The War in His Home

by BaileyFPeriod6

The Vietnam War was the first televised war and the average age men were drafted at was nineteen. Margaret Carter finds her husband and her brother-in-law on the screen in her house in Washington in the US. Margaret prays for her family while they are in combat and Robert prays to get back to his wife while Robert and Jack's parents pray that Jack will be the one to come home.

6. Chapter Six

Robert Carter, age 27

I have surpassed my birthday, which was days ago. Maddie sent me a quilt that will never not be used here.

Ugh, I think. You don't have time to think about that. It is February 14th and I am in the middle of shooting down as many enemies as possible.

I shoot in front of me swiveling around in forty-five degree angles. I see, if I take a sharp left, I see John.

Slowly I begin to back up and move closer to him. John is approximately twenty-five yards away. When I can, I look over to see him. He jolts backwards. I don't have time to stop in confusion, but I can't drop everything in the middle of this situation.

John tries to sit up, but when the enemies fire, he is shot down again. I almost scream his name, but I refrain.

I want to help him, he could still be alive. Instead I see another figure go to help. He attempts to lift John, but John's body is limp. He is already gone. I want to scream, but screaming won't do anyone any good.

All I can do is blink a few times; blink the tears away. The man helping John is hot too. He collapses near John's body. I recognize this comrade all too well. His name is Jack Carter.