The island spirit carries on

By SSG FABIAN INDALECIO
Special to the Saipan Tribune

The daily mission to go outside the wire is serious business for the Echo Company soldiers, who report early to their linkup point everyday, where the leaders conduct sensitive equipment check and give out the mission briefing before the soldiers depart for their mission outside the wire.

But before they do so, they would form a circle, embrace each other’s shoulders and take a brief moment for a short prayer—a heartfelt plea for each other’s safety as they perform their dangerous mission. After the short prayer, they would look up, smile at each other and say, “Go for broke!” Everyone would then hurry to mount their Humvees, all excited to make the best of the day on this mission.

On a recent day, riding alongside the soldiers on the third Humvee driven by Sgt. Franklin Pangelinan, I was excited to take photos of the Echo Company’s operation. As I looked around, I could see everyone with a smile, encouraging each other with a loud, “Let’s go!!!” As the lead vehicle started to roll out, the gunners on the top gave a thumbs up, signaling that he’s ready, turning the turret slowly to get more comfortable. The convoy rolled on outside the wires and everyone was at their best position, ready to face any challenges.

As the convoy made its way down the road, it was fascinating to see all approaching civilian vehicles immediately pulling over to the side of the road to give way to our oncoming Humvees. We were certainly an impressive sight. The vehicles are armed with 50-caliber machine guns that would penetrate a tank and travel at about half a mile down range. It’s an understatement to say that Echo soldiers are armed and dangerous. Are they really are dangerous, but if you approach them, you will see that they always give big, friendly, island smiles. It’s enough to confuse the enemy.

Today, the mission seems peaceful and quiet; everything seems to be going smoothly. The day seems to be rolling fast by the hour and, before I knew it, it was time for the convoy to return back to the Forward Operation Base, which we call FOB.

As I look around taking pictures, everyone appears to be exhausted from the convoy mission, but all remained in good spirits. The evening arrived and everyone gathered for a little island fiesta potluck dinner outside the hooch (the sleeping quarters), where everyone sits around and tells stories of the day as they eat the food that the families have sent from home; the rice, the Spam, the chorizos, the takuwang, the shonga. As others tell stories of the day, others talk of their wife and kids and you can sense that they miss their families and home.

As the evening fades, it’s time for me to leave for my hooch. I stand up and say, “Prim, I have to go and rest, esta later!” As I walk away and wave, they wave, too, and said “Esta gupa, brod.” And this is all in a day with the Island Boys, always ending the day with a smile on their faces.