A Tough Demanding Simulation of Combat

2 hours on, 2 hours off meant that Gary and I split the roughly 8 hours of the night. In other words, we both got about 4 hours of sleep. As our company perimeter came alive with the arrival of daylight, Gary and I heated up our C-ration meal and made a C-rat can of instant coffee.

Within less than an hour, we strapped on all our gear and began humping the rugged ridges of Camp Pendleton. By noon, the sun was blazing hot. Our clothing under our flak jacket was soaked with sweat. Those Marines lucky enough to have the right C-ration meals, only ate the can of fruit. The rest of the meal was too heavy in this heat.  Soon, we were hiking primitive trails.

We stopped where a dirt road intersected our trail. A water-buffalo – a trailer with a big tank of water – awaited us. We stopped while everyone filled all their canteens. We were also issued 2 more C-rat meals. We hiked until late afternoon then formed a company perimeter.

Everyone began to dig-in except those who were on ambush patrol that night. Ambush patrol meant, after dark, your squad hiked to a preselected spot on the map following your compass. Your whole squad – all 14 of us – were supposed to stay awake until just before first light. Then hike back to the company perimeter. Bottomline, we got even less sleep than the 4 hours we got the night before.

After rejoining our company we grabbed an hour or so of sleep until the sun came up. We ate our meal cold.  But we made our hot coffee with double sugars and double powered creamers. You grabbed any morsel of luxury you could scrouge up.

With all of our 50 pounds of gear strapped on, the company played war games – running day squad patrols trying to locate the aggressor force all day stopping only briefly midday. Soaked with sweat, humping dusty trails, we were all filthy. Some Marines grabbed 30 or 40 minutes of sleep rather than eat. That’s how tired we all were.

We ran patrols and hunted the aggressors until late afternoon. We stopped but did not form a perimeter or dig-in. We were given enough time to eat a C-rat meal and make and drink our coffee. But we did not unsaddle. We stayed saddled-up except for our packs.

At dusk, we began to hike single file along a narrow trail. This went on all night except for a short water break every hour or so. After what seemed forever, the first glimmer of dawn offered some solace. We stopped but only took our packs off. We ate a C-rat meal and drank our double-enriched coffee, then saddled up again.

We hiked until late morning, then entered a wide meadow that abutted a dirt road. We grouped as companies then flaked out. We were waiting for trucks to take us back to our huts.

I was so wasted, I flopped in the dirt and was instantly out. The sleep of the dead. I have no idea how long I slept but the next thing I knew, Gary was shaking me awake.

“Hey, Man,” the trucks are here. I heard his voice as if through a tunnel. He shook me but I just didn’t care. I don’t think I had ever been so tired.

“Joe, get your ass up. We gotta board the trucks.”  He shook me violently. I reluctantly joined the living and clambered up onto the bed of one big six-bye truck. The metal truck bed was so hot it burned bare flesh.

The convoy of big olive-green trucks rumbled down the dirt road. When the convoy hit the paved road, it picked up speed. The breeze felt heavenly.  It reminded me of the cool, fresh breeze on a helicopter. That experience seemed months ago.

The trucks pulled into the area in front of our huts.  

“Get your asses off those trucks. Inspection in one hour,” yelled the company gunnery sergeant.

Everyone groaned but obeyed promptly.

We hustled into our huts, dumped our gear and started cleaning.

About an hour later our platoon sergeant stuck his head in our hut door and commanded, “In formation with your gear on the company street. NOW!”

Our company formation was a rag-tag looking bunch. The company sergeant gave us the once-over.

“Bunch of sorry-ass Marines.” He said and smiled.  “Enjoy your liberty. We board trucks for the train at oh-nine hundred hours tomorrow morning. Good work this week, men.”

Gary, Eric and me took showers, put on our civies and headed for evening chow. We did not realize how starved we were until we started eating. Stuffed, we shuffled back to the hut. I couldn’t wait to flop in my rack and just sleep.

The sun was up when I woke up. I couldn’t find Gary or Eric, so I headed for the chow hall.

“Well, no shit, sleeping beauty!” Eric said sarcastically.

“I’d still be sleeping if I wasn't so hungry."

We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. Then straggled back to our hut to pack up. While we were getting organized, the truck convoy arrived. We loaded up and the trucks took off.  I looked at the brutally demanding mountains of Camp Pendleton. Well, I won’t be back here for another year, I thought. Little did I know.

At the station, we boarded the train. It was a quiet train ride. I slept most of the way. If combat is that hard and you’re getting shot at too...

We are surrounded by slow epidemics of obesity, type-2 diabetes, and dementia. A major study published in Nature in 2025 reported that environment (your lifestyle) is ten times more powerful than genetics. That proves how much control we actually have over our health if we lead a clean, high-quality life. Drink only water. Eat at least a gram complete, high-quality animal protein per pound of body weight per day. Include plenty of Super Omega-3 fish oil and healthy fats like olive oil and avocado oil in your diet. And do at least 30 minutes of full-body aerobic exercise like walking with Heavy Hands 3 to 5 times a week.

This simple formula will give you the best chance of attaining your 80’s (I am 82) and 90’s with a clear, sharp mind and a fully functional body.

Again, thank you for your support. I wish you and your family the very best of health.
Joe

Start your day with a JDD protein shake like Joe!