they used to shout my name (now they whisper it)

chapter four: peleliu landing

A/N: I'm back! I wrote basically all of this chapter at 2 AM last night.

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Captain Haldane and his ever faithful sidekick, First Lieutenant Jones had informed K Company of a operation that they would soon take part in: Operation Stalemate II. They were going into Peleliu. This would be the second major battle that Matt would take part in. He couldn't help but dread it, because he knew men were going to die and he just didn't want to deal with it.

The men had packed up from their things from Pavuvu before they headed out. Matthew managed to write and a letter to Madison, asking if it was possible that she could brief him on what was happening in whatever part of Europe she was, and if she knew of anything that was going on in Italy. He knew that she would have a very slim chance of knowing anything other than what her own company is doing, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

Currently, Matt was standing in the LVT, preparing to roll out. He stood beside Burgin while Sledge had just now walked up behind him.

"I don't smoke," Sledge said over the bells that were ringing loudly. Matt could only guess that a marine—most likely Snafu—had offered him some smokes.

There was a long pause before he heard, "Yeah?"

Matt was right, it was Snafu that had offered Sledge the smokes. That crazy Cajun bastard. Matt watched as the door of the LVT shut. A different door opened, a bright light temporally blinded Matt. Matt couldn't help that he had somewhat sensitive eyes. He blamed it on having those bright blue orbs he inherited from his family.

"Let's go, boys!" Hillbilly shouted. There was a jolt, and Matt and the other marines hunched down to be covered by the LVT.

The LVT slowly rolled closer to its exit. Matt could see and hear the warzone beyond the ocean water on the island Peleliu. Matt didn't have time to process his thoughts, because he felt a sudden lurch and gravity was pulling them down...down into the waters that surrounded Peleliu. He felt the salt water splash onto him and getting into his mouth. He rejected the taste, although he probably should have been used to the sea water by now.

The LVT was cruising along the waters. Most of the marines just sat down and waited until they absolutely had to get up. Others, however (namely the replacements), couldn't help but peek over the LVT. They were all curious, since this was going to be their first taste of battle. Matt had to fight the urge to yank all of them down and protect them, as he had done with the twins and his brother all those years.

The replacements weren't his siblings, Matt had to remind himself. He didn't need to protect them. He didn't have to, necessarily, damn it.

They all started to be bombed by artillery, the shells falling and exploding in the water, which created huge splashes of that tasteful salt water. As soon as the first shell hit, everyone ducked back down into the LVT.

"Stay the fuck down!" Hillbilly yelled as loud as he could. Matt scanned everyone's faces. His older and more familiar comrades didn't even flinch (or barely, it was hard to tell) while the newer comrades were more easily rattled.

Matt looked at Sledge, the closest replacement near him. He appeared anxious. He couldn't help but tell himself to give some of his chocolate that he had been saving to Sledge once they made it through the battle. If they made it through the battle.

When the men started to fire the machine guns, Matt clutched to his own rifle tightly and started to pray. He prayed for his landing to end as swift and smooth as possible. He prayed for the men in his squad to survive this ordeal. He prayed for his family. He prayed for Madison to be safe in Europe.