A Farmer's Courage II: Vietnam 67'
Chapter 10: Fifteen Days Earlier (Last Day): Scar's Doom
(Back to Jack)
Spring 15, 1967
Artillery Hill,
0800 hrs
"LT….?" I open my eyes slowly and find Kai looking down on me. After that incident with Scar, I don't remember much what had happened….or how long I've passed out.
"Oh…shit! LT! Guys! LT's up! You okay men?"
"He's up? No way man! Lemme' see!" Kowalski
"LT's up! Hey buddy, he's up! Thanks to you there Danny boy!" Gardner
"Me? Nawh….if it weren't of his own strength, he would've been dead!"
"Damn…….glad to see you're back, LT…we're worried sick about ya'…." Junior
"Good to see you back up LT! We thought you're dead…." Short Timer
"Heh…yeah, it's great to be back too. How long have I passed out?"
"Erh….4 days…"
"Precisely 4 days, and 16 hours." I chuckle hearing the details from Short Timer
"What's so funny?"
"Ahh…..nothing….."
It's been awhile since we gather around like this. We didn't usually gather around and talk about our lives back in the pass. Kai is still acting tough and talking about his ways with the ladies, Kowalski keeps bragging of how many numbers of VC and NVA he'd taken out….of course, Kai challenge him and won the conversation. Short Timer is talking like Prof. 'Know-it-all', but he's a great guy. Danny is still acting like a good boy, while Gardner…. is still kind of an asshole.
It's good to be back…..
Spring 15, 1967,
Artillery Hill,
1300 Hrs
Well, most guys in the outpost were relieved to see me back in my foot again. I've been walking around the outpost for a while to spend these quite times. In a war, quite times like this usually scares soldiers the most. Everything was quite calm till' I reach the command bunker and heard a scream.
"What the hell's going on?" I went inside and found myself a Vietnamese tied to a chair with a wet rag covering his head. From the looks of the bag, the guy is struggling to breath
"Welcome back LT! My squad had recently caught this bastard while he's taking a crap not far from here. We're trying to squeeze information from him." Scar acted like nothing had happened between the both of us.
I watch as scar starts beating the guy with his fist a couple of times before splashing him with another bucket of water. The guy kept himself quite as Scar continue his beatings before he finally release the rag, pick a few 80 cm nails from the floor and inserts one at his finger tips. The poor guy scream in pain as Scar hammers the nails deeper into his finger before he took another one from the floor and pin it on his second finger. That finally squeezes out information from him.
"The bastard says that the 5th NVA Division is coming at 1800hrs to retake this place. They want this place, and they want it bad." The translator, probably from the ARVN
"Good. We better tell the captain about this and prepare defensive positions." The translator nods and leaves the bunker. Scar stares at the poor Vietnamese and draws his .45 pistol
"This'll be a lesson to ya' you NVA bastard. No one comes out alive after snoopin' around here." I turn my head sideways as three gunshots banged from Scar's .45. He holsters his pistol and walks out of the bunker.
"This includes you too LT. Next time, I won't hesitate to shoot you in the head if you disobey." I turn my head just to watch Scar walk away.
Spring 15, 1967,
Artillery Hill, Outer Perimeter, Northern line
1813hrs
I've been sitting in one of the foxholes for two hours now….waiting for the NVA to strike. Strange enough, 13 minutes had passed and there's still no sign of the attack. It's getting quite dark here, and I can't even see a shit what's going on ahead of me. Kai's shivering and is looking quite serious. Short Timer, Junior and Kowalski are a few yards behind us, while Danny and Gardner are just a few clicks back from Kai and my position.
"This…..is getting annoying" I whisper at Kai as he loads his M-60
"Yeah…..I don't think they're coming…"
"Yeah….." There's a moment of silent…..till' Kai starts to deploy his gun
"Hey Jack….think they're here."
"What….makes you say that it's too dark too see a shit out here."
"Shh…quiet….I can't see em' but I can smell em'."
