What about us
DISCLAIMER - This story is written for pleasure and not for profit. The characters all belong to Vicom and not me :-(. All other characters and plot are my own.
SUMMARY - While Steves away in Vietnam his regiment is attacked and he ends up injured. My story deals with how his family ( especially Carol) feel about what happened. Don't worry this is going somewhere.
Chapter one
The Sloans' sat around the TV in the living room of the beach house, well aware that a member of their close knit family was missing.The time on the clock was 11:30pm The year was 1972 and Steve was in the army touring Vietnam. Kathryn and Mark had their eyes glued to the Tv set watching the news channel for the latest developments in 'nam. Carol sat in the armchair looking at the Tv but not really taking any notice she was to busy thinking. She was thinking back to when Steve had left to do his duty. Something felt different from the last time he had gone, emotions were fully charged in each member of the family.
********************
US ARMY BARRACKS
All around them soldiers of the 26th regiment were saying goodbye to their lovedones and right in the centre of it Steve was saying a tearful farewell to his family.
Kathryn kept her arms tightly around her first borns neck, even thought she had to reach up to her tall son she couldn't seem to bring herself to let go.
"Mom, I kinda need to breathe once in a while." Steve laughed trying to make light of the situation.
Kathryn reluctantly let go, "Sorry honey, Mother priviliage." She said. Her smile tinge with sadness as she held him at arms length.
"I'll be back soon mom, don't worry 'bout me okay, I'll be fine. I love you mom."
"I love you to son. Please come home."
"I will. I promise." Steve said sincerly as he hugged his mother again tighter than last time.
Once he released her, he turned to her sister.
"Hey sis keep an eye on these two will ya. Make sure nothing happens to you or them."
"I promise big brother. Which part of Vietnam you going to again?" She laughed as he pulled her into a hug.
"Um Da lat. Its in the south." Steve realeased her a bit. "Why do you want to know?"
Carol blushed slighty. "'Cause we're giving a talk on the war for an assembley at school and I thought I could use you for a bit of personnel experience."
"Cool I've never been part of an assembley before."
Carol and Steve both laughed and hugged each other tightly. Dr Sloan brush a hand across his eyes as he wacthed his two children embrace, he couldn't let himself break down, his family needed him to be strong. Steve felt Carol's body shake as she tried not to cry.
"Hey." He whisphered in her ear. "Don't worry 'bout me, I'll be back in no time. You'll see those eighteen months will fly by. Just remeber that your big brother loves you and stay away from those boys okay."
"I love you to Steve." Carol smiled up at him as she released him from their hug.
Finally Steve turned around to his father. having such a close bond with his dad Steve saw the pain and fear in his eyes. He seen that pain only twice before. The first time when he told his parents he was joing the army and the second was just before his first tour of Vietnam.
"Dad I'll be fine, I have been out there before y'know." He faced his dad his voice quivered but he forced a little smile on to his lips.
Mark looked at his son, he could see his eyes shinning with tears and recognised the look in his sons eyes instantly. He knew that his son was more afraid this time than his last tour. He knew Steve would never voiced his worries but Mark being his dad was atuned to his sons way of thinking. He knew Steve would give anything to go back to the beach house with his family and forget all about going to 'nam, but the likelyhood of that happening had odds of about a billion million to one.
Mark pulled his son into his arms. "Please be careful out there. Come back to us in one piece and breathing too."
"I will, I promise. I love you dad."
"I love you too son."
Father and son held eachother tightly.
"Ok time to go gentlemen." A voice cut through the hubbub.
Steve turned to each member of his family and hugged them tighter than he had before and then with a quick goodbye picked up his stuff and ran to the waiting coach. As the coach started to move out of the barracks it passed the remaining Sloans and Steve waved sadly as the coach pulled out.
******************** THE BEACH HOUSE
Carol returned back to reality as her mother gasped. It took her a few seconds to realise what had made her mother gasp, then she saw the TV. There had just been a news flash, Carol forced herself to concentrate on the TV but she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
The news reporter spoke slowly and clearly though it seemed as they he was upset by he had just recieved.
