Book 2 A Flat Clap C 54-61

(C-54)

Planning a Deception

‘People sleep peaceably in their beds at Night only because rough men stand ready

to do violence on their behalf.’

George Orwell

Your freedom was paid with the blood of patriots

who valued liberty over life and courage over comfort."

Robert Wilson

“Isn’t this asking a lot out of General Marion and his troops come spring? I mean I know he’s planning on really punishing those two Chin Divisions up in the passes along highways 4 and 108, this winter.” D shook his head and with a smirk asks, “ Another question how will General Marion’s move that much supplies?”

General Greene replied, “We all have our plates full D, but it’s his idea to keep hitting them on the left then to fake a right sucker punch before going back on the left.”

General Puckett chimed in with, “I do know that Dan’s people do have a lot of supplies to move. And with snowmobiles, gators and shanks mares with lots of back breaking work but it can be done. 600 men with back packs moved enough food each night to keep one hundred thousand people alive in Jerusalem for a month during 1948. Besides the Pentagon has finally approved the whole operation. From what I’ve heard the President took a hand in this and pushed it hard.”

D with a sour laugh said, “The Prez? Bet there’s a political reason for him to push this.”

The General agreed as he said, “Your probably right in that assumption. Now your part of the plan come the end of March and the first of April D, you’re going to have to fake the middle between our two Corps as the main attack zone and keep them looking real hard at highway 50. Dan will convoy a lot of trucks and at least a Brigade or two up to South Lake Tahoe to help in your part of the deception.”

“Then when the day of Dan’s main attack begins I will be faking a push through Reno, with my main force doing a right hook up north on 70. So we are all going to be very busy, a lot of jabs, a faked head butt then a big left hook, followed by a big right hook. It’s not the knock out blow yet, but we are setting them up for that.”

D laughed, “I like the analogy, General Greene, it’s a good plan. But as you know I don’t have enough trained SF teams, I can put pressure on them but not enough to be convincing! Also do we have enough men to push the Chinese back west?”

“Don’t know if we will ever have enough men D, but that’s what good plans accomplish. To makie the enemy think you have them outnumbered and surrounded. What about having you recruit some more men from General Marion’s California Militia Brigades that are in training? You have more then enough time to train them to an acceptable level Colonel,” General Puckett offered.

“I’m glad you made the suggestion sir, but I hate the idea in taking the best men from another command.”

“Actually for now they all fall under Carl’s command, and belong to my 2nd Corp, Dan is just providing the manpower to see that they get well trained. The units we are talking about haven’t been assigned to any sub command yet,” Tom added.

“Almost forgot Tom,” General Puckett added. “We do have two shake-en-bake NCO and Officer courses finishing this week. And none of them have been assigned to any one unit, so whom ever you pull from the brigade that you need, you will have your small team leaders. How many men are you going to need D, and any idea of the equipment you want or might need?”

D thought for a second and said, “To make our deception convincing equipment wise I will pick up ten tubes of the 100mm mortars from General Marion that way it looks like at least a Brigade worth is facing them. As for the manpower I’ll need another company’s worth, say 150 to 180 men, plus at least 60 more men to man the mortars. I already have the man that I’d like for the CO’s job already, it’s Capt. Meachem my assistant S-3, and I’ll have Don Crupper step up and be his 1^st Sgt. Sir” D asked Gen. Puckett, “how many men on that officers course men are former Rangers or Marine Recon sir?”

Looking at a list Gen. Greene’s Aide-de-Camp answered, “Out of the 85 men that are prior service and those that will make the grade, 18 were Rangers and 8 Recon, there are also 2 former South Africans from their 4^th Reconnaissance Commando, and one ex Brit that was a Lt. in the Royal Marine Commandos.”

“The Royal Marine, if that’s Gaylen St. John, I’ll take him he would make an excellent XO, and Eli told me about the South African Recee’s, they were good, very good and very tough, well trained too. Maybe I can get most of the 40 or so men for my leadership positions filled without taking to many from the Cal Brigade’s present leaders. How many more men are they’re left over from the course that won’t make the cut?”

Glancing back at his list Gen Greene said, “Thirty five, but ten of them have broken arms or legs and other medical conditions, we were going to recycle those injured people back into the next course after they healed.”

“I’m not thinking about the medical ones sir, if I could I’ll have Sgt. Bouchard interview the ones who passed first. I could fill my platoon LTs and platoon Sgts from them. I would like 10 of the Rangers, Recon and I do want the two commandos’. And I’ll need another dozen good men for the squad Sgt’s positions. Of the twenty five wash outs that are not hurt maybe I can fill in a lot of my junior NCO slots, then we can start looking at the Cal people to fill out the rest of the company. They won’t be a Ranger Company but with good leaders we can get them a lot better trained and mentally prepared then just an average Infantry Company would be.”

“Then start interviewing them today D,” Gen Puckett ordered.

“Yes sir, I will also need a UAV recon team. One just like the Militia are using, if you want me to walk like a duck and talk like a duck, I’ll need to fly like one too.” Everyone in the room laughed, it might seem lame by making light of the serious and deadly business of war and the attempt at deception they were busy planning, but the easy laughter helps. And sometimes that’s the only way to stay sane.

“I’m going to attach a company of Armor, two Engineer platoons and an MP and a signals platoon to your command D. If the Armor is scattered in Platoon hides and one tank is seen here and there by one of the Chinese air recon units, and the others support units are seen working on obvious improvements to the roads, and doing other jobs like laying pipe from the reservoirs, it will add to the deception.”

D’s mischievous smile showed that he understood his role, the hard work will all pay off if I can get the Chinese too buy into it?

(C-55)

Keep your fear in check

‘Here there be Dragons’

Text on ancient maps used to designate areas of unexplored territory,

Or to explain things they didn’t understand.

“Sir there is a lot of movement in the woods at night,” Sgt Suing said.

“Of course there is. I’m sure our troops have disturbed the deer and elk. And maybe even a few bears and mountain lions, plus all of the smaller animals. We are in their home and they will move about no matter what,” Capt. Dhan assured him.

“I’m not talking about that sir; several of the men have reported seeing very large hairy men moving away from our patrols, out at the farthest range of their night vision sir. To far away for what ever they were to hear us approaching.”

“Bears have a very good sense of smell; the scent of men in the forest would send them scurrying away.”

“Sir, they walk away like men do, not on all fours like a bear would.”

“Ha, ha this is funny they must have read some of the stories about the American Yeti, you know they call it Big Foot don’t you.”

“Sir this isn’t funny, my men are scared, something is out there, and it’s not the enemy.”

“If they are that worried then double the guards. Enough of this ghost tales, we are an educated people, we do not believe in such tales, they are just stories used to frighten children, so they will behave.”

“But Sir....”

“Your not a scared little child are you Sargent.”

“No sir I'm not. But there is something out there never-the-less.”

The Captain shook his head yes, but his smirk said even more. Childish tales of ghost and evil spirits, China might be a world power, but the common man in our armies are our weak link. So far we have been lucky! As the Brigade Commander told them before we left China, we can fight any enemy and win. It's our own people's superstitions that hold us back. He just hoped that the Americans don't figure that out, if they do we are lost.

‘Be a good steward to every beast of the Earth’

‘If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.’
- - - Chief Seattle of the Suwamish Tribe, in a letter to President Franklin Pierce

“OK, gentlemen you have your final orders now, the training is over so get you men ready, have them double check the quads and the snowmobiles because your supply people have a lot of supplies to haul in. Eli and Lyle I need to talk to you in private so please stay behind, the rest of you men are now dismissed.”

