“Alright,” I yelled, “chutes on and harnessed, we deploy in exactly two minutes.” All twenty-five of my Marines jumped out of their seats and started harnessing their chutes. I watched them as they worked. Men were helping one another strap up, hugging each other and saying, possibly, their last goodbyes. Our division was like a family, sticking together, caring for one another. That’s the only way I could describe us.
“Time’s up!” I yelled over the whispers of my crew. I was starting to feel the adrenalin flow through my veins. “Let’s fly.” I said, grinning a bit, trying to bring a little faith and excitement to my squad. A huge door slowly opened behind me. I turned around to see the huge, black sheet of sky with millions of stars twinkling so peacefully. The roar of the plane’s six engines was deafening, then I jumped.
The thrill of free falling rushed through my body. The wind was deafening, yet I couldn’t help myself but scream in excitement. For a moment I had completely forgotten the mission before me, that was the best moment in the entire mission. As I neared the earth, in one quick, jerky movement, I yanked on my chutes rip-cord. I felt an immense force slam against my chest. I seemed to floated in the air for a moment. I looked up to check for tangled lines or any flaws in my chute, all clear. I looked down to begin my landing. I hit the ground, landing on my toes and bending my knees to relieve the impact of the earth. I stood up unbuckling my harness and chute. When the harness slipped off I drew my weapon.
I scanned the area around our landing site for any potential threats, nothing but sand. Then all around me Marines started hitting the ground, unbuckling their chutes and scanning the area as I was. I looked up, the sky was clear, almost like nothing had ever happened. I stood up, put on my helmet, flipped on the night vision and headset. “Report in.” I said to the squad leaders. “Red Leader, over.” One would say. “Blue Leader, over.” Another would say. After everyone had checked in I could take a deep breath, everything was going as planned…so far. As we approached the designated ridge ahead, I turned to everyone behind me, and said confidently, “As of now, Operation Arrest is a go.”
The five squads fanned out to cover more ground as we cautiously maneuvered towards the ridge of sand. When we reached it I took another look around to make sure we were still safe. Then I turned to start up the, cold, dark, and motionless platform. Around half way up the ridge I stopped to look around. I looked to my right, then to my left. There were three squad leaders to my left and two to my right. I looked down to see how far I was, but all I could see were twenty-five determined and bloodthirsty faces staring back. I couldn’t help myself but smile. I turned to continue my way to the top. Before I knew it I had reached the top of the ridge. I stood up; took one look at what was left of Ghanzi, then turned to help some of the others up the ridge. The squad leaders did the same. Once the last soldier was pulled to his feet, I looked down at the cold, dead ridge and spat. I turned back to Ghanzi. The city was dark, except for a few scattered flames from burning cars and chemicals.
I turned back to my men, “As you all know from briefing earlier, three men of my choice will serve as lookouts at this position, I am changing that. I know command won’t like it but, what they don’t know won’t hurt them, plus I think it’s for the best. Instead I want two lookouts and four snipers, any volunteers?”
A few men stepped forward.
“Thank you.” I said, “Now headsets on at all times, and you better be there to answer.” I said assuring myself there would be no fatal mistakes. “Yes sir!” they replied. “Good, now everyone else you’re under the direct command of your squad leader. Squad leaders, you’re under my direct command.” I said making sure we were all clear on whatever lied ahead. “Yes, sir!” they all answered back. “Alright then, let’s move out.” I said already starting my way down the other side of the ridge.
Climbing down the ridge was almost the same as climbing up, cold, dark, and motionless. The only difference was that all the troops were above me and now, I was nervous. When I reached the bottom I scanned the sand once again, but this time it was different. My veins were flooded with adrenalin; my heart was racing, ready to jump out of my chest. One of the squadron leaders landed behind me. In a flash I turned around faster than I thought was possible, aimed my gun, and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened; I stopped and took a long, deep breath. I looked up at the squadron leader. “Sir…I think your gun is still on safety… thank you Lord!” he said pointing to the sky. I walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder. “He’s on your side,” I said, “and so am I.”
Soldiers started appearing behind him. I looked back up the ridge only a few men were still making their way down. I turned back towards Ghanzi; soldiers all around me were scanning the area. “Nice job men.” I said trying to give them some support before we went any farther towards the city. I looked back toward the ridge, the last man jumped down.
