First ones on the ground in Operation Urgent Fury?

[PAC Man]

I look at Grenada as the last of the "old school" type of invasions. There were night vision devices, but they were few and far between. I think only our platoon leader had one, and I'm not sure about that. There was no body armor, except for the old flak jackets the Marines carried. Though there was air support, most of it was held back to ensure there wouldn't be a lot of civilian deaths. There was virtually no intell, and everyone had to do every mission on the spur of the moment.

Are you saying things are different now? :o

"The more things are different, the more they seem the same, huh Zonk?" :)

I can't testify to the changes since 1983 as rgrokelley and many others on site can, but let me add this bit of trivia.....

Our Bn TOC RTO had a, get this, satellite dish in his ruck. Yes, his very own connection via satellite right there on his back! It had just been introduced and we thought it was the most "high speed, low drag" damned thing ever invented. We called it "star wars" technology back then. Now every neighbor in my hood has one that looks damned near just like it on the roof of their house just to watch TV! (I just realized I'm starting to sound like my Grandpa or as my kids would say-- "Dad is talking about 'back in the day' again." as they )

Oh, and also there was no GPS. :o Had to point a compass in a direction and read what was called an "azimuth" in order to navigate from Point A to Point B. A forgotten art, I bet, in today's Army.

Yea.... things were different!

To make my point clear though-- I said different, not better. The kids (Rangers) of today have to be a lot smarter! I salute them and all they have done, and continue to do. :D :D

[PAC Man]

[

PS PAC Man can answer a lot of questions regarding that first bird. He was the primary JM and has a terrific memory with regard to the sequence of events from the JM's brief at HAAF all the way through the jump. He's the man.

Thanks, my jarhead friend but-- don't forget "rgrmac". He had my back on that bird!

[ma91c1an]

I guess he's the go-to guy on this subject

Gunny Mooch is THE Authority on Urgent Fury.

He is an historian, and he has been researching this operation for years. He will grunt out a book when he gets it done.

[RGR Mac]

ma91c1an is right. I'm still working on my Grenada book. Rest assured though when I'm mike charlie I'll be doing the same for Panama and I'll be coming back here to hound many of you for hooah stories.
Thanks for the confidence brother.

Rgr O'Kelley, I couldn't see your map but I suspect it looks a lot like the strip maps from the tourist one that the Rangers have given me.

PAC Man, I forgot all about Mac (sorry Mac!). He was the static line safety on your door (as you corrected me). Man does he have some great stories as well!

There's a few others on here that made that jump as well but I haven't seen them post in a while. Hope they drop by soon.
S/F
Mooch

Joe, I was the CSM's safety, Brad was Mikes. He ended up because of the clutter in
the AC not being able to make it back to the rear of the AC, I however did, making
a few enemies punching and shoving my way. The rehearsed drop was for a left
door tap which w/ the AC order change would have put me on the ground first. The
trooper in Mikes door took some "initiative" and exited on the red light, a certain Ranger
John R.(RGR Zonk's..bud), so there went that opportunity.
As Steve said it best on that TV show..do it again in a heart beat.

[rgrokelley]

I look at Grenada as the last of the "old school" type of invasions. There were night vision devices, but they were few and far between. I think only our platoon leader had one, and I'm not sure about that. There was no body armor, except for the old flak jackets the Marines carried. Though there was air support, most of it was held back to ensure there wouldn't be a lot of civilian deaths. There was virtually no intell, and everyone had to do every mission on the spur of the moment.

Are you saying things are different now? :o

Actually, yes. RGRPuck has told me of how when his soldiers see pictures of Grenada and Panama, they are amazed that no one is wearing any body armor, no one has NVDs, and everyone is on foot. I also got a chuckle the first time they were handed an M21. They were shocked that the weapon had a wooden stock. They were wondering what part of the Civil War it came from.

[Ranger Bill]

Weapons, equipment and capability do change, but somethings never do, like Rangers fighting to be the first one out the door or down the rope. I like that.

[ma91c1an]

Hell, if the bird is taking hits, and the light changes while a guy is standing in the door, I can understand him jumping. I can understand the entire stick following him out, no matter what color the light might be.

I know that I wanted the hell out of my bird. I hated being the last guy on the right-hand side. It felt like it took forever for the stick to move!

:)