Dan waited as the other officers and senior NCOs of the Recon units filed out, he closed the door turning to the two men left he said, “Eli you and Lyle have to know something. And you have to keep it a secret too, I won’t make it an order but you have to promise me,” Dan asked both of the men with a very serious look on his face?

“My whole life has been nothing but kept secrets sir. And promises are the best kept ones,” Eli answered.

“Can do sir,” Lyle answered too.

“Lyle you’ve known me for almost ten years and I’ve never lied to you. And Eli we have been friends for a little over three years I trust you and respect you, and I feel the same in return from you. So please listen to what I’m saying its that important to me, you see I made a promise over thirty years ago to never tell anyone, but where you two are leading your men you have to know.”

Both Eli and Lyle waited, perplexed by Dan’s words and what he was trying to say. It must be something Top Secret that he knew and wanted to tell, and they weren’t cleared to know. And Dan had to let them in on it, both of them had too know as it affected their next mission.

“As laid out in your orders you will be on the west side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the last of winter and into early spring. With only two strong companies of soldiers and very little back up or support. I want your men to be sure of their targets before they pull the trigger, 100 percent sure that they are shooting at the enemy.”

“No one wants a friendly fire incident sir,” Eli started to say.

“I’m not talking about that Eli, even thought that is just as important, maybe even more so. Let me back up and explain it this way. I don’t believe in any type of conspiracy theories, like the JFK assignation, I have no doubt in my mind that we went to the moon and back. I do know that the UN along with world’s elites is working to achieve world control. My living in Rhodesia, and fighting later in Angola proved that truth with out a doubt.”

“And I do know that there are creatures in the wild very few people have ever seen or suspect are real. Some of these creatures will be at the southern end of their winter migration and you will be entering into their territory. Most of your men will never suspect a thing, but Lyle your too good of a hunter and both of you have a well developed sixth sense for danger. Eli your probable one of the best trackers around period, I know you both will see sign that can’t be explained. You’ll both have that itchy feeling that you’re being watched, you will fill their presence but never able to see the watchers, unless you’re very lucky.”

Perplexed by what Dan was saying the two men listened in silence.

“Back in 1976, I did have that feeling of being watched, but I got lucky and saw one of them. I’m talking about Sasquatch you know the supposedly mythical creature that roams the Northwest, the locals also call it Big Foot.”

Eli just nodded his head as he said, “Almost always something real behind most legends.”

Lyle a little surprised by Eli’s response to Dan’s belief in a myth asked, “Please tell me how you know Dan, sorry sir, didn’t mean to be so informal.”

“Don’t apologize, I’m going to explain. It was back in early summer of 1976 as a 1^st Lt. that I had my run in with the old man of the woods. That’s what my first Sgt. called them, he was a full blood Sioux and he spent a lot of his off duty time with some of the Chinook and Quinault tribe members, men that were serving in the local Army National guard. They told him there are truths in the legends.”

“Any way I was the XO in A Troop of the 3^rd Squadron 5^th Cav. at that time. We had been out training one of the infantry units’ recon platoons for a couple of days, in how to use their new improved ground surveillance radars. One of my best Sgt’s had picked up a reading on a small group of people in the woods during the day when we didn’t have any patrols out. He was running an equipment check making sure it wasn’t faulty when he got his reading that something or someone was out there in our training area.”

“I was never trained on the use of the radar until then and Sgt Massy was teaching me along with the Legs. He had picked up a disbursed group of five walking north, they were about 1200 meters away, and he gave me the extra set of head phones to listen in and then explained to me what I was hearing. After listening I picked up that there were several people out there heading away from us.”

“So two other Sgts and I took a jeep to investigate as we were suppose to have this section of the training area to ourselves, we had to test the infantry units men we were training later that night. And if another unit had people out there they would throw off the test results by giving us to many returns. Staying in radio contact we went through some heavy brush to get into the area that we had radar contact from. As we got closer Sgt. Massy radioed and said the people had gone to ground and we were within one hundred yards of them. Now this was all new growth and as thick as a jungle, so we stopped the vehicle and got out and started looking for these other soldiers. We had a little over two hours to conduct our sweep and find them. We did find a place where someone had walked through some grass and thick brush but that was all we found. I got the feeling someone was watching us but in searching the area we found no one.”

“Just before sun down we headed back, ate a dinner of c-rations and at last light sent out the twelve people, two jeeps and one duce-an half acting as the targets in a large open field that was over two ks long and 1200 meters deep.”

“Just after 2000 hours we had the people we were testing set up the four radar units and then one man at a time on each unit was tested. We had twenty-two men to test so this was going to take a while. Around 2330 I set up a AN/TVS-2 night scope on the machinegun mount of my jeep to take a look.”

“What is a TVS-2 sir,” Lyle asked?

“AN/TVS-2 was an early starlight scope made to be mounted on top of a 50 cal. It’s really big with a large lens in the front; you could see a man walking at 1500 meters away from you on a moonless night with no problem. I could see the two six men teams in patrol formations walking, the two separate jeeps, and the duce-an-half all-driving slowly at different distances.”

“Out of the 22 men tested, four of them failed and their Lt. asked if we could re-test them, it was almost 0130 now and I said OK. We had a tent set up back in the woods near our mess area and we planned on spending the night so it wasn’t a problem. As we tested the four men again, Sgt Massy said one of the men must have left the patrols and was standing alone under a tree at 1200 meters away. My Driver hoped up and looked through the TVS-2 and said he could see him, just.

“Calling the corporal in charge of the closest patrol and I asked why one of his men had split off from the patrol. He took a quick count and said all of his men were accounted for, it must be someone else.”

“I took a look through the scope and sure enough someone was standing under a tree, his head almost touching the lower branch and his left hand holding on to the branch. You can’t have a controlled test with extra people walking around, so the Infantry Lt. my first Sgt, another Sgt and myself piled into a jeep and off across the field we went to tell this guy to leave. My Driver stayed back to watch through the starlight as Sgt Massy kept his radar on this guy.”

“We got to within maybe four hundred meters and the man, according to my driver who radioed us said, ‘he just took off running back into the woods.’ Sgt Massy was able to track him for another five hundred meters before he lost him completely.”

“We drove up to the tree that this man had been standing under and looked to see if he had dropped anything. A few of the dried pine needles on the ground looked like someone had scrapped his foot across them making a small pile but that was all. I looked up to the branch this guy had his hand on and it was almost out of my reach, I said no way. But my driver had set the cross hairs where this person had been and he said that was exactly where I was standing. I’m six foot tall and my head was at least sixteen inches and maybe more below the branch he had ducked under, I could just touch it with my hand by stretching to my full height.”

“At first it didn’t soak in and we all had a what ever attitude, after a few seconds the four of us realized what we were in the presence of and we just stood there, a cold feeling running up our spines. No one talked on the drive back across that field. Not a single one of us wanting to be the first to open that subject, but we were all thinking the same thing. We just had a close encounter with the something that no one wanted to talk about.”

“Later in the tent getting ready to tuck into our sleeping bags, the 1^st Sgt. and the other NCOs were working up a guard list with two men standing watch at the same time. The first two nights we only had one man on duty at a time. To say that we were a bit apprehensive then would be spot on.”

“The next morning as we were eating our C’s the other Lt. and my Top asked me what should we do?”

