I walked toward the the chopper. The wind blew past me with an icy chill.

"Captain, c'mon we're gonna be late!"

"I'm comin', don't rush me."

I walked faster to the chopper and slipped my Desert eagle back in its holster as I sat next to George.

"So Tom, when are we gonna fight for our country?" he asked.

I shook my head and replied, "Once you know how to pull the pin from a grenade."

George laughed, "I figured you'd make a sarcastic remark."

"I figured you'd tell me that I made a sarcastic remark."

I know what you're saying, I'm being mean to the kid. But I've had a lot on my head and I just can't think straight.
It has been nearly two decades since the Chernobyl incident and I just can't shake the feeling that I'm still lucky.
Lucky that I didn't go on that trip with my squad. Lucky that I didn't die with my cousin.

"Yo Tom, we got a CL with a squad about three miles from here. They need a pickup. Their original chopper was blowned down by enemy forces and they're under heavy fire. Tell me what to do."

"Pick'em up. Move it, we don't need anymore coffins on our conscience."

"Roger."

Peter jerked the chopper to the east.

"So kiddies, you've been dyin' to see combat, and you're going to. Ready your assault rifle. Peter, speed up."

George grinned. He was a young boy from Florida, I still wonder if he knows what he's in for.

We had seven people in this helicopter. Me; George; Peter; Aaron; Mate; Gerard and Cory.
We called Steven 'Mate' because he always called people mate. He was also Australian, and I really wanted to speak with his accent.
Australian accents always sounded nice.

Peter pressed down a red button in the front and spoke into the CL, "Hey we're three hundred yards away from LZ, we'll gun down whatever enemy targets we see in sight, but make sure you're here in three minutes, over."

A husky voice came into the CL, "Roger."

I stood up, "Aaron and George, I want you to get on those turrets, shoot down any think that appears red on the sight.

They nodded and jumped to their turrets.

"Peter, I'ma slide down and try to locate the squad. Mate, you're with me."

Peter gave me a thumbs up.

I clipped a rope to the seats lined up in the chopper and slid down. MAtecame down shortly.

I crouched down and slowly walked by the meadow. "Attach your silencer, Mate.."

"Already did, sir."

I nodded and continued.

"Captain, I have sightings of enemy targets nearby."

"Their mine." I said as I slipped my knife from my belt and clicked it out.

"Nice knoif there, mate. Make sure you keep it clean."

"Always keep my 'knoifs' clean." I said with a quiet chuckle.

I looked around and saw two men standing by a house. I silently walked towards one of them in a crouched position.
"Dude, over here."

The man turned around to look at me, but I already had my knife across his throat.
I slipped my knife in my belt and grabbed my Desert eagle from my holster.
Through the window of the house, I saw two men sitting down and chatting.

About three yards away there was one man standing with a pistol in his hand.

I crouched down and walked under the windows toward the man. Using my desert eagle would make to much noise, so I pulled out my knife. I swiftly covered his mouth with my hand and stabbed my knife in his lower back then again in his neck.
I put my knife back in my belt and pulled out my Desert eagle. I walked up to the door of the house.

I held my breath as I kicked open the door and aimed my gun at one of the men sitting down.
As the recoil pushed my hand back slightly, I saw one of the men fall off his chair and land on the floor.
I quickly pulled my hand back up and blasted the gun again at the other man.

I exhaled, it's been a long time since I've used my Desert eagle.

"Peter, I located the squad, we're coming to the LZ." Mate called in.

I sighed and slowly turned around and saw a AK-74 up to my face. The person who held it had an angry look on his face. He growled at me, then pulled the trigger.
Nothing.

I grinned then slapped the gun away. I smashed my knee into his stomach and grabbed my knife from my belt.
I swung it at him, but heard something clang.
His knife clanged with mine.
"Holy crap, you're not an easy one, are you?"

He clenched his teeth and pushed me away. "You not going to leave here alive!" he shouted.

"Oh really?" I replied with a smirk.

I threw my knife at him, aimed for his head, but he brought his hand to shield him from the knife.

Hopefully you know what happends to a fleshy arm versus a steel knife, right?

He dropped down on one knee, holding his arm. He pleaded, "Please, no kill me! Please have mercy!"

I shook my head, "No can do." I pulled my Desert eagle to his forehead. "Say hi to my cousin for me, will ya?"
I pulled the trigger.

"Captain, hurry the hell up!" Mate's voice popped on the CL.

I jumped over the body and sprinted to the LZ.

The chopper was in sight, men were climbing up the rope. I was two yards away when I saw one of the men's torso pop with blood and he fell off the rope and smashed onto the ground.

I turned my head to see where the bullet had come from and saw a man running with a AK-74 in his hands.

I aimed my gun at him as he aimed his at me. I went prone once he started firing and shot my Desert eagle with one hand at his chest.

I stood up and sprinted to the fallen man. Once I was in range, I kneeled down to him.

"You're gonna be alright, man. Just hang in there!"

His eyes fluttered when he tried to nod.

I grabbed his limp body and lifted him up, "Pete, lower the chopper so I can get him in!"

The helicopter lowered down and I ran inside and sat the man down.

"What'cha name, son?" I asked him.

His hand dangled lazily, "Richard."

"Alright, Richard. You're gonna be alright, man. Hang in there." I told him. As if that could help, the kid has taken a bullet through the torso.

I searched his body for the wound. It was in his stomach. A clean shot.

While on the ride he seemed to have fallen asleep, so I checked his pulse.
Nothing.

This was something that happened everyday. Men and women died for their country everyday.
I always thought of these people as our fallen angels.

"Never pity those who embrace death, but pity those who suffer with life"