When I think of the war, I remember
the time we got an Intel (CIA?) report telling us that we were going
to get hit. You know the drill, sappers, rockets, mortars oh my. You
would expect that kind of stuff in a war zone but the "war "
had been over for 10 months. 'Twas November 1973, less than 30 days
to go watching the paranoia (fear) increasing by the minute.
The old timer was showing his 11
months in country laughing in the last rank. The Flight Chief
getting angry because the old timer isn't properly freaked out
of his mind like the rest of them. If the kid TSgt only knew.
Finish guardmount got the Sector PSAT team tonight, two Thai guards
and me. Get the coffee and ice water make the first run, already
the calls of movement here, sensors going off there. The pulling
up to one of the bunkers with a really cherry FNG--I think he
been there less than two weeks. Listening to him talk about dying,
just knowing he was dead, married with a kid back in the world.
Trying to calm him down settle him down get him back on the business.
Hearing those GD words to this moment, "Mark, please don't
let me die alone." I hear that voice, the kind where you
wanted Daddy to take away the fear and the pain. I can't remember
the face or that guy's name but those words have haunted me to
this day. I don't know why, but it does. We never got it that
night which makes this story a little anti-climatic.
But I remember
that night and that voice still ...
