Post by artraveler on Oct 8, 2019 10:28:01 GMT -8
Charlie and I were deployed to the Middle East, Israel specifically. We carried a war warning for Mossad from CIA (Angleton). We arrived in TA on 3 October 1973. After delivering the message to King Saul Blvd and checking in with the chief of station our assignment was twofold. The first was to convey relevant information from our U-2 and SR-71 overflights of the Egyptian and Syrian buildup in preparation for war. This was an ongoing duty. Our second duty was evaluation of the Israeli military.
12 hours before the war started on 6 Oct, it was decided that Charlie and I would go to the separate fronts as military observers. Charlie went to the Sinai and I went to the Golan. The CoS gave us specific instructions, “ You are to observe in an aggressive manner, however, the government of the United States will be very unhappy if you get killed”. We assured him we would be even more distressed.
I arrived on the Golan front about 0400. The Israelis were wide awake, although not a shot had been fired, We could hear Syrian tanks and APCs moving in the darkness. We waited and watched as the Syrians formed for attack. It was about 14:00 when the first shots were fired. Israel had about 150 tanks on the border. It was a mixed bag of British centurions, improved Patton, and captured Russian T-64 from the 67 war. Coming directly at us were about 1500 of the newest Russian equipment. I did not like my chances of keeping the CoS happy.
I believe the first rounds were fired in the Mount Hermon area. The Israeli Lt who was to be my minder and keep me out of trouble (combat) handed me an Uzi and a pouch of ammo. He said, “you must have dropped this coming up the hill”. I got a hard cover and per instructions observed, in an aggressive manner.
In our area there was a single tank company, about 14-16 tanks, all of the tanks were dug in with just turrets above the earthworks. The infantry, about company size, 125, were dug in also. From where we were the Syrian tanks and infantry would have to approach through a narrow wadi. Our task was to block the wadi and prevent Syrian entry to our area.
By now I could hear small arms fire and the thump of mortar and tank rounds. As afternoon turned to evening, we were confronted by at least two battalions of Syrian infantry, about 500 each, and a battalion of tanks, about 150, with a smattering of APCs and 4X6s. We were outnumbered 10-1. Our advantage was our superior defensive position and the somewhat more ephemeral belief that Arabs were not as well trained and committed. They could be vicious in victory but if we could stop them and even beat them back, we had a chance.
Their tanks opened up a about 1000 yards with HE and anti-personnel, at about 500 yards mortar crews deployed and added their ordnance to the hell walking towards us. Israeli fire discipline was perfect, no one returned fire and after about 10 minutes the infantry advanced. At about 100 yards the first line of claymores detonated across our entire front. The claymores took out about 100 Syrians and the infantry line fell back. This prompted another 10 minutes of tank and mortar bombardment. Again, Israeli fire discipline was perfect. Not a sound from our side. I think the Syrian commander thought the claymores were either set off remotely or on a trip line. At any rate he advanced his infantry.
The second line of claymores at the base of the hill did not take out as many, they were more dispersed, but the line fell back, and they brought their tanks up to about 150 yards and blasted the hillside again. Only this time, as soon as the Syrians stopped firing our infantry using anti-tank rockets and our tanks opened up. 20 perhaps 25 Syrian tanks exploded almost simultaneously and another 15, seconds later. The Syrians fell back.
They reformed and under a rolling barrage from the tanks and mortars headed to our positions. Small arms fire broke out along our lines and from the tanks. The Syrians continued to attack as darkness fell and the Israelis pulled back to the second line of defense. We had taken some KIA, and WIA but the company was in good morale. The Syrians had Soviet night vision equipment and we were pressured back at the loss of several tanks.
By the end of the first day we were constantly being forced back and the Syrians were advancing all over the southern Golan. We had not yet seen any reinforcements. By this time, midday of the 7th, the north Golan seemed to be holding. In our area Syria continued to advance. If we did not get reinforced the Golan would be lost and from there to TA was an undefended shot.
That is when the reserves show up. Slowly at first and with increasing intensity they pushed the Syrians off the heights and back onto the open plain. The IAF, which had been hampered by Russian SAM’s caught them in the open. The march to Damascus was on. I gave back my Uzi and rested at a HQ near Nafah. I was still wearing my combat fatigues and was very tired after 4 days of almost continuous combat. As I dozed, someone kicked my foot and said, “what is an American Marine doing in this mess?” I said, “I am aggressively observing the war”. The major who was giving me crap was a special forces commander. His name was Yoni Netanyahu the older brother of the current PM and the leader of the 76 raid on Entebbe, where he died.
Charlie and I returned to our jobs in TA and stayed in Israel for the rest of the year. I later got to visit with my friend from Chile, Meir Dagan and see some of the sights. Yad Yashem, the Wall and waited for the sunrise over Masada. When the war ended. I watched the sunset over the Med from the beach at Tel Aviv. We returned to DC in January.
