After yelling for the "doc" I explained that every muscle in my body was beginning to cramp up. He said "this is normal at high altitudes." I was starting to walk side ways instead of forward and my every piece of equipment seemed to of have tripled in weight. As we continued my shortness of breath was starting to make me worry. I now knew I must control my breathing or I would be in for a very memorable unwanted day. My buddy relieved me of my radio duties and my water started to weigh me down. One foot in front of the other we continued up Mt. Mauna Kea.
I was not the only Marine in pain that day but that didn't make me feel any better. I must say the view three hundred and sixty degrees round was "moon" like. Massive slabs of rock were piled on top of each other. At times the enormous slabs became huge round boulders. Nothing little enough to hold in our hands. It then dawned on me that I could be the first Marine to ever walk on certain rocks. And I could also be the first Marine to die on a particular rock. Our column of Marines and one sailor seemed to be spread out very far. Stragglers were starting to drift noticeably to much to either side. Zig zagging was no longer a must but zigging was the plan of the day. Cool air burns the throat as hot flames burn the feet. Sweat when hit by wind quickly becomes chilly and dries to form salt marks.
Uniforms are flapping in the wind as the weather becomes unpredictable. We are now in heaven and the pain will not let up. Walking through clouds will definitely make one contemplate his decision to volunteer for anything. The clouds are cool and wet and can be moved by swatting at them. Man will do anything to occupy his mind to keep from going crazy when his limits are being tested. So a swatting Marines I was. We finally managed to clear the clouds and then we took another break. Salt tablets and water went down like steak and beer. At this point the human body does not know what it wants. Stopping only prolonged the pain so our breaks were cut shorter and shorter.
To light headed and winded to puff one up, but what the hell we all gotta die sometime. Cigarettes at this elevation taste like crap. Come to think of it everything up here taste like crap. It's a very strange feeling when one looks around and sees no one and nothing familiar. The look downhill is temporarily covered by the clouds and no animals aside from us can be seen or heard. If one was to meet his maker up here it would definitely be a very peaceful way to go. The sound is eerily quiet and no echo exist. We are on land not many have stepped foot on nor have many seen. The summit is not gonna come to us so once again we saddle up and suck it up!
The pace is extremely slow and our column is undisciplined. At times it seems to me as if zombies are behind me. Our movements are unpredictable and our appearances are of pure exhaustion.The human body when pushed to extreme limits will show you who is in charge. A strong mind on this day nets you a huge advantage. We started like a walk in the park and now we are walking with the devil. Like a ton of rocks thrown out a window down goes a Marine. He twitches and will now receive a "shot" of adrenaline. I notice he is twitching on a huge black rock. It's the only black rock up here. I'm guessing this mountain was a bit prejudice. By the time I reach SGT "Twitch a lot" he is doing better.
He babbles something to me and I babble back. Quitting is never an option but suicide is often contemplated. The problem is there is nothing to kill ourselves with up here. I remember thinking to myself "if ever I was to grow wings and fly, this would be a good time for it to happen." I had had it. No mas for this cowboy. See you all in hell...Hallucinations become common through my eyes and I begin to question whether the summit was meant for me to see. My buddy quickly points out my options..either hurry up and die or move your silly ass. What a motivator he was that day. For my ass continued to drag but in the direction of the summit.
By hour number seven and a half my water was dried up. Come to think of it not many had any liquid gold left. Even our reserve storage had been tapped dry. As if all my ailments were not enough I now began to hear things. I was hearing my First Sgt. yell that "the top is visible". Only this was no dream, he was yelling from the front of our broken column. He could see what everyone was wanting to see. At the summit enormous golf balls awaited us. I wondered if these balls were purposely put up here to show one and all what it takes to make it up here. They were property of the University of Hawaii. I was still about thirty minutes from any golfing but his words did put a small flame under my ass. Left right left right I do not remember how this was possible. I felt like throwing up, my head hurt, my feet blistered, my shoulders stiff, my nose throbbing, my lungs burning, my every muscle twitching and my joints aching. But asides from that I felt like a million dollars.
I would soon be sitting on the highest point in the Pacific and the highest point in the world if measured from underneath the sea to the top. A Marine Recon squad had accomplished this same mission in under five hours. So there was no doubt that we were not Recon Marines. My eyes could see Marines resting and laying on a road while others reenacted Mt Suribachi. Marines are such weirdos. After nearly dieing we are now filled with energy and a party seems appropriate. Like the turtle in a race here I came. BOOM. I undo my harness and let it fall. I holler for water and it taste as good as a cold Budweiser on a hot summer day. MRE's are issued and some decide to get an I.V.
The body is hungry and the MRE taste like chicken ala king. So now life is coming back. WOW this nightmare is over and I can not get up. My buddy helps me up and we pull out our sign that we had made back at base. It reads, " 13,796 ft into the sky. Perez and Jones are in heaven on this day. Semper Fi 1/3 Comm. kicks ass!!" Pictures are priceless and so is a friendship. Semper Fi!
