‘Oh! Thus be it ever, When freemen shall stand’
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
(Verse four ‘The Star Spangled Banner)
A Novel by James Noman
Nothing is written, only the Lord knows what the future holds for each of us,
What we as frail weak, sinful and easily lead astray humans do with our lives does matter.
For what we see of the future and its many possibilities are just forks in the road,
Choose and make a turn in one direction, you will not see what the other turn might have been.
Now multiple the paths taken by billions and the futures possibilities become the will of God.
But remember, God gave you that right of choice, to be a free person, not to be a slave,
So choose wisely.
People, Liberty is fragile, and our freedom can be fleeting; even more so today then at any other time in our countries history. Do I want war? No, even less then you do; but I would not seek peace at any cost, as that always leads to slavery. Yet there are those among us who would do so even if it meant the deaths of millions of their fellow countrymen as they tried once more to reason with the worlds many madmen and tyrants. Hoping for mercy; when none will be offered. As always the fainthearted are unwilling to risk the burdens necessary of securing liberty even for themselves. I pity them as they haven’t any moral courage and know not the reasons ‘When freemen shall stand’.
The world has always been dangerous, and always will be, especially for people who wish to remain free.
If you wish to be free, you must be armed, trained to fight and have food stockpiled.
Do you know the motto of the Pearl Harbor Survivors?
It’s easy because the first part is ‘Remember Pearl Harbor’, but very few people know the second half. It’s ‘Keep America Alert’, well thanks to the Main Stream Media and a lot of the peace at any price politicians, American hasn’t stayed Alert. And know we are paying that price.
‘By (the end of) 1945, Americans no longer feared another Pearl Harbor. Yet we in a far stronger and larger United States, are still not sure we won’t see another Sept. 11.’ Michelle Malkin said.
‘One day in the not to distant future America will face another 9/11 or worse,
And when that happens they will wish they had encouraged the patriots, the Militia to be ready and prepared. Then go look in the mirror, that is the person to blame, not the few patriots that were ready to answer the call.’ JN
In the years leading up to World War II, (for the US) my great uncle Lester worked as a long-shore man in Los Angles. He and his friends wondered at the large number of Japanese ships loading scrape iron and crude oil bound for that island nation.
When Japan started its aggression against China, all of those dockworkers knew before long that the same scrape iron we sold to them would come back at us in the way of bombs or artillery rounds! They were right.
On the rare occasion that I walk into a store that stocks 80% of their products marked with Made in China, I refuse to spend any more money with them, then what I absolutely have to. I know that those US dollars are fueling a War Machine bent on our destruction! I know that history can, and will repeat itself, YES, AGAIN.
‘Now if China and the Islamic jihadists were to join forces, it would be the same as 60 years ago, when a fanatical NAZI regime and a brutal Imperialistic Japanese Empire joined forces to conquer the world. Does the west have the stomach to face this threat again? We better because it’s coming,’
And Soon.
Unlike my great uncle, I refuse to just stand by watching, wondering and waiting. I’m getting ready, by training and helping others to train. And our training and working as a team prepares us to help others, after a tornado does its damages locally, and in other regions across our nation like when a few of us went down to help after the Hurricanes hit the southern US.
I do not hate anyone and this book is not about hate, it is just a story. I have used what is in the news to write a what-if, a possibility. Just because the news mirrors my books possibilities or my books reflects the news, well that’s the real world for you, that the truth can be stranger then fiction.
So I say no thank you to hate, life is to short to hate or to pity your enemy, never let your resolve ever turn into hate, never. Hate is a bitter cup to swallow and will leave you the same, a very bitter and loathsome person to be around. Hate can consume you and transform you into what you are fighting against. And for those people who use the word hate to describe other people who disagree with them on a subject are the real people filled with hate. They wish to silence their opposition, If you point a finger at someone remember three of your fingers are pointing back at you.
In war never pity your enemy either; for he has let his heart be filled with hate, and that is the path he has chosen to follow. Rather do what a good soldier needs to do when the fight is forced. Just shoot and bury the sorry bastard, then get on with life.
Oh yes if you haven’t figured it out yet we are at war, one started by the other side, if we don’t fight to win and finish it; they will, and your children will be their slaves. Your choice. As for me, I will Fight, until my last breath if necessary.
And this war that we are in, one that our elitist media refuses to recognize, is going to be a long one, how long you might ask? A little history, we the US were attacked a little over 200 years ago by an Islamic nation. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both ambassadors at the time reported to the Continental Congress about a meeting they had with the ambassador from Tripoli (present day Libya), he told them of his religion.
''that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman [Muslim] who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise." From Larry Elder worldnetdaily.com Aug 3/06
That is why Thomas Jefferson had a copy of the Koran, so he would understand our enemy.
So if we don’t confront them now and stop them as we did 200 years ago, they will come back again and again, so tell me, when will the elites stand up and say enough. Do they wait until an atomic weapon that is smuggled into our country destroys one of our cities and there are over 100,000 Americans killed before they cry out for justice?
Now it’s time to secure our nation, to stand behind our vote for war once again; but isn’t that just a bit late for the dead?
If we as a nation do not have people that love this land and who will fight and die if necessary to defend it, then we will perish. The bubble of comfort and peace that most of us in the west know is an illusion, one that was created by our success as warriors. Only the blood of patriots will maintain it, for the barbarians are waiting as always for any slip of resolve to maintain our culture. You cannot reason with them, you can only defeat them, and then wait for the next barbarians. JN
When the enemy speaks, listen;
"Those who stay in America should be open to society without melting, keeping Mosques open so anyone can come and learn about Islam. If you choose to live here, you have a responsibility to deliver the message of Islam ... Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."
- Omar Ahmad Co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
‘We are in a confrontation. The side that is most steadfast is the side that will survive.’
Salah al-Bardawil, a Hamas spokesman
‘I was motivated by the law that commands me to cut off the head of anyone who insults Allah and his prophet.’ Mohammed Bouyeri, convicted murder of Theo van Gogh.
Radical Islamic recruiters take young impressionable people and give them special religious education. ‘That there is nor important thing in life than Jihad.’ More important then prayers, then fasting, even then Hajj (the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia) that the most noble thing if life is to die for the Jihad.
If you have forgotten, Disrupted Terrorist cells here in the US.
Lackawanna Six (NY)
Virginia Jihad
Lodi CA, and many more.
Actual Attacks
9/11 Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Homeland, September 11, 2001
Bus-hijacker Damir Igric Oct 01’
Beltway snipers Washington, D.C.,
Attack on U.S.S. Cole, October 12, 2000
U.S. Embassy Bombings in East Africa, August 7, 1998
Khobar Towers Bombing, June 25, 1996
Remember Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker these two US soldiers were captured in June of 2006, mutilated then slaughtered so bad that DNA test had to be used to identify them. Given half the chance the Terrorists would do the same here in America.
Muslims have been at war with Christians and Jews for centuries. ---Zacarias Moussaoui
“Death to America was, is, and will stay our slogan!” – Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah Secretary-General
“Thanks to your democratic laws, we will invade you. Thanks to our religious laws, we will dominate you.” As told to Roman Catholic Archbishop of Izmir, Turkey, Giuseppe Bernardini, by a Muslim Religious leader.
If you choose to Ignore the Jihad statements of the terrorists, or the record of Jihad since
700’s AD, if you choose to ignore the centuries of jihad conflict around the world before World War I, if you do that, you are just lying to yourself, hiding from the truth, and that makes you a coward, or worse a traitor.
‘We're facing a radical ideology with inalterable objectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world. No act of ours invited the rage of the killers – and no concession, bribe, or act of appeasement would change or limit their plans for murder.’ Pres. Bush
‘If the United States and Europe act together as the West, in defense of our common values, we can undo the nightmare scenario of the Islamists and defeat this new threat of global tyranny that is every bit as dangerous as the Nazi threat that the Greatest Generation met and extinguished more than 50 years ago.
Evil was on the march then. It was overwhelmingly powerful,well-organized and pitiless.’
Tony Blankley
That same evil is on the march again, it does not care how many innocents are killed,
in Iraq, in Isreal, in England, in Bali, in Jordan, in New York or in your home town. Its goal is for world donomiation pure and simple, and this evil will use any means to achieve that end. Evil has gone by many names recently we called them Nazi’s, the Imperical Japenese Army and Navy, a little later they were called Communist, today it’s called Islamofascism, and it’s followers are called Islamofacist.
You can not reason with them nor change their goals, so either fight them or die, your choice. But remember that your choice is really for your children and their future, either they will live as free people or as slaves. Your parents put it all on the line fifty- sixty years ago. Today you are free because they were willing to make that sacrifice. I’m just one man but I chose to fight and die if necessary in the coming battle, so all of our children can remain free.
