of two platoons of B Company, 2-66 AR and one platoon of M901 Improved Tow Vehicles from 3-41 IN (M), D Company (-) consisted of two platoons of Armor with no attachments. The Mortar Platoon, Scout platoon and 3rd platoon, D Company would be retained under Battalion Task Force Control.

During the ride back to Team Bravo's GDP, Captain Stewart came up with a tentative plan based on the operations order. He issued a Warning Order and Fragmentation Order immediately upon arrival at the Company Command Post (CP) and by 2300 hours, Team Bravo was moving to their assigned Battle Position. During the trip there, Captain Stewart worked on the Operations Order in the back of the M113 while Corporal Rose manned the .50 caliber Machine Gun in the TC's seat.

By zero dark thirty, the Company Team arrived at their Battle Position north of Lauenburg. Captain Stewart began assigning sectors to the platoons instructing them not to dig in yet. Once the company was in position, the three Platoon leaders, three Platoon sergeants, FSO, Engineer squad leader, supply sergeant, XO and Company First Sergeant all met at the rear of the Commander's track to listen to his hastily thrown together Operations Order. The Company Team would begin digging in at 0300 hours, 24 hours after the alert had gone out. Even in a Lightning strike, it takes time for all the components to move into place. Besides the East Germans moving across the 1K zone were currently tied up with The 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers were keeping the East Germans busy in five squadron formations composed of Chieftain FV4201 Main Battle Tanks and FV432 Armoured Personnel Carriers which were supported by RAF Hawks and Harriers as well as West German F-104 Starfighters and F4 Phantoms and of course American F16s and A-10s which would provide Close Air Support and Air Interdiction missions along their route of advance with American, German and British Interceptors flying Air Control Missions over the Area of Operations (AO).

[b]North of Lauenburg along the Kanal, 0545 Hours 13 Nov 83[/b]
[i]Stand To[/i]
Team Bravo established a battle position overlooking the north south canal leading north from the Elba River. The rest of 3rd Brigade or 2nd Armor Division (Forward) deployed to their right and left from the Elbe River to Mölln in the north. Captain Stewart placed his tanks on the high ground overlooking the canal. They would be able to fire down on any crossing point the enemy chose to make. 1st Platoon dismounted and occupied defensive fighting positions near the southern bridge at Lanzer See in order to prevent the enemy from crossing the bridge. 2nd Platoon defended the Route 5 Bridge leading into Lauenburg from the east. A Company occupied the city of Lauenburg and D Company defended to the north of Lanzer See.

The Battalion Scout Platoon would conduct reconnaissance and surveillance of the region on the east side of the canal and assist the British Recce squadron in conducting its passage of friendly lines. The Battalion Scouts would cross with the British Recce and occupy one of the three Battle Positions on order. The Battalion Commander with the Tactical Operations Center (TAC) would occupy the battle position with Team Bravo's tanks in the center in order to best observe the enemy's crossing of the canal. The Battalion's Tactical Operation Center (TOC) would occupy a position inside the town of Bergedorf. The Combat Trains contained the battalion's Medical Evacuation Section, four ambulances, four Vehicles, Tracked Recovery (VTR), four Maintenance Contact Teams and the Administration and Logistics Operations Center - Forward (ALOC - Fwd). The Combat Trains was located on the western edge of Lauenburg. The Field trains consisting of the battalion's mess section, supply sergeants, Maintenance platoon and POL sections was located about 30 kilometers to the west in the southeast edge of Hamburg near an old airfield. This is the site of the Brigade Support Area (BSA) which contained all the logistics support for 3rd Brigade, 2nd Armor Division (Forward).

By the time the East German Combat Reconnaissance Patrol neared the Elbe River and the north south canal, the Battalion Task Force was dug in and conducting routine Recon and Security patrols across the canal. The patrols consisted of platoon-sized elements of mechanized infantry and armor. At night, the infantry conducted squad sized dismounted patrols consisting of 8 - 12 soldiers per patrol.