Submitted by: Bob Dobson
When the ground war started I was escorting a reporter from Stars and Stripes and another service. When the time table shifted we were scrambling to capture the first shot fired and located 2 HOW. The platoon we were watching fired its mission and prepared to jump. The Plt Leader, Gene Lanzillo came over at my request to speak to the reporters.
I had known Gene for sometime and always appreciated his good humor and professionalism. In the days leading up to war I wondered how so many young leaders, untried by battle, would perform. When Gene came up to us I had my answer. He was beaming with justified pride. His platoon had just fired its first shots in anger. Just as he had trained them. They performed flawlessly and he was proud. I also saw that he knew this was no training exercise and the business he was engaged [in] that day was earnest and deadly. Over the next four days 2 HOW would fire many other missions, but from this moment on, I for one had no doubt they would all be well executed.
Originally posted by Isaac Golding, 23 Feb 1991
Subject: Artillery
Type: Personal Recollection
Date: 1991 Feb