Evil exists in many forms and you either fight it or do nothing and let it rule over you. As for men of honor the latter course is never an option, remember Freedom isn’t Free.
At 9.58am Eastern Time, Tuesday September 11th 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Why?
As UPI’s Jim Bennett wrote, “The Era of Osama lasted about an hour and a half or so, from the time the first plane hit the tower to the moment the General Militia of Flight 93 reported for duty. Their heroism was the only victory of the day for the US. Mark Steyn
“Let’s Roll”
I know I said I love you
I know you know it’s true
I got to put the phone down
And do what we gotta do
I know you know it’s true
I got to put the phone down
And do what we gotta do
One’s standing in the aisle way
Two more at the door
We got to get inside there
Before they kill some more…
Two more at the door
We got to get inside there
Before they kill some more…
Neil Young.
'For a Free People, The cost of not being well read is Ignorance,
For the common man in the Militia, The cost in not being well trained can be deadly.’
For the common man in the Militia, The cost in not being well trained can be deadly.’
- PK
'There are none so blind as those who will not see.'
‘Terrorism is a horrible thing and must be confronted, It’s important to be upfront that I am pro-troop and anti-terrorist. Journalists who are not up front about this are either hiding something, or just look dumb. Either way, they lose credibility.
Terrorism is increasingly dangerous, they blow kids to pieces here.
Scares people when they do that. Scaring people is part of their plan.
If we cut our losses and run, they will follow us home.
If you run, they will follow. They will kill you.’
Michael Yon reporting from Iraq
We the people of the Western Civilized World must wake up and realize that the enemy we face, the Radical Muslim Killers, are of the same mind-set that our fathers faced in WWII. Yes the exact same mind set as the fanatical Nazi SS and the Imperial Japanese Army, who tried to kill as many innocents as they could, to impose their beliefs onto the free people of the world. Now these modern day preachers of hate, death, and destruction are no different. And the outcome would be the same as in WWII, where the Good guys won.
Unfortunately the leftist fifth column that lives among us doesn’t get it; instead they call us the bad guys, that we are the ones full of intolerance. That we need to understand why these Radicals hate us and wish our total destruction? Hey they shout, give peace a chance, yeah right, go ask the few Christians and Jews left in the Middle East outside of Israel how lucky they are. That’s if you can find any around? Oh yes, at one time there used to be over a Million of them but they were forced to leave because of the intolerance of the Radical Islamic Jihadists.
These people that cry peace now only see the world in materialistic terms or with rose-colored glasses. They cannot conceive of a huge international movement motivated by a death wish and driven by a single-minded determination to subjugate the world to its strict religious creed and discipline. Hell these me first types won’t even permit themselves a single thought to recognize the impossibility of having a rational negotiation with irrational enemies.
Instead if they were to look at the truth in an honest manner they would be forced to see the reality that the United States and the West are involved in a struggle for our very survival, theirs included.
In Warfare Away Games are better then Home Games, I feel for the Iraqi people who wish for peace and freedom I really do. But it’s better to fight the enemy over there then over here in our own cities, to fight them now over there and not leave it to our children and grandchildren to fight here in America.
I am, you are, we all are a child of God, and he gave everyone of us a sole, and individual freedom, the ability to think and reason and above all a purpose in life. He did this to make us different from the animals, so as to not act like them. I do not think he meant for anyone of us to strap a bomb on under our coat and to go out and kill our fellow man in his name, especially killing young children.
But them some might think I have some type of Islamophobia, Not!
Just because I see someone killing another person in the name of his religion and pointing it out doesn’t make me anything, except truthful. But what does that make the person who called me Islamicphobic in the first place?
(hint: a Hypocrite or an Appeaser your choice)
‘If we desire to insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.’ George Washington, Annual Message, December 1793
As America faces the tough fight against terrorism, Glenn Ford the patriot had this advice for his fellow Americans: "Let's never forget that to remain free we must always be strong. That's an important lesson I learned in my Navy career in World War II. National defense must be the top priority for our country. If you are strong, you are safe. Now is the time for every American to be proud. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave. If we are not brave, we will not be free."
By calling attention to a well-regulated militia for the security of the Nation, and the right of each citizen to keep and bear arms, our Founding Fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is extremely unlikely that the fears of governmental tyranny, which gave rise to the second amendment, will ever be a major danger to our Nation, the amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic military-civilian relationships, in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of the country. For that reason I believe the second amendment will always be important. --JOHN F. KENNEDY
Young boys dream of becoming baseball players, firemen and astronaut’s. A Young man thinks about high school sports, having a nice set of wheels and Girls. A middle age man hopes to be a good husband, a good father, and a good man works hard to accomplish both. He doesn’t wish for war to destroy his hopes. But when pushed to war he will defend his country and his freedom with his all.
Militiamen (You) may someday be called upon in dire circumstance, as a last resort to assist in the defense of our country; we (all Americans) need to be ready and organized to answer that call. To be ready when it counts. That day could be today, are you ready?
Thomas Paine opened "The American Crisis" with these words:
‘THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.’
‘Americans will always fight for Freedom’, a quote from a WWII poster.
Over half the world’s people live in freedom, thanks due in large part to the people of America. We have given selflessly our Patriots lives, and a large part of our wealth for other people’s freedoms. We have not sought to build an Empire as some people foolish believe, but to build a world of people who want Freedom. People who wish to live their lives in charge of what they do, to go where they want and not to have to ask permission from a bureau-rat, (popular slang for- a control freak)!
(JFK: "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, suffer any hardship . . . to secure the survival and success of liberty.")
‘The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.’ — JOHN F. KENNEDY
DEMOCRACY is two hungry wolves and a lamb discussing what's for dinner.
LIBERTY is a well-armed lamb willing to contest the majority decision. (Ben Franklin)
LIBERTY is a well-armed lamb willing to contest the majority decision. (Ben Franklin)
All of the anti-terror tools that were put in place before and after the invasion are just that tools. In the hands of honorable men they can be used to promote liberty, in the hands of despicable men they will be used to promote tyranny.
"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms
each man against his own bosom? Congress shall have no power to disarm the militia.
Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an
American ... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or
state governments, but where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the People."
each man against his own bosom? Congress shall have no power to disarm the militia.
Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an
American ... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or
state governments, but where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the People."
Tench Coxe, 1788.
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
&
‘To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.’
A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined.’
- George Washington,
- George Washington,
The Constitution of the United States of America clearly affirms the right of every American citizen to bear arms. And as Americans, we will not give up a single right guaranteed under the Constitution. The history of unpunished violence against our people clearly indicates that we must be prepared to defend ourselves or we will continue to be a defenseless people at the mercy of a ruthless and violent racist mob. – Malcolm X, in Malcolm X at 337, J. Clarke ed. (New York, N.Y., 1969)
An enemy of liberty is no friend of mine. I do not owe respect to anyone who would enslave me by government force, nor is it wise for such a person to expect it. — Isaiah Amberay
It’s a long way to Mukumbura; it’s a long way to go, (from a song set to the WWI tune ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary.’)
I’ve seen war, I’ve been to war, I do not wish for war. But if you force me to war by attacking my country, my freedoms or other people’s freedoms I will give you war. A war you will not win, and to your utter destruction.
To my deathbed, I will carry in my body pieces of shrapnel; steel that was made in a communist country that hasn’t known freedom for over fifty years. Steel in the form of a grenade that was sent to a terrorist organization to place a madman as the leader of a country.
That country isn’t free anymore;
That country has a vote in the UN.
One vote among many other dictator lead countries.
The UN is not your friend….they despise freedom and free people. You don’t believe me; look at how they kept Saddam Hussien in power and his people in fear and slavery!
The UN works against you, the free people of America.
The Jews and other peoples of Europe during WWII are not free because of the UN
Look at the killing fields of Cambodia
Look at the killing fields of Rwanda
Where was the UN? Trying to control weapons in the hands of the average people.
If the people in those two countries had guns would the slaughter of innocents happened?
I don’t think so!
Look at the killing fields of Dafair in the Sudan today.
I say let the people of the Sudan have weapons,
The bullies in Khartoum wouldn’t be so bold then.
More than 10,000 Christians have been killed since 1999 in Nigeria; all because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Nearly 1,000 homes and churches have been burned down by Muslim radicals. These Christians need help from the free people in the western world.
But liberals the world over says no; that’s why we have the United Nations.
And the UN is doing nothing again.
The ‘United Nothing’ is as close to a totally dysfunctional bureaucratic body as the world has ever seen, it is an accident waiting to happen. It has proven itself completely incompetence and from top to bottom full of corruption. Most of its members are Oxygen thieves, pure and simple.
