Short Stories

All Hope is Lost (Vietnam War)

The sound of guns firing was the most horrible sound you could ever hear, that and the sound of wounded men moaning and crying, close to death. The sound of dead soldiers falling to the ground with an ear deafening thump. The shouting for help and the shaking men.

That is what you hear at 2:00 am during the Vietnam War.

My brothers are out there, somewhere, probably dead by now, while I lie hidden in the tall, thick grass, shooting endlessly at the enemy.

Getting close to 3:00 am and the enemy just keeps coming. I don't know if I'll make it back home. Being in the 12th battalion and having limited ammunition was making the situation ten times worse.

Out of nowhere three troops came walking towards us. Two being my brothers and the other my best friend. We kept firing at the enemy. No luck getting through to the control tent. Our radio's lost and the radio man, dead. We have now lost around 60 men meaning that we have 100 left.

The conditions are getting worse. Rain, mud and blood covering the ground along with the dead bodies that are laid amongst the trees. Some were fathers, some were husbands, some were brothers but most were sons. These men would never return home, never see the sun rise or fall, never again will they say hello not even goodbye. They all thought they would make it through the war but they lost hope. Now they're dead and gone forever.

We're losing men fast, down to 80 now. 20 more men lost to the war. Brothers, fathers, husbands, sons, lying side by side never to be able to see the light of day or breathe in the fresh sea air, never to be able to smile now that they're gone. 1963 the year that many lost their lives to the Vietnam War. That is the horrible truth about all wars. Another shot fired, another man down. We're losing men fast, not many now. Not much hope left. Some losing all hope, some gaining hope.

The terrible sight I see in front of me. Dead bodies scattered, some torn apart. Some already lost, some already found. Now they are nameless while they lie side by side, dead, gone, forever.

40 more men dead because of war. We are down to 40 men. Not much hope left among us. More dead, more bodies, more blood.

Looking amongst the trees I see more coming. Enemy after Enemy. Shot after Shot. Dead after Dead. 20 more men, dead. Down to 20 and little hope left. "Be Brave", we were told, "Be Brave". Mothers, sisters, children, all waiting for these men to come home. Hoping against hope that their sons, brothers, fathers, husbands will come home but they never will.

10 down, 10 to go. Australian soldiers are losing hope when we need it more than ever. 5 down 5 to go. My brothers were shot, now they are dead and gone. Best friend gone, he's dead too. 4 down 1 to go. Last man standing. I stood my ground. Another shot, another dead. That is the end of the 12th Battalion. All their spirits rise to heaven. I go with them.

All gone now, all dead. All hope has been lost.