Failed Escape Attempt

8/13/90 1430 hrs. Well Hon, I'm not writing this from a safe hotel room. We're back at Mario and Sarah's. We were so close, and SO in the center of the Iraqi defenses. Tanks and artillery were everywhere we looked. I think we tried over four routes. We were turned around at road blocks, over half a dozen times. God was with us. No major incidents. But...we didn't get out. My day went like this:


I was up at 0530. Took a shower at 0600. Listened to BBC. Put on our dishtashas (like we would fool someone). Left Mario's about 0830. Met at the guide's house about 0900. Left there around 0935. Destination: Saudi.

Every route we took ended up a dead end. After three tries, we came back. We were unloading the vehicles, when one of the Kuwaitis drove up and said there was another route to try, and that the guide was waiting for us. Most of the group had had enough. The two Bobs were still willing to try. Phill jumped in with them, George jumped in, so I jumped in their car too. We headed off. The three Filipinos were still game, as well. All my faith was with God. What would be, would be as God would allow.

God allowed us a view of the war zone, and brought us home safely. Something very large hit our windshield, right in front of Canada Bob's face. We all jumped at the thud, as it smashed into the glass. We made it thru a road block about 1230. Earlier in the day, we had been turned around at this same check point. I thought we were gonna make it now. We made it thru a few more check points. We even got off the main road and went onto the desert. I'm not sure how far we drove on the sand, maybe a mile or two. Then we came upon a road. I thought it was the road we saw on the map, on the Saudi side of the border. No such luck. A couple of Kuwaitis got their cars stuck in the sand. We all got out to help push. Probably all thinking of the Brit who was shot (I think doing the same thing). It was hot, dry and windy. And the spinning tires gave me a face full of sand. We managed to get the cars out, one being a station wagon. We drove on the road.

It was about 1330 hrs. Gas was getting low. I thought now, we would die out here. Iraqi tanks were parked along this route, to the left and the right. Target practice, anyone? Seems like we drove up and down the main line of their defenses. They are definitely dug in.

I am going to drink a lot of wine now. Don't want to run out of paper writing this journal. Nine days until our anniversary. Ninth, isn't it? I love you and miss you!