The Para Flare Experience
While with 2 VP we were conducting night training with live fire exercise. My buddy and I had the trench with the GPMG. Not sure of the location but like most training areas it was sandy. In any case, it was a little cool and drizzly out. Getting close to midnight we got the word that an attack was imminent. Within minutes the “attack” began and as usual, after a few rounds down range, the GPMG clogged up . With no time to clean, my bud thought it time to light up the attack perimeter and began to launch a para flare. What happen next was that the flare shot backwards into the trench. We wondered WTF happened as my bud ensured he had the right end up and removed the cap. He pulled the string and once more we were dancing around our trench. When asked over the radio, we advised we just had two NS para flares. In any case, as I examined the spent tubes, I noticed one thing – my brother had forgotten to take the top cap off. We quickly got the caps off and threw them away and ensured the rest of our supply worked OK. Enjoy many a cool one and much laughter in the time since when thinking about that……