I turned back to the city, a small flash of light, then a “BAM”, and a horrifying scream. I looked to my left; a fallen soldier lying on his back in the cold sand. He was screaming for help, holding his stomach with one hand and grabbing at the sand with the other. I rushed over to him kneeling beside him; a few other men did the same. I reached for the hand covering the wound and pushed it off his stomach. There was a clean hole right in his lower rib cage. “Everyone, get down!” I yelled making sure this was the only man who would fall before reaching the city. I looked up at his face. He was sweating, yet as cold as the sand around him. He looked at me; that face I will never forget. Then his head fell back, his moaning stopped along with his struggling. I took the dog-tags from his neck and put them in my pocket. I said a prayer to myself, took a rag out of my back pocket and placed it over his face. Anger and rage now replaced the mourning in me, now it was personal.
“Alright, let’s go.” I spoke calmly, trying to keep my cool. I stood up and began to make my way toward the city once again. The closer and closer we got to the city the more you could smell the toxic fumes and gasses from piles of ruble and debris. This seemed to build the tension between our squad. I could now see the carnage of terrorist work. Before I knew it we were at the city’s steps. I crouched a little lower. I spotted an old car rusty and burnt, I rushed over to it. The cold sand below my feet suddenly turned to hard concrete. I looked back at my squad, the fear was now showing in their faces. Some of the men had their eyes fixed on the carnage ready to fire on anything that moved, some of the men were looking at me waiting for me to make their next move. I looked over the hood of the car, there seemed to be no sign of life anymore. I turned back to the squad leaders. I motioned my hand to signal an all clear. Everyone started to advance down the barren road. It was cold, dark, and dead, just like the sand.
“Sir,”, a voice said over my headset, waking me from my daydream, ”I have visual on a group of men, about three blocks southwest of your position.” I thought for a moment. “Do you copy sir?”, the soldier asked. “Yea, I copy soldier,” I replied, “just thinking.” For a few moments, I thought, letting the conversation die. “Alright, I’m gonna give you an clearance to fire when we’re just around the corner from the hostiles. Radio me before you open fire.” I told him. “Yes sir. Over and out.” he answered. I took a look around; soldiers were looking back from all around, listening intently to our conversation. “Men it’s go time.” I said. You could hear a heart beating that moment. “Let’s roll.” I said beginning my trek towards the men. I was looking left and right, head on a swivel, looking for any undetected threats. Then I heard very faint voices in the distance. I held up my hand, everyone stopped. I spoke onto my headset, “How far are the hostiles from our current locations?” I asked. “Just around the corner.” the look-out said. “Do I have clearance?” he asked again. “Yes, you’re clear to fire.” I answered. I positioned myself, ready to jump around the corner, and open fire. Sweat was running down my face as I waited for the same gruesome sound our own soldier had made back at the ridge.
Then, the horrible shriek of pain. I jumped around the corner and started firing rounds at the bodies. BAM, BAM, BAM, was all I heard. I stopped firing for a moment to see what damage I had done. I saw three men on the ground, blood all around their bodies. Four other men were crouched down, holding their heads down with their hands. One ran out to aid a dead man, I aimed my gun to shoot… but he had no weapon. I froze for a moment, the thought that I could have killed an innocent being ran through my mind. I started moving towards him. “Hands up!” I yelled. He continued to crouch over the body. Then he turned, but the ‘he’ was actually a ‘she’. I lowered my weapon to aid the woman. I rushed up to her. A man popped up from behind a car, a loud bang, and nothing but black. I heard shouting and guns firing for only a moment… then nothing.
I remember waking up for a moment. I saw a bright light and heard the sound of a chopper. Then it was black again. I woke up once again in a small room. There were white walls and a few chairs in the corner. I looked down at my hands. There was a needle in my arm. It had a tube running up to a machine. For a moment I thought I was dead. But then a woman walked in the door. “Hey look who woke up.” she said. “Don’t worry you’re gonna be just fine.” she assured me. “Where am I?” I asked in a daze. “You’re in a hospital.” she answered. “Never seen a hospital this big in the Middle East.” I said in a surprised state. “You’re in New York not the Middle East, silly.” she said. I nearly jumped out of the bed. “What? I can’t be in America they need me back their.” I said in a more aggressive tone. “No, you’re done with your career in the Marines.” she said. I felt a sharp pain in my bicep, then nothing once again. I woke up, lying on my couch, in my apartment, my parents and friends were gathered around me, giving me encouraging smiles and gestures. I could see get well cards scattered all over the room. Then I laid back, closed my eyes, and slept. I was done in the Marine Corp and I had to deal with it.
