ANTHOLOGY AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY                                          109


    There were, however, grim reminders of the Iraqi troops who once manned
the now-burning tanks and artillery: combat boots sitting beside foxholes, pots
with halfeaten portions of rice perched atop charred rocks and twigs, makeshift
tables set for the next meal.
    Across the desert, Iraqi troops emerged from hundreds of bunkers waving
white undershirts and white toilet paper streamers in surrender.    They flocked
toward the Americans, kissing the troops and wailing thanks.
    One young Marine corporal drove a truckload of prisoners into a rear
American base camp after a long trip from the front lines and flagged down his
commander, Brig. Gen. Charles Knilak.            11Watch this, general,11 he ordered.
The Marine then turned to the assembled captives and raised his voice: IF Old
McDonald had a farm....' He paused and pointed to the Iraqi soldiers.       They
responded in unison, "E-i, E-i, 0."
    On the battlefield one afternoon, Boomer peered through binoculars at an
endless line of humanity stretching across the desert horizon. Unable to contain
his curiosity, he ordered his driver to head for the spot.
    Military police had been so overwhelmed by prisoners of war that they had
fashioned a makeshift prison camp from coils of concertina wire and herded
about 3,500 tired and hungry Iraqi soldiers into the corral.
    As Boomer paced the perimeter of the encampment, trailed by bodyguards
and a reporter, a buzz of whispers rose from the rows prisoners squatting on the
sand. I asked a Kuwaiti officer accompanying the Americans to interpret the
prisoners' comments.  11They're saying, `1Look, there's a woman over there,'1
he replied.
    On what would become the final night of the ground war, after allied troops
had encircled Kuwait City, Boomer was awakened by a frustrated voice outside
his tent: `11t's the [expletivej president.    He's trying to reach the [expletive] CO
[commanding general] and we can't get a connection!'1
    11As smart as these kids are,11 Boomer said later, sometime you'd think they
know only one word."
    When the war came to an abrupt halt after President Bush ordered a ceasefire
that Wednesday morning (Feb. 27), a large percentage of the ground troops who
swept through Kuwait and Iraq had seen little combat.      Over the next few hours
some expressed disappointment over the ease of the victory.      But they also felt
guilty for feeling that disappointment.        In the same breath, they were relieved
that few of their buddies had fallen in combat.
    The commanders, after praising the plans, the weapons and the troops, then
paused to reflect their awe at the relatively light number of American casualties.
"I would like to tell you we're that good,' said one commander.        11But we're
not.  The only thing I can attribute it to is luck and lots of prayers.'
    When the first American troops, who had been stationed at desert outposts
since August, reached the outskirts of Kuwait City early Wednesday morning
after the initial ceasefire, they were almost incredulous.     One young Marine
peered out the window of his truck as it approached the city, "Hey, there's grass
out there. 11 A few minutes later he pointed to the horizon, `1They even have trees
here--I haven't seen a tree in months.'