The Smoking of Carlos

                                    THE SMOKING OF CARLOS.

CIRCA,,,  2004 BAGHDAD, IRAQ 101ST AIRASSAULT DIVISION, CAMP IRON HORSE.
THE LIFE OF AN AIR ASSAULT INFANTRYMAN, BEING IN A MECHANIZED INFANTRY COMBAT BRIGADE, SEVING IN AN INFANTRY MANUEVER PLATOON.  HE WAS LATINO, WILD, YOUNG AND DARING; AND HAD A PASSION FOR GOING OVER THE LIMIT WHEN POSSIBLE. WHETHER GETTING DRUNK AND BUCK WILD AT A STRIP CLUB AND NOT REMEMBERING WHAT HAPPENED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT: WHETHER IT WAS GOING IN THE PARKING LOT AND BENDING THE RADIO ANTENNA OF ALL THE PARKED CARS, OR MOONING THE MOTORIST AS THEY PASSED ON THE HIGHWAY. NOT ONLY WAS HE DRUNK AND WILD, SO WERE HIS BUDDIES WHO WOULD WAKE UP IN DIFFERENT APARTMENTS OR BARRACK ROOMS, WITH OR WITHOUT THEIR CLOTHES ON, WONDERING HOW THEY GOT THERE AND WHO WERE DRIVING?
(FLASH BACK TO BADHDAD, IRAQ)….  THE PLATOON SERGEANT HAD A PLATOON MEETING IN THE EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING MISSION, THE NEXT MORNING….  (ENTER STAFF SERGEANT JEHOSEPHAT BOUDREUX, AGE 39, BESPECKLED, TALKS WITH A LISP, AND MEAN AS A RATTLESNAKE. HE WALKS BACK TO THE CHU AREA, AFTER WAITING 3 MINUTES FOR SPECIALIST BOB DOLDERFISH, WHO IS BIG AS CONAN, WITH AN ATTITUDE LIKE VIN DIESEL; AND SERGEANT GIVONNI SANCHEZ, WHO LIKES HOT RODS, FAT WOMEN, RAP MUSIC, AND SLEEPS IN THE VEHICLE ALL THE TIME.
SGT BOUDREUX IS MUMBLING, TALKING TO HIMSELF, AS HE WALKS OUT THROUGH THE MUD TO GET TO THEIR LOCATION. HE BELLOWS OUT “ BLA, BLA, BLA, BLA, AND BLA, BLA, BLA!!” (GET YO’ DANG GOAT SMELLING TALES TO DAT MEETING! PLAT DADDY WAITING, AND SO AM I!!) “
AFTER THAT TIRADE. THEN A MUCH LONGER TIME, AFTER THE MEETING; BECAUSE THE PLATOON SERGEANT, MUCH OLDER THAN BOUDREAUX, LATINO, GRUFFY VOICE LIKE FRED G. SANDFORD, AND MORE COMBAT STRIPES THAN A ZEBRA ASS, IS LONG WINDED. …. THE MISSION BRIEF. 

SITUATION: LINK UP AT 38MSE 4297-6543, KLE COMPOUND, SEARCHING FOR SUSPECTED BOMB MAKER, OUTSIDE THE NEIGHBORING IRAQI ARMY COMPOUND TO SERVE AS AN ESCORT FOR THE IP’S AT THEIR LOCATION. 

TIME: SP FROM GATE 5 NLT 0800 HRS WITH 4 VEHICLES, 23 PERSONNEL. AFTER RECEIVING THE MISSION BRIEF, THE SOLDIERS DEPARTED TO GO THEIR PERSPECTIVE WAYS. SOME WENT TO WORK OUT AT THE GYM; SOME WENT TO PLAY BASKETBALL AT THE BALL COURT. SOME TURNED IN THEIR LAUNDRY AT THE TURN IN POINT.
AT THE MWR, WHICH STANDS FOR MORALE AND RECREATION, SEVERAL OF THE PLATOON’S SOLDEIRS WERE GATHERED THERE. SPECIALIST BRYAN JAMES, KNOWN AS ‘BILLY’ WAS THERE, PLAYING HIS IPOD WHILE CLUTCHING A DECK OF CARDS. HIS PARTNERS WERE FELIPE SANCHEZ, AND RUBIO VELACRUZ; BOTH OF WHOM WERE E-4, SPECIALIST AND CUTTING NOTHING BUT DIAMONDS IN THEIR GAME OF SPADES. BILLY WAS FUCKING UP, BECAUSE HE WAS PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE SONG BEING PLAYED ON HIS IPOD; SINGING IT, AND PAYING LESS ATTENTION TO THE CARDS BEING DEALT. HIS PARTNER, MORE EXPEREIENCED AND MORE SEASONED THAN THE REST OF THE GUYS AT THE TABLE, PLUS HE WAS THE ONLY BLACK PERSON AT THE CARD TABLE.
WATCHING THEM INTENSLY, WITH AN EYE FOR TALENT. CLIFFORD FRANKLIN IS HIS NAME, FROM DES MOINES, IOWA; WITH MORE KIDS THAN THE LAKERS BENCH. HE WAS GETTING PISSED OFF BY THE SECOND, BY HIS CARD BUDDY MISSCUES. AT THE CORNER OF THE REC ROOM, SGT BERMUDEZ SAT, WATCHING THE SPADE GAME UNFOLD; WHILE KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON HIS QUEEN, FOR THE NEXT MOVE FOR THE CHESS GAME HE WAS PLAYING. WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON, PFC FRYE, OR ‘FRY GUY’ CAME BY WITH A MESSAGE. “WE GOTTA ROLL OUT”, HE SAID TO THE GROUP. HE WAS PARTIALY OUT OF BREATH, AND STUTTERING THE REST OF THE MESSAGE. “PUH-PUH-PUH, THE PLA-T-T-TOON S-S-SURGENT SA-SA-SAID” MAN, “SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE, BEFORE YOU HAVE A SEIZURE”, BILLY ANNOUNCED OVER THE CARD TABLE, INTERRUPTING PFC FRYE.
BUT, PVT FYRE WAS PERSISTANT, HE REPLIED, “OKAY, IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BELIEVE ME, GO AND T-T-TELL, TELL THAT TO HIM THEN!” “I AM TELLING MY CH-CH-CHIEF!” THEN HE LEFT. “GO AHEAD AND TELL YOUR CHIEF, EXCEPT HE IS NOT A CHIEF, BUT A SQUAD LEADER, YOU LITLE TRICK” BILLY SAID. HE GETS THAT WAY, WHEN HE IS FRUSTRATED OR LOSING A CARD GAME.
THAT’S USUALLY HOW THINGS GO IN THE PLATOON; WHENEVER THERE IS TIME OFF FROM A MISSION.
THE NEXT MORNING: THE PLATOON SERGEANT WANTS EVERYONE PRESENT AT THE MOTOR POOL; 0800, STANDING BY THE VEHICLES. "Invalid Chapter" 
THE VEHICLES FOR THE MOUNTED PATROL CONSISTED OF 4 M1114 UP ARMORED HUMVEES, AND TWO NEW MRAPS, WHICH STANDS FOR MINE RESISTANT VEHICLES, THEY ARE OF THE BUFFALO VARIETY. IT’S LIKE A LARGER VERSION OF A HUMVEE, EXCEPT IN SHAPE, AND DESIGN. IT WAS DESIGNED ONLY FOR ONROAD OPERATIONS, AND CAN BE VERY SCARY WHEN TAKING A CURVE WHEN ON HIGHWAYS.
SPC DOOLITLE, WHO IS CONSISERED A SMART ASS BY SOME, AND A WALKING –10 BY MOST WAS TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF INCORPORATING USE OF THE MRAPS IN THE CONVOYS. NO ONE ASKED HIM FOR HIS INPUT, NOR DID IT SEEM NEEDED; DOOLITTLE, FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS ALWAYS HAD A SAY IN MATTERS WHEN HE THOUGHT HE KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT HOW THINGS SHOULD BE.  SGT SANCHEZ WAS SITTING IN ONE OF THE UP ARMOR HUMVEES, LISTENING TO DOOLITTLE, WHILE HE WAS CHECKING THE TIME ON THE VEHICLE’S SINGAR RADIO SYSTEM. AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES, HE WAS FAST ASLEEP IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT; DOOLITTLE’S TALKING AND THE STRICT TASK OF CHECKING AND SETTING “PLUGGER” TIME ONTO THE RADIO SET, PUT HIM TO SLEEP.
THE REST OF THE PLATOON WERE DOING THEIR PCC’S AND PRE COMBAT CHECKS, WHILE SGT SANCHEZ SLEPT; SALIVA DROOLING DOWN HIS CHIN AND DOWN THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. SQUAD MEMBERS CHECKED WEAPON SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT. MAINTENANCE WAS BEING DONE ON THE VEHICLES, AND COMMO CHECKS WERE BEING DONE ON THE VARIOUS RADIO SYSTEMS; EXCEPT SGT SANCHEZ’S VEHICLE. HIS EXCESSIVE DROOLING THAT DRIPPED DOWN THE RADIO MOUNT APPEARERED TO SHORT OUT THE RADIO IN HIS VEHICLE. BUT, WHATEVER THE CASE, HE NEVER MADE THAT RADIO CHECK.
