Jul/25/04...

Recap...

After the second assault on the village, our teams went silent for a couple days. There orders, were to look for Miller and the other men. On the 18th of this month they returned. They found someone. Sgt. Granger, the Sniper. He was completely unfit for battle, he couldn't even think straight, hell, he almost attacked Alfa 1-1 with his rifle cause he thought, they were some Taliban insurgents, in disguise. But they settled him down and, got him home. After the second assault on the village, the Insurgents never returned, neither did the citizens. It was strange, we set out on a patrol to see if the locals were getting better, but, when we arrived, everything looked the same. The buildings were torn up with bullet holes, the streets lay littered with dead bodies and blood, and they air smelt like burning gunpowder. It was sad, no, it was worse than sad, it was depressing, everything torn up, from your own hand, the people you killed, still there like a living picture in your mind, and no sand or dust is kicked up by the heels of the Iraqi villagers that lived here, it's just a ghost town in it's former glory, makes you feel guilty. But that was over a week ago, and still, I can't seem to forget about Miller.

Jul/25/04...

Deployment Station...

Iraq...

"So, were pulling out, huh?" I said nudging Michael in the arm with my rifle. He looks over to me, cigarette in hand, he lifts his other hand up towards a mountain range.

"Yep, we going up and over that there mountain range, and while doing so," Moving his pointing hand to a long line on Hummers some with canopies, some with no roof and only a mounted gun, and just some normal ones. "We going to riding out in those babies over there, and along the way, helping as many Marine platoons as we can find, or just happen to run into." He puts his hand down and lifts his other to take a drag, "I guess you can say, it's really a "tour" of duty." I chuckle a bit and move over to a tent where the mail comes in.

"But maybe you'll be able to come home without having to fight." I heard someone say within the tent, I walk over and open the flaps to see a bunch of new marines that were replacing us here.

"Bullshit." Someone said in the back. "Fuck that." came the one standing next to me. They were reading letters from school children back in the states, sort of a connection for us to remember that there's another world out there besides war.

The Marine continues. "Peace is always much better than war and it would be nice if no one would be hurt." A marine leaning on a stack of crates walks forward. " That is some hippy Communist shit right there, where the fuck is this weak ass child from?" He said looking over the shoulder of the man with the letter. "Fredric Firestone from 2707, Spencer road, Cheby Chase, Maryland." He said turn his head to read the rest of the address. "Fucking Maryland." Came another Marine in the back.

The Marine is wearing a black sweat jacket and a crew cut on his head, walks forward in front of everyone like he's on a stage at a comedy show and begins to speak. "Dear Fredrick, thank you for your nice letter, but I am actually a, United States Marine who was, born to kill," A Marine adds a "Hoorah!". "Clearly you have mistaken for some winy, wine sipping communist dick suck, and all though peace probable appeals to, tree loving bisexuals like yourself, and your parents, I happen to be, a death dealing, blood crazed warrior, who wakes up every day just hoping for the chance to dismember my enemy's and defile there civilizations." With his hand he made a arc as he spoke. "Peace sucks a hairy asshole Freddy, war is the mother fucking answer." finishing he pointed to the man with the letter as all of the men laughed.

I wanted to say something, the rage had built up in me so much, I was shaking like I was in the cold. I almost charged at the rookie and tried to chock him his my hands, but I heard the command calling us over. The whole walk over I was fuming, I couldn't even stand looking at any of the new Maine's I was so mad. Those fuckers think they have it so easy, like this just a fuck walk in the goddamn park for them and us. "They'll see, they'll all see." I said join the crowd of Marines.

"All right men listen up!" came a booming voice on a roof top. " You know what you have to do, we are riding over that mountain range over in the distance to be replacements for fallen Marines, in the mean time, these men will be here looking after this outpost, some of you will help them out, there new, you know who you are. The lead car will be 1st quad, followed be 4th, 3rd, 2nd, then 5th. If there aren't any questions, move out!" A loud and proud, "Sir, Yes sir." came from us. "In that case, lets get moving."

We all got into our squads and get in our vehicles and pulled out. We were on the longest ride of our lives, might as well take in the peace and quiet while I still can. I look back toward the mail tent the man in the black sweat shirt was looking dead at me, and I looked back a death stare on my face. The hummer picked up speed as we rumbled down the road. I look over to the others, Michael was on the gun, Richardson was ridding shotgun, and the two others names evade me now, but I'll learn'em quick. I look out the window and see the distant mountain range. "Whelp, I'm in it now." I say as they loom in the distance.

Jul/25/04 - Aug/14/04

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