If they were a section of any company large or small they would have been fired long ago, and a lot of them tossed into Jail for theft. (If nothing else, jail them for being oxygen thieves.)
Look outside your front door, the killing fields just might be closer the next time.
‘God did not destroy Rhodesia, he did not set a mad man in power to ruin the land, God did not cast my people to the four winds, it was the UN that enslaved the people, yes the UN.’
There is one truth I know from first hand experience. The UN is not your friend, it hates the freedoms we Americans have, and hold.
Even if your freedoms are less now then what our fathers fought for in WWII, those freedoms that we still have are a threat to their plans. And they will constantly work to attack America’s freedoms any way they can.
Freedom to the UN is like the silver cross-held to the face of a Vampire. Both cannot exist together.
The US today is the result of over two centuries of freedom, yes we have our problems but we have and will continue to correct them in peace.
The UN is 60 years old and without the support of the United States who provides almost one quarter of its budget, and close to half of the logistical support for its various peace missions it would fail. With out the US the UN is nothing; on any given day they would have a hard time finding their ass even using both hands.
Free people the world over have to realize that the UN is not the answer. It attacks the ideals of freedom and puts forward the concept that the world must be ran by elites, because they know what is best for us, the great unwashed.
It promotes and defends some of the vilest and despicable dictators the world knows.
For people to be free the world over we should do away with the UN in its present form and start a new Union of free Countries. All others need not apply.
Where freedom rules there is no shortage of food, medical care, or people willing to do what is necessary for the good of all. If you know the differences between North and South Korea, need I explain more? Better yet Rhodesia then or Zimbabwe now!
Rhodesia held out for 15 years against the world (UN). The Rhodesians were a people who desired to be free, to grow their own country learning and changing a lot like the US; they lost to the UN. Now thirty plus years later the world finds out that they; the Rhodesians were right,
Mugabi is a ruthless dictator, oh my!
Mugabi is a ruthless dictator, oh my!
“How very tiresome are the UN One world Collectivists and their evil spawn the anti-gun activists. They are tiresome, ill-informed and Marxist in ideology…”
“…The lessons thay should have learned by now, -unless you’re brain-dead, illiterate or come from another planet – is that GUN CONTROL KILLS. I grow weary of the lapdogs of the fourth estate and those shadowy figures behind the scenes who fund the world-wide disarmament of civilians, and are blind to the genocide being committed by governments.
Those people in the shadows, are they the secret rulers?
Robby Noel 3/11/05 from the web site keepandbearms.com
Are you a Patriot?
Are you willing to give up everything you have to remain free?
Would you lay down your life if necessary in the name of freedom for others?
Over a million American patriots have done just that, here at home and around the world in many lands.
And because of their sacrifice we own our freedom.
Don’t ever forget them or let their sacrifice be in vain.
(If you said no, or the sacrifice wasn’t or isn’t worth the price, you know nothing about history, you don’t deserve to live in a free country where others have paid that price for you.)
Today's liberals (Elites) wish to disarm us so they can run their evil and oppressive agenda on us. The fight against crime is just a convenient excuse to further their agenda. I don't know about you, but if you hear that Williams' guns have been taken, you'll know Williams is dead’. –Walter Williams, Professor of Economics, George Mason University.
To all of you we have elected or chosen to lead us, the Legislators, justices, and law officers must bear in mind that your first and main duty is to uphold the first law of the land--the Constitution. You must bear in mind that the unconstitutional act of disarming your fellow citizens will also disarm your wife, parents, brothers and sisters, your children, and the children of future generations. To always keep in mind and to heed what George Washington's said that arms are the ‘liberty teeth’ of the people—and many of them will not passively allow these teeth to be torn out. The Militia men are students of history and take to heart the words of our founding fathers especially Benjamin Franklin's ‘those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety—‘true patriots will surrender not one of their rights. By our holding on to our guns we guarantee your freedoms too.’
Tyranny never rests, and the free peoples of the world must never rest.
I give my most heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Armed forces, and for the countries of the coalition, who have helped free the long-suffering Iraqi people, and striving to do the same in Afghanistan I’m afraid the job is just begun. Take heart, be brave and strong your cause is just, and right. Truth, Liberty, and Freedom all come at a high price, my deepest sympathy to the loved one and families of those who paid that price. Their sacrifice honors the sprit of being an American.
And the world Today…
We must realize this is a fight to the death this is clash of cultures. Either the free people of the world lead by America will destroy the terror masters or they will keep killing and eventually destroy us.
We must strive to be like the heroes of Flight 93 – who had the moral clarity to see what must be done, and the strength of will to do it. To use a liberal phrase it’s for the children, either we will live free lives or as slaves to radical Islamic thinking, that shouldn’t be a hard choice.
‘Let’s Roll’
Every day the US is invaded by thousand of people, who are breaking the law, among them are people who wish to kill us. Some for no other reason then the simple fact that we are a free people.
What will you do if an invading army is suddenly among us, killing your neighbors and threatening your family, your very existence? For me, I’ll fight until we are all free or to my last breath. Would you join me? Or would you surrender those who would fight and beg for mercy, knowing none is offered.
To remain a free people, we must ensure that other people the world over have freedom too. Looks like we have some work to do doesn’t it, or are you a selfish bigot, wanting freedom only for yourself?
‘He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression, for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.’ Thomas Paine.
‘The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it.’
George Orwell
Sic semper tyrannis decorum - Thus always to tyrants, death
Our Destiny is at hand. The time has come for all unashamed patriots of the land to come forth in unison, proclaiming loudly of the rich heritage of the republic; to defend it, to preserve it.
We cannot each do everything, but we can each do something’ for each has influence for good, and all that is needed for evil to succeed is for the good to remain silent
If that happens then we find out the hard way; Does the Western World still have the will and desire to survive another World War? Or does freedom fade once again from the face of the earth for untold generations?
President James Madison author of the 2nd Amendment said,
‘The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated Militia composed of the People, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country,’ He also told us that, ‘A people, armed and free, forms a barrier against foreign invasion and domestic oppression.’ He told how encroachments would appear, ‘I believe that the abridgement of our freedoms will be by gradual and silent encroachment of those in power then by violent and sudden dissipation.’
* Quotes from ‘The Sheriff, Posse Comitatus and the Militia’, by Jack Otto
Beware, because freedom can be easily lost if you fail to be vigilant.
‘We don't fight just for ourselves and our freedom, but for the generations to follow.' South Carolina 1779, Colonel in the Militia talking to his men
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time,
and your government when it deserves it.
Mark Twain
May you be fortunate to have a wife like I do, she has put up with me and the writing of this book for the past several years. I am truly blessed because I know God love’s me, and from my wife and the love of my family and friends who encouraged me to write.
Five men died under my command, they died trying to keep their country free. L Ziambe and the other 4 troopies from Support Squadron 1RhACR, your battle fought, you paid the hard price, my fight to carry on, to fight many more battles now in my country. Your brothers in arms made the CT’s pay 78 times more for our five, all those years ago; a fair trade in anyone’s book.
Some day my fallen troopers, I will meet you at the Bulls Nose, we’ll have our FN’s in hand, fresh rat packs in our rucks, and we’ll once again take that long walk down to Mukumbura,
but today is not that day.
ASESABI LUTHO
If the majority of the people in the Islamic world were to come under the dictatorship of a Cult of Death, and if China were to be ruled by a single man with a knavish maniacal ego, and that both wished for world domination, willing to go to war to achieve that goal! Then once again the west would be in peril.
With out any remorse for their use, both of these ruthless regimes would be able to produce super weapons, and with the ability to annihilating whole countries and continents as they wished. They will rise once again because the free people of the world forget their duty to those who are not free, to see beyond their own shallow and narrow selfish lives, and help those who live under oppression?
So then it becomes a race, either China annihilates the Islamic dictatorships, to be on the safe side; or the Islamic radicals strikes first and wipe out China?
Of course the worse scenario would be if these two evils were to combine forces, and to attack the west before they do each other in.
Prolog
Reflections; After the fact
‘Not long ago when my first born was still very young he asked me, “Daddy are you a hero?”
Looking at him with a questing smile on my face I asked, “Now why would you ask such a question Jeff?”
“I was chased home by the Mercers’ dog again. Mom said I just had to stand my ground and he would stop, She told me to be brave like you.”
“Being brave doesn’t make you a hero, but it helps make you into a man.”
“I’m trying to be brave, even if he is a small dog. He still scares me.”
With a chuckle Lyle replied, “You can be scared and still be brave, but you have to learn to master your fears. Do that and the rest will come easy.”
“I’ll try daddy, but since you’re the Colonel in the Militia, are you a hero?”