“I told them it wasn’t their responsibility, I was in charge of the training and I would report it.” Having worked for over a year in Division G-1, I knew the man to talk too. You see when the Vietnam War was over and the army was winding down in strength, getting rid of a lot of excess Majors and Lt. Colonels, it was called a RIF or Reduction In Force. The man I wanted to see had almost 20 years in service and he was given a job so he could get his 20 in and have a retirement pension, I knew I could talk to him with out having an official report made out.”

“Two days later it was a Friday and I went to see Lt. Col. Averman, and I told him what had happened and what we think we saw. He didn’t laugh at me, he just filled in an anonymous report form. Thank goodness he didn’t ask me to sign it, as he knew I had a Top Secret clearance, and also knew I wanted to keep my record clean. He then said, “Dan, I have two weeks left until I retire. I could have taken these last three months on leave, but I wanted to cash that out, so either way they can’t fire me before I have my 20 in. So what you just told me is between you and me, it won’t go any higher. He then said, now what I’m about to show you must remain just between the two of us. You have to promise me that, OK?”

I was just a bit confused as to what he was alluding to, but he knew my word is my bond, so I told him ‘I promise sir’. He then rolled down a large wall map of the Pacific Northwest that covered an area from central California up into Canada. On it was several small stick on circles in green, blue and red. He said the Green marks are last years trek north, blue is for their return last fall heading south and the few red marks noted are sightings for this years spring and summer as they move back north.”

I stood there stunned; unable to even think, I didn’t realize I was holding my breath. The Colonel said, “Breathe Dan before you pass out.” I took a deep breath and set down without thinking or asking. The Lt. Col. laughed as he said. “I had the same reaction when I was first told the truth.”

“How many people on post know,” I asked?

He said, “Maybe a dozen at the most and that includes the Air Force base too.”

“Then why is this being kept form the public?’

His answer was simply, “If it was common knowledge there would be a bunch of nuts out there hunting them for trophies, there are less then a thousand of them, and any hunting of them would drive them over the edge into extinction.”

“What are they sir,” I asked?

“An American Ape or a branch off of early man, I really don’t know but they have never hurt a human, never. And they are a closely guarded secret.”

“Yes sir and I made you a promise not to say a word.”

“Yes you did, and I know you’re the type of man that will keep that promise Dan.”

“So I’ve kept my word up till now Eli, Lyle. I had to tell you just in case you have a close encounter. The Lord told us we hold dominion over every living thing that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life. So you must make sure your men understand that they must know without a doubt what there targets are before they shoot. Whether you believe me or not that’s up to you, but I do believe what I saw and what I was told all those years ago. And I truly believe that we all have a duty to protect what God has placed here on earth. Gentlemen you have your orders, may God be with you and we will see you in three or four months.”

Eli and Lyle both stood up in unison they said, “You have our word sir.” They came to attention and saluted Dan, he returned the salute, shook their hands, and then left the briefing room.

Lyle asked Eli, “What do you think of that Sir?” The tone in his voice was one of disbelief, as if some one was pulling his leg in jest.

With a smile Eli replied, “Dan saw the old man of the woods, I have no doubt in that.”

Lyle looked at him in astonishment.

As he chuckled Eli explained, “Lyle I have seen species of Lions, Cheetahs and Antelopes in the wilds of Southern Africa Lyle that are suppose to be extinct. I have seen huge old Bull Elephants with enormous tusk, that were so long they had to hold their heads high to keep them from dragging on the ground when they walk. Game that would have set me up for life if I were to lead some wealthy hunter in, just so he could kill them and mount the head on a wall. Just to give him some bragging rights, so as to put him one up over his friends. But I didn’t, I couldn’t do that, I couldn’t live with myself, to know that I helped wipe out the last of a species or the oldest bull Elephants around.”

“I understand what your saying about Africa sir, but the Pacific North West is heavily populated and crossed by hundreds of roads sir!”

“What’s the longest you have been between showers.”

With a look of what on his face Lyle thought for a few seconds before he answered, “Two weeks just before our action at Brodie and Bridgeport why?”

Eli nodding his head then asked, “When you were sneaking up on those guard post to observe them and later to kill the sentries guarding the Chin 5^th Division. How close to there positions did you get before you could smell the guards? What they ate or if they smoked our not?”

“Maybe 60 to 80 meters, why?”

“In the Scouts back in the 70’s we would be in the bush for up to four months, I could smell a man smoking at over 250 meters, or brewing tea from over 100 metes away and someone who had washed with soap at over 200 meters, my Shona and Matabele friends could detect those smells by almost double those distances.”

“I’m not catching what you mean?”

With a smile he explained, “Once you become more attuned and your senses sharper you’ll understand, your sixth sense will understand long before your conscious mind understands why you have become slightly apprehensive. These creatures Dan saw are living in the wild and their senses are going to be a lot better then ours, just like a deer or turkey during hunting season, they might not smell or hear you, but they sense your presence and are weary. Big Foot is the same and that is why so few people have seen them, except for their foot prints that are found from time to time.”

Lyle nods his head as he knows all to well about smelling the enemy, his mind for a split second jumps back to the guard smoking just before he killed him with the bayonet.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling Eli continued, “Big foot is just another secret Lyle, one that Dan trusts us to keep, one that we will. Come on, we will get a cup of tea and set down and start working up our orders. Then we can give the chaps a warning, we have a few days before we jump off and a lot of planning to do before then. I believe what Dan said and I know we both trust him with our lives. So trust you sixth sense let it work for you, it will help keep you and your men alive.”

Lyle gets that cold feeling running up his back, and he closes his eyes trying to comprehend, to understand what he just heard. And why the Government would want to keep this a secret. If Dan says something like that it has to be real, and his trust in what Eli thinks or says goes without question. He opens his eyes, then thinking back about home and all the signs that get shot up on the county roads before and during hunting season, mostly by the city folks who come out to hunt. He knows some people will shoot anything just for fun, with out thinking about anyone else's safety or harm that they might cause. With a shy and a chuckle he says, “I think I’ll have a soda or maybe a glass of milk, I’ll get my fill and more of tea, coffee or hot chocolate in the next three months.” Thinking to himself, I have a gut feeling that Dan did see something, and if we are lucky maybe we will get to see one or at least signs of it’s passing, that will be something. A very scary thrill but one I wouldn’t want to miss, I hope our luck holds.

(C-56)

‘Full Wolf Moon’

No one promised you a hot Hell.

Full Wolf Moon;

Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter,

the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages.

Thus, the name for January's full Moon.

Farmers’ Almanac

Beware of dragons, for you are crunchy

and taste good with ketchup.

---Anon

Division General Yu Shan commander of the battered 28^th Division has only two weak and under strength infantry Brigades left for defending the Pass on highway 108, his third brigade had all but been destroyed in it’s forced pull back .Of the few men left that weren’t hurt, the moral was completely shattered. And he is furious because 10th Army has turned down his request for more men to reform his decimated 3^rd brigade. His only close support is his own 2^nd Brigade the Division support units, with half of his Division artillery and what’s left of the third Brigade. And that support is almost 40 kilometers away and they are under harassing fire almost as bad as his 1^st brigade was, and now under siege, here at the top of a snowed in mountain in winter.

When he asks for help or assistance, all he receives are promises disguised as lies from Army HQ, very few men are sent forward to fill out his decimated third Brigade and only a few trucks are sent up to replace the ones destroyed by the American ambushes, and now to make matters worse he hasn’t been able to get enough supplies brought forward in the last month for his now forward deployed and trapped first Brigade, along with what’s left of it with the attached artillery regiment, his few remaining tanks and his small headquarters group.

