This morning found us running late (can't imagine why). We hurriedly got cleaned up and beat feet to Mainside and the 1st Marine Division Headquarters. The ceremony was in progress and we had missed half of the rededication of the colors and awards of the 1st Division. The ceremony was impressive. Young Marines dressed in the uniforms of all eras since the founding of the Corps were parading up individually, placing an award streamer on the colors and lining up in the chronological order depicted by their uniform. Those who had earned the Medal of Honor were introduced, the colors posted. The ceremony was concluded and refreshments were served.

Our next stop was Camp Margarita, Area 33. There, we were served lunch and shown an exhibit of the weapons and vehicles of the 1st Force Recon Battalion.

After lunch, we boarded busses bound for the Cone Hill range for a demonstration of Marine Corps supporting fire and small unit suppressing fire. The event started with a series of artillery rounds fired over the reviewing stand (which got the adreniline flowing in the veins of a few of the combat vets). This was followed by a flyover by a pair of Cobra gunships fireing missiles down range on their first pass and their cannons on the second. They exited the range by flying past the bleachers at an altitude of about 75 feet. This was followed by the firing of a TOW missle at the tank targets on the range. Both missles scored direct hits. We witnessed the firing of a mine field breaching charge which is able to clear a path a 100 meters long using C-4 explosives. Following this, an LAV (light armored vehicle) moved forward to fire its 25mm cannon. Unfortunately the cannon was unable to fire, and withdrew from the firing range. As the LAV withdrew, an M-1 Abrams tank began a fire and maneuver demonstration on the field to our left. Now this was impressive!! The tank fired several rounds on the tank targets while on the move and simultaneously laying down suppressing fire on the infantry targets located at a slightly different area on the range. A smoke screen was being generated by the tank at the same time, to create battlefield low visibility conditions. The tank then withdrew through its screen of smoke. Finally a rifle squad reinforced with two 240 Golf medium machine guns and two 60mm mortar tubes exited their assault vehicle, ran to the front of the bleachers and began to firing down range to engage a simulated enemy force. This was an excellent demonstration of squad strength firepower and a good lesson in how things can and do go wrong on the field of battle. The 60mm mortar on the right failed to fire when the mortar round was dropped into the tube. This emergency and potentially hazardous situation was handled very well by the gun crew. Their ammunition was transferred to the other tube so it could maintain the rate of fire and the unfired round was carefully removed from the tube by the gunner. This involved catching the unfired round as the tube was tipped up just enough for the round to slide toward its muzzle. Not a comfortable activity, since the mortar round could fire itself at any time during the procedure. The mortar was cleared without further incident and this concluded the live fire demonstration to the exuberant applause of the crowd.

The next activity was a tour of the combat vehicles lined up for display. The members of the audience were also invited to line up and fire the pistols (M-92), rifles (M-16), machine guns (240G) and squad automatic weapons (SAW). My choices were the SAW and the 240G. It was like riding a bike. After 32 years you never lose the knack for bringing the guns on target. It felt great!!

Our next event was to be field mess hosted by the 11th Marine Regiment (Artillery). A description of this event will follow the pictures below.

We thought the live fire exercise was exciting, but it didn't hold a candle to the feed that the 11th Marines put on in the evening. The mess hall decor was field camoflauge. The table cloths were poncho liners, the place mats were empty sand bags (unused of course) and camouflage netting was hung from the ceiling and walls, giving the impression of a meal under a forest canopy. The entertainment was superb and their performance was excellent. I am speaking of a ragtime ensemble from the 1st Marine Division Band. Their music and antics spanned the generations and provided a great deal of laughter and merriment for all present.

The meal itself was served out of field service insulated containers and was deposited on good ol' segmented steel mess trays. This consisted of salad, beef or chicken, rice or potatoes with gravy, hot rolls and butter, assorted vegetables, cake for dessert, and your choice of coffee or punch as a beverage (if you weren't drinking beer, of course).

The meal concluded with a tribute to the veterans present and an invitation to return to the field mess next year. We were bussed back to Camp Margarita where we had parked our personal vehicles. The Kilo company vets returned to the beach cottages and relaxed and conversed while warming themselves in front of a beach bonfire before retiring for the night.