In the heat of the day, he stands. Holding his rifle close. He remembers his training, he knows what will happen if he does not follow it. He wipes the sweat from his brow. Its hot here, almost 102*F. he tosses the rifle over his shoulder. He trys to pass it off but he cant shake the feeling that something is gonna happen. As he slowly walks back to his tent, he hears a shout.
"Yo! Sarge!" a rough voice yells out.
He turned around to see a young man jogging his way closer.
"What is it this time Johnson?" he asked
"I was just curious if you heard from the higher ups if we were gonna move in today or not"
He shrugged. "what have you heard?" he asked.
"Well, Rodreguez and Cortez said that they heard that we were movin out today. so I thought id ask you."
He looked at the kid curiously. "just how did they hear that private?"
"well.. they wouldent say sir."
"that's what I thought kid. Go back to your tent and get cooled of. Then get ready to run"
"AW! But Sarge!"
"What did I say Private?" he almost yelled
"yes sir. Right away." He saluted and ran off to his tent.
He looked around. 30 thousand men in the middle of a desert he thought. When were they gonna get the command? he was almost excited to hear the two words. But in another way, he almost dereaded the thought. Two little words that drove him crazy. They could send him to what is thought of as death, or keep him in this hell of a place an drive him even more insane.
A few days passed and rumors passed around the camp that orders were coming, along with 20 thousand more troops. He thought about what he had been dreaming about. So many weird images. He didn't even know how to describe it. But he felt like something was coming.. what? He didn't know. But it was something big.. he moved it out of his mind. What was the point of dwelling on something that didn't matter? He went outside of the mess tent. The bright sun hit him so hard it seemed like he had never seen it before. He squinted, and looked at the sky. All of a sudden he began wishing it would rain. Just the thought of feeling the drops on his face was oh so very refreshing. . . he went to his tent, grabbed his canteen, and took a huge drink. it seemed like nothing could quench his thurst. He looked around. Why did he have to be out in this damn place any longer? If only he had joined the navy. He wouldent have to worry about all this crap. He began to pull on his shirt, it was killing him to be so damned hot. All of a sudden, he heard all kinds of sirens. He knew just what was happining. He grabbed his rifle, and ran outside. Shots began ringging out all over the place. He hit the ground and took off crawling. He found his men, and comanded them to take point. He started yelling orders around to the random men running around the camp. He took control so well even those who out ranked him listened to his orders. He soon found out that they were under assault by about 30 hostiles that had posted up around the base with 50 cal. Guns. He thought very hard to find out what to do. But the only thing he could think of, was an outright flanking manuver. He sent out his best men around behind them. But as soon as they steped out they were imediately shot. He stared as they were filled with lead. He couldent even speak. In his shock he reached out to try to pull one of them back to him, but as he did a shot went off from a sniper round. When he pulled his hand back he was missing several fingers. He knew they were there just a second ago. But they vanished and it confused him, the next moment he woke up he saw a medic on top of him. trying to stop the bleeding. He passed out and woke up in the hospital. He looked around and saw several of his men standing aroung him saluting him. he looked around, where was he? And why were his men there? He looked at his hand and saw only 3 fingers. "what happened?" he asked. One of his men looked at him and smiled
"you saved us sarge" he simply said.
He looked around "what? How? He laughed at the thought. "no way"
"you did! When you got shot you freaked out and started shooting. Our intel was wrong, there were over a thousand hostile forces inbanked around us. You inspired us all. We followed you into the line with everything we had, and took down every one of those bastards. Then we got you back here as fast as we could and the doc. fixed up your hand as best he could."
He stared at them in dissbelief. "wha?"
"its all true sarge! And the other men are fine too! They got hit but we got out in time enough to save them." "you're a hero Major"
"what?!?"
"that's right. You've been promoted too"
"how did this happen?"
"I wish you could tell me boss. Id like to get one of those shiny stars too"
He looked at his chest, it was packed full of medals. He bagan to cry.
"THREE CHEERS FOR SARGE!" "OHRAH!" "OHRAH!" "OHRAH!" the men chanted in unison.
