A Farmer's Courage II: Vietnam 67'
Chapter 3: A New Face, An Old Friend
(Letter from Home)
Dear: JackI've received your letter, so I guest I should wrote you back! I'm so glad to receive your letter, and to know that you're okay out there! It's been 8 days since you left the village, and entered the war over there in South East Asia. I've been missing you since…your letter seems like forever to reach here. Anyways… things are fine over here. Peter has been a great help towards our farm, and he's waiting for you to return back home. Pastor Carter still preaches his sermons, while May and Stu helps him bring the offering and others. Karen had been helping us takes care of the farm; with the help from a bottle of wine, that is! Elli is staying in our home for a while since her house is empty. Rick and Tim? You'll find out about them later!
Love,
Ann
(Back to Jack)
Spring 23, 1967,
'Ghost Town', 130 KM South of La Drang Valley,
1425 hrs
"Later? What was that supposed to mean Ann? What was it supposed to mean…?" I scratch my chin, trying to figure out what it means.
It's been 18 days since I arrive here in Nam. After surviving my first patrol, my squad's actions and my commands were noticed by the Captain and the guys at camp. We become famous in seconds. They said it was like a dream for a soldier to work for the SF (Special Forces)…or with the SF. They started asking us plenty of questions on what our actions were. Eventually, we earned our nickname that night. Of course, Kai already earned his a year ago. Meat Grinder, that's what they call Kai here. Perry is often called Junior. I don't know why, but I think it's because of Short Timer told those guys about his cowardly actions in our last patrols. He almost NEVER fired his weapon once were stuck in combat…. until Kai starts yapping about. Kowalski…haven't got his nick yet since he hated them all. All he got were mocking like 'Asshole', 'Mother Fucker', 'Shit Head', 'Hard-Ass', 'Bad-Ass', and many more unpleasant nicknames. As for myself, I preferred to be called LT. They did suggest other names like Spades, or Ace, but I ignore them. LT is fine. We've also been writing things in our helmet, blending in with guys at camp. We wrote our nicknames, girlfriends, wife, kids, and others such as: "Goin' Home!", or "Fuck VC!", or "Born to Kill", and of course, tally for our kills in the field. Along with that, we start strapping things in our helmet. Kai strapped a Marlboro cigarette pack, a lighter, and an oiling bottle in his helmet. I didn't know he smokes. Kowalski never wears his helmet, so he got nothing to worry about. Perry also strapped a Marlboro cigarette pack, five to eight M-14 rounds; Full Metal Jacket, a lighter, and a pack of marijuana he buys from Deuce; a merchant in our camp, and a soldier in the field. It'll keep you going…for days he says. I never met him though. As for myself, I strapped an Ace of Spades card Kowalski awards me after yesterday's patrol. I also strapped an oiling bottle and 5 11.43 mm rounds for the Thompson. I never used any weapon I'm unfamiliar with after the incident on my first patrol.
"Hey! LT!" PFC (Private First Class) Gardner, my new squad member greeted me as he enters my bunk. He was part of my squad 5 days ago
"What is it Gardner?" Different from the rest of us, Gardner doesn't like to be called with nicknames
"We've got 'Cherries' comin' in! You better take a look and greet them the military way, LT!" We use the term 'Cherries' for newbie. I straighten up and walk off from my bunk
"Where are they?"
I head over towards the helipad after hearing there would be fresh grunts arriving today. I wasn't surprise to see the chopper was there, with the grunts getting bullied around by other soldiers around here. This happens two days earlier when 3 newbie arrives here.
"Have you ever entered combat 'Cherrie'?" A veteran bullies the newbie. The others did the same as well
"Make any kills yet? With the looks of you, you would probably get killed in the field!"
"No….I...I'm new! Stop it! Guys! Doc! Need help here!" The voice seems familiar
"I'm not involved! I'm just a doctor passing through!" A doctor went with the newbie as well?
"You're not going ANYWHERE Doc! You're his private doctor, are you?"
"Fuck off and leave me alone! I've got examination tools and I'm not afraid to use it!" The doctor plays tough as he rags his bag
"And what 'examination tools' are you gonna' use doc? Scissors? Pincers?"
"No…, this!" The doctor pulls out a .45 (Colt M1911A1) pistol and cocks it
"Whoa……easy there doc……" The veteran backs off; threaten by the gun in the doc's hand. Seeing this, PFC Gardner and I approach him to warn him
"Listen here…….doc?"
"Jack?" I was quite surprised to find him out here in Vietnam. If this was Tim, then the newbie must be……
"Jack? Is that you?" Rick! I've thought so!
"You know em' LT?" One of the veterans asked me as the others stops their actions
"Yeah I know em', their friends back home." The grunts stare in surprise towards Rick. Doctor Tim walks away from the location
"Oh…... sorry to be bothering your friend there……, cherries! (chuckles)"
"I suggest you all return to your posts and stop bothering him. He's new here, so get him familiar with the area……the army way! GO!"
"Sir, yes sir!" The grunts leave the scene, leaving PFC Rick (I notice a stripe in his uniform), PFC Gardner, and myself a time to talk
"So……how exactly you get here?" Gardner and I question him as we chow on our K rations back at my bunk. For the first time in Nam, the K rations didn't taste like paste…..in a can
"I've told you guys for the THIRD time! Ann, your wife forced us to go out here and check you out!"
"Really……" Gardner stares in disbelief. I knew this would happen someday, so it's not much of a surprise Ann sends them here
"It's true! She called us all to your house one night and starts talking about you out here, and thinking that you might be dead! She's so worried about you till' she starts blaming Tim and I that we're the cause of you here! She then forced us to go out here and check on your conditions!" Rick's pissed knowing he's here with me now. Sad guy...
"And…you accepted it?" I asked Rick, knowing the answer already
"No! Of course not!"
"Then why are you here?" Gardner
"She FORCED us with your Thompson you kept in your toolbox!"
"Loaded?"
"Locked, and loaded!"
"Oh shit…" Gardner starts wondering what Ann looks like. She's impatient at times…
"What are you doing anyway? Screwing around with Vietnam sluts?"
"No…"
"Then what?"
"I'm out for duty…. for days…outside of 'Ghost Town'…"
"Tell me about it…"
"Okay…..It's15 days ago, after we've finished our Regular Patrol….."
Author's Note
I've told you readers that updates will take hell right? Well…. here it is! I've got lots of school works and project coming up, so I might not be able to write for a looooong time! But I'll try to get this story updated once I got spare time! R&R!