THAT WAS, UNTIL THE PLATOON SERGEANT CAME BY AND WOKE HIM; “GET YO GOAT SMELLING TALE UP OUT DAT TRUCK!” “AND STOP DROOLING ALL OVER DAT RADIO!” “LAWD, YOU DONE SHORT THE HELL OUT OF IT” “GET UP!” HE CONTINUED. “AND GET DAT RADIO FILLED!” SGT SANCHEZ JUMPED UP, WIDE AWAKE; MOSTLY BEING WHEN THE PLATOON SERGEANT TAPPED THE SIDE OF THE ROOF WITH A PIPE OR SOMETHING HE FOUND ON THE GROUND, BEFORE HE TORE INTO THE SERGEANT. HE COULD’NT FIND WORDS, ONLY A STICKY STREAM OF SALIVA ALONG HIS CHIN, AND A STEADY BEEPING TONE MEANING HE LOST FILL IN HIS RADIO SYSTEM. WHEN HE STRAIGHTENED UP IN THE TRUCK SEAT, HE WAS STARING INTO THE GRINNING FACE OF SPC WINCHESTER, HIS DRIVER FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY; SMART AS A TURD IN THE TOILET, BUT SHARPER THAN A NUMBER 2 PENCIL. HE WAS LAUGHING, AND GRINNING SO MUCH, THAT HE LOST MORE THAN HALF OF THE “RED MAN” CHEW WHICH WAS
PROTRUDING FROM THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH. “SON”, THE PLATOON SERGEANT SAID. “THAT’S A DISGUSTING HABIT YOU GOT THERE” “LONG AS NONE OF DAT JUNK GET INSIDE THE TRUCK, YOU ALRIGHT WITH ME”
HE CONTINUED. WAITING FOR THE PLATOON SERGEANT TO WALK OFF, SGT SANCHEZ MOTIONED FOR SPC WINCHESTER TO COME OVER AND ASSIST HIM WITH COMPLETING THE PROCESS OF LOADING THE FILL ON THE RADIO, WHILE HE PRETENDED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE IN THE TRUCK; WHICH HE NEVER INTENDED TO FINISH, FOR HE WAS SOUND ASLEEP 5 MINUTES INTO DOING SO. SPC WINCHESTER CRACKED A GRIN AND CALLED OVER, PRIVATE KLINK. KLINK, WHO HAILS FROM IOWA, AND GRINS ALL THE TIME AND HAVE A GOOFY, LOPEY WALK SUNTERED OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE; HIS UNIFORM WAS COVERED IN DUST FROM CONSTANTLY WORKING AROUND THE TRUCK, DOING ALL OF WINCHESTER’S DIRTY WORK. REFUSING THE CAN OF DIP OFFERED BY WINCHESTER, HE PREFERABLY TOOK A CIGARETTE AND GINGERLY LIT ONE AND WAS FORMALY REMANDED BY THE SPECIALIST FOR ONE, SMOKING LESS THAN 50 METERS FROM VEHICLES, SECONDLY, DOING SO IN THE VEHICLE, AND IN ADDITION DOING SO WHILE THE PLATOON SERGEANT WAS STILL WALKING AROUND LOOKING VERY DISPLEASED AT THE PROGRESS OF HIS PLATOON. AND ON CUE, LIKE ALWAYS; ON THROUGH THE PARKING LINE STRODE THE “PL”, SHORT FOR THE PLATOON LEADER,
1ST LT JIMMY CREEDWATER, A PRODUCT OF VIRGINIA TECH, A CANNON ARM FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO GOT HIS START AFTER THE PLAYER THAT REPLACED MICHAEL VICK WENT TO THE NFL TO PLAY FOR THE PROS. GRADUATING 2ND IN HIS CLASS AND MAJORING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, GOT HIS DEGREE AND HIS COMMISSION IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, IN 2003, HE SPENT A TOUR IN KOREA, THEN HE FOLLOWED HIS FORMER BATTALION COMMANDER TO HIS CURRENT DUTY STATION OF FORT CAMPBELL, THEN EVENTUALLY DEPLOYING TO IRAQ. HE WALKED THROUGH THE VEHICLE LINE; STRIDING PURPOSELY, HOPING TO CATCH THE ATTENTION OF HIS DRIVER WHO WAS FINISHING UP PMCS OF THE PLATOON LEADER’S VEHICLE, OBVIOUS TO THE FACT HIS HAND HELD RADIO ANTENNAE WAS STICKING OUT LIKE AN ARROW, STUCK TO THE BACK OF HIS COLLAR. RUBIO AND SEVERAL OTHERS CAUGHT SIGHT OF HIS FUNNY APPEARANCE AND BEGAN SNICKERING AMONGS EACH OTHER. THEN, THEY IN TURN ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF THE PLATOON SERGEANT, WHO INQUIRED OF WHAT WAS SO FUNNY? HE HAD TO ASK EVERYONE TO STOP WHAT THEY WERE DOING, BEING THAT A GREAT DEAL OF SNICKERING AND SIDE BAR CHATTER WAS GOING ON, AND HE JUST WANTED TO GET ON WITH THE MEETING.
AS HE APPROACHED THE LIEUTENANT, HE NOTICED THAT CREEDWATER’S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TO SOMETHING ELSE. RUBIO AND THE OTHER SOLDIERS WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TIME SOMEONE IN THE CONVOY SENT A BFT MESSAGE TO THE ‘CP’ THAT “A MEETING WAS BEING CONDUCTED WITH GENERAL ‘JERK OFF’”. THAT WAS AT THE LAST POSITION OF THE LATEST PATROL OF THE WEEK. APPARENTLY, SOMEONE HAD GOTTEN IN TROUBLE WHILE USING THE COMMAND NET. THE COMMAND NET IS THE PRIMARY CONTROL NET USED BY THE CP, WHICH STANDS FOR THE COMMAND POST OF EVERY UNIT IN THEATER. EACH, PLATOON OR ELEMENT, HAS THEIR OWN PLATOON, OR SECONDARY NET, OF WHICH THEY CAN TALK AMONG EACH OTHER, WHEN THEY REPORT WHAT THEY SEE ON THE ROAD; AND AS A MEAN TO KEEP RADIO CONTACT WHICH EACH VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. NO ONE IS SUPPOSED TO USE THE CP’S NET UNLESS IT IS THE CONVOY COMMANDER REPORTING IN AT EACH CHECK POINT, OR TO ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT WITH THEM.
BUT THIS WAS A SIMPLE BFT MESSAGE, WHICH COMES FROM THE BLUE FORCE TRACKER, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT OF A DIGITAL MAP WHICH SHOWS THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, DISPLAYING EACH VEHICLE AS AN ICON, AND THE GRID LINE OF THE AREA BEING TRAVELLED. MESSAGES ARE SENT BY HITTING THE DIALOG BOX IN THE TOP CORNER OF THE VIRTUAL MAP. YOU CAN SEND A REPLY TO AN INCOMING MESSAGE, OR JUST LOOK FOR THE CP’S ADDRESS AND TYPE THE MESSAGE, AND HIT THE SEND BUTTON;
JUST LIKE ON THE INTERNET. ANYONE MISSUSING THE BFT AND RADIO WILL BE SEVERLY ADOMONISHED. EVERYBODY KNOWS THE
PEOPLE WORKING IN THE TOC, WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THE CP, ARE THE UPTIGHT TYPE. THEY TAKE EVERYTHING SERIOUS, AND NOTHING FOR GRANTED. EVEN IF YOU MAKE A TOKEN MISTAKE THEY DON’T TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION. SO, WHEN BILLY TRICKED ONE OF THE NCOS TO SEND THAT MESSAGE, IT MADE THINGS TAKE A SOMEWHAT SOMBER TURN FOR THE PLATOON. LIEUTENANT CREEDWATER DIDN’T WAIT FOR ALL THE MEMBERS IN THE PLATOON TO GATHER; HE JUST STARTED HIS BRIEF SOON AS ENOUGH PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND HIM.  KLINK ALMOST TORE HIS ACL, JUMPING OFF THE TOP OF THE HOOD, AND RUNNING TOWARD THE GROUP AS HE SPOTTED THE PLATOON SERGEANT WALKING TOWARD THE GROUP; GLASSES FOGGING UP, GREY HAIRS STICKING UP AND A RED COLORING COMING ONTO HIS FACE; HE LOOKED AS IF HE WAS READY TO EITHER, CHOKE SOMEONE OR SHANK SOMEONE, EVEN IF IT WAS A GERBER! HE WAS PISSED! THE MEETING STARTED WITHOUT HIS SAY SO, AND NOT ALL OF HIS SOLDIERS WERE GATHERED.
“TC’S” HE ROARED. “SORRY, SIR. GOT TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE! I DON’T HAVE ALL MY PEOPLE HERE!” SGT’S SANCHEZ, BERMUDEZ. BOUDREAUX, AND FRESHLY OFF R&R LEAVE, SGT BUILDING, WHO EVERYONE REFERS TO AS “BUILD A” OR “SUGA BEAR”, AND SGT SCORSESE, WHO REMINDS PEOPLE OF THAT DIRECTOR OF THE MOVIE ‘SCARFACE’ RESPONDED IN TURN, BY WALKING FROM THE BRIEF TO GET A CHEWING FROM THE PLATOON SERGEANT. ALL CREEDWATER AND THE REMAINING SOLDIERS COULD DO IS LOOK ON MEEKLY, AND TALK AT A LOW, SIDE BAR CHATTER: SOME SAID THINGS LIKE, “I’M GLAD I AM NOT THE SQUAD LEADER”, OR “THEY GOING TO GET IT!” WHATEVER THE CASE. THE PLATOON SERGEANT TALKED AND TALKED. THE NCO’S LISTENED INTENTLY, TAKING IN EVERY NOD, AND EVERY WORD SPOKEN TO THEM.
