A few words from the author: Thank you to all who read my story, and a bigger thank you to all who reviewed it.

Warning side effects include: jungle rot, crotch crickets, fleabites, diarria, malarya and gunshot wounds. Fanfiction is not for everyone, consult your doctor before using.

Enjoy

March 2, 1969; 0938 local time; East of Cambodia

"Now that everyone's rested, let's see what we've got in terms of supplies." Ichigo said.

Everyone searched the area, looking for anything that could be eaten, worn, or used as a weapon. They brought what they could carry back to the clearing.

Ichigo found an AK-47 with about 5 clips, two combat knives, and five C-ration cans. Renji came back with Ichigo's M-60 with about 300 rounds, a 5-pound bag of rice, Urahara's revolver with 24 shots, a compass, and a SKS carbine with about 10 5-round chargers. Ishida found his M-21 with about six clips, a pack of gum, an entrenching tool and three M-1911 pistols with seven clips. Kiyone had Ichigo's pistol with its clip, Urahara's shotgun with 35 shells, a map, a medkit and two bottles of iodine tablets (for water purification).

Ichigo looked at the meager provisions and sighed. He took the compass and map and tried to work out where they were.

"According to this map we are about 2500 miles from anywhere remotely friendly, I suggest we go South to the river and follow it to the coast. Anyone got a problem with that?" Ichigo said after looking at the map for a few minutes.

"Nope" Said Ishida.

"No problems here" said Renji.

"It's okay with me." Said Kiyone.

He ordered everyone back to the wrecked helicopter.

The crash site was even more atrocious during the day. Bodies were everywhere, many horribly maimed and mangled by the crash. Kiyone burst into tears and Ishida tried to comfort her. Ichigo took the entrenching tool and started digging a hole in the ground.

"What are you doing?" Renji asked.

"Digging graves." Ichigo responded.

"Why?" Renji asked.

"Because they don't deserve to be left out for the rats." Ichigo said.

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March 2, 1969; 1403 local time; East of Cambodia

Six mounds of red earth lined up in a row next to the crashed helicopters. Six crosses made out of sticks stuck out of the ground at one end of each mound. Six sets of dogtags hung, one on each cross.

Ichigo and his men brushed their hands off, and Ishida said a few words. "We knew these men well, they were our comrades, our friends, our brothers. . . These are men. . . men, who shared tears, hopes, dreams, and fears with us. What more could be said of men who gave their lives serving their country."

"Amen" Renji said.

Ichigo merely closed his eyes and gave a moment of silence before ordering everyone into the jungle towards the river. When Ishida, Renji and Kiyone were sufficiently far away Ichigo murmured one last phrase to his fallen comrades.

"I'll be back to bring you home, I promise."