A Tiger Embarkation cruise with the Sierra Battery

Mike Anderson

Tiger what? Embark where? That’s what I said when my sister asked me

if I wanted to sail back from Hawaii aboard the Duluth with my

nephew, Lance Cpl. Jake Hubby, Sierra Battery -- Guns Platoon, U.S.

Marine Corps. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit out of Camp

Pendleton consists of the Tarawa, Duluth and the Rushmore.

They are a 30-day totally self-sufficient amphibious assault group

that was returning home after a six-month tour and participation in

Operation Iraqi Freedom. My sister, Pat Hubby, explained to me that

the Navy had reinstated the Tiger Embarkation Program, which was

suspended after Sept. 11. This program allows one or two relatives

(called Tigers) to join his or her sponsor for the final leg home of

their tour. It took me only 30 seconds to comprehend the opportunity,

and I answered with a 100% yes and a “When do I go?”

It was a beautiful Fourth of July weekend in Waikiki with

fireworks and memorials, but I was more excited to get aboard the

Duluth and heading out to sea. I can’t say that for the rest of the

Marines and sailors, totaling about a thousand servicemen and women.

They had just traveled from Australia nonstop and previously from the

Persian Gulf and the War in Iraq.

The Duluth is a 569-foot-long landing platform deck, or LPD, that

has a flooding well deck under the flight deck that launches a

130-foot landing craft unit, or LCU, like the one in the movie

“Saving Private Ryan” except much larger. The

five-man-all-live-aboard crew ferries Marines and all of their heavy

equipment (tanks, 155-millimeter howitzers, Humvees, cargo trucks,

etc.) to and from the ship and the beaches.

Tigers’ accommodations are equivalent to the sponsor’s rank, so I

was given a bunk that had an opening of 18 inches high and a little

more than 6 feet in length. They stack them four high, and each has

its own light.

Meals were always on time and a little above average (not bad for

feeding close to a thousand men and women). Being a bachelor and

living on my 23-foot boat, I had no problem with it, either. I would

rate all one grade above the old saying of “three hots and a cot.”

There was a general store for snacks, candy and other things.

Marines and sailors had access to the computer room for e-mail

communications, and each area had a TV and cable access. I think the

old-school Navy would agree that the modern Navy lived well.

Each day, we had planned activities with tours of various areas

and demonstrations. They had helicopter landings and takeoffs,

demonstrating cargo lifting and marine recons fast roping (sliding

down ropes). Harrier jets were screaming overhead ready to show

strafing techniques, which didn’t happen because a freighter had

entered into our perimeters. The air show was exciting since we were

halfway out in the Pacific with 40 knots of wind blowing and had a

pitching deck.

One of the highlights came close to the end of the crossing, when

we were refueled at sea. The Walter S. Diehl came alongside and fired

off four or five “monkey fist lines” to start the process of securing

heavy wire lines that support the large hoses as they travel across

the water to us and begin the hour-and-a-half-long fueling process.

All that in 40 knots of wind with a lumpy sea running. That was

something to see. They also had live firing of M16 rifles and

50-caliber machine guns off the stern of the ship.

These were all fun to watch, but I found talking to the guys about

the war and learning about their personal stories were really the

highlights.

On opening night of the ground war, March 19, on Bubiyan Island,

Kuwait, the Sierra Battery was poised and ready with their

155-millimeter howitzers charged with “superstick” propellant and

rocket-assisted projectiles, awaiting their orders.

Sierra Battery consists of six 155-millimeter howitzers manned by

nine guys to each gun, and that night, they were on the line flanking

Iraq. The average age of Sierra Battery’s gun crew four is 20.

Lance Cpl. Jake Hubby, Lance Cpl. Chad Hess, Lance Cpl. Carlos

Fregoso, Lance Cpl. Nick Huerta, Lance Cpl. Brian McCarthy, Cpl. Mike

Sheperd, Cpl. Larry Lambarren, Cpl. Josh Kuhs, Cpl. Dario Cabreera,

and Section Chief Sgt. Carlos Perez -- wen their orders came down at

sunset, they started firing rocket-assisted projectiles making a

deafening, gut-wrenching noise continuing all night long until dawn

(a heavy graveyard shift to be sure). This bombardment of the Al Faw

Peninsula gave credence to their motto, “Rain of Steel.”

Later on the next day, as the Marines breached the Iraqi border,

Sierra Battery took part in supporting some British and the rest of

the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit while they liberated the city of

Umm Qasr. Immediate orders were received to “speed-shift” the guns

and aim at a location where the Republican Guard was delivering heavy

mortar fire on our Marine Recon. These are arguably the toughest of

all Marines, equivalent to Navy Seals (heavily trained lifers).

Because Sierra Battery did its job so well, we didn’t lose a single

Recon Marine of Fox company. These experienced Marines were eternally

grateful to these young “kids” of Sierra Battery.

While moving onward toward Nasiriyah, the order came down for a

shoot to create a diversion. The diversion was part of a master plan

in conjunction with Special Forces. Apparently, intelligence from an

Iraqi civilian came in about a U.S. private being held at a hospital.

We now know of the famous Pvt. Jessica Lynch rescue. Seal Team 6,

Marine Recon and the Army Airborne received the credit for the

rescue, but let’s not forget the Sierra Battery that created the

diversion so that our Special Ops wouldn’t lose one guy.

Most Marines whom I talked to said it was difficult to get sleep,

even if it was relatively safe. The stress of war, fatigue, the noise

and the “unknown” were all factors. When you were able to get some

shut-eye, there was always that “something” that would wake you into

reality.

In Nasiriyah, where most of the action took place, there was that

one night where Jake Hubby’s sleep disorder took over. In Jake’s

case, it was sleepwalking.

The story goes that he wandered off asleep and when he awoke, he

realized that the rest of the crew on duty had their weapons drawn

and ready to fire. You can only imagine what our family was thinking

when we heard that.

This Tiger cruise for me was really an eye-opener in all the

positive ways. Many thanks go to Cmdr. Charles G. Emmert and his

executive officer, Fulgham, and chaplain Lt. Hager for their

professionalism and hospitality.

It would be a bittersweet end to our cruise in that I would like

to do it again, and I had the time of my life, but like all in the

military and the large majority of Americans, I wish never to have to

go to war again.

In this uncertain world in which we live, I can only say that I’m

happy and proud to know that we have the highest quality people in

the military. They are the ones willing to make the sacrifices and

put their lives on the line as part of their duty to our country. No

matter what one’s view of the war, we owe them our respect and

gratitude.

* MIKE ANDERSON is a Newport Beach resident.

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