US Navy Adventures in Peru

My US Navy Adventures in Peru started on the USS Gunston Hall, LSD-44. We were on a UNITAS deployment to South America as well as South and West Africa. We had already made a stop for Liberty call in Columbia, passed through the Panama Canal. I also had a deployment to Ecuador. It was pretty cool, but I’ll tell you that story some other time. After my deployment in Ecuador, we arrived in Peru and my adventure started. See the rest of the story below.

My US Navy Adventures Begins in Peru

During my US Navy Adventures in Peru, I was the Independent Duty Corpsman. I provided support of the UNITAS Marines and Sailors we brought aboard the USS Gunston Hall. But the ship also had its own complement of Officers, crew and medical personnel. I was responsible for all the healthcare needs of over 350 Marines and Sailors. I can’t remember the exact number. But my job was to examine, diagnose, and treat any person’s illness or injury that occurred. I had a staff of 10 additional corpsmen of various ranks to assist me and also provide other healthcare and medical administrative services. The ship itself had a crew of about 400 officers and crew. Hence, it was a pretty big ship at 610 feet long or about 190 meters. So, a grand total of over 750 people onboard.

US Navy Adventures in Peru Transit to Our Destination

We cruised down the coast from Ecuador to Peruvian waters and then anchored near the coast. We got up at a dark dismal three in the morning August 23, 2001. Because our contingent of Marines and Sailors were going for Jungle Survival Training with the Peruvian Commandos. It was a small contingent of only about 40 people. Once we were ready, we assembled in the LMC-8 boats (aka “Mike Boats”). We took the Mike Boats ashore and disembarked. Then we loaded onto buses and then went to the airport in Lima. From there, we also took a 3-hour flight over the Peruvian Andes to Iquitos Peru, on a tributary of the Amazon (Rio Amazonas). The Andes were beautiful to see as we flew over – Amazing! Then, as we crested the Andes, the beautiful lush jungle lay before us as far as the eye could see.

We Arrive in Iquitos to Start Our US Navy Adventures in Peru

From the Airport we were taken by busses to the river. We also got into boats that took us to the Peruvian Commando base, “Infanteria De Marina” and they showed us where we would be staying for part of the training. It was an open bay barracks – very much like Boot Camp barracks. I also remember commenting that the beds were pretty good. I was actually expecting to be sleeping in the jungle the entire time. But luckily, I was mistaken. The restroom facilities were okay too. After that long journey, we bedded down for the night.

We Met the Comandante Before Our Jungle Training

First, we met with the Comandante of the base. He was very nice and welcoming. I was a little surprised because he didn’t use an interpreter. He actually spoke pretty good English. After that, we also had a survival course on how to make a raft out of a backpack. Then the personnel got a Liberty brief. It was a standard brief. I added that they needed to stay away from the prostitutes. They’re Marines though, so obviously many didn’t listen. Case in point a few weeks later one of those Marines said that he had something he wanted me to look at. So, I looked and he had genital warts. This married man with 2 children’s excuse? “It was the only time I had ever been unfaithful. How could this happen to me? It was only once!” My compassionate reply? “It only takes once.”

I Stayed at the Barracks That Night

The overnight liberty that the troops got to enjoy was uneventful. Just the standard debauchery that young and also middle-aged men get involved with – alcohol and women. I didn’t go out with them. I stayed in the barracks overnight and rested. But my junior corpsman was with them if they needed any healthcare. I don’t drink or mess around on my wife, so I had no reason to go into town overnight. I just relaxed in the barracks.

Liberty Call Can be a US Navy Adventures in Peru All by Itself

The next day I went out for a couple of hours with our Gunny, GySgt Lopez. I bought a couple of little trinkets. I ate a nice meal at a place called Ari’s Burger in the Plaza de Armas. For dessert, I also had Brazil Nut ice cream. Oh, and I also tried Inca Kola. It’s pretty good stuff. It’s made from a plant called Lemon verbena. Its leaves have a lemon-lime flavor, so Inca Kola tastes kind of like sweet lemon-flavored bubblegum. Thus, it’s a sweet and interesting soda. If you ever have a chance, it’s worth a try. Liberty is over and the next day we start training.

Training Starts at the Pistol Range

I squeezed off a few rounds, but my primary job was to be available in case of injury. I was at the range with two of the Peruvian Commando Medics. They were not as well equipped as I was. But they’re equipment was adequate. I was glad the basic necessities were available. Also, while we were at the range, we saw the grass being cut nearby. You know, to keep the base looking nice. Check this out! How do Peruvian Commandos mow the lawn? A 20-man working party with machetes! It was awesome to watch! Because they were on their knees in a staggered formation and slicing the grass down as they moved across the field. Very cool.

Booby Trap Training

The Commandos showed us several different types of booby traps and how to construct them. It’s been so long since that training I can’t remember how to make any of the traps. Most of my day was spent as medical support. So, I treated the 1^st LT for diarrhea and then one of the Peruvians came to me with an earache, so I treated him. He didn’t have an infection, but just a bug in his ear. I extracted the little critter out of his ear and the Commando was healed. Halleluiah! I’ve had innumerable experiences like that. Because you do one simple thing that they cannot do for themselves and they’re healed and you’re a momentary hero. Fun stuff. I also had a chance to visit their medical facility. It was adequate for the size of the base but had very few medications.

