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

chapter five: peleliu airfield

A/N: Hello! I haven't updated since August, sorry about that :/ NGL, I kind of did put this off, mainly because writing this was somewhat of a long process. To save you my frustrations, I'll just tell you the ending: I have a new computer so I can write without wanted to blow my brains out! Anyway, here's chapter five!

Warning: use of the J-slur.

* * *

The foxhole that Matt shared with Jay and Burgie weren't that far away from the foxhole that Snafu, Sledge and Oswalt were bunking in. During their "free" time the men would often lunge in each others' foxholes. When they were fighting, the motormen would all squat down in the same foxhole and work from there.

It was hot in Peleliu (and according to Sledge, it was one hundred and fifteen fucking degrees, Jesus fucking Christ!), especially when they had all their gear on. The heat had its unfortunate side affects of exhaustion and dehydration. Matt knew that he probably should have grown used to the lack of sleep but he was a Klein, alright? The dehydration, well, most men around were most definitely not used to that. Don't suggest on just swallowing your own spit, because that did not help them at all.

One day, a man had yelled that another marine had found water. Matt didn't want to believe it. There was no way there was any good drinking water here.

But Matt and his friends followed the others anyway. They came across a small pond of sorts with water. Water that matched the dirt of the island. Matt felt that there was something up with the liquid. There was no way that they could drink that.

"There's no way that we can drink that," Matt said to no one in particular. No one listened to him. Matt watched as one man passed his helmet to a man below, who filled it up with water. He passed it back to the other, while someone picked up...was it a head skull of an animal? Matt honestly did not know what it was. He watched as the marine dropped back in the water in shock.

"It's poisoned," someone said. "Fucking Jap poisoned it." Matt fought the urge to say "I-told-you-so", but Snafu clearly had his back.

"It looks like you were right, huh Kraut?" Snafu said to Matt, but he wasn't looking at him. He only looked at the poisoned water. "You got good instincts."

"Listen up, Weapons! CO's got our orders!" someone shouted out. The marines of K Company turned to face the man and Captain Haldane. They listened to Haldane intently.

"All right, here it is. The entire division is moving across the airfield at 0900. First and second platoon will lead, followed by Weapons and third platoon." Haldane paused in perfect timing, because another bomb fell to the ground and exploded in the distance. That happened often.

"The only way to stop this Jap artillery is to get into those hills, and the only way into those hills is across this airfield. When we move, do not stop until we get across. You got it?"

"Aye, Skipper," everyone responded.

"Any questions?" Haldane asked.

"We need water, Captain," Burgin informed Haldane.

Haldane nodded. "I'm working on it, Corporal," he scanned his soldiers. "Get your gear ready and stand by."

"Get back to your positions," Haney ordered. "Pack it up!"

* * *

While Burgin, De L'Eau, Leyden, Matt, Oswalt, Sledge and Snafu were all packing up (well, Snafu really wasn't doing anything. That lazy motherfucker was only lighting up a cigarette.) and conversing on what they desperately needed and what they could face out there as they trekked across the airfield, Oswalt quietly admitted something to the group.