"Huh, yeah right…."
"Really….Jack, call in the guys for flare."
"Damn Kai….if you're so sure about it, I'll call for some." I pick up the nearby radio and dial the outpost
"Arty Hill, this is northern line, do you read, over." The radio scribbles before a reply came
"This is Arty Hill; we read you northern line, over."
"Roger, requesting flare, coordinates is as follows: Bravo, 6, over."
"This is Arty Hill, Roger for flare support. Coordinates are as follows: Bravo, 6… is it correct, over."
"Roger Art Hill, confirm coordinates. Northern line out." I look up and sigh, unlocking the safety in my Tommy gun. "It won't be long now"
The red flare lit up the sky like one of the stars that shine above us. Facing the dark jungle ahead of us, we wait as the flair lit the horizon, the battlefield. With our surprise, a group of NVA is creeping a few feet ahead of us
"NO SHIT!" Kai immediately fires his M60 towards the group, surprised. The NVA didn't have time to react and a bunch of them fell to the ground. It didn't take long before we heard shouts coming from the jungle and voices…..NVA battle cry.
"Hold your fire! Wait till' their in sight!" I cry to the boys behind me as they load and unlock their weapon
"Here they come! Ready all the weapons!"
"Foxhole one ready!"
"Foxhole two ready!"
"Foxhole three ready!"
"Foxhole four….got a few problems with the .30 cal, but we're ready!"
"Alright! Here they come!" More NVA battle cries before we finally saw the bastards smiling faces
The area was now a killing field between us and the NVA. We're holding the line as best as we could by using claymores, machineguns, grenades, and anything we could use to halt the advancing NVA army….even stones if required. This outpost will not fall, and never will.
"KEEP FIRING!"
"I AM FIRING GODDAMN IT!" Kai
"They're on the left flank! Take them out!"
"God we're gonna' die!"
"MEDIC!"
Behind, our guys were fending of the NVA using maximum strength and firepower. Some of those guys don't have much sleep, but their holding. I could hear their voices of pain and fear as some poor fellows receive lucky shots from the advancing enemy.
"Shit, shit, SHIT! Changing magazine Jack! Cover me!" Kai
"Roger that!" I fire my Thompson to a few random advancing NVA that were charging towards us. Man, makes you think if you will really survive this.
"They're all over us!"
"There's too many of them!"
"I'm out of ammo!"
"Goddamn it my gunner's wounded!"
"We need immediate…GACK!"
"Mac! Get up man! Don't die! NO!"
"We can't hold any longer!" We were overwhelmed by the number of attacking NVA forces now, and I don't think we could hold any longer. The lives of the guys behind me rest in my palm
"FALL BACK! EVERYONE FALL BACK! WE CAN'T HOLD THIS LINE ANY LONGER! FALL BACK!" I give the order as I exit my foxhole with Kai following behind me. The rest of the guys climb out of theirs and make a break to the second line.
(Danny's P.O.V)
Situation is starting to get out of hand in this jungle hill. I was treating one poor bastard who's shot while making a break towards the second line. He's still alive and he only suffers a light wound. I could save him…..I know I can.
"Danny! What the fuck you're doing! Get moving now!" LT call out to me as he runs up the tree dense hill firing his Thompson towards the NVA behind
"I'm saving this guy's ass LT!"
"Forget about him and go! You wanna' get yourself killed?" Meat Grinder's behind LT, following him close behind
"Sorry LT! I'm a medic! And I don't care what you say, but I'm gonna' save this man's ass! I won't move!" LT pause….starring at me for a while before he nods
"Okay….make it quick."
"I will. No doubt about it."
(Gardner's P.O.V)
I kept running and running and running and running…..until I notice Danny's not with me! Shit! Where the hell is he? I turn my direction, asking a few guys running up about him until I met my squad leader.
"LT! You see Danny?"
"Yeah! He's not far from here! Go down there and cover him as he treats the wounded feller!"
