4th of July Special - War Story - WWII

Happy 4th of July!  Here's a special I wrote as a thank you to all of the soldiers who served our country and fought for our independence.  Thanks!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~America, 1964~

It was the 4th of July - Independence Day, and the Stewart family was just sitting down to a picnic in the park.  They were sitting in silence, enjoying the family time as they looked out at the beautiful cerulean lake beside the park.  

14 year old Arnold, however, wasn't having any of it.  

"Dad," he began, earning the attention of not only his father, but of his mother, 22 year old brother, Andrew, and 17 year old sister, Katherine, as well.  "What was it like in the war?"

His dad's eyes widened in surprise, before  he bent his head down, seeming to think, but in reality, he was hiding the grim smile that appeared on his lips automatically whenever it was brought up.  He composed himself quickly, though, and lifted his head to face his curious family.  "Well, Arnold, to understand, I need to take you to that first night on the battlefield as a Marine..."

*****

~Australia, 1941~   

Soldiers lay everywhere in dirt pits, awaiting the arrival of the Japanese, who were hidden in the brush of the Australian terrain.  The Japanese attacked every night, and then drew back for the daytime, as the newly recruited American's had discovered.  One in particular was uncomfortable as nightfall drew near.

Recently made Private Jonathan Stewart lay with his best friend as well as a new recruit, Private Arnold Jenkins.  Stewart fidgeted nervously as he eyed the rising moon and - more importantly - the falling sun.  It was his first battle, the first time he would ever be in one... and possibly the last.  

Suddenly he felt something on his arm and jumped, whipping his head around to see Jenkins smiling comfortingly over at him.  "You'll be fine."

Stewart sent him a jerky nod and carefully made himself appear as relaxed as his friend, but inside he was still quaking with nerves.  He snuck glances at Jenkins, who lay to his left, calm as could be, and wondered how that could be?  He could die that night, and it was like he didn't mind.  Like it was the usual thing.  Like it happened all the time.

While Stewart had been lost in his thoughts, the dark had crept up on them and suddenly bullets were flying.

Terrified for his life, Stewart stayed crouched inside the pit.  HIs wide eyes travelled over to Jenkins, who was propped up, gun aimed at the enemy, shooting.  Bullet after bullet flew out of the barrel and towards the Japanese, who fired back just as quickly.  Stewart's traitorous eyes wandered to the other pits where his other comrades were lying, and gulped in fear as several were shot right before his eyes, which he quickly averted.

Swallowing hard, he propped up his own gun and took aim.  He shot, and it was as though everything else faded away.  The only sound that reached his ears was the gun going off, and the short-lived cry as the enemy was hit in the chest, and then he dropped to the ground... dead.

Stewart looked at the gun, mixed emotions running through his veins as it registered: he had killed someone.  He had taken away the life of another.  Enemy or not, they would never breathe again.  Never again would they see the light of day.  There would never be another chance for them to live.

He lay there, frozen, but when a bullet nicked him on the ear, and Jenkins' worried cries reached his ears, he shook himself out of it.  He had signed up for it, and he'd be damned if he didn't do his job well.  Nodding over at Jenkins, Stewart aimed his gun and fired shot after shot.  If he was going to die that night, he would go down fighting.