"This just in, US soldiers have been attacked in the city of Da lat in south west Vietnam. We are getting reports of seven fatalities and at least ten wounded. We go live now to our reporter in the field, Sara Wainwright just outside Cao Bang, next to the boarder of China."
"Made sure she was further enough away didn't they?!?!!?!?!"
"Kathryn, don't be like that." Mark said trying to remain calm. Placing both of his hands on too his wifes shoulders.
Carol was surprised at the bitterness in her mothers voice, but she could understand why her mother felt that way, she was angry , just as Carol was. But it wasn't the TV reporters Carol was mad at like her mother was. Carol was mad at Steve.
'If he hadn't had this stupid Idea to join the army.' Carol thought angrly. 'Then none of this would be happening, But no he had to go and play the big hero didn't he.'
On the tv the news reporter was giving details of the regiment that had been attacked. Mark stared in disbelief as they mention that the regiment involved in the attack was the 26th regiment, Steve's regiment .
"The only information that we have recieved from the camp is that enemy soldiers stormed the camp of the 26th regiment at roughly about 2.30 this morning, witnesses in the area report hearing explosions and the sound of gunfire continuing for many hours. Reinforcements on the US side arrived shortly after 4.00am. We have yet to discover the full exent of what happened. We will keep you posted with updates when we get them. Back to you in the studio."
"Thank you very much Sara. If anybody out here has releatives in the 26th regiment we have a helpline for you to call, the number will appear on your screens shortly."
With that the newscaster signed off and the helpline came onto the screen. Mark quickly reached for the pad and pen that were by the phone and copied down the number. Leaning forward in his seat Mark stared down at the number on the piece of paper. Unsure weather to call. Wanting to make sure his son was ok, but not wanting to encase his son was ............dead.
"MARK!"
"Huh. Oh sorry honey.I didn't hear you."
"I said, will you please call the hotline and find out about Steve? Im really worried about Steve."
"I'll phone now." Mark answered quickly reaching for the phone. Once he punched in the number the wait for someone to answer was agornising. Finally he heard a womans voice on the other end of the line.
"Good evening Dalat reletives line. How may I help you?"
"Oh hello my name is Dr Mark Sloan. Um Im calling about my son Steve Sloan. Hes in the 26th regiment. Can you tell me if he was injured or if ..............................Can you tell me if anything has happened to him."
"Okay, Dr Sloan." The woman spoke quietly and calmly sensing the fathers need for news. " Can you give me your sons full name and rank?"
"His name is Steven Micheal Sloan and his rank is corprol."
"Okay just give me a few moments."
Mark felt Kathryn pull on his free hand and took her hand in his. He turned to look at her a gave her a slight smile.
"She just checking now."
Carol lost in her thoughts, didn't hear any of the conversation. She was scared at the way she was feeling, all that was going through Carols mind was how could Steve put their family through this. She hoped he wasn't injured or dead but she couldn't help what she was feeling towards him. Surely she didn't hate her brother but the way she was feeling it was boardering on hate. Carols thoughts must have registered on her face. She jumped as her father reached down and touched her chin. She smiled up at him as he spoke.
"Its okay honey. Don't worry about Steve he'll be alright."
Carol smiled up at him once more and thanked god silently that her father couldn't hear what she was thinking.
"Dr Sloan are you still there?"
"Yes Im still here. Can you tell me anything?" Mark asked desperately wanting news on his son.
"Yes. We have a corprol Steven M Sloan. Aged 20 years old from Los Angeles, California. Currently serving in the 26th regiment."
"Yes thats my son. What happened to him?"
"Weve found out that your son was on a recon mission which were patroling on the outskirts of the camp when the attack happened."
Before Mark could feel any hope in what the woman was saying. She continued.
