Temporary Archive: Suzanne Brockmann's Message Board

Okay, so we are in Honduras—Puerta Castilla as I recall. We were doing a Foreign Internal Defense mission (FID), training the Buzos Tactico (Tactical Divers) in use of explosives, dive gear maintenance and small unit tactics. The big op at the end of the training is going to be an underwater demolition job to clear a wreck from a shipping channel. So we were about two weeks into it when it was time to fly into the hinterland to start work on clearing the wreck. I am talking to the pilots when one of my guys comes up and says,”LT, Can we trade a case or two of MREs for some bananas?” “Sounds good.” Okay, so, I was preoccupied but I should have considered one thing—we were in the center of the Dole plantation and asked one thing—“what is the exchange rate” So I go back to the helo and it is filled with explosives and about 30 crates of bananas. No big deal, hell bananas are light—so we load up and fly to one of the most miserable hell holes I have ever been in. I mean, thick with bugs—hot—hell hot and uber humid. Every once in a while you would here a scream and see someone fleeing into the water to escape the bugs---Now, we are operating out of an old shrimp cannery that is on a cattle ranch. We set up the general purpose medium tent and move the explosives and bananas in –(aside, helo flares on landing causing the entire batroom building to blow over—there is actually a guy sitting thee wondering what the hell just happened) so—anyway, a few hours later I am giving a brief on the next days activities when I see one of my guys eyes go WAY wide---and he says “Shit” and starts to run. I know I don’t want to see what is going on but turn anyway---ready for the lessons of the day? Cows love bananas! The are absolutely kookoo for cocoa puffs over bananas. The also have no concern about trampling explosives to get to them. So, you know something else interesting about cows---no matter what you do—how hard you whack them or try and scare them or show them the tent has no bananas---the cows will return to the banana tent---we had to post a freaking anti-bovine guard---