THE SNIPER IS OUT THERE! Ambushed!

        All sights and sounds were as they should be ... there was nothing out of place that hot day in July of 1970. I had just returned from my R&R in Hawaii. To rejoin my platoon, I was flown by chopper into a deep valley … I remember seeing the mountains but from above they seemed harmless … yet, little did I know what we would face that very day in the valley below! In fact ... at that moment we were being watched by the enemy.

        We moved up onto a small ridge line into an area covered with brush and small trees ... it was late in the afternoon. We had eaten well and filled ourselves with the cool mountain river water. We were full and content ... we were sleepy- eyed and tired after our short but steep climb from the river below. Now we were in a place surrounded by mountains on three sides ... I warned my sergeant "… Hey, what in the world are you doing setting us up in this place? We can't defend this..!" He replied that the new LT. had picked the spot and "... it will be alright!" We had violated several principles of ambush!

Those principles needed for a successful ambush never change from war to war; they are the same:

        1. A watchful and determined enemy.
                Enemy territory required that we stay on guard …we were not!
        2. A careless and wearied victim.
                No detail of defense can be left out no matter how tired … but they were!
        3. A deceptive and normal looking environment.
                Things may not be as harmless as they look … they were not!

Each of these principles was forgotten …. at great cost.

          We stopped ...we rested … we did not see the enemy poised to attack … I warned ...but we settled in for the afternoon. As I checked the other position, I spoke to several of the men saying "I don't like this … we are sitting ducks..!"

 
        When the enemy machine guns opened up, it was as though the jungle had exploded all around us ... We responded by returning fire almost right away ... but the damage had already been done ... When the guns opened up I returned to my position and found that several men laid victim to the enemy AMBUSH...

        Johnny had been shot in the head ...The bullet had gone in just in front of his right temple and came out on the other side of his nose … taking out his eye. I reached down and placed my inflated water bottle under his head as a pillow and shouted for the medic. Sonya had been hit in the back and hip area … Sergeant Smith would go deaf from the amount of explosive sounds. As I began fighting the enemy it was evident that they were planning to overrun us! I put so much ammo through my M-16 that it began to over- heat.... Midst the explosions and the cackle of AK-47's and 'rat tat tat' of out M-60's … I heard the cry of Mondo, our big Mexican "... Help me ...!" He had been hit in upper right leg. The bullet had gone into his leg, shattered the bone, and had not come out … He was in pain and was laying about 25ft. outside of the perimeter … in the open. I threw my rifle down and ran to his aid. He was too heavy to carry and he could not help in any way. Lying down at his side, I helped him roll over on my back and then I crawled back into the perimeter where I bandaged his leg and went back to the fight. The loss was great ... those left were filled with fear and uncertainty ... the memories have never left me ... the sights and sounds are never far away....!

My friend, there is a AMBUSH that lurks just around the corner still...

        There is an enemy out there today … waiting for the chance to catch you by 'ambush'. We need not think that we live in a 'safe environment' … that we are protected by others … that it couldn't happen to us.

The Bible tells us that we have a Spiritual War to fight … one that requires our diligence and watchfulness.

II Timothy 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

        This enemy (the Devil) is out to destroy your soul! He is powerful and able to 'take you' if you ignore the principles of ambush.

        1. A watchful and determined enemy.
                Enemy territory requires that we stay on guard!

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

        2. A careless and wearied victim.
                No detail of defense can be left out no matter how tired!

Romans 13:12 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."

        3. A deceptive and normal looking environment.
                Things may not be as harmless as they look!

1 Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."

The only way to overcome Satan is to get saved.
The only way to overcome Satan's attacks is to arm yourself.