"However once the attack took he was ordered to come back to camp but his team were attacked on the outskirts of the camp, from the reports we have from the survivours so far is that shots were fired directly at them. One soldier Sargent Mack Renolds was killed instantly, Sargent Sloan took chrage and ordered the men to take cover in nearby bushes and to draw thier wepons. One soldier, Private Chris Langstrom went into shock and was unable to move, even as the rest of the platoon called out to him as more shot were fied towards him. Sargent Sloan apparently got up and ran towards private Langstorm and tried to pull him towards the safety of the bushes and trees. As he grabbed hold of him, your son was hit in the thigh and fell to the ground taking private Langstrom with him. Fortunely both soldiers were pulled to safety and the others in their regiment were able to get them to a field hospital just outside of the camp. Private Langstorm recieved only cuts and brusies." The woman on the phone took a long deep breath before continuing.
Oh my god, Mark thought what happened to him.
The woman on the other end of the phone started to continue. "Your son has developed a fever making it hard for us to operate to remove the bullet out here in 'Nam. His temperature has reached 103oC, he has started to hallucanate and he is sweating and has fits."
Mark collapsed back on to the sofa with the phone still in his hand. his face was pale shade of white when his wife looked at him. She felt her heart sink as she assumed the worst.
"Oh my god no." She whisphered quietly.
Mark turned around and looked at her. It took him about 2 seconds to realise what she thought had happened.
"No Kathryn hes not dead." He whisphered to her. She mouthed "What happened to him?" at her husband. To which he mouthed back "I'll tell you in a minute."
"Im sorry Dr Sloan did you say something."
"No Im sorry. Please continue."
"As I said your son is running a high fever and were are unable to operate out hereonce his fever has stablised we will be flying him to his registered hospital, which is Community general. Over the next few days we will be closely monitoring your sons condition, once we have his condition stablised someone will contact you in the next couple of days."
"Thank you very much Mam."
"Thats okay Dr Sloan, Im sorry it had to be under these circumstances. Goodbye."
"Goodbye and thank you again."
Mark replaced the phone into the cradle and turned around to face his wife and daughter who had moved from her postion on the chair to sit next to her mother on the sofa. They both looked up at Mark and he saw the expectation in their eyes, slowly he sat down and began to tell them everything he had been told over the phone.
TO BE CONTINUED
DISCLAIMER - This story is written for pleasure and not for profit. The characters all belong to Vicom and not me :-(. All other characters and plot are my own.
SUMMARY - While Steves away in Vietnam his regiment is attacked and he ends up injured. My story deals with how his family ( especially Carol) feel about what happened. Don't worry this is going somewhere.
Chapter one
The Sloans' sat around the TV in the living room of the beach house, well aware that a member of their close knit family was missing.The time on the clock was 11:30pm The year was 1972 and Steve was in the army touring Vietnam. Kathryn and Mark had their eyes glued to the Tv set watching the news channel for the latest developments in 'nam. Carol sat in the armchair looking at the Tv but not really taking any notice she was to busy thinking. She was thinking back to when Steve had left to do his duty. Something felt different from the last time he had gone, emotions were fully charged in each member of the family.
********************
US ARMY BARRACKS
All around them soldiers of the 26th regiment were saying goodbye to their lovedones and right in the centre of it Steve was saying a tearful farewell to his family.
Kathryn kept her arms tightly around her first borns neck, even thought she had to reach up to her tall son she couldn't seem to bring herself to let go.
"Mom, I kinda need to breathe once in a while." Steve laughed trying to make light of the situation.
Kathryn reluctantly let go, "Sorry honey, Mother priviliage." She said. Her smile tinge with sadness as she held him at arms length.
"I'll be back soon mom, don't worry 'bout me okay, I'll be fine. I love you mom."
"I love you to son. Please come home."
"I will. I promise." Steve said sincerly as he hugged his mother again tighter than last time.
Once he released her, he turned to her sister.
"Hey sis keep an eye on these two will ya. Make sure nothing happens to you or them."
"I promise big brother. Which part of Vietnam you going to again?" She laughed as he pulled her into a hug.
"Um Da lat. Its in the south." Steve realeased her a bit. "Why do you want to know?"
Carol blushed slighty. "'Cause we're giving a talk on the war for an assembley at school and I thought I could use you for a bit of personnel experience."