"Roger that! Thanks LT!" I run down as fast as I could, passing a few dead U.S buddies….hoping to see Danny alive, and breathing.
(Danny's P.OV)
The guy I tried to save was dead……right when I tried to patch him, a shot from an NVA zap him in the head. God, why can't I save him? I turn back, grab my .45 pistol and fire shot by shot just before a guy bayonets me. Now I got almost no chance of escape. I now lie here beside a guy who I couldn't save, trying as best as I could to survive the onslaught.
"Shit, shit, shit SHIT!" That is all I got in my mind……survive
I fire everything I got in my .45 towards the incoming enemy until I spare my last bullet in the magazine. I press the eject button, releasing the magazine while I reach for a new one. Then out of the jungle a NVA runs up to me with the SKS Simonov and its bayonet extended. It is when everything came all over me. The guy charges his bayonet……and stabs me in the chest.
"Urkh….." Blood starts oozing out of my chest as the guy twists and turn his rifle with the bayonet on. Immediately I'm getting difficulties to breathe right away.
"(Speaking in Vietnamese)" The guy pulls out his bayonet from me and I start coughing up more blood. The hole in my chest starts oozing out more blood staining my dark green uniform. "Krkh……."
The Vietnamese immediately charges again and stabs me again…and again in different locations as my vision starts to blur…..and I start to see everything in the past in flashes. My family, my friends, my squad mates, and Gardner; I remember now……Gardner and I enlisted to the Army right after we graduated High School. Back then, our problem was to compete with each other since we chase around the same girl almost all the time. Then, there was boot camp, and the day when we both were enlisted to the U.S 2nd Air Cavalry's Third Battalion. Then I met my squad member…..LT, Kowalski, Meat Grinder, and Short Timer…..It is all just a memory now.
"DANNY! NOOOO!" I turn my head towards the voice as the NVA pulls out and charges with his bayonet again. It was Gardner. I return my view towards the NVA as he pulls out his bayonet and charges me…….one last time before everything…..turn dark.
(Gardner's P.O.V)
You really got to know someone when he dies….even your closest friend. That……moment when his face reflected everything he had done……; and if he regrets it. Danny had been my closest friend I've had since high school. He's a weak guy…..and doesn't like to see other's get hurt. When we heard the news about Vietnam in 1966, and read a few adds on the streets, we immediately enlisted ourselves to the Army, which got us to the Third Battalion in the U.S 2nd Air Cavalry. That is when we met our squad leader at the night when our base is under attack by the NVA. Now I lost Danny…..my closest friend out here, the only one I could call a family, a brother, after what I've been through……it's over.
"YEEAARRGGHHH!" I charge at the NVA bastard while pulling the trigger, wasting all the rounds. The guy falls backward as he receives my shots. I don't care about that now; all I care about now is my friend who was lying silently
"Danny! Get up man! Danny! Don't die! Please Danny! Open your eyes goddamn it! Danny! DANNY!" I grab a hold of him; I didn't care what's around me. All I know is I had failed protecting my friend. He's gone, and I'll never see him again…..
I grab my M16 and turn my head facing the advancing enemy. Equipping the bayonet to the tip of the M16, I stare at them, and I knew that they stare right back at me. The next moment, I pull the trigger with vengeance still burning in my heart. They've taken Danny, and I will take their lives as a change.
"Eat this you mother fuckers! Die!" The enemy…is no more than a waste. Randomly I fire my Assault Rifle to every moving object I see wearing a flat helmet and a light brown uniform, armed with any kind of Communist made weapon. It was then when I realize I'm out of ammo.
"(Speaking in Vietnamese)" Three NVA came charging at me with their bayonets ready. One of them got a machete. With a quick reaction, I charge my rifle at one of the guys head, spilling blood over his head as my bayonet penetrates his skull, oozing out a large number of blood. The second guy's next; I swung my gun and hit him in his face, sending him down to the ground before I hit him with another melee attack before stabbing him with the bayonet in his neck. It is then when I realize the third guy is too close for me to react.