MEANWHILE, THE PLATOON LEADER TALKED WITH SOME OF THE MEN HOW THE COMMO SYSTEMS WERE, AND WHAT WAS THE CURRENT FUEL STATUS AND AMMUNITION COUNT. SOME OF THE GUYS DRIFTED AWAY TO SHARE A SMOKE OR BUM ONE FROM ONE OF THEIR BUDDIES.
THAT’S WHEN THE COMMO DADDY, AS THEY REFER TO SGT PINK, WHO THEY SOMETIMES REFER TO “PINKIE” DERIVED FROM THAT CARTOON “PINKY AND THE BRAIN”, WALKED UP, AND ASKED THE STATUS OF COMMO. HE WAS TOLD OF WHAT WERE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS; AND, OF COURSE, ‘SANCHEZ DROOLING IN THE TRUCK SHORTING OUT THE RADIOS’ WAS OBVIOUS. THEN HE DIRECTED, ONE OF HIS SOLDIERS, SPC BEASLEY, A 31U TO ASSIST HIM IN CHECKING COMMO IN THE VEHICLES; WHICH WAS BETTER THAN RELYING ON HIS SO CALLED SIDE KICK, WHO WAS NOT COMMUNICATIONS, BUT RATHER A SENIOR TAC FIRE SPECIALIST WHO LIKES TO GET ON EVERYBODY’S NERVES. HE IS CONSIDERED THE SIDE KICK BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE CALL HIM ‘THE BRAIN’ OR ‘BRAIN’, FOR SHORT. JUST LIKE HIS STATURE, HE IS JUST THAT: SHORT, BUT NOT ON CHARACTER, OR PERSONALITIES, OF WHICH HE HAS MANY. BUT THE MOST UNLIKELY ONE IS HIS ATTITUDE, AND HAVING A SMALL OR
INFERIOR MENTALITY. HE CAN SEEM BIG AS GODZILLA, AND MAKE YOU SEEM SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT AS AN ANT. OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU MENTION THE WORD, ‘COFFEE’, AND WERE TO GET IT IN ABUNDANCE, THEN YOU STAND A CHANCE OF BEING ON HIS GOOD SIDE. MICKEY ODONNEL, FROM BROOKLYN, NEW YORK WORKED IN THE TACTICAL OPERATION CENTER, OR THE TOC, FOR SHORT; SPENT EVERY TOUR IN IRAQ WORKING THERE. THAT’S WHY HE KNEW SO MUCH. MOSTLY EVERYONE AVOIDED HIM AT EVERY COST. IF WE NEEDED SOMETHING FROM THE TOC, LIKE MAIL, WE WENT THROUGH OUR PLATOON SERGEANT FIRST.
BUT, FOR NOW OUR MAIN THING WAS GETTING THROUGH WITH THIS BOGUS INVENTORY, AND FINISHING UP ON OUR PCC’S AND PCI’S SO WE CAN CONTINUE WITH OUR MISSION FOR THE DAY.
SO THE DAY STARTED OUT, WITH ‘PLAT DADDY’ FINDING SGT G SLEEPING IN HIS HUMVEE, CREEDWATER WALKING TO THE MOTOR POOL WITH HIS ANTENNAE STICKING IN HIS COAT, AND GETTING CHEWED OUT BY THE PLATOON SERGEANT FOR THE OBVIOUS. WE RECEIVED OUR BRIEF, LINED UP AND ROLLED OUT THE ‘HOLE’, AS WE CALLED IT WENT TO PICK UP THE MEDIC AT THE AID STATION ON THE WAY TO THE FIRING PIT.
WE WERE ALMOST LATE, LEAVING OUT OF GATE5. WE HAD 5 VEHICLES.
THE LEAD VEHICLE WAS BERMUDEZ; HIS TRUCK WAS KNOWN AS V1, OR VICTOR ONE. NEXT WAS V2, THEN SO FORTH, AND LASTLY V4 WHICH WAS THE PLATOON SERGEANT’S VEHICLE. THE SOP (STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE) IN PLACE, CALLS FOR CLEARING AND LOADING THE WEAPON SYSTEMS, AND FIRING THE WEAPON PRIOR TO TURNING ON ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. THE GUNNER, WHO IS STATIONED IN THE GUNNER’S HATCH FIRES BETWEEN 6 TO 8 BURSTS WITH HIS ASSIGNED CREW SERVED WEAPON, WHETHER IT IS A 240B, 249 SAW, AND USUALLY ONE 50 CAL. AFTER DOING SO, EACH TRUCK COMMANDER CALLS IN HIS STATUS AFTER TURNING ON HIS VARIOUS SYSTEMS. THEY DO SO ONE BY ONE IN ORDER FROM 1 TO 5, OR DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN THE CONVOY. AFTERWHICH, THEY GET A TRIP TICKET NUMBER WHICH DESIGNATE THEIR STATUS AS THEY GO OUT THE ENTRY GATE. THEY ALSO ESTABLISH COMS WITH THEIR PERSPECTIVE CP, AS THEY MAKE THERE WAY OUT OF THE COMPOUND, OR FOB AS IT IS COMMONLY REFERRED AS.
ON THIS PARTICULAR DATE WE, CHARLIE COMPANY, 2ND INFANTRY MANUEVER PLATOON WENT ON MISSION TO KLE FOR SUSPECTED BOMB MAKER WITH INTEL PLACING HIM IN VICINITY OF THE CITY OUR MISSION DICTATES US TO SEARCH OUT AND SEEK INFORMATION OF HOW THE MATERIALS WERE GATHERED AND IF ANY, WHO IS HARBORING AND AIDING SAID PERSON IN BUILDING AND PLACING ROAD SIDE BOMBS IN THE PARTICULAR REGION.  WE WERE SENT OUT ON THIS PRETTY TUESDAY MORNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY, NICE 98 DEGREE WEATHER, AIR AND MEDIVAC STATUS GREEN, AND ALL AVAILABLE AIR ASSETS WERE A GO. BERMUDEZ AND HIS CREW WERE IN THE LEAD TRUCK; CARLOS RODE IN THE SECOND ONE WITH CREEDWATER, THE NEW KID FRYE RODE WITH THEM AS THE GUNNER.
THE PLATOON WENT OUT THIS PARTICULAR MISSION WITH THE 6 ELEMENT, WHO RODE IN THE MIDDLE; RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK CREWED BY BOUDREAUX, WINCHESTER, DOLDERFISH, AND G SANCHEZ.
THE PLATOON SERGEANT TOOK UP THE REAR, WITH FRANKLIN AS HIS DRIVER, AND JAMES AND RUBIO AS PART OF HIS CREW.
BERMUDEZ’S VOICE WAS PREDOMINAT ON THE RADIO FREQUENCY. HIS JOB AS THE LEAD ELEMENT WAS TO CALL OUT EVERYTHING SEEN ON THE ROAD WAYS, HILL TOPS, BUILDING TOPS, AND WHO ARE WHAT WAS SEEN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE SPOKE WITH THAT RICH Puerto Rican ACCENT, BUT EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD AND KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. YOU CAN’T SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT BOUDREAUX OR ‘FRYE GUY’. FRYE WASN’T EVEN ALLOWED TO HANDLE THE HAND SET.
THE LIEUTENANT SEEMINGLY SHOULD’NT BE ALLOWED BASED ON THE FACT HIS COMMO IN HIS TRUCK NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, IF NOT ALL THE TIME SOME OF THE TIME. COMMUNICATIONS PLAY A VITAL PART OF CONVOY OPERATIONS, BUT WHEN AN ADDITIONAL CHANNEL IS USED CAMARADERIE COMES INTO PLAY. BOREDOM AND MONOTONY SETTLES IN WHEN YOU CAN’T SAY CERTAIN THINGS OR THE NET IS BEING CROWDED WITH ALL SORTS OF RADIO CHATTER. SOME OF THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SOME CAN SEEM OUT OF PLACE OR JUST UNNECESSARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE PATROLLING A REGION AND TRANSMISSIONS BECOME NOTHING MORE BUT CONVERSATIONS ON HOW TO FIX SOMETHING, OR SOME EXPLANATION ON HOW SOMETHING COULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED FOR THE BETTER. YOU CAN’T HELP BUT THINK, WHO ARE THESE BUMS! AND WHY IS THIS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW, WHEN I CAN HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO TRANSMIT, BUT TOO MUCH TRAFFIC ON THE RADIO IS COMING THROUGH THE RADIO, AND I HAVE SOMETHING TO PUT OUT ON THE NET! THE RULE OF THUMB FOR SECOND PLATOON: IF IT IS NOT PERTINENT OR IMPORTANT TO THE MISSION, JUST BE QUIET. GOOD THING BERMUDEZ DOESN’T ALWAYS FOLLOW THAT RULE. IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR HIS VOICE: HE IS FUNNY AND HIS CONSTANT CHATTER ENTERTAIN THE PEOPLE IN THE CONVOY. HE SAYS THINGS THAT BOTH KEEP US LAUGHING AND AWAKE ON THOSE LONG CONVOYS. WHEN HE TRANSMITS, HE TELLS YOU EVERYTHING HE SEES OUT THERE! I.E., ‘COWS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD’, ‘GROCERY STAND ON THE RIGHT’, AND SO ON, AND SO MUCH. A LOT OF WHAT HE SAYS DOESN’T MAKE SENSE SOMETIMES. YOU CAN LOOK AND SEE WHATS ON BOTH SIDES OF YOU, BUT IT IS USUALLY AFTER THE SECOND AND FIRST TRUCK PASSES BY.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN ONLY THE CONVOY COMMANDER WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS UP AHEAD, AND ONLY HE WOULD ANSWER UP AND REPEAT WHAT THE FIRST TRUCK SEEN AND SAID. BUT NOW, WE ALL HAVE TO ANSWER UP AS PART OF A PROCEDURE. THAT WAY, ANY GUNNER OR TC IN A TRUCK CAN SPOT SOME ACTIVITY AND REPORT WHAT HE SEES, AS TO KEEP THE TRANSMISSION GOING. ‘PLAT DADDY’, AS WE CALL HIM ALWAYS SEEMS TO GET INCREASINGLY GRUMPY WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME THING BEING CALLED OUT, OR IF IT IS SOMETHING HE DOESN’T CONSIDER SIGNIFICANT. AS THE PLATOON SERGEANT OF THE PLATOON, WHO RIDES EITHER IN THE MIDDLE OR IN THE REAR OF THE CONVOY HE HAS MOSTLY CONTROL OF THE TRAFFIC, AND CIVILIAN TRAFFIC ON THE ROUTE BEING TRAVELED.
HE USUALLY REMINDS THE PLATOON LEADER OR THE LEAD ELEMENT OF WHICH CHECK POINT TO REPORT ON; AND SOMETIMES CERTAIN ASPECTS OF CONVOY OPERATIONS. MOST OF WHAT HE DOES IS VITAL; MOSTLY IF SOMEONE ON THE CONVOY DOESN’T REMEMBER WHAT ROLE, OR WHAT HE OR SHE SUPPOSED TO DO BASED ON GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE EXCITEMENT OR BECAUSE OF COMPLACENCY. AT ANY RATE, WE GO THROUGH THIS SAME SCENARIO BUT ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ROUTE TO AVOID HAVING THE SAME ROUTINE WHEN WE GO OUT. WE TOOK A LEFT ON ROUTE KANSAS, AND HEADED NORTH ON VERMONT A FEW KLIKS OR ‘KILOMETERS’ WATCHING FOR AN UNIMPROVED ROAD ON THE RIGHT, WHICH SHOULD LEAD US TO A COMPOUND. THIS COMPOUND IS WHERE AN ELEMENT OF THE REGIMENT GUARD BRIGADE, 1ST BATTALION IS HOUSED. OUR BUSINESS OVER THERE WAS TO CHECK WITH THEM TO FIND OUT ANY INFO ON SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY ON AND AROUND THEIR SECTOR, OR AREA OF OPERATIONS. THEY ARE EITHER UNHAPPY ABOUT OUR PRESCENCE; BEING WE SHOW UP THERE OFTEN TO MUCH, AND THEY CAN’T HELP FEELING THAT WE ARE MONITORING THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB. THAT IS THE MAIN PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED HERE OTHER THAN MOTORIST FEELING BULLIED BY US BEING ON THE ROADWAYS OF THEIR COUNTRY. IN THE PAST, IT WAS COMMON FOR US TO COME BARRELING DOWN THE ROADWAY; THE GUNNERS HAD THIS CONVOY FLAG, A METAL POLE WITH AN ORANGE PANEL ATTACHED TO IT TO WAVE THE TRAFFIC AWAY, TO A HALT. WE WOULD SOMETIMES TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES LIKE FIRING PIN FLARES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE NEAREST VEHICLE TO DIVERT THE DRIVERS TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONLY ON AN EXTREME, ONE OF THE GUNNERS, NORMARLY THE FIRST TRUCK WOULD FIRE A WARNING SHOT INTO THE AIR; THAT WOULD STOP WHOLE LANES OF TRAFFIC. EVERY NOW AND THEN WE WOULD ENCOUNTER A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FOR DOING OUR JOB: IT WON’T BE A BIG DEAL, MOREOVER SOMEONE WOULD SMACK INTO THE REAR OF A VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, NOONE WOULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT AND THE TIMELY ARRIVAL OF THE IRAQI POLICE, OR THE ‘IP’S’ AS WE REFER TO THEM. WE WOULD NEVER GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, OR ANYONE GETTING INJURED. FOR OUR SOP, BACK THEN WAS FOR US TO DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WITH NO CIVILIAN TRAFFIC MOVING, AND THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES HAD TO BE CLEAR OF TRAFFIC; THAT WAS THE BEST WAY, AT THAT TIME TO AVOID RUNNING INTO ANY IED’S, (TECHNICAL TERM FOR IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES). EVER SINCE THE WAR ON TERRORISM BEGAN, MANY A CONVOY GOING THROUGH THE TOWNS AND HIGHWAYS OF THE MANY DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF IRAQ WERE PLAGUED BY IEDS.
WE HAVEN’T FOUND THE PERFECT DEFENSE AGAINST IEDS AND OTHER ROAD SIDE BOMBS. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WE TRIED DRIVING FAST, LIKE OVER 45 MILES PER HOUR. WE USED WHATEVER CREW SYSTEMS AVAILABLE FOR THE PARTICULAR TYPE OF IED. THEY ARE RADIO CONTROLLED, TRIP WIRE ACTIVATED, PRESSURE PLATE ACTIVATED, AND COMMAND DETONATED; THE LATER OF WHICH REQUIRES A TRIGGER MAN TO ACTIVATE. WE HAD TO INCORPORATE THIS INTO OUR SOPS.
WE ALWAYS HAVE A DILEMMA WHEN ENCOUNTERING AN IED; WE KNOW THERE IS SOMEONE WATCHING, AND WE CAN’T ENGAGE UNTIL POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION IS ESTABLISHED. THE FIRST THING THAT USUALLY HAPPENS IS WE DRIVE PASS THE FIRST IED, THEN THE SECOND IED DETONATES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONVOY, TO DISABLE AT MOST; THEN WHEN THE OCCUPANTS GET OUT TO DETERMINE THE DAMAGE, THE TRIGGER MAN OR A SNIPER PICKS OFF SOMEONE ON THE GROUND TO ADD TO THE CONFUSION. USUALLY AFTERWARDS, ANOTHER SECONDARY IED EXPLODES INFLICTING MULTIPLE CASUALTIES.
THROUGHT THE YEARS, WE TESTED DIFFERENT CREW SYSTEMS. THEY ARE ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT SENDS OUT A SIGNAL THAT DISPRUPTS WHAT TYPE OF ELECTRODE BEING USED IN THE ROAD SIDE BOMB. THEY USE THE SAME KIND OF DEVICE USED IN A CONVENIENCE STORE THAT BEEPS OR CHIME WHEN SOMEONE ENTERS THE STORE. SOME ARE THE DEVICE USED IN AN AUTOMATIC GARAGE OPENER, OR EVEN A 2 OR 4 BAND RADIO. SO WE COUNTER WITH HEATING DEVICES AND JAMMERS TO DISRUPT OR SET OFF THOSE BOMBS PREMATURELY.
BUT TO BE HONEST, COMMON SENSE IS PREVELANT IN OUR LINE OF BUSINESS. WE NO LONGER DRIVE IN THE VERY MIDDLE OF THE ROAD; WE ALLOW TRAFFIC TO COME THROUGH AND THEY PASS US BY ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE LAST TRUCK IN THE CONVOY HOLDS BACK THE TRAFFIC. THAT IS THE SOP WE GO BY. THAT JOB, AS THE LAST TRUCK IN THE CONVOY GOES TO OUR PLATOON SERGEANT. HE CONTACTS THE LEAD TRUCK AND DIRECTS HIM TO PICK A LANE, AND THEN THE REST OF THE CONVOY FOLLOWS HIM TO THE PARTICULAR LANE OF CHOICE.
THAT IS THE RULE OF THUMB FOR US. WE SEND THE TRAFFIC BEHIND US ON THROUGH AND WE SWITCH TO THE LANE ADJACENT TO THE TRAFFIC FLOW. WE FOLLOW CERTAIN RULES UNDER OUR OWN VERSION OF CONVOY OPERATIONS. WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH THE CITIES AND TOWNS WE TEND TO CLOSE UP UPON ONE ANOTHER; WE SPREAD OUT WHEN WE ARE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, AND ON THE OPEN ROADS. WE TEND TO CHANGE UP DIFFERENT TACTICS TO KEEP THE BAD GUYS GUESSING.
AT ONE POINT THE GUNNER IN THE TRUCK IS ALL THE WAY TO ‘NAME TAPE DEFILADE’, THEN THE NEXT, HE IS DOWN, SITTING ON HIS GUNNER’S SEAT, WHICH IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CLIP ON STRAP WHICH IS WIDE TO SEAT SOLDIERS OF DIFFERENT SIZES AND CLIP ON MEDAL PROTUSIONS WELDED INSIDE THE RIM OF THE GUNNER TURRET. IT ISN’T REALLY A TURRET, BUT AN OPENING WITH A HATCH THAT LATCHES TO THE BACK PORTION OF THE OUTER TURRET. THAT IS THE UPPER PART THAT HOUSES THE CREW SERVED WEAPON, WHICH SITS IN A PINTLE. IT IS LOCKED IN WITH A PIN THAT KEEPS THE WEAPON SYSTEM FROM BOUNCING LOOSE AND CAUSING INJURY TO THE GUNNER, OR FALLING DOWN ON AN UNSUSPECTING CREW MEMBER. EACH GUNNER HAS HIS OR HER ASSIGNED SECTOR TO WATCH, IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER TASK IS GIVEN BY THE TRUCK COMMANDER. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT NOW. OUR CONVOY, WHICH CONSISTED OF 5 VEHCILES MADE IT UP TO THE COMPOUND, KICKING OUT DISMOUNTS, POSTING THE ESCORTS AROUND THE ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING, ONE OF THEM GOING IN WITH THE INTERPRETER AND THE LIEUTENANT.
USUALLY THE LEAD TRUCK COMMANDER MAKES CONTACT WITH THE CP
AFTER ARRIVING ON SITE; MOSTLY BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER TRUCKS
DON’T HAVE THE GREATEST CABLES IN THEIR TRUCKS TO PUT OUT COMMUNICATION FROM THAT GREAT A DISTANCE. THE TRUCK CONTAINING BOUDREAUX SENDS UP A MESSAGE ON THE BLUE FORCE TRACKER, NOTIFYING THE CP OF THE DESTINATION, VICINITY GRID AND THE TIME OF OCCUPATION IN THE AREA. ‘CARLOS’ ALWAYS HAS A GOOD ROUTINE, HE IS ONE OF THE DISMOUNTS; HE WAITS UNTIL THE TRUCK COMMANDER CHECKS THE VEHICLE THEN SIGNALS FOR THE SOLDIERS TASKED FOR THAT DUTY TO DISMOUNT AND FOLLOW HIM TO THE COMPOUND. EVERYONE ELSE GOES THROUGH A SIMILAR ROUTINE; THEY DISMOUNT, RUN TO THE LATRINE TO RELIEVE THEIR SELVES AND SET THEIR SYSTEMS ON STAND BY. THE GUNNERS USUALLY STAY UP AND MAINTAIN THEIR SECTORS. MOST OF THE TRUCK COMMANDERS, LIKE BERMUDEZ CAN’T WAIT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A SMOKE.
PROBABLY FOR HIM, IT IS A GOOD EXCUSE TO GET AWAY FROM DOLITTLE FOR A WHILE, WHO CONSTANTLY CHATTER ABOUT SOMETHING RATHER IRRELAVENT THAT GETS ON EVERYBODY NERVES. HE IS THE GUNNER FOR VICTOR 1 AND MOST OF THE TIME HE IS THERE ALL BY HIMSELF, CONVERSATING WITH THE OTHER GUNNERS WHO ARE STILL WEARING HEADSETS, PROBABLY NOT FOR LONG. G SANCHEZ MAY HAVE HAD ON A HEADSET BUT NOT HEARING ANYTHING. HE FALLS ASLEEP AFTER EVERYONE GETS SITUATED, OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN MOTION. THE SAME GOES FOR THE SQUAD MEDIC WHO IS ON CALL ANYTIME TO ADMINISTER MEDICAL TREATMENT IF NEEDED, WHO FALLS ASLEEP ALONG SIDE SANCHEZ. NO ONE KNOWS HOW A SOLDIER IN IRAQ CAN JUST FALL ASLEEP LIKE THAT! IF IT ISN’T GUARD DUTY WHERE YOU HAVE TWO GUARDS UP AND MAYBE FOUR DOWN, THEY GET SOME REST UNTIL THERE SHIFT TIME COMES ALONG.
EVERYTHING SEEMS SET IN PLACE; THE VEHICLES SPACED APART FROM ONE ANOTHER, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS KEEPING WATCH ON THE GROUND, AND THE GUNNERS MAINTAINING THEIR SECTOR OF FIRE. THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT AT A LOCATION DEPENDS ON HOW LONG THE MEETING IS, AND THE DETERMINATION OF THE NEXT LOCATION.
CAREFUL TIMING SHOULD BE PREVALENT, BUT WHEN INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE GATHERED FROM ITS SOURCE, MULTIPLE SOURCING MEANS GATHERING IT FROM VARIOUS MANY PLACES. SO, WE WOULD LEAVE AND GO TO ANOTHER LOCATION, AT THE PROTEST OF SOME OF THE YOUNGER GUYS IN THE PLATOON. MAINLY, BECAUSE THEY GET TIRED OF EATING MEALS-READY-TO EAT, AND WANT SOME REAL FOOD FROM THE CHOW HALL. IT IS SAD, SOMETIMES WHEN SOLDIERS DON’T MAKE TIME FOR BREAKFAST CHOW IN THE MORNING. IF THEY WOULD DO THAT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SLEEP IN BEFORE THE ALOTTED TIME TO BE IN THE MOTOR POOL THEY WOULD’NT HAVE HUNGER PAINS AND BE EXPECTING AN EARLY CONVOY BACK TO THE FOB. MOST OF US OLDER GUYS ARE CONTENT WITH LONG DAYS ON CONVOYS, AND CONVEY OUR KNOWLEDGE TO THEM OF THE VALUE OF EATING BEFORE LEAVING OUT!
WE NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING TO CHANCE. ALWAYS GET A BITE TO EAT; YOU NEVER KNOW HOW LONG YOU WILL GONE FROM THE FOB, AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET WHEN YOU OPEN UP AN OLD BOX OF MEALS-READY-TO EAT. AS A SOLDIER, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING; LIKE THE SAYING GOES: EXPECT THE WORSE, HOPE FOR THE BEST. SO WHEN WE FINALLY PULLED OUT OF THE ‘PARKING LOT’ AND HUNG A RIGHT ONTO THE HIGHWAY, WE WERE THINKING HOW LONG WE WILL BE THERE AT THIS OTHER LOCATION. YOU CALL IT MURPHY’S LAW, OR JUST SNAFU OR SOMETHING, HAVING TO DEAL WITH CHANGING CONDITIONS LIKE BAD WEATHER IS THE NORM FOR US. LEAVING OUT WITH 5 VEHICLES AND 23 PERSONNEL, YOU ALWAYS EXPECT THAT TO BE ON THE PLATOON SERGEANT’S MIND, LEAVE OUT WITH A DOZEN EGGS, COME BACK WITH A DOZEN EGGS.  WE HAD GONE NO FURTHER THAN 100 METERS WHEN THE SOUND OF MACHINE GUN FIRE ERUPTED. AUTOMATICALLY, THE FIRST VEHICLE MOVED AHEAD 5 METERS AND CAME TO A HALT. THE SECOND AND THIRD VEHICLE SPREAD APART AND MOVED IN POSITION TO BLOCK AND PREVENT TRAFFIC FROM COMING THROUGH. AS IF BY INSTINCT, ALL THE GUNNERS IN THE CONVOY SWUNG TO THEIR PERSPECTIVE SECTORS OF FIRE. THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD FIRED WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE AS A WARINING MEASURE TO MAKE SURE 2 CIVILIAN VEHICLES DIDN’T TRY TO MOVE AFTER IT APPEARED SOMEONE IN ONE OF THEM THREW SOMETHING PASS THE FIRST VEHICLE TOWARD THE TRUCK BEHIND THEM. APPARANTLY, SOMETHING WENT THROUGH THE GUNNER TURRET AND STRUCK THE GUNNER IN THE SECOND TRUCK. CONFUSION AND CHAOS SET IN; RADIO CHATTER BECAME INCESSANT THAT THE PLATOON SERGEANT HAD TO RUDELY TELL EVERYONE TO ‘CUT THE CHATTER’ SO HE CAN DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT THE FIRST GUNNER HAD OBSERVED BEFORE HE CUT LOOSE A 9 ROUND BURST IN THE DIRECTION OF THOSE TWO VEHICLES. SERGEANT SCORSEE, WHO HAD REPLACED THE GUNNER IN THE HATCH, WAS HIT BY SOMETHING AND WAS BLEEDING FROM THE MOUTH, BUT APPARANTLY WAS OKAY, BUT STUNNED FOR THE MOMENT.
THE LIEUTENANT IN THE SAME TRUCK WAS FREAKING OUT BECAUSE HE HEARD SOMETHING COME FROM THE VEHICLE INTERCOM LIKE AN AUDIBLE “UH, SHIT!!” THEN HE NOTICED THE GUNNER SLUMPING SLIGHTLY AND HOLDING HIS HEAD WITH HIS HANDS, THEN HE HEARD GUN FIRE AND IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT THE CONVOY WAS UNDER ATTACK. HE DIDN’T GET A CHANCE TO MAKE A TRANSMISSION, BEING THAT DOOLITTLE IN THE FIRST TRUCK SAID SOMETHING LIKE “I AM ENGAGING, REPEAT, I AM ENGAGING, THEY THREW SOMETHING AT THE CONVOY”. THAT’S WHEN ALL THE HELL BROKE LOOSE AND ALL THE TRUCKS MOVED INTO POSITION AND STOPPED ALL TRAFFIC FROM MOVING. THE PLATOON SERGEANT THEN ORDERED ALL THE DISMOUNTS TO MAKE A PERIMETER AROUND THE CONVOY, INCLUDING THE MEDIC TO
HEAD TOWARD THE WOUNDED SOLDIER IN THE GUNNER HATCH TO CHECK HIS STATUS. DOLDERFISH, ‘FLIP’ FRYE GUY, SGT BUILDING, SGT SANCHEZ, AND TWO OF THE TRUCK COMMANDERS JUMPED OUT, WHILE THE MEDIC FOLLOWED SANCHEZ TO THE BACK OF VICTOR 2. BY THE TIME THE MEDIC MADE HIS WAY INSIDE, ‘CARLOS’ WAS SITTING DOWN IN THE CREW COMPARTMENT AFTER BEING REPLACED IN THE HATCH. HE WAS BLEEDING PROFUSELY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS FACE. HE WAS CONSCIOUS AND SITTING DOWN, SLUMPED IN ONE OF THE CREW SEATS. A LARGE OBJECT, LIKE A BRICK OR STONE WAS HURLED AT HIM, AND STRUCK HIM ON THE RIGHT SIDE, BELOW THE KEVLAR AND HEADSET HE WAS WEARING. ALL HE NOTICED WAS, THE VEHICLE WENT TO A HALT AND HE PITCHED FORWARD IN THE HATCH, AND SOMETHING HIT HIM, CAUSING HIM TO GRUNT OUT “UH SHIT”. THEN THE LIEUTENTANT PULLED HIM DOWN AND TOLD ONE OF THE CREW MEMBERS IN THE BACK TO TAKE HIS PLACE, AND CONTINUE WATCHING THE 9’O CLOCK SECTOR OF FIRE. NORMALLY A CASE LIKE THIS DICTATES US TO MAKE A SALT OR SALUTE REPORT, RATHER THAN A 9 LINE. SO, WE JUST PUT OUT A BFT MESSAGE TO THE CP OF THE INCIDENT, AND MADE RADIO CONTACT. SOON AS THEY GOT THE MESSAGE, THEY CONTACTED THE PARENT UNIT AND SENT A REQUEST FOR SCOUT WEAPONS TEAM AND PREDATOR, IN CASE WE NEEDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. IN THIS CASE, WE ONLY NEEDED THE IRAQI POLICE PRESCENCE AT THE SCENE TO HELP WITH THE CONTROLLING OF TRAFFIC.
THEN WE MADE THE DETERMINATION TO SCRUB THE MISSION AND ROLL BACK INTO THE FOB, TO TAKE THE WOUNDED SOLDIER TO MEDICAL.
THIS IS ONLY ONE OF THE FEW INCIDENTS WE ENCOUNTERED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS OVER THE PAST YEAR. WE HAD BEEN WORKING THESE SCENARIOS DESIGNED TO MAKE US REACT AND COUNTER ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS DURNING CONVOY OPERATIONS. THESE SAME SCENARIOS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED UPON DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS. THEY ARE NOT ENTIRELY FOOL PROOF, THERE ARE FLAWS INVOLVED. SINCE THE BUILD UP OF TROOPS SENT TO IRAQ, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 3,OOO AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN THEATRE. A MAJORITY OF THOSE NUMBERS WERE SOLDIERS KILLED BY GUN SHOT WOUNDS, GRENADE ATTACKS, AND THE BIGGEST NUMBER WERE BY THE INFAMOUS IEDS. ONLY A QUARTER OF THAT NUMBER WERE SOLDIERS KILLED BY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, LIKE VEHICLE ROLL OVERS. ON AN AVERAGE, IT WOULD SEEM THE BIGGEST SOLDIER KILLER, ALONG WITH SUICIDE IS TRAFFIC DEATHS; WHICH CAN BE ACCREDITED TO DRIVERS TRYING TO AVOID ROAD SIDE BOMBS AND OTHER FORMS OF DISTRACTIONS LIKE ROCK THROWING, OR EVEN TOSSING A GRENADE. LUCKILY FOR US, IT WAS A ROCK THROWN FROM A CAR, AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE APPREHENDED AND DETAINED BY THE IRAQI POLICE FOR QUESTIONING: NOT TO MENTION WHEN TIME WAS APPLICIBLE THEIR PRINTS AND IDENTIFICATION WERE PROCESSED. YOU WOULD FIGURE THIS WAS A CLOSE CALL FOR ‘CARLOS’. AFTER ALL, THIS WAS HIS SECOND TOUR. HE HAD A SIMILAR CLOSE CALL, WHEN THE CONVOY HE WAS IN CAME UNDER ATTACK AFTER ONE OF THE TRUCKS WAS HIT BY AN IED. THE TRUCK WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED, AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK. HIS TRUCK WAS RIGHT BEHIND THE DAMAGED VEHICLE AND HE RECEIVED SOME SHRAPNEL TO THE FACE AND ARMS, BUT WAS SHAKEN UP OVER THE AFFAIR: TWO OF HIS FRIENDS WERE KILLED, ONE DYING AFTER BEING FLOWN TO THE LOCAL COMBAT SURGICAL HOSPITAL, OR ‘CSH’ FOR SHORT. HIS WAS A LITTLE SHAKEN OVER THIS TOO; A FEW DAYS AGO SOMEONE HE KNEW AT A DIFFERENT DUTY STATION WAS SHOT FROM A PASSING CAR, NEAR A CHECK POINT; HE IS STILL RECOVERING FROM HIS WOUNDS. OF COURSE, WE GO BACK, RE FIT, AND RE ARM TO GO OUT. ‘CARLOS’ FELT READY WHEN THE TIME CAME, AND THE PLATOON WOULD BE GIVEN THE WORD THEY ARE TO ROLL OUT TO TALK WITH THE IP’S THAT DETAINED THE SUSPECTS. HE DIDN’T FEEL ANY TREPIDATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, HE JUST WANTED TO GO OUT. IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS SOLDIERS GO THROUGH SOMETIMES WHEN THEY ARE SHOT, OR SHOT AT, AND INJURED. THEY WANT TO PROVE THEY ARE IMPREGNABLE, AND CAN TAKE ANYTHING. WE WENT OUT AGAIN THAT WEEK. MUCH TO OUR DISMAY, WE DIDN’T GO TO THAT COMPOUND WHERE THE SUSPECTS WERE BEING HELD. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, WE WERE INFORMED THEY WERE RELEASED AFTER A PHONE CALL FROM GENERAL ABDULLAH THAT THEY WERE RELATED TO SOMEONE IN THE REPUBLICAN GUARD, AND THAT THEY WERE JUST UPSET ABOUT AMERICAN PRESCENSE IN THE AREA. IN A RELATED STORY, AN COALITION UNIT STOPPING TRAFFIC AT A CHECK POINT DURING A WEDDING CELEBRATION IN TH CITY MISTOOK THE CELEBRATORY FIRING TO BE INCOMING FIRED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FIRING, RESULTING IN CASUALITES INCLUDING 3 FATALITIES, MEMBERS OF THE WEDDING PARTY. SO, INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THE AREA WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WE CONDUCTED BATTLE FIELD CIRCULATION, WHICH IS PRIMARILY A WASTE OF TIME AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED. WE ROLLED OUT WITH 4 VEHICLES AND 19 PERSONNEL OUT OF GATE5. THIS TIME, WE HAD A DAMN FENDER BENDER! IT OCCURRED AFTER WE RAN OVER SOME DEBRI GOING THROUGH A CHECK POINT, PROBABLY CHECK POINT3. WE TOOK A RIGHT TURN AFTER COMING OFF RTE SEPTEMBER, WHEN THE THIRD TRUCK, SERGEANT BOURDREAUX’S VEHICLE HAD TO STOP AN CHECK HIS RIGHT SIDE REAR TIRE TO CHECK IF SOMETHING WAS EMBEDDED IN IT THEN CONTINUED ON. WE WERE TOLD TO MAKE A QUICK RIGHT TURN AT A CERTAIN GRID, BUT SERGEANT BERMUDEZ ALMOST PASSED IT UP AND MADE HIS DRIVER, ‘FLIP’ CONDUCT A HASTY ‘FLOW AND TURN’ ONTO THE TRAIL. ALMOST ALL AT ONCE THE CONVOY WAS SLAMMING ON BRAKES AND EXECUTING A QUICK TURN. WHEN THE FIRST AND SECOND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BEFORE INFORMING THE REST OF THE CONVOY OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING, CAUSING THE THIRD TRUCK TO SKID TO A HALT TO AVOID HITTING THE REAR OF THE SECOND VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE LAST VEHICLE, ONE OF THE UP ARMOR HUMVEES THAT DOESN’T HAVE AIR BRAKES CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE THIRD ONE. PIECES OF ALUMINUM, AND GLASS LITTERED THE PAVEMENT WHERE THE POINT OF IMPACT OCCURRED. THE PLATOON SERGEANT RADIOED FOR THE FIRST VEHICLE TO MOVE UP, SO THEY CAN GET THE REST OF THE CONVOY OFF THE HARD BALL. WHEN SURVEYING THE DAMAGE, WHILE POSTING ROAD GUARDS, THEY WERE ABLE TO ROLL THE HUMVEE FORWARD INTO THE STAGING AREA, PRODUCED BY PLACING THE OTHER 3 VEHICLES IN A WAGON WHEEL FORMATION. AND ONCE AGAIN, WE HAD TO CALL FOR AIR AND RECOVERY ASSETS. IT IS REALLY EMBARRASSING TO SEND OUT FOR AIR WHEN THERE IS NO FIRE FIGHT, ONLY A FENDER BENDER; SOMETHING WHICH COULD’VE BEEN AVOIDED. WE HAD SOME DISGRUNTLED PEOPLE; BOTH IN THE CONVOY AND THE CONVOY SENT OUT AS QRF ESCORT FOR THE RECOVERY ASSET. NOT TO MENTION THAT SOMEONE IN THE AIR HAD A BIRDS EYE VIEW OF THE SCENE. USUALLY, THEY ARE THERE TO LOOK FOR THE BAD GUY OR ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES, BUT ALL THEY SEEN WERE THE RESULT OF SOLDIERS NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AND THE IMPACT THAT INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS HAVE ON COMPLETION OF A MISSION. THE PILOTS, LIKE US DON’T LIKE THEIR TIME WASTED; WHEN ON A MISSION THEY WANT TO COMPLETE THE MISSION THEN RTB, WHICH MEANS RETURN TO BASE. SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE THEY FELT LIKE US, RETURNING WITH A MUCH LARGER CONVOY, WITH A DISABLED OR TOWED VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE. AT ONE TIME, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ENEMY. THE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES FOR RECOVERING A VEHICLE HAD CHANGED AS WELL. WE WOULD ROLL TO THE NEAREST FOB FOR THE NEAREST MAINTENANCE ASSET TO MITIGATE THE RECOVERY. IT DIDN’T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE FOR A BIG CONVOY TO COME IN AT THE SAME GATE, ESSENTIALY CROWDING, AND BUNCHING UP. THE MAIN PART THAT BOTHERED US THE MOST WAS SHARING THE RADIO NET WITH ANOTHER PLATOON. WHEN YOU USE A CERTAIN TECHNIQUE OR METHOD EVERYTIME IT HELPS TO ELIMINATE STAGNATION OF THE RADIO NET. THIS OTHER PLATOON WAS WACK! THEY HAD A VERY GREEN, UNSEASONED SOLDIER CALLING OUT, AND REPORTING WHAT WAS SEEN OUT IN THE FRONT. NOT ONLY WAS HE PLAIN MONOTONOUS; BUT HE DIDN’T SEEM TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE, AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, HIS PLATOON SERGEANT KEPT MAKING REMARKS ABOUT US NOT ANSWERING UP! IF WE DIDN’T THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH, WE DIDN’T ANSWER.  WE WANTED TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT WE DO. THAT’S WHY WE MADE IT AN ISSUE TO HAVE OUR OWN PLATOON FREQUENCY: THE OTHER PLATOONS SEEM TO USE THE MAIN RADIO NET, SIMPLY CROWDING IT AND UPSETTING THE BATTLE CAPTAIN AND RADIO OPERATORS IN THE TOC. AS YOU WOULD GUESS, IT WAS AN UPSETTINGLY
AND INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATING TIRADE TO GO THROUGH; GETTING A TRUCK TOWED BACK, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK OUR USUAL BANTER ON THE RADIO NET. IF THIS HAD TAKEN PLACE EARLIER, LIKE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING; WE WOULD HAVE WENT OUT AGAIN.
EACH PLATOON HAS EXTRA VEHICLES TO USE. SO THAT WAY WHEN ONE GOES DOWN, WE CAN RECOVER ONE, AND SEND THE CREW BACK TO GET THE OTHER ONE. THAT WAY WE CONTINUE THE MISSION; EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TO BE OUT LONGER BECAUSE OF THE SWITCHING OF VEHICLES. WE FOUND SOLICE, IN THE FACT THAT OUR CAMARADERIE IS GREAT IN THE PLATOON AND WE GET ALONG WELL NO MATTER HOW DREAD THE SITUATION, OR ENVIRONMENT MIGHT BE. WE HAD AT BEST, ANOTHER 12 HOUR DAY AND PENDING ANOTHER CONVOY IN THE AFTERNOON. NONE OF US WAS RESTED, BUT OUR MORALE WAS WHAT KEPT US GOING.
SO, MUCH LATER, AFTER RETURNING TO THE FOB; MOST OF US TOO TIRED TO EAT CHOW, OR WORK OUT AT THE GYM. WE HAD OUR DAILY AFTER CONVOY MEETING AND WINDED DOWN; WHETHER THAT MEANT, BEDDING DOWN OR RELAXING, WE WERE ON THE ‘DOWN LOW”.
BUT, IT DID’NT LAST FOR LONG. INSTEAD, WE WERE PUT ON HIGH ALERT BECAUSE OF A MORTAR ATTACK ON THE FOB. NOONE WERE HURT SERIOUSLY, OTHER THAN SUPERFICIAL WOUNDS AND DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING; BUT IT GAVE US QUITE A SCARE. 

“THE RECENT TIME AND YEAR, AUGUST 2006, VIRGINIA.”…, 1745hrs SOMEWHERE ON THE MAIN POST OF FORT MEYER, VIRGINIA. SLEEPING IN ON A CLOUDY, BUT RATHER NICE SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SANCHEZ WAS WAKENED BY THE BUZZING OF HIS CELL PHONE AND THE POUNDING OF THE FRONT DOOR OF HIS 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT SHARED BY HIMSELF AND A ROOM MATE. WHEN HE FINALLY GAVE UP IGNORING HIS PHONE, AND RATHER ANNOYED BY THE POUNDING AT THE DOOR, HE AROUSE; WALKING IN NOTHING BUT SOCKS, BOXERS AND A CRAZED LOOK ON HIS FACE, THAT WOULD SCARE THE HECK OUT OF WHOEVER WAS AT THE DOOR AWAY. WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR, HE WAS STARING INTO THE FACE OF HIS FORMER SOLDIER, WINCHESTER FROM KENTUCKY. STORIED AS HE USUALLY IS AROUND HIS FORMER MENTOR, WINCHESTER SEEMED DISTURBED ABOUT SOMETHING.
EITHER AVOIDING THE SITUATION, OR BEING GRUMPY FROM BEING BOTHERED FROM HIS REST, HE MOTIONED FOR HIS FRIEND TO ENTER. WINCHESTER INVITED HIMSELF INTO THE LIVING ROOM WHERE HE PLOPPED DOWN ON THE COUCH, NEXT TO THE OTHER ONE THAT SANCHEZ SLEPT ON; NOT BOTHERING TO CLEAN THE PILE OF JUNK OFF HIS QUEEN SIZE BED SET. EVIDENTLY, SANCHEZ WAS STILL HALF ASLEEP BUT LISTENING TO HIS FRIEND, RATTLE ON WHAT OCCURRED DURING THEIR RECENT DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ, AND HIS EXPERIENCES SHARED TOGETHER WITH SANCHEZ AND THE REST OF THE PLATOON; ESPECIALLY THE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED WITH CARLOS. CARLOS WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF NEARLY EVERYONE IN THE PLATOON. EVENTHOUGH, IT SEEMED THAT SANCHEZ WASN’T LISTENING, YOU COULD TELL HE WAS
FEELING SOME GUILT ABOUT WHAT HE COULD AND SHOULD HAVE DONE ABOUT THE PAST EVENTS, DEALING WITH CARLOS’S DEATH.  HIS DEATH HAD TAKEN A TOLL ON JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WHO KNEW, AND WORKED WITH HIM. WINCHESTER, HIMSELF HAD DECIDED NOT TO RE-ENLIST, AND INSTEAD HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE SERVICE MONTHS AFTER THE UNIT HAD RETURNED FROM OVERSEAS. FOR THE MOST PART, MEMBERS OF THE PLATOON HAD MOVED ON. SOME WENT TDY, MEANING TEMPORARY DUTY, EITHER AS AN INSTRUCTOR, LIKE BOUDREAUX; OR A DRILL SERGEANT, LIKE BERMUDEZ. SUGAR BEAR HAD GOTTEN OUT TOO; AND TOOK AN ON POST JOB TO HELP SUPPORT HIS TWINS. THE PLATOON LEADER, CREEDWATER, HAD GOTTEN SELECTED FOR PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN, AND WENT TDY TO ATTEND THE CAPTAINS CAREER COURSE.
EVEN THE MEAN AND GRIZZLED PLATOON SERGEANT, WHO IS REFERRED TO AS “THE SMOKE” HAD ACCEPTED AN ASSIGNMENT BACK TO HIS OLD STOMPING GROUNDS BACK AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS. HE HAD DECIDED TO FINALLY PUT IN HIS RETIREMENT PAPERS AND RIDE OUT HIS LAST REMAING MONTHS PUSHING PAPERWORK FOR AMMUNITION REQUESTS.
SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PLATOON, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY ITSELF HAD WENT ON WITH THEIR LIVES AS USUAL.

SOME OF THEM HAD GOTTEN IN TROUBLE AND RECEIVED “NON-JUDICIAL” PUNISHMENT. ONE OF THEM WENT TO JAIL FOR 30 DAYS FOR FIRING A HAND GUN IN THE AIR. BOUDREAUX CLAIMED HE WAS JUST UPSET, AND SNAPPED. BUT THEN, HE HIMSELF, HAD SNAPPED, WHEN HE “PIMP SLAPPED” A SOLDIER, ONE NIGHT WHEN HE WAS ON STAFF DUTY. INSTEAD OF GETTING AN ARTICLE-15, WHICH IS A FORM OF NON-JUDICIAL PUNISHMENT, HE RECEIVED ONLY 30 DAYS OF SUMMARY PUNISHMENT LIKE, OVERSEEING THE EXTRA DUTY SOLDIERS PERFORMING TASKS, AS PICKING UP TRASH IN THE PARKING LOT, AND SWEEPING AND MOPPING THE HALL WAYS OF THE BUILDING. HE WAS EVEN MORE GRUMPY WHEN ON DUTY! NO OTHER NCO GOT IN TROUBLE. THEY WERE EITHER GOING ON WITH THEIR LIVES AND TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS HELPING TO KEEP THEIR PERSPECTIVE PLATOONS INTACT.
IN THE MEANWHILE, FELIPE SANCHEZ WHO IS A GOOD FRIEND OF G. SANCHEZ, BUT NO RELATION WAS FIGUIRING OUT HOW TO GET USED TO THE FACT THAT HE IS NOW A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER, AND NEARLY ALL OF HIS FRIENDS ARE STILL JUNIOR ENLISTED. ALSO, FACT OF THE MATTER WAS THAT HE NOW HAS LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OF SERVICE REMAINING TO RE-ENLIST OR GET OUT. HE WAS DRINKING MORE THAN USUAL ON THE WEEKENDS. MOST OF HIS FRIENDS BEGAN TO WORRY ABOUT HIM; THE DRINKING, HIS ATTITUDE, AND HIS SOMETIME COMPULSIVE GAMBLING. HIS GAMBLING WASN’T ANYTHING MAJOR, IT’S JUST THAT HE DID IT SO OFTEN; IT ALSO BEGAN TO WORRY THOSE CLOSE TO HIM.  FOR THE MOST PART, HE BEGAN TO CHANGE FOR THE WORST, SO DID RUBIO, WHO FREQUENTLY HUNG OUT WITH HIM. THEY WOULD SEEM TO BE STRANGERS TO THOSE WHO DIDN’T KNOW THEM WELL, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE THE SAME GUYS TO THEIR CLOSE ASSOCIATES. LUCKILY, THEY WERE AMONG THE MAJORITY OF SOLDIERS WHO OFTEN CAME UP NEGATIVE ON THE MONTHLY URINALYSIS CONDUCTED BY THE COMMANDER. MOST OF THEM WOULD BE COMPELLED TO USE DRUGS, SOME OF THEM BEER AND OTHER TYPES OF ALCOHOL; BEING THAT THE MANY FLASH BACKS SOME OF THEM WOULD HAVE ARE BASED ON THE FACT OF THE MANY DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ, THAT MANY OF THEM HAD.

SOME OF THEIR NIGHTMARES WERE OF THE FOLLOWING:
HAVING SOME RECURRING DREAM OR MOMENT THAT THEY ALL SHARED TOGETHER. EITHER A LOUD NOISE OR SOMETHING ELSE WOULD TRIGGER IT. BUT IT WOULD ALL COME DOWN TO A SIMPLE SCENARIO…

“GATHERING TOGETHER IN THE MOTOR POOL FOR A CONVOY BRIEF, THEN LOADING UP IN THE MRAPS, AND THEN HEADING OUT OF THE GATE LINED UP 50 METERS BEHIND EACH OTHER.”
THE SAME SCENARIO PLAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT WITH DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING. SOME WOULD SEE FRIENDS BEING KILLED. OTHERS WOULD SEE THEM SELVES KILLED THEN WAKE UP IN A POOL OF SWEAT AND PERSPIRATION.
IT WOULD EVEN BE A SITUATION WHERE ONE WOULD BE MOTIONLESS, ENVISIONING SOMETHING AND THEN SNAP BACK TO REALITY. THIS HAPPENS TO BE MORE OR LESS, THE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD FOR PROLONGED
PERIODS OF DEPLOYMENT IN COMBAT, WHILE STATIONED OVERSEAS.
NORMALLY, WHEN RETURNING SOLDIERS ARE BACK AT THEIR PERSPECTIVE HOME BASE, THEY UNDERGO A SERIES OF SEMINARS AND BRIEFS TO ADDRESS WHICH ISSUES THEY MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN THEATRE; AND USUALLY A ROUTINE OR FOLLOW UP WITH A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WHO DEALS WITH ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION SOLVING TECHNIQUES ESSENTIAL TO A SOLDIER’S RECOVERY, AND RE-HOMING.
THE MOST USUAL BEHAVIOR IS EXCESSIVE DRINKING TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS, AND BEING EITHER STRANGLY DISTANT AND HOSTILE AROUND OTHERS. THE OTHER ROUTINE IS SCHEDULING SOLDIERS TO SEE A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER, WHO PRESCRIBES MEDICATION TO HELP REDUCE OR REMEDY WHAT MENTAL ISSUE THE SOLDIER MAY HAVE.
ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM THAT BILLY, RUBIO, AND BOTH SANCHEZS MAY HAVE SOME SORT OF ILLNESSES; BUT THEY HAVE’NT BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ANY TYPE OF PTSD AS OF CURRENT. THEY HANG AROUND TOGETHER AND ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING.
FOR THEY HAD CAME UP WITH AN INGENIOUS PLAN TO COME FULL CIRCLE. THEY HATCHED A PLOT TO DO SOMETHING TO BE REMEMBERED FOR; THEY WILL NEED TO GET OTHERS INVOLVED IN THEIR PLAN.
LIKE ANYTHING THAT SOLDIERS DO, IT STARTED OUT AS A JOKE; THEN SLOWLY, IT EVOLVED INTO A PLAN. BILLY SEEN A MOVIE, AND IT GAVE HIM AN IDEA THAT HE SHARED WITH G. SANCHEZ AND FELIPE. SOON OTHERS WERE APPRISED OF IT. FIRST, THERE WERE LAUGHS, SPILLED BEVERAGES, SPITTING OUT OF FOOD, AND CHOKING; THEN THERE WAS AFFIRMITIVE GESTURES OF CERTAINTY, ALONG WITH SELECTING WHAT ROLE WHO WOULD PLAY, THEN SWEARING AN OATH, NEVER TO REVEAL THIS PLOT TO ANYONE OUTSIDE THE INNER CIRCLE.
WHEN SERGEANT BOUDREAUX HAPPENED TO COME ACROSS THE GOSSIP ABOUT THE STORY, HE ONLY TOOK IT IN CONSIDERATION AS SOLDIER TALK, A BIG JOKE TO PASS AROUND FOR ‘SHIT AND GIGGLES’, SO TO SAY.
OTHERS, LIKE “SUGA BEAR” KIND OF TOOK IT SERIOUSLY, BEING THAT HE KNEW THESE GUYS, AND HOW THEY CAN TAKE THINGS TO THE LIMIT WHEN COMPELLED. CLIFFORD FRANKLIN, LIKE “SUGA BEAR” TOOK IT SERIOUSLY TOO, AND OPTED OUT; BUT LATER, AFTER BEING CONVINCED BY BILLY, THOUGHT IT THROUGH AND AGREED TO PLAY A PART.
BOB DOLDERFISH WAS ALSO APPROACHED BY BILLY, AND RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO BE PART OF THE PLAN, AS LONG AS IT WAS A SMALL PART.
SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PLOT HAD SECOND THOUGHTS THOUGH: WINCHESTER DRUNK A WHOLE PINT OF ‘JACK” BY HIMSELF AND COULD’NT REMEMBER AGREEING TO THE PLAN. LATER, HE WOULD DECIDE TO HELP PLAY A MAJOR PART. ONLY UNTIL LATER, HE ASSAULTED A SOLDIER, ONE OF THE GUYS HE WORKED WITH IN THE PLATOON FOR GOSSIPING TOO MUCH! AFTER SEVERAL GUYS PULLED HIM FROM OFF THE SOLDIER IT WAS SETTLED; PVT, SOON TO BE SPECIALIST KLINK DECIDED NOT TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST HIM. TO MANY OF THE SOLDIERS, IT SEEMED TO BE A CLOSE CALL; EVENTHOUGH IT WOULD SEEM TO BE A CASE OF WINCHESTER DRINKING TOO MUCH, AND KLINK GETTING ON HIS NERVE AS USUAL, THEN GETTING BEAT ACROSS THE HEAD WITH AN EMPTY BEER BOTTLE! SO, THEY COOKED UP A STORY THAT KLINK SIMPLY FELL DOWN THE STAIRS WHILE TAKING OUT A GARBAGE BAG WITH EMPTY BEER BOTTLES; HE SIMPLY SLIPPED DOWN THE STAIRWELL AND CUT HIS HEAD WHEN HE FELL ON SOME BOTTLES!
SO WITH THAT OUT THE WAY, THE REST OF THE GROUP CAME UP WITH AN IDEA TO GO AND VISIT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY.
MOST PEOPLE SHOW A CERTAIN DEGREE OF REVERANCE TOWARD MILITARY CEMETARIES, AND WOULD NEVER CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING DISHONEST, OR DISRESPECTFUL; BUT THE GUYS WERE ONLY THINKING OF A WAY TO REUNITE WITH A LONG LOST FRIEND. YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WOULD SIMPLY BLOG, AND CREATE A WEBSITE TO THE FALLEN SOLDIERS. MOST PEOPLE WOULD JUST SIMPLY VISIT THE PERSPECTIVE CEMETARY TO PAY HOMAGE TO A FALLEN SOLDIER.
NO ONE HAD EVER THOUGHT OF GOING OUT OF THE WAY TO BRING BACK A FORMER FRIEND; SOME PEOPLE WOULD PRETEND THEIR FRIEND IS BACK AND REMINENSE ON THE GOOD TIMES, AND IT WOULD BE LEFT AT THAT! THESE GUYS WERE THINKING OF SOMETHING ELSE!