"Cool I've never been part of an assembley before."
Carol and Steve both laughed and hugged each other tightly. Dr Sloan brush a hand across his eyes as he wacthed his two children embrace, he couldn't let himself break down, his family needed him to be strong. Steve felt Carol's body shake as she tried not to cry.
"Hey." He whisphered in her ear. "Don't worry 'bout me, I'll be back in no time. You'll see those eighteen months will fly by. Just remeber that your big brother loves you and stay away from those boys okay."
"I love you to Steve." Carol smiled up at him as she released him from their hug.
Finally Steve turned around to his father. having such a close bond with his dad Steve saw the pain and fear in his eyes. He seen that pain only twice before. The first time when he told his parents he was joing the army and the second was just before his first tour of Vietnam.
"Dad I'll be fine, I have been out there before y'know." He faced his dad his voice quivered but he forced a little smile on to his lips.
Mark looked at his son, he could see his eyes shinning with tears and recognised the look in his sons eyes instantly. He knew that his son was more afraid this time than his last tour. He knew Steve would never voiced his worries but Mark being his dad was atuned to his sons way of thinking. He knew Steve would give anything to go back to the beach house with his family and forget all about going to 'nam, but the likelyhood of that happening had odds of about a billion million to one.
Mark pulled his son into his arms. "Please be careful out there. Come back to us in one piece and breathing too."
"I will, I promise. I love you dad."
"I love you too son."
Father and son held eachother tightly.
"Ok time to go gentlemen." A voice cut through the hubbub.
Steve turned to each member of his family and hugged them tighter than he had before and then with a quick goodbye picked up his stuff and ran to the waiting coach. As the coach started to move out of the barracks it passed the remaining Sloans and Steve waved sadly as the coach pulled out.
******************** THE BEACH HOUSE
Carol returned back to reality as her mother gasped. It took her a few seconds to realise what had made her mother gasp, then she saw the TV. There had just been a news flash, Carol forced herself to concentrate on the TV but she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
The news reporter spoke slowly and clearly though it seemed as they he was upset by he had just recieved.
"This just in, US soldiers have been attacked in the city of Da lat in south west Vietnam. We are getting reports of seven fatalities and at least ten wounded. We go live now to our reporter in the field, Sara Wainwright just outside Cao Bang, next to the boarder of China."
"Made sure she was further enough away didn't they?!?!!?!?!"
"Kathryn, don't be like that." Mark said trying to remain calm. Placing both of his hands on too his wifes shoulders.
Carol was surprised at the bitterness in her mothers voice, but she could understand why her mother felt that way, she was angry , just as Carol was. But it wasn't the TV reporters Carol was mad at like her mother was. Carol was mad at Steve.
'If he hadn't had this stupid Idea to join the army.' Carol thought angrly. 'Then none of this would be happening, But no he had to go and play the big hero didn't he.'
On the tv the news reporter was giving details of the regiment that had been attacked. Mark stared in disbelief as they mention that the regiment involved in the attack was the 26th regiment, Steve's regiment .
"The only information that we have recieved from the camp is that enemy soldiers stormed the camp of the 26th regiment at roughly about 2.30 this morning, witnesses in the area report hearing explosions and the sound of gunfire continuing for many hours. Reinforcements on the US side arrived shortly after 4.00am. We have yet to discover the full exent of what happened. We will keep you posted with updates when we get them. Back to you in the studio."
"Thank you very much Sara. If anybody out here has releatives in the 26th regiment we have a helpline for you to call, the number will appear on your screens shortly."
With that the newscaster signed off and the helpline came onto the screen. Mark quickly reached for the pad and pen that were by the phone and copied down the number. Leaning forward in his seat Mark stared down at the number on the piece of paper. Unsure weather to call. Wanting to make sure his son was ok, but not wanting to encase his son was ............dead.
"MARK!"
"Huh. Oh sorry honey.I didn't hear you."
"I said, will you please call the hotline and find out about Steve? Im really worried about Steve."
"I'll phone now." Mark answered quickly reaching for the phone. Once he punched in the number the wait for someone to answer was agornising. Finally he heard a womans voice on the other end of the line.
