Chapter 3 The boy who cried bullets
Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.-John lennon Imagine
Half way through training half way to war, a bitter sweet feeling comes with that knowledge of that fact.
Alot has changed over the last month. Me Dom Dog With a Taco and Okan were doing the best we could luckily our drill instructor Delirium took a liking to Dog With a Taco as Dog With a Taco was a great shot and very respectful and as he would say a Model marine. However he played a different tune to Okan better known as grim reaper. Okan was a conscript as they called them he didn't enlist and boy did it show.
We made friends with him and helped him when we could but we could see he grew more and more distant from us as days and weeks sped behind us, Pretty soon we almost never saw him. Today was rifle Practice we were going to learn to shoot. We marched as we always do on our way to the gun range The gun range was a small open field With chalk outlines and sandbags on where we were suppose lineup across from us were targets in shape of silhouettes of soldiers. Placed on the targets were circular boards like a dart board you would find at a local bar. One by one Our instructor had us line up. He began “Today you will learn how to properly shoot your weapon you will be giving sub standard issued bolt action rifles as you are not yet fit for a modern weapon Do I make myself clear?”
Once again in unison “SIR YES SIR”. But from my right I heard but a mumble. The Instructor turned to cadet who chose not give a full answer. The instructor angrily stated “Private Okan, Last time I checked you referred to me a sir Is this correct Private?” He responded with a weak “yes..” The instructors faced turned as red as fire “Did I not make myself clear you utter useless piece of dog shit”. Confused Private okan continued “Uhh SIR YES SIR I mean uh SIR NO SIR” The instructor quickly barked out “Get on the ground Keep doing push ups until I say stop”. Okan fell to the ground and begin slowly. The instructor cleared his throat and began again “We I say fire you fire when I say chamber you will chamber your next bullet and when I say reload you will reload is that clear” Once again “SIR YES SIR” one by one we walked forward and took our rifles. We took aim at the silhouettes across from each one of our posts on my right was Dog With a Taco and on my left was Dominic.
I could see Dog With a Taco through the sandbags separating us his concentration was set on his target and nothing outside of his focus. As I sighted back in and set my gaze upon my target the drill instructor yelled “Fire” shakenly fire fired then he stated “Chamber” then “Aim” and once again “Fire”. These drill continued for what felt like hours. It as if though was a endless repetitive task. By the time we finished the sun had nearly set. As feel rose up and returned back to the line one by one I could see okan still doing pushups just he seemed almost half dead by now. The drill instructor turned towards okan and admittedly asked him to stop. Okan slowly rose to his feet and looked towards the drill instructor began saying “Now what is the correct answer Private Okan”. Okan look like he was seconds away from responded with a weak “Sir.. Yes sir.”. The instructor retorted with a smile and said “That's what I thought maybe if you can learn to say three words maybe you not dumb enough to be a marine” once again okan respond quietly “Sir yes sir” we took the rifles given to us and returned to our bunks for the night. As I turned to see okan expression after what had just been through his face there was but no emotion his face was as blank as a slate of chalk. That night was silent just like any other but I had this gut wrenching feeling something wasn't right. We returned to the rifle range and begin the drills again but then drill instructor ordered us to stop. Apparently Okan didn’t know how to shoot his gun. We stepped back and lined up behind the firing line while okan stayed there we knew the drill instructor was going to make an example out of okan. He went up to okan and demand he explain why he was not firing Okan responded with “I think my gun broke let me look”.
He look down his rifle and his hand slipped and pulled the trigger. His body dropped to ground all of us were stunned Dom bursted out “HE JUST DUN SHOT EM’ SELF!”. I don't believe anyone of us had seen death this close to us until now. It felt as if time froze every thing came to a stand still. The drill instructor angrily whispered under his breath “God damnit not another one”. We were sent back to our bunk and told that we were to remain there for the rest of the day. I don't think any of us slept that night. None us had been that close to death but we all realized it was matter of time before we saw all too much of it.
Chapter 4 The Village
It was a week since our mission was first assigned to us. Were to go to a village and speak with the villagers and get information on where the Current Viet-cong Forward Operating Base is located.
We were to be dropped off by Helios. As we boarded the aircraft we were met by a helicopter pilot named smiley. On by one we leaped onto the helicopter gun in hand ready for what was yet to face us. We knew it would be long flight to village. As we were inbound to the village I turned to see Dominic at this point was damn near half green he looked sick half near death I asked him “Your first time flying?” He responded “more like I wish it was my last” I silently chuckled. as I looked down throughout the flight I could see it all from the beautiful green tops of the canopies below to the large open rice fields. Once again we were left alone to our thoughts and were left waiting once again. One thing that confused me from the start was that fact our pilot smiley was a women. I turn towards the front of the helicopter and remarked “I didn't know they let fly” quick witted she responded with “And I didn't know they let pile of shits enlist” I and chuckled and responded with “shut up bitch”. I looked towards Dog With a Taco to see what he was doing to pass the time. I could see it in his eyes they were transfixed of the view below us. I said “Vietnam’s beautiful is it not?” Slowly he turned to me then smiled and said “still not as beautiful as home”. He was right every time I was alone all I could think about was getting home, getting to see my family, friends and to finally make a name for myself I thought “war hero” suit me fine enough.
Erik chimed in and said “right now the most beautiful I can think of is a pack of smokes”
We chuckled and returned to what we were doing. Then I noticed lewee our squad his eyes were transfixed not on the view of Vietnam but something else. Something I couldn't see it but I damn well knew he could. It's what they call the thousand yards stare, something that's vets who had seen all too much had to carry with them. It was quite obvious lewee had some sobering up.
Since our last encounter with the congers.
Finally after waiting we could see the village
It was only a few straw huts with some villagers as we landed we leapt out of the helicopter all while the blades were still spinning in front of us was another squad of marines preparing to leave. but there was only four of them. but before i could ponder why I could see a large black body bag it wasn't hard to put two and two together. Lewee ran forward to speak with them as we stayed by helicopter and unloaded our equipment. Two of the marines picked up the large black bag by both sides and lifted it onto the heli after lewees conversation with the other squad leader the other marines boarded the helicopter and quickly departed. Lewee spoke to us and told us that there was hut we were suppose to stay in. After we moved all the equipment it was sunset. We were nervous and anxious this was our first night away from an American base. We decided we would take turns every hour watching the hut while the others slept. It was late I was woken up by a tap on my shoulder which quickly turn into shaking. Then I heard a whisper “Hey Keith it's your turn” it was Dog With a Taco I took my rifle slowly rose to my feet and walked towards the front of the shockingly large hut. I took a folding chair with me and sat at the entrance for the next hour. I had to stop myself multiple time from dozing off but I managed to stay awake. All I could think of was stand there was home. Before I knew I turned to my watch and saw it was three. It was Dominic’s
I went inside woke up Dominic and then fell quickly asleep. Tomorrow we were suppose to find our translator Euro and talk to vilage higher ups but for now we sleep
Chapter 5 and 6 almost done
