Interview with Patrick Fuller

Partial Transcript: So what made you decide to enlist in the Marines?

Segment Synopsis: Went to an all boys' Catholic High School, and had no desire to go to college. Uncle and father served in the army in WWII and Korea. Wanted to enlist in the army, but chose to be a marine.

Keywords: Korean War; Merrill's Marauders; US Army; US Marines; Vietnam War; WWII; merchant marines; military family

Partial Transcript: So what was your initial training like?

Segment Synopsis: Wanted to be an infantryman. Recruited in San Diego and trained in Camp Pendleton, California. Deployed first to Okinawa for 13 months. Then became an infantry training instructor at Camp Lejeune. At the end of enlistment, he wanted to become an officer. Enrolled at University of Toledo and joined the reserves in 1976-1980. Enrolled in Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Quantico in 1980, and returned to Camp LeJeune in 1981. Deployed to the Mediterranean, then Beirut Lebanon as a platoon commander in 1983.

Keywords: Beirut, Lebanon; Camp LeJeune; Camp Pendleton; Officer Candidate School (OCS); Quantico; US Marines; University of Toledo; infantry; marine reserves; officer training

Partial Transcript: Can you go into a little more detail about that particular mission?

Segment Synopsis: In 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon. US Marines served as a peace keeping force. PF did 180 patrols and brought all his forces back. Did surveillance and battle damage assessment, and provided security for the ambassador.

Keywords: Beirut, Lebanon; Sabra and Shatila massacre; US Marines; embassy security; military surveillance; reconnaissance

Partial Transcript: After that, the battalion that relieved us, 2nd battalion-- or I want to say 1st battalion, 8th Marines.

Segment Synopsis: After they were relieved, the barracks was bombed, and the battalion that replaced them lost a lot of marines. Some members of his battalion were deployed to fill their spots, but none from his platoon.

Keywords: Beirut, Lebanon; US Marines; air alert; bombing

Partial Transcript: Could you talk me through kind of like the procedure that you would go through if you were going to go on a combat patrol while you were in Beirut?

Segment Synopsis: Did two combat patrols per day, mostly by vehicle. Procedure was well established. Vehicles, weapons, ammo and equipment checked before patrol. Patrol lasted 4-5 hours. Some older jeeps broke down a lot.

Keywords: US Marines; combat mission

Partial Transcript: Did you run into-- PF: Did we have any combat situations?

Segment Synopsis: Patrolled East and West Beirut, and near the embassy. Were shot at a few times, but were seen as peace keepers. Aggression picked up more near the end.

Keywords: Beirut, Lebanon; US Marines

Partial Transcript: And after coming back from Lebanon, what was the next thing that--

Segment Synopsis: After Lebanon, moved leadership positions. Was company commander, briefly a lieutenant, then an assistant operations officer. Became an amphibious training instructor at Little Creek, Virginia. Became reacquainted with his family and had free time on weekends.

Keywords: Little Creek, Virginia; US Marines; Virginia, Beach

Partial Transcript: When did you transfer into the army from the marines?

Segment Synopsis: Was a reserve officer, and kept extending his active duty at Camp LeJeune. Applied for a regular commission to be a full time active duty officer, but ended up transferring to the Army to do it. Went to Army advanced course in Fort Benning, Georgia.

Keywords: Camp LeJeune; Extended Active Duty (EAD); US Army; US Marines; US Navy; marine reserves

Partial Transcript: Were there significant sort of cultural shifts?

Segment Synopsis: Took three years to understand the army from the marine corps. Army has more tanks and different equipment. Trained in Fort Benning, and was sent to the 82nd Airborne Division in 1987.

Keywords: Fort Benning; US Army; officer training

Partial Transcript: So what did you do during that time?

Segment Synopsis: Did logistic support for the battalion while it was doing training. Took over as a company commander in October 1987, then worked as a Commandant at the Advanced Airborne School, and finally became commander of a long-range surveillance company in June 1990 in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

Keywords: 82nd airborne division; US Army; logistics

Partial Transcript: Of course this is when the Gulf War started. Iraq attacked Kuwait.

