WHITE ALERT!
Excerpt from the book “We Shall Return” by Captain Farinella of the 4th Infantry Regiment
Second Lieutenant Mario Héctor Juárez of the 4th Regiment recalls:
Our 120mm mortar position was, quite logically, set farther back than the front-line units. This meant we were somewhat isolated — even with our TA-321 PT field phones. In a strange way, that semi-isolation gave our days a certain rhythm; a kind of quiet routine that felt almost like being among family. Or more precisely, camaraderie.
As the leader of that small “family,” I made sure everything that mattered to us ran smoothly. One method we devised to keep the unit sharp and responsive was using colour-coded alerts to signal different enemy actions.
“Red Alert” meant air attack.
“Black Alert” meant enemy landing.
We’d even add directions — “Red Alert from the North!” — so everyone knew where to expect the enemy and prepare their weapons accordingly.
Our mortar position, shielded by a ring of rocks, was a rare luxury in that harsh environment. It gave us shelter from the biting winds, freezing rain, and constant cold — conditions that made even basic cooking an ordeal.
In my role as head of this makeshift family, whenever a food-related emergency arose, I’d initiate a special protocol I’d created myself: “White Alert.” This wasn’t a colour used for actual combat purposes — it was strictly internal code.
One morning, someone suddenly shouted, “White Alert from the South!”
Instantly, the men sprang into action, grabbing helmets, rushing to positions, bracing for an attack. The shout had been loud enough to set off a chain reaction — even those who hadn’t heard it directly copied the urgent behaviour around them. In a matter of seconds, nearly the entire position was on high alert.
After five or ten minutes of tense waiting, confusion began to spread. People started asking what exactly was going on — what was this White Alert? No one seemed to know.
I had to step in and explain: it was just three or four sheep that had wandered nearby. The “alert” had been intended solely for the rescue party, so they could rush out and catch them.
Dinner was served that night.