'(Thompson gun shots)'
I turn my head behind to the guy who save me a minute too close. LT was standing there with his Thompson grip tight in his hands with a furious eye. He stare at me for a moment before he fire another one at an incoming NVA.
"Quit your whining soldier! Now get your friend there and make your way up hill! I should've not left him back there, now move while I lay covering fire!" I nod my head, and lift up Danny's corpse before I make a break for it
"Yes, sir!"
(Jack's P.O.V)
I fire my Thompson in bursts as more NVA is making up to the top. Now I'm in the middle of a battalion since I've been receiving NVA charge from my right, left, and front. It's dark so I almost couldn't see a thing out here! All I know is NVA is coming from all direction, I MUST use hearing to locate where they're coming from, and….. I'm running low on Thompson ammo…..
'TCHK' I'm out! That's the last magazine! My pouch is empty!
"(Speaking in Vietnamese)" I notice a guy runs up to me with a machete in his hands. I immediately throw the empty Thompson at him which he catch and manage to try to zap me…..before he notices it was empty. I look at the corpse beside me (who Danny tried to heal) lying with his M16 beside him. I grab the rifle, aim at the guy (who now tries to charge me with MY Thompson), and fire point black just as he's about to knock me with the gun. I turn myself to a different direction and zap another one at 200 m (estimated) away!
"Man…this thing is a killer…." I then continue moving up hill and regroup with my squad…..and Scars'
Spring 15, 1967,
Artillery Hill, Inner Perimeter, Northern Line,
2000 hrs
"What the fuck took you so long LT? You and your lousy fuckers are getting in my way!" I was greeted by Scar as I make my way up
"Sorry there Scar….got a few problems with NVA down there. Where's Gardner?"
"That cry baby of yours? He's back there, crying for his dead friend. Send him here to help! We need all possible fire power!" Ignoring him, I run up to Gardner and my squad who tried to comfort him. Short Timer, Kowalski, Kai, Junior……everyone's there, comforting him
"It's just a shitty deal….." Kowalski
"Well in war, everybody receives shitty deals." Short Timer
"Especially us, black brothers….." Junior
"You got that right…..brother…." Kai
"………." Gardner…..didn't let out any word to them
"Gardner…..you're okay?" I come up to Gardner who's kneeling beside Danny's corpse
"Doesn't make any sense……"
"Gardner?"
"It doesn't make any goddamn sense….."
"GARDNER!" I hollered at him, finally waking him from his thoughts
"If you're not capable to fight now, report up to the Captain of our situation right…."
"No LT……I'm fine…." He got up, pick up his rifle, and toss his helmet away
"Let's go and defend the line." Surprising enough, Gardner recovered quite fast. We, the six of us, then traverse down back to the line
Spring 15, 1967,
Artillery Hill, Inner Perimeter, Northern Line,
2010 hrs
The firefight's getting nastier every second. The longer we hold the line, the fiercer it gets. NVA just don't give up. I don't know what kept them up, but they just kept on charging, and charging, and assaulting with their might despite this bloody jungle. Most of our claymore traps had been detonated, now our guns is the only way to hold them off. Scar is still acting like an asshole, forcing even wounded soldiers to fight. The medic team didn't like him…..either do I. I don't know how long we could hold, or how long we could survive. I just don't want to see anymore of my squad mates killed today……
"EAT THIS YOU COMMIE BASTARDS!" Kai fire his M60 without stopping…..he only stops firing when the gun's over heated
"Hey Meat Grinder, how much you got now?" Kowalski
"Not count was….147…..then lost…" Kowalski stops to reload while staring at Kai
"Damn….bye-bye savings….."
"Here goes another……….
(PANG!)