The saddest part is we are still fighting that same battle with a foe who would murder every Jew and Christian without any hesitant thought. Israel lost about 2500 KIA in 73 and our Arab enemy about 15,000. In per capita terms our loss was much higher and could not be sustained. Only the active support of the United States and freedom loving people assist Israel to keep the barbarians away from the gates. My thanks for all who support my other country in war and peace.
12 hours before the war started on 6 Oct, it was decided that Charlie and I would go to the separate fronts as military observers. Charlie went to the Sinai and I went to the Golan. The CoS gave us specific instructions, “ You are to observe in an aggressive manner, however, the government of the United States will be very unhappy if you get killed”. We assured him we would be even more distressed.
I arrived on the Golan front about 0400. The Israelis were wide awake, although not a shot had been fired, We could hear Syrian tanks and APCs moving in the darkness. We waited and watched as the Syrians formed for attack. It was about 14:00 when the first shots were fired. Israel had about 150 tanks on the border. It was a mixed bag of British centurions, improved Patton, and captured Russian T-64 from the 67 war. Coming directly at us were about 1500 of the newest Russian equipment. I did not like my chances of keeping the CoS happy.
I believe the first rounds were fired in the Mount Hermon area. The Israeli Lt who was to be my minder and keep me out of trouble (combat) handed me an Uzi and a pouch of ammo. He said, “you must have dropped this coming up the hill”. I got a hard cover and per instructions observed, in an aggressive manner.
In our area there was a single tank company, about 14-16 tanks, all of the tanks were dug in with just turrets above the earthworks. The infantry, about company size, 125, were dug in also. From where we were the Syrian tanks and infantry would have to approach through a narrow wadi. Our task was to block the wadi and prevent Syrian entry to our area.
By now I could hear small arms fire and the thump of mortar and tank rounds. As afternoon turned to evening, we were confronted by at least two battalions of Syrian infantry, about 500 each, and a battalion of tanks, about 150, with a smattering of APCs and 4X6s. We were outnumbered 10-1. Our advantage was our superior defensive position and the somewhat more ephemeral belief that Arabs were not as well trained and committed. They could be vicious in victory but if we could stop them and even beat them back, we had a chance.
Their tanks opened up a about 1000 yards with HE and anti-personnel, at about 500 yards mortar crews deployed and added their ordnance to the hell walking towards us. Israeli fire discipline was perfect, no one returned fire and after about 10 minutes the infantry advanced. At about 100 yards the first line of claymores detonated across our entire front. The claymores took out about 100 Syrians and the infantry line fell back. This prompted another 10 minutes of tank and mortar bombardment. Again, Israeli fire discipline was perfect. Not a sound from our side. I think the Syrian commander thought the claymores were either set off remotely or on a trip line. At any rate he advanced his infantry.
The second line of claymores at the base of the hill did not take out as many, they were more dispersed, but the line fell back, and they brought their tanks up to about 150 yards and blasted the hillside again. Only this time, as soon as the Syrians stopped firing our infantry using anti-tank rockets and our tanks opened up. 20 perhaps 25 Syrian tanks exploded almost simultaneously and another 15, seconds later. The Syrians fell back.
They reformed and under a rolling barrage from the tanks and mortars headed to our positions. Small arms fire broke out along our lines and from the tanks. The Syrians continued to attack as darkness fell and the Israelis pulled back to the second line of defense. We had taken some KIA, and WIA but the company was in good morale. The Syrians had Soviet night vision equipment and we were pressured back at the loss of several tanks.
By the end of the first day we were constantly being forced back and the Syrians were advancing all over the southern Golan. We had not yet seen any reinforcements. By this time, midday of the 7th, the north Golan seemed to be holding. In our area Syria continued to advance. If we did not get reinforced the Golan would be lost and from there to TA was an undefended shot.
That is when the reserves show up. Slowly at first and with increasing intensity they pushed the Syrians off the heights and back onto the open plain. The IAF, which had been hampered by Russian SAM’s caught them in the open. The march to Damascus was on. I gave back my Uzi and rested at a HQ near Nafah. I was still wearing my combat fatigues and was very tired after 4 days of almost continuous combat. As I dozed, someone kicked my foot and said, “what is an American Marine doing in this mess?” I said, “I am aggressively observing the war”. The major who was giving me crap was a special forces commander. His name was Yoni Netanyahu the older brother of the current PM and the leader of the 76 raid on Entebbe, where he died.
Charlie and I returned to our jobs in TA and stayed in Israel for the rest of the year. I later got to visit with my friend from Chile, Meir Dagan and see some of the sights. Yad Yashem, the Wall and waited for the sunrise over Masada. When the war ended. I watched the sunset over the Med from the beach at Tel Aviv. We returned to DC in January.
The saddest part is we are still fighting that same battle with a foe who would murder every Jew and Christian without any hesitant thought. Israel lost about 2500 KIA in 73 and our Arab enemy about 15,000. In per capita terms our loss was much higher and could not be sustained. Only the active support of the United States and freedom loving people assist Israel to keep the barbarians away from the gates. My thanks for all who support my other country in war and peace.