Animal Trap Training

I really enjoyed this training and I also took notes and drew diagrams. I’ll share one of these traps with you. So, this trap is a Drop Trap. You craft a pyramid-shaped cage. Also, tie a string to the back 2 corners and tilt the front up. You prepare a brace that falls apart pretty easily and you also tie the string to the two-piece brace. Bait the trap. As the critter walks into the trap it bumps the string making the two-piece prop stick fall apart. Hence, the trap comes down trapping the animal inside. Works well with birds and small animals. See the diagram above.

Survival is All About Water, Food, and Shelter

The first thing they showed us was which vines provided good water to drink. Hence, you want the vines with rough-looking bark. Only the red or yellow/green bark, but never black bark or vines with thorns. Taste it first to see if it’s bitter. Bitter is poison, so don’t drink it. Make sure you cut the vine about 1.5 to 2 meters long. But keep the ends pointing up. Tip the vine up and drink from one end. It’s not much water, but it will sustain you. I saw the instructor turn up the vine and get about one cup of water from it. He tied the ends together so he could take it with him – like a canteen.

Survival Food

They then showed us the various eatable plants and animals and had us sample them. Salted piranha and capybara are okay but most of the fruit wasn’t very tasty. The “heart of palm” was okay. It tastes a little like broccoli. Coconuts were another good water source and food source.

Three Types of Shelters

The first was a sort of an A-frame structure with a seat they made from branches. The roof made of banana leaves. The second was a Lean-to structure, which was actually the easiest to construct. Two frames of different heights with a roof thatched with leaves. Finally, the most complex structure. It was kind of like a tiny House without walls but with a bench across the back and a low sloping roof thatched with leaves. The A-frame could be sat in, the Lean-to could accommodate a raised bench-like bed or cot. The House had a built-in raised bench-like bed for sleeping as part of its construction. So it was interesting to watch them. It was even more interesting to watch the Marines try to duplicate them. But they did okay and I’m sure they would improve with practice.

Medical Emergency During My US Navy Adventures in Peru

The Peruvians, who are obviously used to the heat and humidity, decided to do a strength and endurance exercise. Understandable, but some of my Marines were ill-equipped for that much heat and humidity. The first Marine to have some problems but stopped in time to recover with just oral hydration. The second one went down hard. He had developed heat exhaustion. So we gave an IV and medevaced him to the hospital in Iquitos called Horario de Vista Hospital. About an hour after getting the IV fluids our Marine finally woke up. He was very confused. He didn’t remember anything, so we had to tell him about his entire ordeal. We finally got transportation back to the base at about 10:00 pm. Both the Marines that had trouble because of the heat and humidity recovered completely and had a good night’s rest.

Preparation for Our Jungle Deployment Exercise

We loaded all our gear into a Hospital Riverboat and made the trip to our destination. Consequently, this riverboat was much like a Mississippi riverboat. But set up as a hospital. It took a long time to get to where we were going. Upon arrival, we slept on the deck of the riverboat and got an early start in the morning. In my notes, I also commented on my horrible night’s sleep. The next morning, we disembarked the riverboat with all our gear and walked into the jungle down a path that gradually became narrower as we walked.

Physically, the Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done

We marched through the jungle for 3.5 hours through mud, across makeshift bridges, and also a river tributary. I was carrying a 40-pound pack on my back as well as a 40-pound medical bag on my chest trying to keep pace with Marines. I’m only 5’7” and have a 29-inch inseam so I had to take many more steps than the average Marine. I was exhausted when we finally arrived at our destination. We set up camp near a small village. About 10 huts, a one-room schoolhouse, no running water or electricity. September 4^th, 2001, treated an infant with an eye infection and gave instructions to its mother through an interpreter. I also treated other members of the village. But I didn’t have the right kind of medicine to treat a couple of them. So, I suggested that they go to the hospital in Iquitos.

The March Out of the Jungle During My US Navy Adventures in Peru

We were woken up at 4:00 am September 5^th, 2001 and packed our gear. Hence, our long walk to the Hospital Riverboat began at 6:30 am. It rained almost the entire time we were trudging through the Jungle. So, that made everything much harder. The mud was deeper and also all the little streams were raging. Including that river tributary, we had to cross. So, it was horrible! The most grueling thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. I actually thought that I might collapse and die right there in the jungle of Peru. But I lived and we had an uneventful riverboat ride back to the Peruvian Commando Base. That next day we cleaned up our gear. We then rested and anticipated a couple more liberty days that very next day.

Final Days of Liberty Call

It was the usual Marine Corps liberty call lots of food, fun, debauchery, lasciviousness, as well as drunkenness. Many of the Marines drank themselves into vomiting and dry-heaves. One Marine was so drunk the other Marines had to carry him back to the barracks. To make sure he kept breathing through the night they posted a watch. Thus, Marines work hard and play hard. The liberty the following day was canceled. They had too much “fun” We did have a picnic on the base and had a great time. September 7^th, 2001 was proclaimed my Peruvian Birthday. Several Marines grabbed me and tossed into the water. It was just a crazy game. But it was fun – wet but fun. Consequently, they did the same thing to the Officers.

Completed My US Navy Adventures in Peru

The trip back to Lima, Peru and to our ship was uneventful. We got up early for our trip and prepared to load up at about 3:00 am. We arrived back in time to visit Lima and get a good meal before the next day. I had a good time, returned to the ship, and got a good night’s rest. That next day was horrible though. At 8:48 am on September 11^th, 2001 there was a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The entire ship wanted to go to war and I wanted someone to pay too. We immediately began contingency preparations for war. But our ship did not divert from our UNITAS Deployment. A horrible day in US history. Please don’t forget. Because almost 3,000 people have died. Please don’t forget.