..Hit! Head shot!" Junior smoke another one with his M21 sniper rifle
"Damn it…..thinks this won't end……" Short Timer
"THIS IS FOR DANNY YOU COMMIE! AND THIS IS FOR….." Gardner
Spring 15, 1967,
Artillery Hill, Inner Perimeter, Northern Line,
2100 hrs
An Hour had passed since we're here. We start to run low on ammo, and the NVA doesn't seem to want to quit. They want this hill back, and they want it bad. We started to receive NVA tanks which were wasted by Scar's forced banzai charge. He strap wounded guys with explosives, give him a grenade, force him to run to the tank, climb the tank, throw the grenade in the hatch, and while he's running back, Scar would detonate the poor guy, killing him, and a number of NVA forces. Everything is just out of control out here…..
"AAARRRGGGHHHHH!" What the hell…?
"GET THAT BASTARD BEFORE HE PASS' THE LINE!" I turn my head sideways and spotted an NVA runner. He's screaming and unarmed. Our guys tried to zap him, but miss; I try to knock him as well but miss. The NVA then runs towards Scar's radio operator behind and detonate himself, killing the radio man and him as blood and raw meat rain above our heads. Whatever we do, we will not fall back
(Meanwhile, up in Artillery hill Communication Center)
Radio Operator: "Sir! We've lost contact with Inner Perimeter's Northern Line! We lost control of situation!"
Captain: "Damn it! This isn't good! Whatever it is, NVA is now advancing towards the hill, and this hill may not fell to their hands!"
Radio Operator: "What are we suppose to do now Captain?"
Captain: "……Call in the code….Broken Arrow…"
Radio Operator: "Broken Arrow? You mean you're gonna' rain napalm on them? What if there are survivors?"
Captain: "I don't know! Just hope God is with them…..now DO AS I ORDERED!"
Radio Operator: "Roger that Captain….Broken Arrow, I say again, Broken Arrow!"
(Back to Jack)
"Keep firing goddamn it! You why've you stopped?" Scar's dictatorship had got most of the guys here killed
"Sorry Scar…ergh….but….I'm wounded…." The guy holds his chest, trying to hold the blood
"No excuses! Now get your gun and START FIRING! WE'RE GONNA' WIN THIS WAR, AND WE KNOW IT!" Scar is starting to lose his mind
"This is Broken Arrow, roger that Captain. Napalm strike designated in Charlie, 5, over." Short Timer's Radio
"Hey Shorty! You call for an air strike?" He turns my head towards me with confusion
"No LT, I think one of Scar's men did."
"But Scar's Radio Man's dead!" Short Timer pause for a moment before he took out a map he slips in his helmet
"No shit……LT! Let's get out of here! The Napalm strike was designated in THIS line!"
"Everyone, FALL BACK! SQUAD, FALLBACK!"
"Where the hell you're going LT?" Scar
"I'm out of here! There's…."
"No one fall back!" Scar fires his Car 15 towards me, but misses luckily
"Shit…you're one damn son of a bitch! I'm out of here! Squad, move out!" I stay behind as my squad moves up towards the main hill
"You're not going anywhere you bastard!" Scar immediately climb the trench and leap at me with a bayonet ready at his hand. He's trying to kill me
"DIE!" I hold his first strike with my M16 and kick him off me before I make a break for the hill. Scar is still in my back, following me with his bayonet ready. I trip a few times before he leap at me again and try to stab me, but failed. I kick him off again before I try to make a run. But everything's over once we hear the roar of our F4 Phantoms ready to give their payload.