Every attempt made recently in supplying them has been ambushed and forced to retreat, with very heavy losses. Even with a whole Battalion of infantry accompanying them from the 2^nd Brigade the trucks and supporting armor were under constant fire from unseen marksman in the woods.

Sometimes only one or two shots and a couple of men hit, at other times over a dozen different positions shooting one or two shots each and then the shooters disappear like ghost in the snow, and he has that many men hit, killed or wounded.

And the accompanying tanks fared no better, as the hidden Dragons or Tow Anti-tank missiles were fired at them and they were either destroyed or disabled one by one. Every single tank and every APC knocked out, before they have covered half of the distance. In some places the road was nearly impassable due to the destroyed vehicles. Engineers sent forward for clearing the wreckage fared just as bad. When a reserve unit from Lodi were sent it to assist they lost half of their men in three days, just from snipers, 76 men die and another 21 were wounded; never once seeing the hidden Americans.

And I cannot send the convoys any help from the forward Brigade here at the top of the Pass. I have less then half of its strength healthy and they are too weak from hunger, so whom would I send? One out of every ten men up here have frostbite to their hands or to the face. And over two hundred men are down with trench foot unable to walk, all from the long hours of standing in the waterlogged ankle deep positions in the cold and filth bunkers, unable to remove their wet socks or boots and dry their feet.

The bunkers and covered trenches leaked melted snow and the water poured in, because we didn’t have the proper materials to build them in the first place, or the necessary time to site them properly, over half of the brigade positions were in low ground that wouldn’t drain properly with the ground frozen. And now there was no way to fix them if he had the proper material, as the men were under the constant harassing fire from invisible snipers, mortars and occasionally main gun rounds from a constantly moving enemy tank, his men couldn’t fix their fighting positions that leaked, or even dig new positions.

And of the men that were down from others injuries and sickness; the Doctor says the remedy was simple for treating the trench foot, all they needed to do was to dry their feet and have several pairs of dry socks to change out every two hours. But with our supply unit unable to provide even enough food to feed the men two meals each day, any extra socks coming forward was a very low priority item on the list after food and Ammo.

Then to make matters worse their diet was very low in vitamins and the Doctor was reporting cases of men with the first symptoms of scurvy caused by the lack of vitamin C, and beriberi from eating too much milled rice with no thiamine or vitamin B1 added. No one back in China had expected a unit to have to sustain themselves for any length of time on the emergency food rations that each Division had brought along.

So far the constant storms and heavy snows stopped any chance of an airdrop. And when the rare supply convoy was able to fight their way in, half of the supply trucks were destroyed and burnt miles below by the American units surrounding his.

Damn the Americans, that were constantly ambushing any relief efforts. At least the drivers and the few guards attached to the convoys that got through had been a source of manpower he could use to replace his dead, wounded and sick soldiers. But with half of his artillery unit and the second brigade with the remnants of third brigade down at Cold Springs, they were in worse shape because the few reinforcements coming forward to them didn’t cover even half of their loses in the attempts to send supplies up to us.

Damn the Americans, and their ghost tactics. Hit and run, then hit and run again, ambushing his ambushes and every counter measure he tried. They were able to glide over the snow on skis, his men had to struggle in snow that was waist deep or deeper just to move 100 meters.

His request to Corp HQ and X Army for more supplies and more troops and ski’s fell on deaf ears, were they indifferent to his plight up here in the snow and cold. Or that of the 31^st Division also up on 4 highway and the 43^rd Division up covering the pass on 88 highway, both units were stranded the same as he was, with constant hammering from unseen snipers. Damn them, and the one or two mortar or artillery rounds that fell every fifteen minuets or so and denied his men any chance to get some type of uninterrupted sleep.

Fatigue, cold, hunger and bone weary, the three separate Division commands holding the passes against the Militia were ready to fall apart, and our good Army commander refuses to help us. Because of such inept leadership I’m having doubts or that we will be lucky enough to last until spring arrives.

Then to make matters worse, his counterpart in the American troops that were constantly sniping at his exposed men and blowing up his forward platoons bunkers, had offered to take his sick and wounded men, to spare them any more suffering. Yu was tempted after seeing some of his men’s feet that were swollen to twice or even three times normal size.

The doctor said that it was, “Frostbite. Those limbs were dead and have no feeling until the swelling goes down; it is then that the intolerable pain, that indescribable agony begins. With very little antibiotics to fight infection and even less morphine for the pain even the strongest men will cry, screaming in pain until we are forced to amputate the foot and part of the leg, because the trench foot or frostbite by that time will have turned gangrenous.”

The Doctor told me, “We have to evacuate the worse cases, before I’m forced to do any amputations; as of now our men’s moral is very low and will get worse if I have to cut off even one foot. And I need vitamins sir, to prevent more cases of Scurvy and Beriberi.”

Yu shuck his head in frustration and asked the doctor, “I have heard about Scurvy and Beriberi but I don’t know what they are?”

“Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C, it results in the weakening of capillaries, which causes hemorrhages into the tissues, bleeding of the gums, loosening of the teeth, anemia, and is always followed by a general debility.”

“Beriberi is from lack of thiamine or vitamin B1, the symptoms of Beriberi are weakness and loss of feeling in the feet and legs, swelling of the lower half of the body, and in the worst cases heart failure and death. That is why we have so much trench foot, the men are weak and very susceptible.”

Yu clenched his jaws shut to keep from speaking his frustrations.

“At this rate Sir, by the time the spring thaw comes we will have lost close to two thirds of our combat strength and the ability to fight. One third from weakness due to starvation and disease, and another third from the never ceasing and constant action of the Americans, I do not envy you, watching your command being destroyed a little each day.”

“You don’t know the half of it. I send out small patrols, they are ambushed and destroyed or captured, we hear shooting, I send out larger patrols to help them, they are fired upon by the hidden snipers, mortared and hit with rocket fire when in exposed places, and then driven back into our defensive positions, and the attackers remain unseen. If I use my artillery to support them, the Americans are waiting with radar directed guns to counter barrage. I lost a whole battery one month ago, every gun was destroyed and over half the crews killed.”

“In among our bunkers in clear weather men die from their snipers, some of them are well over a kilometer away shooting at us, one shot and a man dies. Most of our movement in our camp must be done at night by short rushes, or through the few covered trenches. And the deadly American artillery rounds fall at any time in good or bad weather, and we must always maintain a twenty-five percent guard at all times, to keep the men who do fall a sleep from exhaustion from having their throats slit.”

“Then to make our situation even worse we can hear one or two tanks moving in the woods miles away,. How the Americans move them in the deep snow I haven’t a clue? Then once in position they will use their cannons to fire one or two shells into our strongest bunkers destroying them. How they line them up and fire through all of the trees with out hitting one? Again I don’t know, but a bunker is destroyed, and we have to spend days rebuilding it, always losing more men to the snipers. And then the Americans, they somehow do the impossible, moving the tank again and in a day or two another bunker is destroyed. My men dread the sound of the tanks moving almost as much as they do the snipers.”

“I tell you, I will fight until my last breath for my country and honor, but the Khan was wrong to believe the Americans weak and unwilling to fight. Instead of facing a dozen Divisions we have walked into a well hidden trap.”

“How so sir,” the Doctor asked? “Intelligence reports that I read before we embarked said the American had at the most twelve divisions of combat soldiers, sir! With close to half of them overseas?”