Lyle feels the anguish inside, from knowing so many brave men and women who were real heroes, many who gave up their lives for others freedom. Plus hundreds of others that had been wounded in the numerous battles and countless punch-ups out west,
Then later overseas with him in the militia volunteers of the 1st USV Corp, those men and women are the true hero’s. With a sigh he answers his son with the truth, “I don’t know if I’m a hero or not son, but I served with a lot of men and women who are hero’s.”
“Like Uncle Dan?”
“Yes like Uncle Dan, and you need to show a little more respect, little man,” I said scolding him in jest.
“Un-uh, he told me to call him Uncle Dan, he said it makes him feel normal and honored.”
“That sounds like Uncle Dan, just your normal average guy, he’s a true hero, who when called lead many other hero’s, I’m just lucky I got to serve with him, and to be able to call him my friend.”
What I don't say as I keep it to myself, I have too, as I keep asking the Lord, 'Why did you spare me?'
So how do I honor these hero’s that I served with?
The Men and Women who sacrificed so much, for you. For people they didn't know, but are so very important to their loved one's, to their communities, for the nation?
I don't know, really I don’t!
Maybe if I tell you, as if it's a story, something that is a real to me, something that we can live with and learn from?
But please don't think this is about me, because it's not.
It's for the American hero's who are with us ever day, the Patriots, who when called will answer with out any hesitation!
Let me start this as Dan would, with a quote,
"The farther backward you can look, the further forward you are likely to see."
Winston Churchill
History
1227
‘when being shot at, a near miss is as good as a mile’
ANON
“Sire the news from the north beyond the Danube River is far worse then we could expect. The whole kingdoms of Hungary and Poland were over run by this Chinggis army in less then two months. The parts of their Christen armies not destroyed are gathering near the village of Bucuresti. Where the Armies from the principalities of Walachia and Moldavia will join them soon. Once there they will have a force of about 40,000 Knights and foot, all without a true warrior prince for a leader; unless you were to join them, Sire.”
Count Gilispie took a deep breath, he knew that what he had to say next would displease Count Baldwin of Flanders, the Crusader King of Constantinople. “They await any force we can send me-lord. Might I suggest we send as many Knights and foot soldiers that can be spared to add to this army. If we do not they will surly be defeated, and within the month the Khans horseman will be at the cities gates.”
King Baldwin exclaimed, “If I were to send every Crusader knight in the city under our command, all four thousand-three hundred and the twenty-eight thousand foot plus the wagons and all of the necessary people to support this army. And with the gathering up of local conscripts; our entire force from the city would number maybe another 40,000. And you suggest by combining these two forces we would then have an army of about 80,000 strong?”
“Yes my-lord!”
“You say to do this, and if we were to muster the available force and load all of the supplies necessary it will take almost ten days to be ready to march, then add in the journey north to the rendezvous of another two weeks.”
All the nobles present nodded their heads in agreement, as they were all experienced at fielding a force for war.
The king continued, “Let’s us say it takes us one month to assemble this army, and at great expense too, might I not add. And when we arrive who is to take charge of all these different forces and wield them into an effective Christian Army?”
“Sire you were chosen to be King of Constantinople by six sovereign princes, Kings or Aires to thrones in their own countries. And you have the blessings of the Pope to rule as you see fit and protect Christendom in these lands. Your charge thus would stand you highest, to assume authority and command. With 80,000 men under your command no army of wild horseman could defeat you.”
King Baldwin rising to his feet and with a reproaching look at Count Gilispie to silence him stated. “Yes I was chosen to be King of Constantinople, and as the King this is where I will make my stand.”
“But sire?”
“Enough. Do you forget that the Rus fielded an army two years ago of over 160,000 men? And they were decisively defeated at the battle of the Kelka River with only a handful who escaped to tell of the slaughter. And what of the Ottoman Turks to the east, while we are up north facing the Khans horsemen, they will sneak right up to our walls and attack us.”
“But sire the Turks are tied up in the east facing another of the Kahn’s Armies.”
He refused to listen to the counts pleas as he continued, “No, we will not be drawn out into the field and destroyed. We fight from here, we make our stand here behind our walls and if necessary we can withdraw by ship if the battle does not favor us. Even as we face this new danger we must not forget about our mortal enemy who is a bigger threat, the Islamic Armies of the Seljuk Turks.”
Count Gilispie pointed out, “Sire this Mongol horde has besieged many cities, all have fallen before them…”
Count Baldwin cut him off, “You forget your place Sir Gilispie, I have followed the stories of this menace from the east for years. I know very well that the mere mention of the word Mongol or Chinggis Khan strikes fear into the hearts of common people, soldiers and knights alike all good brave men, but when they spy these horsemen they see their death approaching.”
With a mocking jeer he adds, “Have I not asked for more knights and footmen these last few years from the western kingdoms? And what do they do? They send me a few adventure and the dozens of troublemakers they wish to be rid of. Men they do not trust at home, yet they trust them to stand and defend Christendom.”
“Sire, we must ride out and fight, wars are not won by staying behind walls, behind defenses. Wars are won by going on the offensive and destroying our enemies desire to attack us, history shows…”
“No, I have made my decision, No more debate, we will make our stand here; behind stone walls that are impregnable!”
Taking a rolled up map and opening it on the large table, Sir Baldwin motioned for two squires who stepped forward to place heavy candleholders on the map corners. “Our job now is to see to the defense of the city and the accumulation of arms and food…”
Little did the Crusader King or his advisors know, and would not find out for over a month. The Khan was dead and his generals had lead the armies back to their homes to chose another Khan.
On his death bed it is said that Chinggis Khan uttered these words to his sons, ‘I give to you the worlds largest empire, my life is to short to conquer the whole world,
I leave that task to you.’
The threat to the Christen West was over, for now!
“Let China Sleep, for when she wakes the world will tremble.” Napoleon
(David Niven in the movie ‘55 Days at Peking’)
Ever breath that I take is a free breath, not just because I have fought for it, but in thanks to men who stood for freedom. Many of them paid with blood, others gave their life for all of us. If called on once more, I would do the same for you as I tried once before for others. JN
‘My Father in heaven, when it is time for me to stand in front of you, to be judged for the things I have done, the good and the bad.
As my sins and omissions are read for all to hear and to be judged, I admit to all with no excuses, as I ask for pity, for my eternal soul.
For years as a Christian I have striven to live a humble and serving life, to be as a witness to Jesus our savior, for my parents as a dutiful son, a loving father for my children and to be a faithful husband to my wife; and as a true friend for those who call me so, and to the last as a true Patriot for my country.
I ask of thee to have pity on the men and women who followed me into combat and for those who are now at rest in your loving arms. As for the enemies of Christ and of the free people the world over, I ask pity for them too.’
Daniel Francis Marion
Kansas Militia
Recent History
Late December
1978
RHODESIA,
GUTSA TRIANGLE
Sort them out
Prepare the table, set a watch in the watchtower,
eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
For thus hath the LORD said unto me,
Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
Isaiah 21: 5 & 6
‘You gave me a command, from then on I gave the orders.’
Lt. Gram addressing Maj. Dundee
From the movie ‘Major Dundee’
For those that will fight for it,
FREEDOM has a flavor the protected shall never know.
--L/Cpl Edwin L. "Tim" Craft,
February 1968, Khe Sahn
ASESABI LUTHO
(We Fear Not)
Motto of the former 1RhACR
‘Live free or die.
Death is not the worst of evils.”
-General John Stark
.
The mile eating pace of our half run or fast jog looked like it was paying off, the spoor (tracts) of the Terrs we were following had changed now from a run, to a leisurely walk,. The Terrs must think we weren’t going to track them down, at least not for a third time. That’s good, maybe we can catch them off guard again, if not and they are ready for us, we are going to force the issue with another punch up, then another, and another until they are forced to run from our AO (area of operation).
Our current combat operation started last night at 1900 hours, right after last light; with the trucks stopping to unload us, and then the 20 k hump down the escarpment trails, just so we could get into the area well ahead of any warning from the mujibas (young kids used as look outs by the terrs). Reporting to the terrs that a T.C.T. (tracker combat team) was balls to the walls heading into this part of the valley, hunting them and wanting a punch up.
Well now they knew that at least a platoon of SF (security forces) is operating in this part of the valley, so far we have had two contacts this morning with the same group. That’s the same number of contacts we had at the first of the month, in those week long missions we seemed to keep getting, hop into one area have a few punch ups, then out, refit and then hump into another.
But our having the two firefights in a little less than two hours, good or bad it didn’t matter, we were here to protect our country; it just made this part of the valley look promising for more contacts. And that was bad, this means we are losing control of parts of the bush to the terrorist. Can’t help but wonder if the local JOC (Joint Operations Command) will keep us here in the triangle, past the 14 days we’re allotted to them?
