The Phoenix index., 1941-04-19
Tells HoU 1t Feels To
Be On The Firing Line

There are no two persons that
will erlress themselves alike on this
subject. l know just how I feel
on the firing line, but can not
truthfully exprses the feelings of
my comrades. Here. 1 shall recite a
few psychological reactions. thai
seem to be common TO all combSt
! units, when death is just around
the corner
The worst OF enemies, become
very friendly on the firing line. l
have seen white and colored, ready
to jump at each others throats un-
der normal conditions; become
brotherly, willingly sharing Tobacco
oigaretts, ETC., with each other while
under fire. In this case hatred gives
way to one objective; that is to de-
stroy the combat power OF the
Enemy.
Combat units under fire are
most effective when their moral is
nigh. Reverses, unfaVorable con-
litionS of certain sectors on the
right or left is not very conducive
TO increase the morale OF compat
units on the firing line. 1t has been
| found, in may cases, unwise to al
low those on the firing line to learn
the true conditions confronting
them. especially if conditions are
gloomy. The enemy, is often sue
cessful in distributing false or de-
rogatory propaganda. that will
lower the morale in the rank aao
file of troops while. so the firing line.
find that a person on the fir
ing line is faf from normal. For
an instance; we find on the firing
line, an absence of fea:, pity, re-
morse or horror At Ell Canay
Cuba, the Rough Riders and the
list New Yorks (killed in oattle)
we're buried very shallow. The con-
gtant rains especially or San Juan
nil would uncover parts OF a shall
low body. III climbing this hill one
must grab D bunch of grass, tree
roots. stone or ANYTHING mat Wollio
assist in climbing this hill. Very
often a knee or an elbow was
sticking up. BY running your arm
thru the CROOK If the knee OF
thru an elbow one could get sup.
port to make anoh!ier step forward
) I have seen men nook, eat ane
e drink, while bodies lay halt-cover
S ed in every direction and the sun
l blacked out by buzzards.
have seen my bcS: friend ant
"bunkie," dragged by me on a litter
t I did not even LOOK around TO as
certain the seriousness OF III
wound. Under normal conditions
!. would have been greatly interested
Any one reading this article, Jna
has been under fire will agree viii
, NE when I say that noise iron
the wounded and dying is eXtre
rnely deterrent to those who ar
] engaged in combat. : have hear'
J screaming, crying, praying and eve]
singing. 1 nave heard men beg L
have their brains batter out. :
shot in the adm, a drag to some
protective location generally puts
stop to this nuisance. I may not gt
, further before exposing my nul
$ sance, when shot.
q On December II, 1899, we OF tht
, oath Infantry were on I march from
Bayambong, Isabella Prov. i'll no
;. pursuit of General Aguinaldo's Amy
? of instructors. Most Of us officer
+. and enlisted, were ragged. M!
: trousers were to small (clothlnt
- taken from insurrectors) and burst
= ed right in the stride. We were
= about IL miles from Nagillion, same
, Prov. At this point the instructors
= fired on our point This gave III
= ample time to deploy as skirmlshers
= L was some tired. but the frlnt
up front brought me around, ant
I felt much better. My conpan
+ arrived on the firing line about l
| O'Clock a. m. We adjusted on
| rear sight leaf to 500, 700. an
| finally 900 yards, ana began firm
II "at will.