“Well intelligence was wrong again, dead wrong. Because the Americans must have had over thirty combat divisions, most of them were reserves that had to be called up, but they were all well trained and all are very well lead. In the last three months alone our intelligence has reported that at least three of our 25^th Corps combat divisions were either destroyed or captured by the same American unit I face today. It’s a reserve unit called the Kansas Militia and when they cut the throat of one of my sleeping men they leave us one of these cards,” as he hand the Militia card to the doctor he added, “This American knows Sun Tzu’s art of war very well.”

“From what I have observed, I can say that he is a very clever opponent sir.”

“Yes very clever indeed, I try to confiscate all of these cards that we find, but there are still a few of them in the hands of my soldiers, and the more superstitious ones among them do not help with their stories about wolfs.”

The doctor looking at the card remarks, “These are well made cards, whom ever had these made up planned on them to scare the uneducated soldier. I can see how they would play to a mans worse nightmares. If what you say is true and correct, we have walked into a well hidden trap with lots of snares to hold us.”

“That is correct, a very well laid out trap, because I know first hand that 115 of our Special Forces soldiers have gone forward through our position and out on long range patrols or raids, every single man has simply vanished never to be heard from again. I know something is happening because all radio frequencies are jammed to the east for a day or two and they are unable to call back to us. Or worse they just vanish with no jamming and nothing to alert us that they are found out.”

“There are sixteen other combat divisions to our west or to the north all within sixty to eighty kilometers of us and they can’t send us any help as they are waiting on orders from 10^th Army. And a few of them are too busy fending off small raiding bands of American Special Forces, while others are getting ready for an expected spring offensive. At the same time the VII and IX Armies in southern California are locked in fierce battle and both have never made it to the Arizona state border. And the XII Army along the coast is busy preparing for a counter invasion from the American Navy, or with occupying San Francisco and the cities that stretch south. All the while, the 10th Army holds up in Sacramento with most of two separate Corps, wondering which way to turn.”

“I do know that right here in the middle, each day the Americans grow stronger as our Division grows weaker. If the news on the short wave can be believed our Armies in Russia, India, and Persia may be winning great victories and advancing, but here we have been stopped, we are now being bleed and slowly pushed back. I have doubts that our forces here in America will last a year and see the date come around when we first landed; I fear it will be over for us months before then.” Yu said in disgust, his face red with shame at being so easily deceived by his superiors.

The Doctor knew better then to say anything, let the General unload his angst, he would feel better having done so.

“And I still have my sick and injured men to worry about Doctor, and the morale of the others. If we let them die slowly in pain I will have failed them all. If I turn them over to the Americans they will be well treated but become POW’s, and I for saving them become a traitor. If I gather all of my strength and lead every able-bodied man in a headlong charge attacking the Americans we will be wiped out, and if we are lucky maybe killing only a battalion of them at the most.”

With a little anger showing he said, “Or if I desert my post for any reason and lead my men back down the mountain, I and the senior officers and NCOs will be executed with out being allowed a word in our defense.”

“The Americans have several sayings for such a dilemma sir, the one, ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea,’ seems to fit best.” The doctor said with a frown.

Yu nodded his head slowly agreeing, “I, as the Division Commander must insure that my men remain loyal to the Khan. But at the same time I have to remain loyal to my men too, for they trust me and will follow my lead. I will not allow them to be killed in a single foolish attack that will not succeed. But if we stand fast waiting, half a dozen or more die each day killed by ghost that watch our every move, always waiting with the patience of a vulture. As for the other men who are injured, wounded or sick we must watch them waste away in agony and then to die, from a slow starvation. At the same time that slow starvation is sapping the strength from all of us, there has to be another way to end this, and I must find it.”

“As a Doctor I have to have the men’s well being as my first priority, sir. Maybe as a Doctor and talking to the American Doctor about a possibility in helping our sick and injured, we can come up with a solution. I have to have your OK just to talk with him, in the end it will be up to you, your decision, Sir.”

“That is correct, my decision, the Americans say ‘talk is cheap.’ To many of our commanders consider the average Chinese soldier as expendable, not worth of their concern. As you know I do not think that way, my men’s lives are not cheep to me, they are my men they fight for me. And I must help the wounded and those afflicted by disease. I believe that a general would not have his rank with out his men to lead, his soldiers to command.”

With a sigh and looking at nothing, but with that thousand-yard stare General Shan said, “Make arraignments to talk with the American Doctor, see what he has to offer. Take along Sgt. Major Tchiang; I will have him talk to the American Sgt. Major. That way the commanding officers pride does not come into play, and consideration can be talked out. If we are talking maybe they will stop the sniping and artillery fire, and let my soldiers have an hour or two of rest before they start killing us again.”

“If the American commander ask to talk with you, what do I say?”

“Ask him, no tell him I will only discuss terms of their surrender to us. We may be weak with a few of our men sick, but we will fight to the last if necessary.”

“You know, I do not think he is ready to quiet sir, right now he is in the better position and is offering us help.”

Yu sighed again and didn’t answer, what the Doctor said was true. The Americans were offering a short truce to help his sick and wounded, only the strong offer help; people that are losing or defeated needed the help.

The tactics this American Militia was using against his men were old and time tested, he had read years ago the American history, And their fight for Independence. He now knows how General Gage the British Commander in 1775 must have felt on hearing that his men were ambushed every foot of the way on that long deadly march back from Concord. The woods full of minutemen hidden from view and knowing the route that must be taken, waiting for their shot in delivering death to the hapless British soldiers retreating past them. Then the Militia would get up and running headlong through the woods to arrive at a new position and waiting again for the next target to come to him. Just like what was being used against us, hiding, waiting, shooting and moving, they are making us pay dearly in blood for our invasion of their homeland.

He frowns as he reflects; two weeks ago he had ordered his third Brigade to move back down to the lower camp. With the majority of the men moving by foot on the snow covered road with flanking companies fighting through the even deeper snow in the forest. Of the 3100 men that started that 35-kilometer walk only 1200 men arrived after three days of hell. With many of them wounded, and all most all of the others were frost bitten and frozen from fighting in the cold wet snow. I had 1900 men killed or wounded and captured by an unseen enemy that was relentless. The Americans had used their countless snipers, all well hidden covering every one hundred meters of the road waiting in ambush, in less then five kilometers the two companies guarding the north flank were reduced in numbers to a strong platoon and then pushed back on to the road.

After that the snipers didn’t have to pick individual targets just shoot into the mass of men. He was told that the snipers with the 12.7 mm rifles could shoot through four men with just one shot. He shudders at that thought.

During the withdrawal the battalion commanders organized several counter attacks, in an attempt to drive back these snipers, but once off of the road again the deep snow slowed their men to a crawl, making them easy targets for the well-hidden marksmen of the American soldiers.

Then these Wolf Soldiers would attack and bite in force at their rear units forcing his commander to turn and attempt to push back against the pressure, but never finding a large target to hit and very lucky to find and kill one or two Americans wearing their white winter camouflage.

When his men saw them moving through the trees, they at first thought them ghost. Because they moved silently on ski’s gliding over the snow with little effort. Seeing them moving that way for those few fleeting seconds, moving ahead of the retreating Brigade taking up new positions always meant more men dying.

Then that first long night where a few guards and some of the sleeping men they were guarding had their throats slit, with only those cards left behind mocking them. Who’s next? Dozens and more dozens of men killed, including guards protecting the wounded and always the cards left behind, asking WHO’S NEXT?

In less then 40 hours one of his Brigades ceased to exist as a combat unit, not from a major attack but in little bites. It just took two nights and two long day’s before all discipline was lost and panic had set in. When their unwounded friends and fellow soldiers cut and ran away, as they abandoned the sick and wounded before dawn on the road or were they fell in the woods, the ones that were able, running away to save themselves and leaving behind all others to die a slow death, with out any food or shelter in a frozen and snow covered hell. And those Damn mocking cards left on the dead,

WHO’S NEXT?