Man it’s hot, damn hot, had to be at least 100 already, glancing at his watch Dan saw that it was only 10:05, it’s going to be a very long hot and dry day. The sweat was drying almost as fast as it ran down my neck, and into the face vale he wore as a scarf, to keep the mupani flies from getting down inside of his camouflage shirt.
Just to the right front of our axis of advance was a huge old Baobab tree, a perfect place for a look out, if you could get a man up into its branches. We quickly jog past the huge old tree with no alarm given, then slowed our pace again as the tracking team and it’s following support squad had to tactically cross a dry creek that was lined with spear grass. Here you could see from the spoor that the CT’s had made, they’d came together in a fairly large group, as most had used only this one path through the sharp leafed reeds.
The terrs that we ran into at first light were surprised by our presences; they thought they had this part of the valley to themselves, especially for today, Christmas Day and maybe until just after the New Year.
But not this year, six days ago when I got the mission and go ahead for our deployment, the JOC (Joint Operations Command) Brigadier sent me word that it could wait, things weren’t in that much of a rush, it would be alright for me to let the Squadron have the holidays off.
Protesting I said, “Sir, that happens every year all over the country, we stop to be with our loved ones for 7 to 10 days or so. The terrs rest maybe for one day, but continue their mischief; mayhem and murder in broad daylight because they know very few SF are out hunting them. Not ruling out the exception for the few units that are on incident reaction teams. I’m a good Christian and all but I came hear to help win this war, so with all due respect Sir, the sooner we have a go at them the better.”
“I like your spirit and drive Lieutenant Marion, but you won’t be popular with your men for a day or two.”
“If you mean they might call me a stupid Son-of a-Bitch or that Damn-Yank-Wanker under their breath that’s OK with me, name calling doesn’t hurt, it’s their safety valve. What I consider the most important factor is that they will fight. They trust me and they know I trust and respect them in return. After our last mission the African soldiers started calling me Mambo, the Sgt. Major says that’s good?”
“That is good thing Lieutenant Marion, there are a lot of the white Rhodesian officers who have worked with black troops for years, and only a few have been called Mambo by their men. It means your men see you with respect; they will follow a brave war leader. But enough phrase’s I don’t want you getting a big head, now give me a quick summery of your plans.”
“Thank you sir, this is how I plan on giving the CT’s a big Christmas box surprise. I’m going to let my men have Thursday through Saturday off, they’re to come in on Sunday and get the mission order then we load out and re-zero weapons. Monday morning sparrow fart, pardon me, sorry sir, that’s O-dark thirty we head out by convoy and get within 50 Ks. of our operational area by 0800-0900 hours, that way the troopies can get a little kip (sleep). Just before 1400 hrs they get their last hot meal for a day or two, then the final operations intelligence and patrol briefing, maybe some platoon and squadron tactical drills per our SOP and then we do the final kit sort out.”
“At last light we will then load two platoons and part of my HQ section on to our trucks, we will plan to de-buss at 2000 hours, here.” Dan pointed to a road junction on the map, “from there we will walk the last 20 ks’ in. Come Tuesday morning, Christmas day at first light we will be in our AO deployed and on patrol, hunting for Terrs. The other two rifle platoons of the Squadron and the attached support units will move down into the valley just after first light.”
“Good, it sounds like a normal deployment except for your rocking up on Christmas morning that will be the exceptional part of your plan, may your luck hold, good hunting Lieutenant …”
And the plan worked, we did find and surprise a large group of CT’s just after first light, we got off the first few shots in the punch-up, the Terrs bomb shelled (split and run) leaving their three dead, several rifles and one 82 mm mortar tube behind.
We then did a fast follow up and surprised them again about an hour later; little did they expect for a unit of the regular SF (Securities Forces), to be so hot on their spoor? At least not on Christmas day anyway, they thought they could just melt into the bush and be safe.
Unless it was the RLI our another fire force unit, it usually took the SF at least an hour to bring in extra troops, the rounding up of locals, the povo, for questioning before any follow up could began. Well we aren’t RLI we don’t have helicopters, just our LPC’s, that’s leather personnel carriers you know, our good old boots, and we were the ones looking for the fight! Looking to run the Terrs into the ground.
The only way we are going to break them is to run them down and to sort them out, by killing as many of them as possible; that was my goal and mission. To push them, to make them run back into Mozambique or to stand and fight and die, but on our terms, if we keep after them they will lead us to their ammo caches, just like we found them rearming from after the second contact.
Their look out they had left to watch the trail must have been taking a dump or some such thing, as we were past him and within 200 meters of the Terr group handing out ammo from that cache. That’s before he fired off a couple of warning shots at 2nd Platoon and alerting the rest of the terrs to our presence.
Just as he fired his warning shots, the two trackers and the security stick with them spotted the terrs gathered around opening the tins of ammo and handing it out, my men opened fire just as the CT’s looked up and saw them.
I won’t second-guess my Corporals.decision, with no time to alert me or the rest of the Squadron following he made the right decision to open fire, and his team really poured it into the terrs. The sudden hammer of several FN’s let me know that we had seen the CT’s first and surprise was on our side again.
Our quick assault, with out regrouping, on to their position must have got to them. This act of madness by the SF, immediately puts the Terr on the defensive; there whole philosophy of ‘hit-and-run’ is based on the idea that they shoot first and then run, to get away to fight another day. It was not intended to have your ‘victim’ running up behind you as we were doing today. So suddenly the shoe is on the other foot, the Terr has no time to think or take aim, and barely any time to take flight. This time leaving behind five more dead, and a sizable ammo cache: 35 RPG-7 rockets, 47, 82 mm mortar rounds, dozens of land mines and close to 20,000 rounds of 7.62x39 for their AK’s. One DP machine-gun and a good dozen pan magazines for it plus lots of extra ammo in 7.62x54R, a very good find on our part. We then left the fourth squad from the 2nd platoon to hold the cache until the two Ferret scout cars and a truck got to them and then to help load it up.
Once again our fast jogging pace that the tracking team had set for the last forty minuets, has paid off, as we now slowed to a quiet walk, this meant that we couldn’t be more then a few minuets behind the terrorists group, maybe closer?
It didn’t matter that the group we were tracking was over double in number of the first platoons strength, my men’s training and aggressive fighting spirit in just the first two squads of 1st platoon had routed them twice, making them flee before the rest of the platoon or even my Squadron HQ team could get into the fight. I know that second platoon following us was felling left out, they hadn’t even fired a shot yet. I’ll but them at point after this next contact and let them be at the sharp end of the stick for a while.
The terrorist had fled two times now, leaving behind the 8 dead, with many others in their group dropped a lot of equipment in their haste to escape our quick follow on, this meant they didn’t have the stomach for a fight. Good, as our prospect of another contact soon was looking better and better.
Even to his untrained eye Dan could tell that the spoor was recent, and besides his sixth sense was making the hairs on the back of his neck tingle, better get the troops ready for the fourth punch up of the day.
Cpl. Tavinga the security stick leader covering for the two trackers held up his hand and gave the silent signal for the rest of the platoon following to slow down even more. The men were passing the hand signal on back to slow down. When Dan turned his head to pass the signal back and looked behind him to check on the rest of first Platoon, from what he could see all were following and they had slowed to a snails pace as each man passed back the silent signal, he thought good they were keeping up.
Cpl. Tavinga taps his right shoulder with two fingers to get my attention, then gives the spoor sign and holds up two fingers, then three fingers twice (26 or so sets of prints) and touching the under part of his nose, then the corner of his eye; indicating that the tracks are very fresh the edges are sharp in the soft dust. We might be two or three minuets behind the terrs, or maybe even closer?
Not sure why, call it that sixth sense feeling as it was even stronger now, Dan used a silent hand signal to have the second squad move to his right onto line formation. And then signaled for the third squad to move up into line on his left forming a sweep line just behind the trackers.
'Advancing to contact' is always a nasty business; at least if it happened soon we will have most of 1st platoons firepower on line. The mortar section and 2nd stick from first squad following Dan would provide fire support and a small flanking force if needed.
The next man to my right was Ziambe my batman, and he was smiling ear-to-ear, he was eating up the prospect of another punch-up, as he liked nothing better then to be in combat. I shook my head as I smiled back at him. Well if our luck held my friend you will have your wish again, very soon.
Dan signaled to him and the rest of the command squad to follow him no matter what he did. We didn’t want a repeat of that first contact right after first light, when Dan found himself and only two other men making a flanking movement on the group they were attacking. Three against 60, oh well the Terrs gapped it, leaving their dead; we only suffered one causality, sort of, a man with a broken machine gun. That didn’t stop him though as he had a 19 lb. belt fed, bolt-action rifle now, and he was still rearing to go.
