A few words from the author: I would like to say a big thank you to all who took time to read my story, and a bigger thank you to all who reviewed.

Author's notes: the next few chapters will be in a flashback sequence.

Notes on the Text: Once again, no disrespect of any kind is intended toward those who served in Vietnam or the Vietnamese in general, I humbly apologize for any offence taken by any reader who served or knows someone who served in Vietnam or is Vietnamese. Though the author has researched the events described at length some Bleach-centered historical inaccuracies will exist. Feel free to do your own research if you think I made any grossly inaccurate mistakes.

Legal mumbo jumbo: Bleach and its characters are property of Tite Kubo.

Enjoy

November 21, 1967, 0600 local time; "Rukongai" outpost, Boun Ma Thout, Vietnam

Ichigo and the rest of his squad got out of their bunks and started getting ready. They dressed themselves in their uniforms and headed to the mess hall.

The mess hall was situated between the briefing room and the infirmary. The mess hall was filled with long tables with benches attached to them. At the far end there was the kitchen and the serving area. The cook Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood behind the counter, which held three pots of steaming liquid, a tray of yellow stuff, a tray of something that Ichigo couldn't identify, and assorted condiments.

Mayuri was wearing a white chef uniform, a wierd white hat, and had yellow eyes; which unnerved Ichigo slightly.

Everyone got a metal tray and lined up Ichigo was situated behind Urahara and in front of Chad.

"I wonder what the mad scientist has cooked up for us today?" Urahara said to no one in particular.

"Mad scientist?", Ichigo asked looking slightly confused.

"Mayuri, the cook", Urahara responded.

"Why do you call him mad scientist?" Ichigo asked.

"Because only some ungodly form of science would be able create the food he serves." Urahara said. (Though to be fair most of the food he served came that way)

"Pick your poison", Mayuri said as Ichigo made his way to the counter. "We have SOS, chipped beef, cream of wheat, pork and beans, government cheese, and scrambled eggs."

"I'll... have the... umm... SOS please." Ichigo said as he tried to decide if any of the food before him looked even remotely like what Mayuri had described. Mayuri put a piece of toast on Ichigo's tray and dumped a big spoon of "chipped beef" on to it.

Ichigo took his meal and sat down with Ganju, and Ishida; who were both looking at their food like it was some kind of alien lifeform, Renji was poking it like it was some kind of dead animal. Ichigo took a bite of his "food" and found that it had no taste whatsoever; according to Ganju, Ishida, and later Chad all the food was bland and tasteless.

After breakfast they headed back to the barracks to get their personal equipment before heading to the armory to pick up their weapons.

The armory was situated on the other side of the infirmary and was surrounded by sandbags, "NO SMOKING" signs were put up all over the building. The inside of the armory had four gun racks, one on each wall and two in the center facing the walls. The gun racks went about half way through the building, the rest of the building was piled high with ammo crates. The whole thing was a logistical nightmare, there were so many different kinds of weapons and ammo. One side of the building the racks contained rifles, specifically: M-21's, M-14's, M-16's, AK-47's, and even a few M-1 carbines. The other side contained assorted other weapons like: M-1911's, M-60's, M-1919's, M-12's, M-79's, there were even a few Thompsons and Grease guns.

Ichigo picked up an M-60 GPMG and started digging through the crates looking for ammo. Ishida picked up an M-21 (which was really just a modified M-14) and started looking it over. Kira chose the AK-47, due to its compactness. Chad picked up an M-79 grenade launcher and an M-1 carbine. Renji didn't like the idea of using a commie gun, so he took an M-14. Ikkaku chose the M-14 as well because it would make a better melee weapon than the AK. Ganju picked up one of the Thompsons claiming that it would be easier to use because it took the same ammo as his pistol, which ment he only needed to carry one type of ammo.

After picking up their weapons and gathering sufficient ammunition, they made their way back to the helipads and formed up near Urahara. They were all dressed in standard battle gear, more or less. Ichigo, Chad, and Urahara were the only ones who really stood out.

Ichigo had a belt of ammo strung around his helmet and had boxes of ammunition strapped on his backpack, which contained food, rain gear, extra socks, and other importaint items. The M-60 required so much ammo that everyone had to help carry it. He had a sheathed knife strapped to his left ankle, above his jungle boots. He carried his M-1911A1 pistol in a holster on his right hip, which was situated on a belt with various other equipment.

Chad was dressed in a similar fashion, only he did not have the belts of ammunition on his helmet. Instead he had the phrase "Amore e Morte" written on the front of his helmet in black ink. He carried his grenade launcher and carbine on straps over both of his shoulders. usually grenadiers only carried a pistol due to the weight of the grenade launchers, but Chad didn't mind the small rifle's extra weight.

Urahara wore his tiger stripe uniform and jungle boots. He carried an M-12 shotgun on a strap over his right shoulder. His entire belt was covered with shells, he carried a Ruger "Blackhawk" .44 magnum revolver in a holster that was strapped to his left shoulder. He wore a helmet that had "Si vis pacem, para bellum" written on it in black ink

Urahara adressed his squad, "Today all of you will get a taste of battle...

SOS: noun, military acronym for Shit On a Shingle, a common military breakfast dish usually consisting of chipped beef (though sometimes it was hard to tell what exactly it was) on toast.

Amore e morte: Italian for "love and death"

Si vis pacem, para bellum: Latin for "if you seek peace, prepare for war"