Marines are known for operating in some of the harshest climates on earth.

Korea’s frozen climate.

Vietnam’s humid jungles.

Iraq’s scorching deserts.

Sleeping outside in 32 degree weather with a breeze got me thinking how bad they had it during their operations. Even though it was cold during my time spent in the field, it was not unmanageable. It was nothing like the conditions the history books explain to us, the conditions the legends we proceed slept in. For most of them, that was their first deployment.

The weather I slept outside in was cold, wet, and windy. It started raining the second day on the gun line. That was followed by a cold front that came in during the night. In the morning of the third day, it was below freezing and windy.

Spending time with Bravo Battery, second platoon’s gun team five, has made me more appreciative of the things former Marines have gone through, and what some are going through now.

Gun team five didn’t complain very much even though it was freezing cold out. They acted as professionals and continued working. Seeing them in action during a live-fire mission was incredible. The speed and coordination of the gun team was very precise; watching all of this take place in under 30 seconds and knowing it was all done correctly is impressive.

During the first day of live-fire exercises, Bravo Battery went into a check-fire that dragged on for the entire day. They passed the time with what they call the “Name Game.” It consists of naming famous people based on the beginning letter of the first and last name called. Another game they play is “Grommets.” This is a horseshoe type game where they use plastic circular pieces that protect the copper rings on the rounds. However, nothing passes the time like food.

In the morning and evening we were given hot chow, which tasted five stars mostly because it was really cold and the food was warm. If they would have fed me warm dirt I probably would have ate it. Lunch consisted of military field rations, called meals ready to eat or MREs. However, snacks were a different matter. Affectionately known as “POG” bait, each Marine seems to carry an endless supply of candies, beef jerky, and sunflower seeds. The name comes from infantry Marines that call everyone else a “person other than grunt.” When a member brings out a snack, the others would slowly shuffle their way over to him saying, “POGY bait, mine, mine, mine.” It sounds similar to the seagulls on the movie “Finding Nemo.”

During the second day of live-fire a Japanese Self-Defense Force soldier stopped by their position and gave the team some Japanese field rations. The team thanked him by giving a few of their field rations back to him.

The more time I spend with gun team five, the more I respect each Marine on the team, and what they do on for a military occupational specialty. One of the most amazing things was no matter how bad the weather got, or how bored the team got, there was not very many complaints about it. The second day of live-fire it rained during the evening. That turned to cold with a strong breeze during the night. Even then, the team did not complain as much as I thought, or as much as they probably deserved too.