HELLO WORLD MISSION REPORT---CENT-COM-COZ-12/14/2014 These days, sleep comes easy in the cooler temperatures of the Island. During my last assignment in September, hot muggy days were only relieved by the continuous use of the ceiling fans and the screened in doors and windows. The structure of my hootch allows a natural breeze or airflow to pass through the down stairs. Seldom do I need to fire up the AC, but in October it was used to cool down the house in the late afternoons. At night the darkness brought some relief but the clicking of the unbalanced fan took a few nights to get used to. Annoying at first, it soon became an odd background noise that was easy to fall asleep to. This morning the green numbers on the clock reflected back 0530 hours as the buzzer brought me out of my slumber. No fans going and doors and windows closed as the winter coolness of the Island is upon us. Must be I have acclimated because the day temps of 72---a most comfortable Alaskan temperature—actually feel cold when ascending the ladder of the Skinny Shark, in a wet suit. Then the slight breeze—or wind of the past few days—quickly saps what warmth the 82-degree ocean left on my skin. That has been the status of missions as troopers continue to patrol the reefs. Divisional Command has slowed the influx of troops for the past few days. It is a slight respite just before the slam of troops that will arrive for TDY (temporary duty) starting in a few days. The Schedule board is looking busy with boats of new recruits that will be undertaking RECON missions. Also a number of PHOTO Corps troopers who are looking for the perfect photo will scour the areas. A quick look at the Windfinder weather station shows temps rising into the 80’s with winds turning more from the east. That is good news. TODAY S&D (search and destroy) UPDATE Five aboard the Skinny Shark as we broke the Caleta. Signs of activity in the New Caleta and rumors of an early 2015 opening may actually be true. However we will see it open when it actually opens. With the light load Chan Fran was running at two-thirds throttle and still we were throwing white water aft of the Shark. Three of the four troops aboard had some time in grade while a newbie was doing his first trip with the Pelicans. Gary O was still along and would take the point on the first S&D mission. I would cover his six until 15 minutes into the patrol, and then I would break off and provide security for the group. Cubano was lead. We went FEET WET over Palancar Horseshoe. The visibility was not good. The rain of the past evening had pushed fresh water into the area and the water was quite cloudy. Perhaps a 60 foot vis, but not the normal that we have become used to. Gary O had gone into the tunnels as they are still alive with the enemy lions. I chose to head over the wall to an area that command had declared SAFE –last month, but I decided to check it out anyway. I could see the patrol and a bubble stream escaping the reef section where Gary O had entered. I checked my life support. I was now wearing a new Oceanic OLED computer. It is very hi tech looking but has eliminated a lot of the bells and whistles such as heart rate and other nonsense that the new computers have. The LED face is well colored and lit, but the numbers remain small and I find it a bit of an effort to read. However I certainly look very official with that on my left arm and my old trusty Uwatec on my right. Just as I was ready to descend past the patrol now below and just ahead of me, I heard Cubano rattle and point to the coral head below him. I streaked down unsheathing my M7 on the way. Immediately I spotted the lion who seemed quite relaxed not knowing that death was about three feet above him. I armed the M7, took a breath and moved in for the shot. He was in my sights and I sent a round down range.--HIT- and a kill shot. I quickly put the DBF (deadly bar b q fork) in his melon and he was toast. –Another rattle from Cubano alerted me to a beautiful Queen Trigger fish that immediately swooped in next to my spear. I shucked the kill off and before the lion drifted three feet, the queen had it in her powerful jaws with the razor teeth obliterating the kill. Thumbs up from the patrol sent me down over the edge with a smile. After doing a serpentine search of the area below the patrol, I returned and took up a pos on their six. Gary O was just emerging from a tunnel/cave when I spotted another lion. Then I saw that Gary O also noticed him. Taking a lesson that I learned a few years ago while on patrol with ASSASSIN—I kicked my Mares Power Plana fins hard and armed the M7 at the same time. I knew that I would get there first. I fired off a snap shot and scored a hit. Unfortunately it was one prong of my Paralyzer tip and a gut hit. Still the Lion was firmly pinned to the reef. I started to grab my DBF when wingman Gary O came in and put another shot in the lion. I guess we will have to score that one- a half kill each. I fondly remembered the patrol at one of the faster northern sites when Assassin and I were in the same position. One lion with two expert shooters after it. First one there and first one to shoot usually gets the kill. HOWEVER-if you miss then you have to eat a lot of SH!t, so your shot better be good. By the end of that first patrol both Gary O and I had scored three kills each. The surface interval on the old Palancar pier was again another social event. Divers from other boats that know us and the crew always come by to say hello. Pineapple and cake were the snack and after a 55 minute break we were ready to go FEET WET again. This time Delilah. Even though we do this dive many times, it is always different. Tons of swim throughs and lots of sharks and marine life. Gary O and I pretty much can do the entire dive below the surface of the reef. It is laced with hundreds of tunnels and caves. Most go through but there are a few, where a turnaround is necessary. Cubano had the patrol ahead of us and Gary O and I entered the tunnel system. After a rather short passageway produced no lions, I emerged and decided to head over the left flank near the edge of the wall. Very seldom do patrols go the Delilah wall so I figured I stood a good chance for some activity. It was a short swim over the sand to a nice sized coral head. The wall was a bit further, but this area looked likely to hold a bunker or two of lions. I was not disappointed. On the wall side I saw a nice size lion –again very unaware of the danger that had entered his world. I armed my M7 and let her fly. It was a perfect shot. Two tines in the head and one through the gill area. No movement. I held him to the sandy bottom while reaching for my DBF. It was then that I noticed the Spotted Moray in its den right behind the kill. He immediately started to munch on it. I put a couple of DBF points in the lion and let it loose for the eel. Poor little guy just did not have a big enough mouth to really get a good bite on the lion. The kill started to drift away and the moray went back into his hole. I reacquired the lion on my spear and placed him in the eel hole. The Moray came back and started to pull the lion into its den. I gave the kill a push into the hole and felt good about helping Mr. Moray. I joined up on Gary’s six and together we scoured the underside of the reef. After 55 minutes and no more action I sent the flag up. As we waited on the surface for Chan Fran, I added up the kills for the day. Four each—total 8.---- SEARCH AND DESTROY CONTINUES. STINGER OUT. I love the photo of the two angles together
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 23:56:30 +0000
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