A simple trick meant to scare his men, unfortunately for them and me, one that was working, as his men were afraid and waited for someone else to step forward, to be up front and find out,

WHO’S NEXT?

At least the cards weren’t 100% true, the Americans weren’t taking scalps, they hadn’t reverted to using that tactic yet, even if it was implied.

The Jihad Army may be made up of barbarian’s, people born with a blood lust and a fanatical religious fervor. But compared to these Prairie Ghost, the Jihads soldiers; they are like children playing at war. There ferocity pales when it comes to this American Militia he was facing, he knows because he has seen first hand his dead soldiers piling up daily. And he now feels that deadly, diabolical and systematic psychological pressure these Americans were applying against his command. More and more pressure, increasing every day until his whole command would cease to exist, and with no help forthcoming from his commander. Did he even read the dispatches I sent to him? Telling him of our desperate situation, describing what was happening and what would happen if he didn’t send help soon.

WHO’S NEXT?

Whose neck would it be to feel that bloody tomahawks bite? Who’s next, we are, my command is next, and for what?

Damn these Americans don’t they know when to give up; the Khan said their time was past. All nations that became decadent always fell; history is littered with their dead corpses. And then it was time for a new world leader; it was now time for the Chinese to lead the world again. It is the time for the Middle Kingdom to rule once more.

Suddenly shame flashed across his face thinking about the abounded men of his third brigade the wounded and dying left behind by the able bodied. His men, his soldiers left to suffer a slow death in pain and from the cold. No nation who wanted to lead the world would do that to their own soldiers.

He just hoped that the Americans had shown more compassion for their enemy, then my fellow countrymen had displayed toward their own wounded Brothers-in-Arms, the ones they deserted to die alone. I pray that the Americans at least showed mercy and rescued those alive, or maybe even giving them a quick painless death. I’ll have to ask Sgt. Major Tchiang to ask his American counter part when he goes forward with the doctor, what has happen to all of my wounded and abandon men? I have to know, Sgt Majors the world over would exchange that information as a courtesy, as they are closer to the soldiers then the officers are.

General Shan sat down and rested his head on the chair back staring straight up in the dim light at the ceiling of the bunker. Wishing he were back home looking at the stars in the nighttime sky, it was one year ago today that he was hoping to see a shooting star or a satellite as an omen on the birth of his daughter. He had seen two satellites going from the south to north in their polar orbits and two shooting stars. Good signs of a long life for her and happiness. I have a daughter I want to see again. To see her grow up and the children she will have. I wonder how many of my men have a child at home? How many of my men will I be able to see safely back, to see their home, their families?

But as for my future I don’t know, here I am in a distant land, fighting a war for what?

Was it for a man to rule over more people then he could count in two life times? For more lands than he could drive over and never see it all in a dozen life times?

I have over or at one time had over 16,000 men under my command when we first invaded; now I have less then 3,500 of them up here now in my forward base. We are alone, cut off at the top of a cold, Snowy Mountain, and all of us are slowing starving. His five hundred dead soldiers in the field by his artillery, were the lucky ones, they don’t feel the cold and hunger anymore. With the ground frozen they were left out in the field to the west of our camp, a blanket of snow covered them softly as they rested in death. That is the only good thing the snow did for us, cover our dead so the living won’t have to see them. But the men knew they were there, under a few inches of snow, and the living wondered how many of them will go to rest in that field before this is all over?

Yu closed his eyes as he softly said, “Yes they are offering us help. The only people on earth that offer help to their enemy during warfare. The Americans are an enigma, and a paradox at the same time. Proudly professing a genuine desires for peace but when attacked they are able to fight like true soldiers. And now they offer to stop the killing to help my sick and wounded, if I will let them? But then once a short truce is over, they will start killing my men, and me if possible the next day or in the next hour even. What makes them so strong so assured of themselves, is it their freedom? Their religion?”

“Maybe it’s both sir, I lived here among them just a few years ago while attending a six month medical class. I was amazed at their drive and desire, to live a free peaceful life, their compassion for others, to always want to help. A hurricane had swept over Cuba and then on in to Florida, even while helping there own people they still sent help to a professed enemy, Castro, who would kill all Americans if he could.”

“Go on.”

“I asked one of the American doctors why? He said it wasn’t about helping Castro or giving aid to his government; it was about helping the people of Cuba. Freedom to him meant helping others when they needed help, politics and governments be damned. And when free people help others, it’s like a cold or virus, it infects others with a desire to be free.”

“And you were infected,” Yu asked with a smile?

The Doctor returned the smile as he answered the Generals baited question, “We are both educated men General, in three thousand years China has achieved much, living under all powerful masters. Be they an Emperor a Communist or the Khan, we have the great wall, an ancient culture and of course gunpowder to be proud of.”

“In two hundred and twenty-five years the Americans have gone from wearing buckskins and a nation of farmers and fisherman to landing men on the moon and sending satellites to the most distant planets. As a free people they have had their problems, but look at what they have achieved too, when they are wrong they correct it, with out bloodshed most times. And when blood is spilled they will spend vast fortunes to rebuild their defeated enemy’s countries and then leave them alone to Governor themselves. Look at Japan or Germany and South Korea, with guaranteed freedoms for their people they have grown just like the Americans.”

Yu said, “Yes a free Christian nation, has given the world more respect then they get back. Do you respect them Doctor?”

“Yes I do sir, they may be our countries enemy but they deserve respect, they have earned it!”

“That is correct, they have earned it, don’t worry I’m not questioning your loyalty my friend.”

“Thank you sir, a few years ago just your asking the question would have made me an enemy of our country.”

“That is true, times have changed.”

“Yes and maybe for the better, Sir you are my commander and I like to think of you as my friend for allowing me to speak openly with you. I am just a doctor; I will do nothing ever to usurp your authority. I attend to the wounded and the sick, that is my calling in life, your calling seems to be one who commands, and if necessary to give orders knowing that men will die. As I said, I do not envy you and the choices you have to make.”

Yu laughed, and stood up as he said, “Yes we are friends, and we are both educated, but you have many more years of schooling then I do. Treating the sick and wounded takes a special type of man with a discipline that few have, I do envy you for that Doctor. You are a good man to know, talking to you helps.”

“But as for me, my discipline, my learning has taught me how to fight, how to get the most from my men, I get respect because I respect them. But I still give the orders, I have to, as you said that is my calling. Up until now the choices have been hard, but the path was clear, and I made the right choices, I gave the orders and men died following them but we were winning then.”

“Today is here and I have only a few bad choices left, I give orders and my men are still dying, and I’m afraid… no I’m not afraid for myself, but I do fear for my men and their safety, because I know what tomorrow holds in its hidden hands; I know I’m losing this battle.

Don’t misunderstand me I’m not afraid to die, what I do fear is that my men will die a useless death for no gain and as for the enemy.” He paused and took a deep breath then continued, “I know our dying will not stop the American Militia that we are facing. They are well trained and well lead, a very deadly combination for us.”

“Our position here hasn’t stopped them from sending units around us and pinning up our lower camp. The weather, it doesn’t bother them, I don’t even know if it slows them down. As for my men they are all reservist from the districts around Nanning, we are better in a tropical setting, not freezing high mountains with snow up to their waist. We have excellent equipment but not the knowledge or life skills in how to use it properly. Our Armies may still win here in America, but not up here, not now. Any orders given will be mine and mine alone, good or bad, I have to make the choice.”

