The White Rabbit

From 1985-1989, I served in the 24th Inf. Div. Charlie Batt. 2nd-35th Field Artillery, Fort Stewart, Ga. I was the driver, #1 man of 4th section base piece for four years. When I first came to the 24th, we had a very worn out Vietnam era M-109. Every time we fired, the Jesus nuts would loosin' up. They were stripped out. It also would lose at least two quarts of hydraulic fluid every time we fired. Her name was 'White Rabbit'. I put up such a fight, that they eventually retired the gun.

We finally got a brand new M109 howitzer. The only one 'new' in the whole battalion. My chief said since I was the driver, the maintenance man and #1 man, I got to name the gun. It took me two weeks. After firing it several times (time on target!), only one thing came to mind: ' Body Count;' thus its new nick name. My chief and I rigged up an AC/DC converter (from a pawn shop) in the gun so we could hear music from my boom box to the intercom and turned up the governor on the twin turbo diesel from 55 to 65. Had to tighten up the tension on the idler wheels...man she'd fly! I loved that gun. I wish I could fire her again; charge #7, white bag, high angle.