Letters From Siberia

by georgedrumz93

War has broken out between China and Russia over the vast, resource-rich area of Siberia. As the Chinese push the Russians back into their own nation, they appeal to the U.S. as a last-ditch measure. Cpl. Thomas Klein, a SAW gunner in the US Army's 10th Mountain Division, is part of that last-ditch measure. What he is about to face will change him forever and define a generation.

1. The Fear

May 10th, 2013

Nobody knows how the hell I was dragged into this mess.

Well, nobody except God, at least.

To say that I did not expect this would be the understatement of the century. I had planned to do my four years, and leave. Go back to college, pick up my master's in political science (as was originally planned before I dropped out), settle down again. Finally. Find a wife, have a kid, and die old with no regrets. Or so I hoped it would be something like that.

Shit. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Now I'm huddled inside a C-27. I haven't slept more than 4 hours nightly since I went back to New York on leave, almost 9 months ago. Haven't eaten a semi-decent meal since…fuck me, since God knows when. Tired, hungry, cold. And I haven't even seen any combat yet.

Word is, the Chinese are about to overrun the Russians once and for all. How the hell the Russians managed to hold off the fuck-knows-how-many million enemies spewing across the Ussuri River. It's like putting a band-aid on a stab wound.

Command is telling us that we will likely face heavy casualties. The Russians were caught with their pants around their ankles, and most of their air force and navy were lit the fuck up. Those that managed to escape either went towards Europe or flew over the Pacific to Japan or Alaska. As is, the Russians are regrouping almost 250,000 men in Alaska itself. Col. Stafford projects that upwards of 10,000 of us are gonna die. The Russians already say about 75,000 of their own have died or gotten fucked up. No word on the Chinese. My guess? Half a million.

So now we're en route to Vladivostok. The Chinese got almost all of eastern Russia by the balls. The only reason the Chinese didn't overrun all of Siberia is 'cause they pushed so far ahead that their supply lines almost cracked. Vladivostok is under siege. Looks like Stalingrad all over again. Shit.

Y'know, I'm really not too scared. As fucked up of a thing as that is to say, I really couldn't give a shit about whether I live or die. Maybe enduring organized insanity for 3 years has turned me into a nihilist. I hope not.

I am scared, though, for the guys I'm with. I know that a lot of 'em are shit-scared. Cold, alone, a million miles from home. Still kids, really. Sad.

God, do me a favor, and keep me safe.

Shit. Door's open. Wish me luck. If I don't come back, tell Ryan to go fuck himself.

Klein, out.

Cpl. Thomas Klein

2-22

1st BCT 10th Mountain Division

US Army

Ft. Drum, NY 13602