writing from Observation - a mission

The Objective is clear. "Gathering all intelligence from the enemy main post."

The order is still popping up in my mind while I'm laying in the bush, on the opposite site of main gate. Between us is a small, dusty supply route for supply and troop transfer. The gate is the main way to lead to the enemy FOB (Forward Operating Base). It's guarded heavily as we [my battle buddy lay next to me, and of course "moi"] expect. Here is what I record into my little note.

1/27/2008
20:30. The sun is coming down, putting the end to another day in this cold, loosely wood. There is still a little sun shine left, not enough for the enemy to see us through the bush, or our movement. It's enough for us to observe them. We're in our position: approximate 15m from the main gate, across the main supply route. Binocular is also ready for closer, up closed look.

20:35. Looking through the leaves. There are 5 guards at the gate in this moment.
They all wear a red banner on the left arm, dictate that they're our opposing force [enemy].
2 guards are on the overhead tower. One is guarding the M249[a medium machine gun], while the other equipped with a standard American issued M16a4. They are relaxed, talking to each other. Their faces don't expess an intense look of a soldier in the battlefield.
The main gates is instilled with a barricade of bared wire. It has 3 layer of bared wired that are nailed to the ground, zic zac it ways on the main entrance to the check point.
2 soldiers are standing in the check point, each on one side of the bared wire that constituted the gate. They have their M16a4 on the hand, on guard, finger near the trigger.
1 soldier on the fortified tower behind, on the right side of the entrance. The tower is filled with sand bags, and camouflaged leaves. The soldier is guarding with a SAW [Squad Automatic Weapon, small machine gun].


20:38. A truck is approaching from the main supply routes. It has about 10 troops on the back.
Their clothes are wet, dirty. Their eyes are closed. Their rifles are filled with mud and snow. As the truck aprroaching, the overhead tower guard soldier looks at the truck, with their eyes focus. The truck zic zac its way through the bar wired, then stop at the front gate. The fortified tower soldier point his gun at the truck. The two soldiers at the check point are approach the truck. One stay behind, shift his rifle to a low ready[a position of rifle holding that you can fire at moment notice]. One approaches the truck. He talks to the truck driver. The truck driver hands him something, looks like an ID. He walks around the truck, look at its corners. Then check the back for the soldiers, counting. He hand signals the standing soldier. The soldier moves the bar wire barricade. The truck disappear into the base. All soldiers are back to their normal routine.

20:43. A squad of enemy soldiers emerge from the main route, walking toward the entrance. The soldiers in the tower shift their attention to the squad. One soldier give a hand signal to tower. The soldiers in the tower shift their attention back to the route.
The squad of 8 approach the check point.
A soldier from the squad talks to the guards. The guards open the barricade as one by one soldier from the squad clear their weapon in a barrel. They walk in, the barricade closes again.