The Western Front

Chapter Five...

"Gerard! We need you to get up NOW! The Japanese have started an attack on us and we need all hands on deck!" My squad leader screamed at me waking me from my sleep. I had taken the night watch and was catching up on my sleep to make sure I was in top shape for today's work. Looks like now I am needed for combat instead of heavy duty cleaning.

The military is a way of life for me now. Ever since I left my wife and son and home, I've thrown myself into my duties. I'm waiting for my son to become of age so he can soon join me here. It's been our pact since he was a little boy. We would both join the Navy and serve together. Of course I'm now terrified that when he gets here, he will end up paying the ultimate price, but I know my son. I've raised him to be a total patriot and I'm sure he would valiantly give his life for his country. He knows that when your country needs you, you answer that call as fast as you can.

My squad leader lead me to the top deck and what I saw before me was total chaos. Japanese bombers were just letting bombs fall on our ships in a manner I've never seen before. They didn't stop. I saw ship after ship be pelted with the explosive metal and the men struggling to stay alive and not be taken by vicious water. I quickly went into action. I started firing up the cannons but it was no use. Soon the ship I was standing on became a target of their vicious bombs and our ship had a gaping hole at the bow and water immediately began to fill it up. My squad leader looked at me with terror in his eyes and both him and I had the same thought. This ship is going down. My thoughts then turned to the other innocent men lying below deck and I shot down the stairs despite my orders to stay above the water.

I skipped down the steps shouting as loud as I could hoping to wake the men on board in hopes that I could wake at least one and get him to safety. I ran into the first room of bunks and yanked men out of bed by the collar and yelled,

"THE SHIP IS GOING DOWN GET ABOVE WATER! NOW!"

Terror swept across their features as they sprinted out trying to get to safety but seconds later a bomb fell and it fell just feet away from where those boys were standing and all that was left in the wake was another gaping hole being filled by water. I looked to the other boys around me and even though I wasn't much of a religious man, I started to pray that maybe these boys will find a place where they will rest peacefully.

The water was up to my knees now and I'd given up the fight. I knew I was going to die. It was almost inevitable. I tried one last time looking for a way out but could find none. I then heard the screaming. The boys down the hall felt the water and were trying like mad to get out, all of their attempts being proved useless. I decided to go to them and maybe make their time easier.

As soon as I got there one more bomb dropped on the ship and all I saw was a bright light...

***

"BONNIE! BONNIE!" I screamed out. I was shaken to the core at the dream I had just had. I looked at my surroundings and became more and more terrified with each passing second. My heart rate was increasing and I started to sweat. My mother shot into my vision and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Honey please calm down. Look at me-" she started but I was too scared to even comprehend the words she was saying.

"Where's Bonnie? I need Bonnie. BONNIE!" I screamed out once again hoping this time she'll hear me. To my relief she came sprinting in and she sat on the bed. Her hair was disheveled and her makeup smeared.

"Michael! Michael!" She shushed me and put her palm to my cheek, "What's wrong?"

"I-I saw him. My dad. I saw him. Bonnie I saw him. He was here," I started to repeat the sentence I couldn't believe. My father was blown up by a Japanese bomb. I saw my mom sit down and start to cry out of the corner of my eye, but I was too affected by my nightmare to even pretend to care. I started to cry.