(Boot Camp Memories) Night in a fox hole

(Boot Camp Memories) Night in a fox hole

In boot camp we were out during our week for combat exercises, we had been up for about 36 hours  and had settled down in a  perimeter that had fighting position dug that we had to man.  Half of the platoon was to sleep and we would switch every 2 hours.  I was so tired that I just laid my head against the side of the fox hole and zoned out.

My buddy woke me up after two hours, and dropped off to sleep.  I suddenly realized that that the entire side of my face was completely numb and I could barely move my jaw, it was as if the entire side of my face had been injected with Novocaine .  I sat there trying to think what to do, as we were not allowed to have any light or make any sounds, so being a good Marine I stayed at my post.

The dawn started to break and the numbness had started to recede, looking down at were my head had been laying I noticed a trail of ants.  Taking out my shaving mirror I looked at my face, the whole right side is swollen and there is a line of bites running down my face where I had been laying against the side of the fox hole.  By the time the day ended my face was back to normal except for the line of bites, the took a few days to heal.

Now you know that you have to be tired to not know or be awakened while you are being bitten by a bunch ants.    During my time in the Corps there were may occasions that I would go to sleep in places that you would not think you could sleep in.