Whoosh, ka-bang chatter, chatter, chatter. An RPG-7 rocket flies between the Lt. and Ziambe hitting the trees less then 20 meters behind them as several AKs in the hands of the CT’s open fire on them, the terrs are waiting this time, less then thirty meters to their front.
Sweeping forward, the whole of 1st platoon with the trackers and security stick returning fire as they assault into the Terrs position, killing three more. As we stop to regroup and check these dead another line of terrs about one hundred yards away open fire on us. To far away for a quick assault as we all hit the ground and return fire. Second squad on the right, having a clear line of fire then opens up and provides covering fire, as the two sticks of third squad bound by stick to get in line with the tracking team, then they open fire on the Terrs second line in their firing positions.
Standing up by a large Ironwood tree, Dan makes a quick assessment of the situation. He uses his radio and calls his patrol base, “Base this is Ironside Sierra one, contact-contact, six ks’ west south west of your loc, wait out!”
Above the hard hammering noise that modern battle rifles and machine-guns make you could hear the crunch of explosions from the incoming 82mm mortars. With out any panic Dan thinks ‘must have found more then the 60 CT’s we’ve been trying to run down.’
Yelling at Cpl. Dires to take the HQ squad and try to flank the Terrs from our right, Dan directs the 60mm commando mortar section with him to set the two tubes up and drop 3 rounds each, range 100 meters, right among the enemy’s position.
Dan looking to his right flank sees Cpl. Dires having to go to ground as they run into more enemy positions to their front. The punch up has lasted a whole 60 seconds so far; suddenly a CT stands up a little over one hundred meters away, he’s armed with a RPK and takes aim at Cpl. Dires. Dan is faster and he aims his FN and quickly double taps the Terr in the chest before he can fire, dropping the floppie, dead.
Then using the radio again to call 2Lt. Rawlings, Dan tells him to bring his 2nd Platoon up and on to the right flank. He is answered with a, “Almost there, we didn’t stop moving on contact.”
Before Dan can acknowledge, the Lt. along with his 2nd Platoons first squad moves up and on to Cpl Dires right flank and starts to make its hooking move as more fire is poured on them forcing them to take cover and return fire into the Terrs also extending front line. The rest of his platoon is following and keep extending the right flank.
Sgt. Major Semukwe the squadron’s 1st. Sgt. arrives with the rest of HQ Platoon and the other half of the mortar platoon, he directs the mortars Sgt. to set up the other two 60’s and get ready for a fire mission. The other squad of HQ platoon with him quickly unloading the extra ammo they are carrying and stay back as the units reserve as the two Medics set up a first aid station, just in case, as per our unit SOP.
Dan looking back toward the front watches as the Sgt. Major then holding his rifle in his left hand, and in his right a leather shumboc; this is a short stiff five-foot long leather whip or stick used for herding cattle. As he moves along the front line among the positions of our troopers, hitting them lightly with the whip, telling them to conserve ammo, as he points toward the Terrs hiding areas yelling at the troopies, “make your shots count.” He’s one hell of a brave solider leading by example, motivating the men to shoot into the enemy’s position. I can see chunks of bark flying from the trees he’s walking past and dirt kicked up from the ground around him as the enemy’s rounds thump into it.
To the immediate front of the tracking team and 1st. Platoon positions, the CT’s rate of fire is falling fast in tempo, they must be running low or are just about out of ammo. Sgt Yves Bouchard the third squad Sgt. senses that the enemy is about to bug out, and he jumps up with his whole squad on the left flank and rushes forward by twos to close with the terrs. He’s in among their firing positions before the few CT’s left can turn and run, the rest of the squadrons men online are bounding forward now too.
Sgt. Bouchard yells something at me as he tosses a hand grenade at a small group of CT’s that are regrouping, and laying down covering fire into his position as his squad advances. This small group of Terrs in return are throwing grenades and returning fire with two light RPD machine guns, this suppressing fire by the terrs keeps my men from rushing forward, and is letting the rest of the CT’s unit get away. The tempo of the terrorist fire suddenly increases as they fire everything on full auto; my men must again hit the ground but continues to return fire, as a dozen or more 82 mm mortar rounds fall all over the place, none closer then 50 meters to any of my troops.
Dan can’t help but think, what a bloody bungling lot these Terrs, they start the ambush and have the surprise on us and position, include heavy mortar support and a greater number of troops and machine guns, but showing no guts and piss poor training to press their advantage.
Then except for the noise of our own rifle and MG’s firing and that stops quickly as the troopies realize that the Terrs are gone, it’s over.
Just like that it’s all over, quiet except for the sound of the Cpls. and Sgts. calling out to their men checking on their condition.
Dan gives three sharp and very loud blasts on his whistle to stop the point men from taking off after the CT’s, just then the last four or five enemy mortars rounds fall short of where our advancing line is, but where we would have been, if we had chased right after the fleeing enemy.
Smiling to himself Lt. Marion temporally half deaf from the shooting, shouts out his orders, “LT Rollins, have two of your squads sweep the area for any dead or wounded terrs, Cpl Tavinga have your tracker team re-arm and sweep in the direction the CT’s fled. Don’t go out more then a quarter mile, sorry I mean one third of a click, and place the rest of your squad in support as over watch.”
The Sgt. Major shouts to the squad and Platoon Sgts., “Take an ammo count, send you runners in.”
The medical Sgt. Reports that we have no wounded or any injured men again, Dan wonders how long will our luck hold out? He says a quick pray, ‘thank you Lord for looking out for my men again.’
Dan using the Squadron radio net calls the base camp and advise them of our situation “We are sweeping the area for more bodies and enemy weapons, after that we will soon be ready to move out once again after the fleeing Communist Terrorists, Over.”
Besides the three dead Terrs Sgt Yves Bouchard killed with his grenade and the one that Dan got, his men find three more dead Terrs and a first for the day, two wounded terrorist who have been left behind. Our medic gets the wounded first, to patch them up and then the Sgt. Major gets to play the part of the good guy in his chance to question them. Have to laugh at that, because I know what he will tell them if they talk to him first, he will save them from the terrible American who commands these black boots, the (nickname for the Armored Car infantry soldiers). Just between the two of us, Sgt. Semukwe is the real hard ass, he’s a local and understands all to well that old game of punishment and reward and he knows how to make it work.
He will tell them, “Chingera Imbawa’, ‘Beware of the Dog,’ this mombo is like a wild dog, he is on the scent of your commander and will kill you to get to him. So you must talk to me first and I will stop him from killing you.”
The Sgt. Major knows I won’t kill or torture prisoners, but what the heck, the captured Terrs don’t know that.
During the sweep of the battle zone we also find another sizable ammo and arms cache, including 2 AK’s and six SK rifles, over 60 more RPG-7 rockets this time and again dozens of 82 mm mortar rounds. About the same number of heavy anti-tank mines, two metal cases full of rifle grenades, four tins of assorted loose hand grenades, and close to another twenty thousand plus rounds of 7.62 x 39 in sealed Spam cans.
And this has to be a first for in country, twenty boxes containing two rounds each of recoil-less rifle ammo for a B-10 82mm recoil-less rifle, and ever more surprising ten metal ammo boxes full of belted 23 mm AA rounds. I know this is not your normal local Terrs ammo cache; we must have found at least a company’s or maybe even part of the reported enemy battalions HQ ammo dump?
I again call my base and give them the coordinates of our contact, to send another two vehicles with extra crews members from the supply squad to pick up the captured weapons and ammo, the two captured wounded prisoners and the dead Terrs bodies.
The Sgt. Major reports on our ammo situation, “In the four contacts we have used a third of our mortar rounds. The two thousand rounds of 7.62 reserve we brought is almost all gone, we are left with a full combat load for each man but not much extra in the squadron ready reserve, and we have only 5 rifle and 11 HE hand grenades as extras.”
Dan shakes his head yes but a grimaced showed on his face, knowing that the bean counters at army would scold him again saying, “Your body count is low for the amount of ammo your men are using to get kills.” As I told them last time, ‘100 Rhodesian dollars for one case of ammo, and you dare to compare my efforts to what a fire-force uses. From money spent in the thousands of dollars just tied up in the hours of repair and maintenance on helicopters, and the fuel used for them to get their kills. They may get more kills then we do but money spent per kill isn’t even close.’
The Sgt. Major’s next sentence brought Dan's attention back to the present, “But more important then ammo Sir, we are running low on water, very few of the men have even one liter of water left, with it as hot as it is already, we will run out in less then two hours.”
