3-hole crapper desert storm lives again

            Excerpt from Chapter 13 of Annapolis Creed available on Amazon.com

                                             Desert Shield Logistical Reforms

I have mentioned earlier about the showers incident in the ditch with the female Marines, but that was not the entire story.  The 1st Gulf War presented challenges because it was the first time that women would be in the combat zone in support positions.  Women held posts in every support unit and the air wing.  When the original designers of the Table of Equipment (TE) for combat units determined the number of tents, it did not consider having tents only for women in the field.  When Marine units withdrew supplies from the War Reserves out of Barstow and Albany for an all potent fighting force, some TE items were insufficient.  Suddenly provisions for berthing, showers, and head facilities in the field had to be considered.  At Al Jubayl we had porta potty’s before our air strikes began and each one was unisex on a first serve first come basis.  But when MAG-26 deployed to Lonesome Dove we had to use field heads.


These field heads were constructed by engineers and made from plywood and empty 55-gallon oil drums.  It normally had three holes for a number 2 and no urinals.  In a war zone, you will never forget the smell in the mornings of burning of diesel fuel and human feces.  Therefore, they have been placed hundreds of yards away downwind from the position.  When we deployed to the new location, we for some reason on the first night of movement only had two of the field heads.  The female had one hole, and the males had an enlisted and an officer field head.

During the night nature was calling, and so I went to the officer's head.  When I entered the pilot, S-4 was sitting on hole number 1.  I entered and took hole number 2.  The colonel was reading a letter from the wife with a flashlight and having a conversation about upcoming events and issues.  While we were talking a third person entered, and we didn’t notice.  This person came in pulled their pants down and took up hole number 3.  Now, this was at night and no lights because of our position just 18 km short of the border.  I looked to my right and noticed that hole #3 was occupied by Lt. Jones (a female).  No this was not happening!  I was all ready to go, but I remained sitting because you know.  I was embarrassed and stunned at the same time.  The 2nd Lt. and I started to have a little discussion to ease my discomfort and then just like she entered she rose up, wiped her stuff, pulled the pants up and said, “ Sorry but I had to go!, “Good evening gentleman!”  The Lt. Col S-4 and I busted out laughing because we were stuck to our seats being self-conscious about showing our stuff, and the Lt did not hesitate nor did she feel embarrassed.


  Welcome to the Gulf War.“

Excerpt from Chapter 13 of Annapolis Creed available on Amazon.com
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