Fiction: They were nineteen years old. They were children. (28568 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 1.55 on 22 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Aeneas (View user info) at 2006-02-27 12:16:07 EST
The Third Marines were bleeding and dying for three nameless hills north of the Khe Sanh in 1967. The North Vietnamese Army divisions were fighting around the DMZ and the marines had found several NVA command posts and crude field hospitals in the cave-pocketed hills. The caves ran clear to the Laotian border and patrols were sent out to drop grenades down their air shafts and to flush the NVA out of the ground holes called spider traps.
On a night after the biggest battles were decided a squad of marines was ambushed by NVA and shot to pieces. Just two hours after the sun went down two marines huddled together in a cave that had formerly been an NVA hospital. It was deserted now except for broken beds made from bamboo and fragments of lumber. It was dank and musty and the two marines whispered frantically, trying to decide how to get back to their company. They were bewildered, couldn't comprehend what had happened so suddenly.
The tall marine, a fire team leader, wished desperately that his automatic rifleman had survived, or at least his other rifleman. His companion, a short and frail rifleman, was a new replacement who hadn't the sense to grab the M14. He crouched trembling like a dog and waiting for a command to move.
Then they heard the voices in the darkness. Many voices. The two marines crawled back, back into the cave, pressed against a wall as the NVA killing patrol searched for survivors of the ambush.
Both marines felt their dungarees suck at them as they wiped the sweat from their eyes and clamped their jaws to keep their teeth quiet. The short marine was whimpering.
Then an NVA rifleman said something to a comrade and cautiously entered the cave flashing a light into the cold wet interior.
The marines grounded their faces into the slimy soil until they heard some nervous laughter and another soldier walk in as the light was switched off. The tall marine dares to peek from their nest and clearly saw the soldier silhouetted against the mouth of the cave. He was carrying a clump of Chinese stick grenades and a flame thrower. He scuttled towards them.
The soldier stumbled, muttered something and stood looking down a tunnel to his right, fingering the flame thrower while two marines lay behind them almost at his feet. They could smell his sweat and a powerful odour of fish sauce and raw garlic. Then the soldier turned and walked back towards the cave opening where the voices got louder. Several soldiers propped their weapons against the clattering rocks and sat down for a break.
And as the short marine felt his panic deepen and believed that he could no longer control the sobs he was smothering, the tall marine suddenly started suffocating, or thought he was. He ripped at the collar of his jacket, panting. Only the soldiers' voices outside saved them.
It was the tall stronger one who began to cry. The walls and darkness closed in. He began to hyperventilate and couldn't get enough air. At first he wept almost imperceptibly, but then convulsively, and voices or not, the short marine was sure the NVA could not help but hear him. Desperately, instinctively there in the darkness he took the small marine in his arms and patted his shoulder and whispered: "Now now now. Hush now. I'm right here. You're not alone."
Gradually the tall marine began to quiet down and breathe regularly and when the patrol moved on five minutes later he was totally in control. He led the short marine back to their battered company. They were nineteen years old. They were children.
User Reviews
Submitted by fluff (user info) at 2006-06-14 17:48:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Aeneas (user info) at 2006-05-13 20:57:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I left you a -2 because your post was wick. And no, if I spent more than 30 minutes a day on this website, I'd stick my thumb up my arse and sit on my elbow.
Submitted by fluff (user info) at 2006-04-21 19:00:18 (#)
Ranking: 0
Stupid alter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submitted by fluff (user info) at 2006-04-21 14:41:09 (#)
Ranking: 0
Nice -2 you left me there.
Submitted by fluff (user info) at 2006-04-21 19:00:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Stupid alter.
Submitted by fluff (user info) at 2006-04-21 14:41:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Nice -2 you left me there.
Submitted by JoeAverage (user info) at 2006-03-07 16:07:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Very good.
Submitted by Aeneas (user info) at 2006-03-07 15:59:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Eugh, why did I put an apostrophe in tunics?
Submitted by Aeneas (user info) at 2006-03-07 15:48:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Well, you're actually right. The Guards regiments mainly wear the red tunic's and the bearskin hats that you're thinking of, but that's only for ceremonies or guarding Buckingham Palace. My every-day uniform is a black beret, combats, boots, belt, shirt. Then for my number two dress, it's just a tunic, trousers, shirt and tie. The Scottish highland regiments (such as the Black Watch who are currently in Northern Ireland) have to wear kilts for their number two dress.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-03-01 15:40:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Aeneas (user info) at 2006-02-27 13:45:43 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:28:54 (#)
Ranking: 2
Have you ever been in a war?
Just wondering...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have not, however I am a soldier in the British Army.
__________________________________________________________
Funny how every time I hear/read anything about the British Army, I picture men in bright red uniforms. I'm so brainwashed by old movies.
Submitted by recall (user info) at 2006-02-28 08:53:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2006-02-28 06:08:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Too much short soldier/tall soldier.
But good.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2006-02-27 23:03:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Not bad at all. Welcome.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-02-27 19:40:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:17:21 (#)
Ranking: 2
I didn't read it because the title sounded like a John Mellencamp song or something.
-----
it's Paul Hardcastle, actually.
Submitted by DarthAwesome (user info) at 2006-02-27 14:59:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Had a brother back in
Khe Sahnnnnn
Fightin off the
Viet connnnnggggg
They're still there
but hes all gonnnnneeeeee
He had a woman back in Saigon
Got a picture of him in her arms now
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2006-02-27 14:53:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
not great but not bad at all
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-02-27 14:01:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Desperately, instinctively there in the darkness he took the small marine in his arms
Didn't the small one take the tall one in his arms? one minor inconsistency.
Submitted by Aeneas (user info) at 2006-02-27 13:45:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:28:54 (#)
Ranking: 2
Have you ever been in a war?
Just wondering...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have not, however I am a soldier in the British Army.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:51:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
A good first post.
Welcome to Uber.
Submitted by simple_catalyst (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:38:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"Disillusioned words like bullets bark
As human gods aim for their mark
Made everything from toy guns that spark
To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
It's easy to see without looking too far
That not much
Is really sacred."
*
"Stop breathin'
Stop breathin'
Breathin' for me now
Write it on a postcard
Dad, they broke me"
*
" baby boy
dieing under hot desert sun,
watch your colours run.
did you believe the lie they told you,
that christ would lead the way
and in a matter of days
hand us victory?
did you buy the bull they sold you,
that the bullets and the bombs
and all the strong arms
would bring home security?"
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:32:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
so my dad's friend (a marine) was walking along a jungle trail with his platoon and he came along to three marines raping an 8-10 year old girl. when they were done they put a pop flare in her and then hit it to light it. about a week later they were doing patrol and the three of them were walking together and stepped into a landmine.
that's what this story made me think of. but it was still good.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:28:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Have you ever been in a war?
Just wondering...
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:21:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No comment
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2006-02-27 12:17:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I didn't read it because the title sounded like a John Mellencamp song or something. I'll give you the benefit of a doubt.