“Last cruise we drilled around a lot in the box and didn’t drop much. I admit it was hard to stay focused week after week as we lugged bombs north only to bring them home. This time, though — if what Ike and Enterprise have done recently is a guide — we are dropping plenty. If we find an IED, we aren’t screwing around. If there are some bad guys holed up in a hut, level it once you are given the ‘cleared hot.’ Remember, though, if there is a doubt there is no doubt—don’t drop. Work with the controllers, but unless you are 100 percent sure of the target, don’t drop on a hunch. Bring them back. The last thing we need is to give CNN and Al Jazeera incidents to fill their air.
“The other main reason we are here, and have been at least since 1979, is to deter Iran. We are not at war with Iran, but Iran certainly is not friendly to us or to the GCC countries in the Gulf. Those countries are scared to death of Iran, not only because of Iran’s military capability but also because of the exportation of Shia Islam and revolution to their populations. Anything more is above my pay grade. The bottom line is maintain a 12-mile standoff and don’t thump Iranian oil platforms, dhows, boghammars, or Iranian P-3s. They have rights in these waters, too. If you see an Iranian unit, tell the ship and stand by for tasking. This is a rough neighborhood, but believe me, they are more afraid of you and your intentions, so it’s smart to give everyone a wide berth out here. The overwhelming majority of Iranian people hate their government and the ayatollahs are afraid of the people and repress them. The Iranians are looking for a reason to fight us and unify their population in order to take the heat off themselves. Let’s not give them a reason by doing something dumb.
“One more thing. We must guard against complacency every single day. We can hurt ourselves on this ship dozens of ways in peacetime, not just during combat ops. This affects everyone in this squadron, and we are all susceptible to it. When each day becomes like Groundhog Day and you lose respect for this environment, and if you pilots get into the mindset that another kill box hop is just a routine cross-country with bombs, you have got to step back and compartmentalize why you are out here.”
Wilson immediately thought of Mary’s e-mail, but willed himself to concentrate.
“We saw the other night that this can be an unforgiving business. Weather, the deck, tankers… the situation can go south real fast. Sponge found himself in a box, not because he placed himself there, but because of the way one event built upon another. Sponge, your recovery on a night pitching deck barricade was a fine piece of flying under extreme pressure. None of us here have done what you did, and I’m not willing to say I would have done any better. The airplane