Segment Synopsis: Gulf War began when Iraq attacked Kuwait. PF quickly left training in Fort Chaffee AK to meet his unit in Fort Bragg. Was in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield within a week. Waited at border of Saudi Arabia to anticipate an attack from Iraq. Had to adjust plan to the desert heat.

Keywords: Fort Bragg; Gulf War; Iraq; Operation Desert Shield; Saudi Arabia; US Army

Partial Transcript: Your mission was long-range surveillance?

Segment Synopsis: Did long-range surveillance from the ground in Saudi Arabia, some from helicopters. Got to know the desert and how to adjust their training.

Keywords: Gulf War; Saudi Arabia; US Army; military surveillance; military training

Partial Transcript: We got there-- We got there in August of 1980, or 1990, sorry, excuse me.

Segment Synopsis: Did surveillance from August 1990. Air war started in January 1991. Ground forces went forward in February 1991. Came back from Iraq by March 1991.

Partial Transcript: So you mainly did a lot of intelligence?

Segment Synopsis: When on surveillance missions, they are not supposed to engage in combat. They did one mission guarding a downed aircraft, and did surveillance on the fire fight between the Iraqi forces and insurgents. Sometimes Iraqi soldiers would surrender to them. Helped cross-training with Marines and Saudi officers. They were stationed in the West, far from the mine fields near Kuwait.

Keywords: Gulf War; Iraq; US Army; combat; military intelligence; military surveillance; surrender

Partial Transcript: What you're talking about, across the Euphrates, like Iraqis, there was like a rebellion?

Segment Synopsis: Iraqi Army was working to put down a rebellion against Saddam Hussein. PF's unit was not there to help the rebels, and the Iraqis were not belligerent towards them. Many more US casualties were expected, and PF was afraid Iraqi soldiers would be able to locate Army surveillance teams by their communication transmissions. At first, the Iraqi Army seemed impressive and well-equipped, but really they had old weapons and little food or water.

Keywords: Gulf War; Iraq; Iraqi Army

Partial Transcript: I mean, did that sort of inform you to-- I mean, the kind of-- I mean, I don't know, this is before my time...

Segment Synopsis: More concerned with everyday missions than with overall strategy. Listened to BBC radio for news.

Keywords: BBC; Gulf War; Saddam Hussein

Partial Transcript: Were you ever concerned about like chemical weapons being used?

Segment Synopsis: Had chemical suits and masks at hand all the time. Were well trained and had atropine injectors to treat chemical attacks.

Keywords: Gulf War; Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP); atropine; chemical weapons; military equipment

Partial Transcript: So could you sort of describe like what a six-man long-range reconnaissance surveillance team would do?

Segment Synopsis: Chose areas of interest to observe. Inserted surveillance team at night, via helicopter, when it was too dark to see. Team leader would hide with radio operator. Two two-man teams would dig a site to observe the objective, report back to radio operator. Brought ammunition and weapons, no body armor. Describes radios used.

Keywords: GPS; Gulf War; US Army; helicopter; military equipment; military surveillance; navigation; radio technology

Partial Transcript: If you could say a couple of things that you think were most conducive to the sort of like rout victory...

Segment Synopsis: Did not have exact intel, because enemy moved too much. But US Army was well trained, with 15-20 years to train after Vietnam, and had the best equipment.

Keywords: Gulf War; US Army; Vietnam War

Partial Transcript: Were there any signs while you were there that, sort of-- I mean, in hindsight, it's probably, you know...

Segment Synopsis: "We're always fighting a war behind... training for the last big engagement." Doesn't anticipate another open battle in the desert. Current battle is against counter-insurgencies, more urban warfare.

Keywords: Gulf War; Iraq War; military strategy

Partial Transcript: Were there any signs at the time, like while you were in Saudi Arabia...

Segment Synopsis: Never saw anti-American sentiment, but he was stationed in the desert and had little engagement with locals. Saudi Arabians were happy to have US Army there to help them.

Keywords: Gulf War; Saudi Arabia; US Army

Partial Transcript: Do you have like a, I don't know, like a favorite story or experience...

Segment Synopsis: Appreciates the people he trained with and worked with in the Marines and the Army. Had a rifle company in the 82nd Airborne Division that were very open and enthusiastic. Differences between rifle companies and surveillance teams.

Keywords: US Army; US Marines; military surveillance