“Even if we let them drink only a mouth full every half hour,” I asked, shaking both of my own canteens, one is half full the other one is still full.
“Yes sir, I think we will have to wait for the trucks and use their two jerry cans, even then that would be only add half a liter for each man. It’s your call Mombo, but first you must hear what Sgt. Bouchard saw and what the two captured terrorist have to say.”
I said, “OK,” and the 1st. Sgt motions for Yves to come over and report.
In a low voice he says, “Sir during the last few seconds of our assault I saw a Chinese looking man with the Terrs. When we questioned the two captured terrs, they confirmed this and said there were two of them helping their Battalion. A whole Battalion of at least 600 men, I really don’t believe them, that they could have a 600-man unit operating in country? But the two POW said there were at least two hundred Terrs here when we ran into them this time. Maybe more and that’s mostly been confirmed from taking a count of the firing positions of the CT’s, it’s close to two companies in strength, I think?”
“And sir as we were coming up, it sounded like the Terrs were firing at least a half-dozen mortars from scattered position sir,” Lt Rollins added. “If we continue the chase and need more ammo we could take a couple of magazines from each man in the mortar crews and HQ, that ought to give us some reserve…..”. I didn’t space off from what my platoon leader was saying, I was lost in thought.
Standing there not saying a word, I wasn't at all surprised by the number of CT’s we faced and the two captured POW’s were reporting, that’s why I had concentrated my Squadron, instead of spreading them out in squad size patrols as we normally did. That Intel giving to me by JOC was correct, this was to be one of the CT’s first major incursions in country by a Battalion size formation in years.
A whole battalion of them or more that was ready to do battle.
The number of Terrs didn’t bother me, it was expected. But what had my attention was the presence of the two Chinese advisers in my country; that was the unexpected and something I needed to pass along immediately. I’ll have to encode this myself and send it up to the Brigadier ASAP.
A classified report I had read before this mission alerted us to the presence of a few Cubans and Chinese-Communists as advisers to the terrs over in Mozambique, now that we had sighted one and had hard intelligence from the prisoners that two foreign soldiers were here in country, this was Intel I had to forward to the JOC immediately.
Dan said, “Sgt. Major, call base and have them hold the truck coming out for a few minuets. I want you to compile a list of ammo, mortar rounds, grenades, water, all the re-supply items we will need. Then call base back and have those trucks bring that out, also I want you to add another day’s rations to hand out to the men, I think we are going to be out here longer then originally planned.” Dan paused before he added a warning with his next orders, “I also want third and fourth platoon and the Armored Car Platoon of Elands to come join us, if we run into this Terr Battalion again we are going to need them.” Dan’s next sentence didn’t even phase his men’s attitude, they expected him to confirm their own assessment of the situation, “and Gents it’s now a lion hunt.”
Dan then orders “Lt. Rollins, I want you to set up a defense here, we will hold this possie (slang for position) until we are re-supplied, place three, stick size pickets out 300 meters in the direction the Terrs fled, we want no surprises if they regroup and come back. Before you place them, recall Cpl. Tavinga we don’t want his squad to be fired on by mistake. Have the rest of the men set up a 360 and start digging shell scrapes while we wait for the trucks.”
Turning to the signals Sgt. I said, “Pronto set up the short wave, and give me the code book I have a message to encrypt and send.”
As it turned out our two-week mission lasted 28 days, in that time span we had a total of 35 contacts and drove the enemy unit from the area killing another 50 and recovering their dead bodies, and we captured another 11 wounded terrs. The Army and Police Intel people told us later that we also killed at least another 60 or more that we never saw, saying they had died in the bush or were buried by the locals. As these was unconfirmed Intel they weren’t added to the Squadrons official head count. Local police Informers also said that we had wounded another 350+ terrs that were sent back across the border. Their Intel assessment also changed and I was informed that I was facing off against at least a Terrorist Regiment of 3 battalions not just the one battalion we knew about.
After three days of constantly chasing the enemy, and another six contacts the JOC finally acted and started attaching additional men to my command. Even though they were Internal Affairs, Guard Force and Pfumu Re Vanhu troops this would bring our strength up to over 400 soldiers, a rump battalion, for a Lt. to command, go figure.
And not because I was a natural leader, the Brigadier told me later, “It’s because you fight, you fight smart and hard, you want to win. Not like the bunch of bugger hang on’s back at Army HQ. You know and understand what the future will bring if we don’t win!”
I didn’t reply but I was thinking, in sports 2nd place just means you’re the first loser, In war it means you’ve lost period. And to the victor go the spoils.
We had the Lord looking out for us that mission we only suffered six injured, just five slightly wounded men in the many contacts including myself, but one mans wounds were sever and later would prove fatal.
On that same Christmas day in our fourth and last firefight in the late afternoon, Ziambe my batman took a bullet to the forehead; we got him out on a helicopter Casevac (casualty evacuation) just at last light. From that moment on the mission took on a new priority, for me to avenge my friend. We never saw the Chi-Coms again, but we knew they were out there! Later that night I made a promise for my friend, “You little commie bastards, I will have my revenge, I promise you that.”
In the dark where the only light was from the countless stars above, Sgt. Major Semukwe whispers, “Are you OK sir? This has been a hard day.”
With a soft chuckle Dan sighed as he replied, “Yes, thank you for asking. I’ll be OK, I’m of Welsh stock, we endure, and carry on. If your tasks are complete get some sleep, tomorrow and the next day won’t be any easier.”
“I will sir, and you need to sleep too the men need to know that you are resting, then they will rest better too.”
“I will, but I want to make one last round first and check with the platoon leaders,” Dan then disappeared into the dark doing his job.
The Sgt Major shakes his head and wonders where men like his Lieutenant come from, if Rhodesia had a few dozen more like him we could win this war. Leaders like him care about his troops; they come first, his comforts last. (In truth the Rhodesian Army had hundreds of good leaders and thousands of good soldiers, black and white. All fighting for freedom for all the people of Rhodesia to remain a free country.)
In those 28 days and 35 contacts, six of them were long fights of at least 30 to 45 minuets, were the Terrs would stand and fight, even attempting to flank us and try to win those punch ups. We got lucky and kept pressing them until they turned and fled the immediate area.
After 30 days deployed, counting time out and back, and finally chasing the enemy back into Mozambique, we got a rest and were sent back at our Regimental base, in Salisbury.
Ziambe died a few days after we got back, I and a few of his best friends in the HQ troop got to see him for the last time, a few short hours before then. He was at rest, lying on the clean white sheets of that hospital bed. He was unresponsive to our presence, but he did seem at peace, maybe because God was talking to him and assuring him that all was well, that he could let go, as we paid him his due respect.
A very three short days later standing on the Gomo (hill), overlooking the cemetery at sunset, where his friend had just been laid to rest, Dan says a final farewell. “The days may be long and hard, and sometimes the suffering and loss is hard to carry, for those of us who survive, but what we do today for freedom, counts, someday my friend you will be avenged.”
Slowly coming to attention and saluting Dan says, “Hamba kakuhle (go well) my friend, ASESABI LUTHO.” As the sun quickly sets below the horizon, hiding the lone tear that escapes, he recites the pledge of the Bastard Cav, the Black Knights;
“If you are wounded,
I will carry you.
If your are captured,
I will come for you.
And if you are killed,
I will always remember you.”
Years later and never in my worst nightmare Ziambe did I think I would be able to avenge you by taking out some Chinese regulars, and their evil fanatical allies; at least not here in America.
I lived six years in Africa, I spent four years in the bush fighting the terrs, and I got to see all types of wild beasts. Huge bull Elephants, Lions, Crocks, Anteaters, large porcupines and even the extremely rare Nyala, but not once did I ever see the wild dogs. But I knew they were out there watching, waiting.
Later back in America I adopted the warning posted at the gates of most residential properties in Salisbury,’ Chingera Imbawa’, as my warning. For those who would try to make me mad or for friends who will joke just a little to hard, ‘Chingera Imbwa’, Beware of the Dog, the few times I have used it; it was meant more as a joke then as a warning.
Later on my friends would use it as the unofficial motto of our unit.
‘Chingera Imbawa’
Leave me alone,
Oh you fools, have you learned nothing in the last two hundred plus years. As for now and up to today I want nothing of your money grubbing, and your lust for sin. Nothing of your glamorous lifestyle; your mansions, penthouses and ski lodges has any appeal to me. All I have asked is to be left alone, to live the life of a freeman with all of the God given rights as provided in the first ten amendments to our constitution.
Even to this day you won’t listen, you deride the way I live, my hopes and desires, still I wish you no harm. But that wasn’t enough you will not leave me in peace, so I ask you one last time to please not push anymore, ‘Chingera Imbawa,’ if not then soon you will find out to your dismay,
‘When freemen shall stand.’