"Good evening Dalat reletives line. How may I help you?"
"Oh hello my name is Dr Mark Sloan. Um Im calling about my son Steve Sloan. Hes in the 26th regiment. Can you tell me if he was injured or if ..............................Can you tell me if anything has happened to him."
"Okay, Dr Sloan." The woman spoke quietly and calmly sensing the fathers need for news. " Can you give me your sons full name and rank?"
"His name is Steven Micheal Sloan and his rank is corprol."
"Okay just give me a few moments."
Mark felt Kathryn pull on his free hand and took her hand in his. He turned to look at her a gave her a slight smile.
"She just checking now."
Carol lost in her thoughts, didn't hear any of the conversation. She was scared at the way she was feeling, all that was going through Carols mind was how could Steve put their family through this. She hoped he wasn't injured or dead but she couldn't help what she was feeling towards him. Surely she didn't hate her brother but the way she was feeling it was boardering on hate. Carols thoughts must have registered on her face. She jumped as her father reached down and touched her chin. She smiled up at him as he spoke.
"Its okay honey. Don't worry about Steve he'll be alright."
Carol smiled up at him once more and thanked god silently that her father couldn't hear what she was thinking.
"Dr Sloan are you still there?"
"Yes Im still here. Can you tell me anything?" Mark asked desperately wanting news on his son.
"Yes. We have a corprol Steven M Sloan. Aged 20 years old from Los Angeles, California. Currently serving in the 26th regiment."
"Yes thats my son. What happened to him?"
"Weve found out that your son was on a recon mission which were patroling on the outskirts of the camp when the attack happened."
Before Mark could feel any hope in what the woman was saying. She continued.
"However once the attack took he was ordered to come back to camp but his team were attacked on the outskirts of the camp, from the reports we have from the survivours so far is that shots were fired directly at them. One soldier Sargent Mack Renolds was killed instantly, Sargent Sloan took chrage and ordered the men to take cover in nearby bushes and to draw thier wepons. One soldier, Private Chris Langstrom went into shock and was unable to move, even as the rest of the platoon called out to him as more shot were fied towards him. Sargent Sloan apparently got up and ran towards private Langstorm and tried to pull him towards the safety of the bushes and trees. As he grabbed hold of him, your son was hit in the thigh and fell to the ground taking private Langstrom with him. Fortunely both soldiers were pulled to safety and the others in their regiment were able to get them to a field hospital just outside of the camp. Private Langstorm recieved only cuts and brusies." The woman on the phone took a long deep breath before continuing.
Oh my god, Mark thought what happened to him.
The woman on the other end of the phone started to continue. "Your son has developed a fever making it hard for us to operate to remove the bullet out here in 'Nam. His temperature has reached 103oC, he has started to hallucanate and he is sweating and has fits."
Mark collapsed back on to the sofa with the phone still in his hand. his face was pale shade of white when his wife looked at him. She felt her heart sink as she assumed the worst.
"Oh my god no." She whisphered quietly.
Mark turned around and looked at her. It took him about 2 seconds to realise what she thought had happened.
"No Kathryn hes not dead." He whisphered to her. She mouthed "What happened to him?" at her husband. To which he mouthed back "I'll tell you in a minute."
"Im sorry Dr Sloan did you say something."
"No Im sorry. Please continue."
"As I said your son is running a high fever and were are unable to operate out hereonce his fever has stablised we will be flying him to his registered hospital, which is Community general. Over the next few days we will be closely monitoring your sons condition, once we have his condition stablised someone will contact you in the next couple of days."
"Thank you very much Mam."
"Thats okay Dr Sloan, Im sorry it had to be under these circumstances. Goodbye."
"Goodbye and thank you again."
Mark replaced the phone into the cradle and turned around to face his wife and daughter who had moved from her postion on the chair to sit next to her mother on the sofa. They both looked up at Mark and he saw the expectation in their eyes, slowly he sat down and began to tell them everything he had been told over the phone.
TO BE CONTINUED