The doctor said nothing, he had nothing to offer, not any words he could say would help.

Yu put a hand on his friends shoulder and said, “Go ahead make the arraignments to help our sick and wounded that is your job.” As Yu started to leave the makeshift hospital bunker he said, “One thing that I do know about all men in command, even when he is surrounded by thousands of soldiers and with friends like you, he is still alone. I didn’t make that rule but I have to follow it, live by it. I may not like the decisions later that I have to make now, and I may not like the results tomorrow, but that’s life.”

“Saving our wounded sir, no man can fault you for that sir.”

“Thank you Doctor, but the men who command me, who give me my orders always find fault in others, but never in themselves, to them my men are just as expendable as bullets fired from a machine-gun; but not to me,” he said as he walked to the door.

“What ever orders you give sir, your soldiers and I will follow your lead, you are a good man a good leader,” but the doctor wasn’t sure that the General heard him as he walked out and closed the door with out looking back.

(C-57)

Mosquito Bites

Deadly bites

General Sherman said, “War is hell.”

Lyle had laughed when he recalled what he had told his other lieutenants and senior sergeants last week at the dispersal point just east of Red Hawk lake, that the Chinese didn’t have a single turkey hunter in their command structure. What a laugh, oh their troops were well-trained and very good soldiers, and they have excellent if not brilliant leadership at times. They are sure of themselves and their teamwork, the combined arms training made them a tough match for our forces. And their equipment was some of the best maybe even some of it was better then our own. But what Dan was doing was handing them the unexpected, as he described it, ‘It’s hard to drive down a winding road while your digging in the back seat for the map, and swatting at mosquito’s.’

‘We can’t afford to take them head on so we will just ware them down a little by letting them chase after ghost.’ And that’s where Lyle and Eli’s people came in. Because the Chinese were without the years of hunting experience that most of his team had, then add in the excellent training and advice Dan had given him over the course of several years, and the intense training and field craft skills Eli had ingrained in them these last few weeks, all that hard work would make this Operation possible.

Eli was working the area further north and D’s people above him, sting and run, keep them off balance, no pattern, just find a target look it over good and hit it when it favored us. Then run and do it again in three or four days. Have enough teams working and we will be hitting two or three targets per day.

To get Turkeys you have to go out into Turkey country and that’s what we were going to do tonight, by heading deep behind the enemy’s lines and hunting their support personnel. The only difference in hunting turkeys verses fighting an enemy; by law you can’t take the turkeys while they are roosting. But in war attacking the enemies’ rear supply dumps and logistic people is a time proven way to end any war faster. With no food, plus no ammo moving forward, equals no fighting or very limited fighting for any front line units. Desert Storm showed that, after 30 days of no re-supply the Iraqi front line combat units surrendered in mass, by the thousands, thirsty, hungry, and tired and without any spirit left to fight with. Dan’s plan sounds just as good, now if we can just carry it out.”

“Our plastering that Chin Division up in the pass these last few weeks was just a training camp men, what we learned up there we passed on to the Recon and Sharpshooter platoons of each battalion before we made our trek down here. What we learned up there we will be doing down here, but in small well dispersed squad size elements. All weapons we capture are to be brought back to one of our many scattered hides cleaned up and made ready to hand out to any of the numerous small family groups we come across, those that are hiding from the Chinese here in the mountains. If those groups want, we will send the women and children that can walk back up our trail to safety, we can give them two men to act as guides and help. Their men can join on and help us by pulling guard on our catches.”

“Some how we forgot to plan on finding them here, we are going to need more food to be brought over the mountain to share. I'll send the information back, that I can see us having a problem with too many refugees wanting assistance come spring. I know Dan will say to give all that we can, but let them know our mission comes first. It has to, for the rest of the people still alive further west of us, our winning soon will be their only chance.”

Beans and Bullets

Eryue

(ur-yoo-eh, Chinese for February)

For all of the American soldiers who died fighting,

for a Free Vietnam I salute you,

Your sacrifice was not in vain.

Two million of my fellow countrymen escaped to freedom.

I battled eight years to try and keep my country free,

but in the end We Lost.

I’ll fight this time to my last breath if necessary,

To help free the occupied parts of my adopted Country.

Boa Diem, Major HQ Company CO.

1^St. Militia Corp.

‘God grants Liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.’

-Daniel Webster

Lyle asked me to write down some of my experience with the Militia to help build up a unit history record. Before I start I ask you to excuse my poor story telling skills. I guess I have worked too hard to make sure my children have the opportunity and skills promised to them by the American Dream of freedom, that they could become what ever they want to.

You see, the American Dream came true for me years ago, I am the proud owner of two good Vietnamese Restaurants one in Kansas City Ks. the other one in Topeka, Ks. To me freedom with hard work and dedication are the reward, when all people in a free country are subject to the same law.

So where should I start my story, again I asked Lyle for some advice he said, ‘When you found out that freedom is worth standing up for.’

That came at an early age for me, I was fourteen years old and the Vietcong had killed my father in 1965, so I lied to the Army recruiter and joined the ARVIN (Army of South Vietnam). The first year as a private was the hardest of my life; boot camp was a living hell. The instructors would beat you for the smallest infraction; the training was geared to turn out numbers not quality. Then when we were posted to our units, we found out the hard way that the water buffalo’s were more honored then we were. I was one of a hundred men that were placed into a new company that was just formed. Our Company Commander a Lt. Nyugen was trained at the American Ranger school in Georgia he along with several first class Sergeants were able to finish and complete our too short training, and ready us for battle. Even with the good leadership we lost over 60 of us new guys in the first four months of combat. After that the survivors of my class were now the old hands, seasoned, war hardened veterans, we then were given 100 new soldiers to bring us back up to strength.

I had some schooling by catholic Nuns, so I was made a corporal, and the new recruits filled out our shrunken unit. My Squad Sgt. was a refugee from Haiphong in north Vietnam his father had fled to the south just after the communist seized their farm, in April 1954. Anyway Sgt. Dia Ly, provided me with guidance and knowledge that allowed me to be promoted rapidly. The company commander seeing the drive and the leadership in me said I needed to go to the New Ranger school the Americans were setting up in our country. I gladly took the challenge, not just because of the prestige and the skills I would be taught, Rangers received a third more pay per month.

Having survived twelve continuous months of combat in a line unit had prepared me for the rigorous and very demanding training; I finished as the number one student. Because of this I was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and sent back to my old unit.

The war continued and we were starting to win but it would be a long road to victory and the North Vietnamese and their lap dog VC knew that. Then the communist made a mistake they launched the Tet offensive in January of 1968. At first they won a few battles, small victories and captured parts of several cities. But they didn’t get the people to join them in any number as they had hoped for, and then they started rounding up Catholics, teachers and some minor government officials, all whom they executed out of hand. Just like the Khan and his Jihad allies are doing now in occupied California.

The VC suffered tremendous loses, our Intelligence people estimated over 70,000 of them dead and as many were wounded, most of their senior and middle leadership people were wiped out, whole areas of our country were free from this pest for months. The VC never recovered from this lose, and the North Vietnamese Army had to take on larger roles, the local villagers viewed them as invaders. We could see the light at the end of the tunnel it was freedom and peace.

Then the American Communists collaborators turned the light off and forced the American government to give up. They and their lap dogs in the press took victory away from America and gave in to defeat, all because they hate America and freedom for the average person, just like they have tried to do in Iraq in 05’ and early 06’, but I get away form my story.

