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thedrifter
05-19-03, 06:49 AM
Darkness no match for India 3/3
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story Identification Number: 200351617340
Story by Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle



MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii(May 12, 2003) -- When 2nd Lt. Dan Ryan led third Platoon, India Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, into the dense jungles of Vietnam during the hours of darkness, and bravely fought against the Viet Cong Army, he earned the company of elite warriors the title "Night Fighters."

This is still a proud tradition within the company today as it trains to fight the war on terrorism.

Marines with India 3/3, began reverse cycle training May 6 to learn to effectively engage the enemy with limited visibility. During this training, the devil dogs stayed awake at night, and slept during the day, while conducting training missions at the Boondocker and Landing Strip Eagle aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

"This training is designed to build these Marines' proficiency in fighting at night, while learning the correct way to use night vision goggles and aiming lights on their weapons," said 1st Lt. George Whitney, executive officer for India Co., 3/3. "This is important because Marines must learn to use the superior technology we possess to fight our enemies at night and negate the disadvantages, so we can use them against them."

During the training, the Marines fought fatigue and darkness while practicing immediate action drills such as clearing trench lines, attacking an enemy bunker and breaching an enemy obstacle.
When breaching an enemy obstacle at night, Marines must effectively create an opening in the obstacle such as barbed wire to break the enemy's perimeter with only the use of NVGs.

"This week's training is to give us a strong foundation for unit and individual skills while operating at night," said Whitney. "It is always more realistic, than not, that a combat situation will arise at night and more so unexpectedly.

"The first few moments of the firefight are crucial in determining whether or not we will be successful in destroying the enemy," he explained.
Not only are the Marines acquainting themselves with immediate action drills, they are preparing themselves for an upcoming deployment to the Pohakuloa Training Area aboard the "Big Island" of Hawaii. The training will teach them how to safely conduct live-fire exercises at night and to properly execute fire-team and squad level attacks. The ultimate goal is for the Marines to successfully carry out a platoon-sized attack on an enemy bunker while using NVGs.

"We have a proud tradition in our company and are known as the Night Fighters," said Captain Andrew Priddy, commanding officer for India Co., 3/3. "We still have that platoon guidon from Vietnam when we earned the title 'Night Fighters' proudly displayed in the company office."



Sempers,

Roger


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003516173837/$file/threemarineslow.jpg

Three Marines from India Co., 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment, move through an open field with night wision goggles.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle