November, 2001
War
Man down! Man down! As I looked back I saw one of my best friends laying on the ground but we had to keep going. Here's how I got in this mess.
It all started when the president started to draft all the young men because of a new war with Russia. Unfortunately I got drafted. I was only 18 just getting out of college. It was June 28, 2009. We had just finished another war. The army came and escorted me to basic training that's where I met Tom. After we were done we were transferred to a squad called Death Angels.
The sargent was Jonathan Croly he was very strict and seemed to have no heart. We went to the weapon depot right when we arrived. Srg. showed us all of the guns. After that we went to bed.
"Get up! Get up!!" Sarge yelled.
I got up out of my cot.
"Gear up maggots! We're going on a trip."
We all geared up and followed him to the copter. We got in and sat on the seats.
"We have to go in and attack the Russians head ! This is what you've been training for! So sit tight and pray that you don't die!" Sarge yelled over the roar of the copter.
Me and Tom were talking.
"We'll stick together until the end," we both whispered.
"I'm gonna make those suckers die!" Tom said.
BANG! We landed.
"Okay, we stick together! Now move out!"
We walked outside. There was bullets flying everywhere young men fighting young men. We ran out following Sarge. There's no turning back there never was. Everyone ran down the field and jumped into a trench. Everyone started to fire but me. I didn't want to kill anyone but I had to so I started to fire. I hit one or two. Then one of our men stood up and went crazy with his m-16. He was an easy target. I yelled "Get down!"
He wouldn't listen. I heard a big boom a rocket from a rocket launcher was heading towards him. Smack! It hit him and he blew up. I was in shock! Everyone was still for a moment . . . .
"Come on fall back!" Sarge yelled. We all ran back as fast as we could.
Swish! A bullet struck Sarge's leg.
"Go, leave me!" he yelled. Everyone left but me. I ran back and started to kill anyone that even looked at us. As Sarge came back so did I. Swish a bullet flew past my head.
"Sarge get down!" I screamed. But it was too late. Sarge got hit right in the neck. I sprinted back, I knew there was a sniper hiding. We all got back to where we started.
"What are we gonna do?" someone said.
"We're trapped!" Tom said.
"We'll have to fight our way through, but it won't be easy!" I said.
They all followed me. We ran into the trenches.
"Spread out and we can surround them."
We all spread out and came in on all sides. We boxed them in and took out the trash. After the battle was done we buried all the dead soldiers and put their dog tags above them on a stick. We put Sarge above everyone.
We started moving into the forest. It was dark and we made a fire.
"Will we get out of here?" Tom asked. "I hope, but remember our promise," I had said. When we woke up I heard someone walking towards our camp. I grabbed my gun and went to check. It got closer and closer. It was a soldier.
"Who are you," I asked. "Flex Anderson, new recruit!" he said. I took Flex and he met everyone. We moved out a little while after. We came into a big field where we saw a small Russian base there were some guards at the gate. We ran up and shot them. We sent Flex in to spy. He didn't come back so I took 2 men to come in. We climbed over the wall and came down by a tower. We hit a guards with the back side of our guns to knock thme out. We got in a room when two guards walked in. We started running one of them shot Tom!
Man down! Man down! I looked back and saw my best friend laying on the ground But we had to keep going. Then I thought.
"Why are we running? I'm not afraid to die!" I stopped, and turned. I started to fire! Even after they were dead I kept firing. I picked up Tom and threw him over my shoulder. I busted down another door.
I found Flex and fought with the men holding him hostage. There was a radio in the room. I put it on the right frequency and called a copter down. I ran out and we all got in the copter and went home. The war raged on for 2 more years and Tom died 6 days after from the wound.
We will never forget those 2 days.
by Dustin
A-6