I'm sure this is long done and over with, but I wanted to add something. As part of my on going "treatment" with the VA, I was encouraged to write things down.
I blink. My vision going dark for just a moment. It's early morning. We are in the back of a truck, one amongst several in our convoy. Watching the village as we pass through. Suddenly the vehicles stop. The brakes and tires screeching against the weight of the vehicle and the artillery piece we are towing.
The morning dew filling the spaces between the buildings. Crawling over the berms. It seemed to whiten the air around us. To haze out some of the details. As the smell of the diesel exhaust slowly dissipated, the smell of oil and mist filled our noses. The oil was like smelling something acidic while the mist itself soothed it.
The air seemed stale at first, then slowly we got the smell of rotten flesh. The smell of fecal matter floating in the small river not far from us became overpowering as the sun slowly rose. Then, pop. The sound of small explosions or was it gun fire. None of us could see that far or through the early morning mist. The radio in the cab making rapid sounds. We all knew what was about to happen and began preparing ourselves.
A scream from the cab. Grabbing our rifles, we moved quickly, time slowing as we climbed from the back of the truck. Two by Two, we moved silently, effectively. A new order came, this group that way, the other group the opposite, take defensive positions along the berm. The lead vehicle has been ambushed.
As we ran to the berm, our hearts were pounding. Hard enough several us put hands on our chest to contain what we thought was going to come out. Two rapid beats with each step. Thump Thump, Thump Thump. Our boots sinking into the mixture of sand, mist, and oil. Each step sinking deeper and deeper. The mud feeling like it was going to pour over the top of our boots. As we got close to the berm, time seemed to slow around us.
We threw ourselves onto one side of the berm as we heard new popping sounds. New sounds of thump thump thump thump. Bullets impacting the berm, just where we had been running. Whistling sounds as the bullets that missed whizzed by our heads. The sounds of boots and running. The sounds of shots being returned. Pop pop, pop pop. Quick rapid succession of the exchange.
Peaking up to return the shots sent at me. Bang Bang. Boom. A new louder sound. The concussion felt from a new source. Ducking down, I began looking around. A few seconds later, Boom. Finally I see the new source. A group had taken one of the artillery piece and set it up. Turning it into a giant shotgun. Boom. This time seeing the intended building of mud and straw turn to dust. Turning back around, hearing men scream in a forgien language. Feeling the emotion of fear.
The ground began to tremble, I could see the tanks approaching fast. These were ours. New Commands to return to our vehicles were screamed out. As we began to move back, we leapt and bound. One running past the other and stoping to cover the one running.
As I turn to cover my fellow Marine, a small green helmet slowly comes from around the berm. Time slows. My heart slows. Each beat coming so slow, it felt like a lifetime passing. My rifle slowly coming up to meet my shoulder. My vision focused on the helmet. The buttstock fitting into my shoulder like it belonged there. The black sights now moving up. My thumb rotating the safety as my sights become clear as my target. Rear sight, Front sight, and now helmet in line. A gentle and comforting recoil. The rifle silent as the spent casing flies through the air. The helmet dissapearing from sight.
I turn and continue to bound back to the vehicle, keeping the sights of the rifle in my vision, scanning for any new targets. Slowly, we all return to our trucks as the new group takes on this threat.
Looking back at this, it felt like a lifetime or two had passed. All said and done, the ambush and the arrival of our support took a mere 30 minutes.