Nourish the Thought
Summer
“Men are marked from the moment of birth, to rule or be ruled.”
-Aristotle
Heavy rains for six days in a row, now ‘this is getting old very fast’. In fact Xo had to think hard, to try and remember when was last time that he or any of his men in the Corp, the four Army Divisions he commanded had a chance to dry out. Or even dry clothes to put on, and just to have a complete nights sleep, and not called out to save another village from the flooding river. Instead we have to keep filling sandbags until your hands couldn’t grip anymore, to try and save farm animals, to stupid too herd. To save them from the rains that started over forty-five days ago, quickly filling rivers and flooding low lands, rains that never seemed to have an end.
Xo was tired, so tired it was hard to think clearly. His muscle aced from head to toe, and he was tired of damp and wet cloths. Still he had to be seen by his bone weary soldiers, to be leading at all times, and yet to find time to do the all necessary paper work. Oh well, Xo was a good solider he would do his duty as ordered, let the Party officials and the political Officers just give the orders, Corp commander Xo, would obey for now. Soon very soon he would be the one giving the orders, and all of the people would have to obey him then.
The rains and floods this year were far worse then in 1983 when Xo was a Lt. Colonel with only a Battalion to command. He could remember the dead swollen pigs, the smell of rotting cattle, when the dikes were swept away. Then as now that sweet sickly smell of dead and rotten flesh from the thousands of people buried under the thin layer of silt and collapsed buildings, now it seemed more over powering this time. The next months would be even more exhausting work, of clean up and helping to set up homes so that the west wouldn’t find out the magnitude of destruction from the floods.
Xo placed his signature to a report as he reflected; again orders from the Party must be followed with out question, then as now, but only for now. Especially for now, since Xo was chosen to be Governor of Heilongjiang province next year. 1999 would be a banner year for him, having made good on his 25-year friendship with Zhu Rongi the current Prime Minister. And even more so his newer more rewarding friendships with the new moneyed class coming in from Hong Kong. Xo had been able to move higher and faster in rank then any other Mongols had been allowed before.
Who would have believed forty–two years ago that a Kalmuk, a Mongol, the second boy of a lowly party tax collector from, Altan Bulag in Nei Mongol Zizhiqu province could even think of becoming a General in the People’s Liberation Army?
Things had changed a lot in 28 years since joining the Army, and the plans he would soon set in motion would change China even more in the next five years. To achieve World power, complete control over our destiny, telling the western world we will do as we want, when we want and you have no say. Meeting and making many more powerful friends, and we have started on the road of, The New China! In the last month alone the Army had been ordered to give up most of it’s huge financial and commercial empire. Now the army will be more professional, less corrupt, just what Xo knew was needed, the right words told to a friend, it had become so. And the money from what was left of that commercial empire he controlled, and that money gave him the ability to attract and appoint quality managers, freeing up his Generals and staff to concentrate on the plan. His trusted managers and his fellow officers were now being given selected posting, again the right words spoken and things had happened.
All dreams, especially the ones a little boy have you’re supposed to grow out of, to end. Unless you are teased and made fun of by the other children because you are a Mongol not a true Chinese then your dreams become your goals. Teased in school, made the joke of in basic training when he joined the Army. Even the behind the hand talk in Officers school all this had shown Xo that he had to try harder, to be better then all others in effort and in results. Then dreams and results are the only things one is left with, to have no equal and no one to answer to. Maybe to even dream of a return of ancient glories and empire? The Kulmuk will rise again and this time the world will be ours. Zuótian, yesterday will happen again, and Xo would make sure it did so under his watch.
Xo had arrived, promoted two years ahead of all others in his class to Brigade commander. Then in only two years to the rank of General, and now a few short years later in command of an Army Group. And next year to a provincial Governor, and not just any province but the one next to the richest prize out side of China, the Russian maritime region.
Xo was so far ahead in his plans, only a complete change at the top positions in Beijing could slow him down now. And when the party saw how the new power and commercial operations and how everything he was working for benefited China and their pockets, they would reward him again not realizing the fate that awaited them. And in return he would reward the people loyal to him and who helped make it all come about.
The present leadership, never realizing that in the end he would be at the top with more power and a following that can’t be stopped. And that the end for them would only be the start for Xo, and the New World power that he was making.
The land that belonged to Russia for now, reports of untold wealth just lying beneath the surface, the rich forestlands to be harvested, deposits of ore waiting to be mined and used. Ha the stupid Soviets and their inept ran shell of a former empire, no wonder they had collapsed, broke and disgraced. To run out of money when they had hundreds of billions of dollars in assets, waiting to be developed, ha only a communist could do that.
That won’t happen to his China, first use a few favorable trade agreements and later with millions of dollars in bribes and new immigrants from China we can steal the land from the toothless and senile old bear and develop the resources for a new Asian Super power. Then and only then will I have the power and ability to shape and influence all of the PLA forces, and the whole country after that.
And our supposed allies within America, the shear stupidity of those people who perceive their country as the threat to world peace. I will use the Peoples Communist Revolutionary Party of America and their socialist elected leaders. To weaken opposition and slow down any response that there government tries to use or to stop me, once I have consolidated power it will be to late for them then.
Colonel Dim his trusted aide entered, saluted sharply, and waited as the General returned the salute. Then he couldn’t contain himself any longer as he smiled and blurted out, “General the mission to Hong Kong and Japan were a success, Lt. Colonel Shu and Captain Zing have been able to recruit one hundred twenty-one computer specialist. They will move to the new training base as soon as all arrangements have been made and their sign on bonus is paid to them in cash. Col. Shu will take command and the unit will be designated the 54th Research Institute.”
The General gave a weary smile. “That is indeed good news, in two years we will have the best computer and electronics warfare unit in any army. It will be the envy of the intelligence people worldwide once it’s ability is unleashed and unstoppable. And for those people who run the current party system who can’t think, and or comprehend that anything can be made into a weapon. Soon they would find out what power really means.”
Senior Colonel Dim added, “The best unit in the world, Captain Zing said several of the specialist were educated at MIT, and two had worked at the Nokio research facility in Europe for three years, and another one on the Nikkei stock exchange computer systems. But the best one recruited had worked for the worlds largest Software Company in their Washington State Headquarters doing the computer firewall and anti hacking safeguards.”
The General then asked his trusted Aid, “Any word from the Middle-East.”
Dim answered, “No sir, nothing new after the report two weeks ago. I’m sure they will be glad to help, they need supplies, intelligence help, and most of all they hope for a willing ally when a crucial vote is taken at the UN.”
Xo leaned back in his chair to straighten his legs, and with a smile reflected out loud. “Yes they will be more then willing to help, A veto at the right time, they will play into our game and never realize that the ruin of their countries and organizations will make us more dangerous then their perceived enemy.” Xo continued “One rule of warfare, let your enemies fight among themselves and when you are ready you can pick them from the tree, one at a time like ripe cherries.”
“I have good news too Colonel Dim, you remember General Winsu from the combined forces tactical school,” Xo asked.
“Yes sir, I do,” Col. Dim answered with a perplexed expression?
“While you were out recruiting new intellectual talent, General Winsu sent me his reply that he is with us. He has drawn up plans to revamp the training of all new junior officers and NCO’s that stress duty and loyalty to China and the Military first, not to the party. He will emphasize that by doing this is not disrespect to the party and its importance in leading the country, and thus they will be better party members. That the party is the leader and to show all of our countrymen there is unquestioned respect for high authority, a tradition that goes back to the days of the emperors.”
“He is working out the details of the training and lectures so as not to attract attention from the political lackeys who are suppose to be in charge but are never around. Most of them are to busy visiting Hong Kong, and the many decadent attractions they have warned us against.”
Dim smiled and started to replay but, General Xo raised a hand to stop the Colonel from saying anymore. “Colonel Dim you must leave now, go back to base and see that proper quarters and facilities for training are completed by the time our guest arrive. And contact our network to ensure that all the equipment we ordered has been sent on schedule.”
“Also while there start the next phase, I want to increase the number of draftees we take in each quarter. We will need over fifteen million reservists on call in four years, and another ten million two years after that, I want you to notify the other province Governors and Generals loyal to us to start increasing their training units now.”
With that Xo gave a salute as a polite way to calm down his trusted aid and as a dismissal. Dim saluted, turned to leave the General, as one of the radio operators had knocked and entered with a written message.
All things possible, but enough of dreams and plans for the future. Picking up the message pad and reading, Xo told himself, I must order more boats, the Yangtze is expected to crest again, the third time this month, and worse then the last one. And more sandbags for the Oil fields of Daqing, if we save them my promotion will be automatic and sooner then next year.
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