"The Phantoms are here! TAKE COVER!" I find an empty unfinished foxhole, still full of dirt. I dive towards the foxhole, covering myself with dirt. Scar's still behind and I knew he's not far. But all the gunfire, the blood shed, and the ringing sound of grenades and artillery ends as the Phantoms drop their bombs
(Napalm fire torches the line)
Spring 16, 1967,
Artillery Hill, Aftermath of Assault, Inner Perimeter, Northern Line,
0530 hrs
I don't know how long I've passed out….or how long I've been asleep. What I know is I felt like I was barbecued inside the pile of dirt. What I know is, I survive the napalm strike. I got up, wipe the dirt off, and went down the hill towards the trench. The scene was horrible. I could see there were few U.S survivors, with terrible burn wounds on them. But what I'm mostly surprised of is the amount of dead, U.S and NVA, which lie there soundless….almost like they're sleeping. I got down, pick up one of the NVA AK-47 I could reach before I continue moving up the hill. There, I found him. Scar; still alive, but wounded badly, resting in a burnt down tree, a few feet away from where I buried myself. I walk up to him, with the AK-47 safety unlocked. I stare at him, and he stare right back at me
"Oh…good….you survive LT." I stare at him with no expression in my face
"Call the medic team, and get my ass out of here." I stand still, no reply will come from me you son of a bitch
"What are you waiting for? Go up there and get me the medic team!" I lift up my rifle and aim it up to him. He then realizes what I'm going to do. "Oh…I see…"
"You wanna' shoot me huh? You wanna' kill me? Tch…" I don't care what the court martial, or the guys, or my squad will say about this. He had taken many lives from both sides, U.S and North Vietnam. He had taken too many…….and everything has an ending
"Shoot me…if you can…." I aim strait at his chest, finger in the trigger. "So long you goddamn mother fucker!"
(AK-47 Gun shots)
And that's the end of Scar's life. Yeah, I end his life. Not the VC, not the NVA, but me. Even though they pick up his corpse and examine what had killed him, the result would lead towards the NVA's main weapon: the AK-47. And that charges would always be put to the commie in the north. Yeah I end his life. And I end his tour of duty; right here, in Artillery hill.
"Whoa…..LT….you killed that son of bitch?" I turn my towards the guy who saw me did it. It's Kowalski…and the rest of my squad. I sigh and toss the AK-47 down the hill, breaking it to pieces
"Never like that son of a bitch….." Junior examine Scar's corpse, while Kai stand in front of him, smiling
"I always wanted to do this…."
"Meat Grinder, WHAT THE……fuck…" Kai open his zipper and piss on the Scar…right in his face. Junior backs off since Kai almost spray a bit on him
"Yeah…he deserves that…." Short Timer
"Heh…no one would care about this bastard….." Gardner
"Let's hope he rest in peace…….in hell!" Kowalski
"Nawh…..he would rest in pieces IN hell!" Junior
"Yeah…..covered with piss (chuckles)…..he won't be bugging us anymore." Kai
"Alright….squad cut the chatter. Let's head back to the Hill" I laugh with them all the way up the hill and was greeted by the Captain…and a bottle of champagne
(End of Jack's Flashback)
"That's just about it Rick….that's what happened in the last 15 days." Rick sighs, got up, and stretch himself
"Wow…..what about the rest of the eight day?"
"Damn it Cherry, it's all just patrols, patrols, and more patrols around the outpost."
"Gardner, stop calling him Cherry, he's our field medic here and…."
"FIELD MEDIC? You mean you would order a Cherry to patch us up? No way man!"
"He's been a field medic back at the island!"
"Still….he's new in Nam….."
"…….." Rick just keeps himself silent all the time we're talking
"And here's today's announcement! LT, please gather your squad and assemble in the T.O.C bunker. An assignment will be given to you regarding VC presence in Shang Tri village. Further briefing will be attended in the T.O.C Bunker."
"Okay. You heard the announcement do ya'? Move out!" I grab my M16 and head out of the tent. Gardner nods and leave tent first
"Okay Rick, this'll be your first action out here."
"I got it Jack."
We walk out of the tent, took Rick to the firing range where he pick the M14 rifle and head out to meet the rest of the squad.
Author's Note
So much for another looong chapter. I got very little time to update and to your understanding my internet has been down for about 2 weeks. So I manage to update this fic at school. Anyways……in the next few chapters, someone from Jack's squad will get himself killed (ooo who would that be?). So keep reading, and you'll see!