When the Americans troops started pulling out in 1972-73, we knew we had a tough fight ahead but we could win if we were given the tools necessary. The American Congress promised us aid so we could continue our fight for freedom; I found out soon that you never trust a Liberal when he makes a promise to you. They lie, and smile at you while doing so.

You see our soldiers, our Army won lots of battles and we could have won the war in time, but not without ammunition and parts for the equipment needed. We were denied, no we were made to fail so the leftist in America could say, “see we were right all along..” In 1973 our Battalion Commander asked for our unit to be transferred to the Mekong Delta and to take over the fast attack boat unit stationed there as the US navy was pulling out. Because he had a little political connections this request was granted. We had a nice large main base at Rach Soi, which housed all the families in our command and a good repair facility to maintain the equipment.

The Americans had left a large ship, it was called an LST, its name was the USS Garrett County 786. They had used it for parts storage and as a workshop area. It floated but the main engine was broken. Our navy also used the same base for some of their ships. They were proud of the former USCG cutter Absecon, it would dock at our base from time to time.

We continued fighting but we were always short of Ammunition or repair parts for our boats. We started off with thirty in good shape but in less then 18 months we could only keep sixteen to eighteen running full time, we had plenty of soldiers but very little Ammo or fuel to do our job.

When Saigon fell in April of 1975 our battalion commander called a meeting of all Officers and senior NCOs. We could stay and fight a lost cause, surrender and take our chances, or we could try to escape by using our boats to take our families to sea and hope that a large ship would take us to freedom. With a heavy heart we all decided to abandon our country and make the attempt to save our families. The next several days we spent in making ready our escape. The navy had several ships doing the same, they also had two tugboats that were being repaired and these had priority.

A navy Commander came to visit us and wanted to know what we were doing with the LST. Our commander told him that our families would be on it and we would float it down the river to the sea. After looking at the engines he said his men could fix it in two days, but we must turn it over to him. We refused, we were afraid that their families would not make room for ours. Both units were afraid that they would be left behind, after much shouting, arguing and threats we came to an agreement. They will work on the engines if my company would get two barges, and the Navy tugs could tow them. The Navy Commander assured us the LST and the tugs had more then enough power to tow all of our boats and the barges if necessary.

The Battalion Commander told me to make a plan to seize the two large ocean barges that were up river, almost sixty miles from our base, twenty-five miles inside the communist controlled area. For that mission I would need twelve of the remaining attack boats, most of our remaining fuel and fifty-caliber ammo and at least 120 men to do the job. All he said was to ask for volunteers, and see if the navy could help with the fuel.

When the Battalion Sergeant Major found out my plan he called the whole unit to formation. I told the men of the Navy’s request and our reply and the option of going after the barges so that all of us, the Army and Navy families could escape together. I had over three hundred men to choose from including several Marines who wanted to make sure their families were included.

With 150 men and our fast boats we made a surprise raid the next night, we secured the barges and on the way back we met one of the tug boats coming to help, he got the two barges in tow and we were soon back at camp.

Between all of the ships the LST, the two barges pulled by the tugboats and all of our attack boats, the ones that ran pulling the others. We were able to take all the Army and Navy people and their families from the two bases and almost another two thousand other refugees, our people, civilians and military escaped with us too.

Once we made it to the open sea several ships came to us and offered to take people that were on our boats, as they were not designed for sea travel, they escorted us to Malaysia and a waiting refugee camp.

Almost a year to the date from the fall of Saigon, April 1976 my family and I arrived in Kansas City. Such a strange place to us then, but now our home. Not having any skills outside of being a solider, I started work as a dishwasher in a small family restaurant, and soon worked my way to cook. For five years, Mr. and Mrs. Cowgill were good to me and my family they treated us as friends, no better then friends, as family. They took us to their church and we meet more, many more good people and soon we all became friends. Two years from the time we arrived in America I accepted Jesus Christ and became a Christian. My family soon followed my example and we all are now truly blessed.

After five years of working for the Cowgill’s, they told us they wanted to retire, and asked me, would I like to buy the restaurant. My family said yes. The Cowgill’s then let us buy them out with very little money as down payment and so much a month. We were very frugal and lived a modest life, by doing so we were able to pay them off ahead of schedule and by 1985 we owned the business free and clear.

In 1993 my oldest son graduated from KU with a degree in Business Management, with his help and the hard work of several other friends all former boat people we opened another restaurant in Topeka. I feel truly honored by all the wonderful friends, many of them American veterans of the Vietnam War who come to eat at our houses and bring their friends.

One such friend, Cody Wolf brought in a new face to the Topeka restaurant that was in April of 1998, both men were dressed in what I assumed were Army BDU’s. So far all of the major events in my life have happened in April, just as America’s war for freedom started in April.

I hadn’t keep up much on politics, but after I became a citizen and could vote I did so every time there is an election. I would mostly vote on how the candidates stood on business issues and taxes as these were the things that directly affected my family most, or so I thought.

Cody’s friend was Dan Marion, and I found out by talking to them it wasn’t the National Guard but the Militia they belonged too and they were working a Gun Show. Uh Oh.. These were the guys President Bill had been calling a danger to our country, I knew Cody very well so something didn’t add up. They gave me some papers to read mostly information they had down loaded from the Internet and a copy of their by-laws.

I had learned to use the computer for business and to write letters to friends who had escaped to America at the same time we did. My friends from our old ARVIN Battalion have stayed close which is good for us; it helps us keep our sanity in this simple yet complex world. I soon started looking at other parts of the Internet for news and found out soon that some of the politicians in America are trying to make us a communist nation, have they learned nothing from history.

Communist tolerate no other ideas, no freedoms, they believe they can do no wrong and millions of innocent people the world over are gone, dead all as proof of their lies of being there for the common man.

America has two parties, one is on the side of all of the people and stands for a strong country united and free and they want free friends around the world, that’s the Republicans, most of the time.

The other party wants to divide people into small groups and set them against each other, to divide and conquer if you want an analogy. They want petty laws to restrict freedoms here and couldn’t give a damn about his fellow man living outside our borders, or within. They have supported the worst type of governments and even make excuses for their actions and openly support the bearded dictator 90 miles south of Miami, This is the Democratic party of today.

They gave support to the Sandanists in Nicaragua too; letting Saddam pay for the murder of Israelis by using the suicide bombers, and turning a blind eye to the first early battles of the terrorist war being waged against America. In Africa, Yemen, and even the two assaults in America, the 93’ World Trade Center attack and the downing of flight 800.

You may disagree with me but that’s OK, you still have that right, and after this war is won many more rights will be restored, the men around me are making that promise, sorry I’m getting away from my reasons for joining the Militia.

I wanted to learn more to be of help, so I talked with Cody some more and said I was interested, but never seemed to have the time for meetings or to go out on a training session; but that all changed on 9/11.

As I have heard said by some people from New York City; America was mugged that day, I had to do something to help, not just short-term help like giving blood at the Red Cross or money to the victims. My family and I needed to repay our Country for the freedom we enjoy today because we are Americans, so I changed my priorities and found the time needed and I joined the Militia. Since then my circle of good honest friends has grown so much; I didn’t understand why more Americans haven’t joined.

When Dan and Bill talked to me about my service in the Vietnamese Army and the rank I held, then taking into account that I have a good business, they offered me the rank of Captain in the Battalion, same as when I left South Vietnam. They asked if I would help in training men to conduct patrols and also to run the HQ Company and mess hall, I said yes to both jobs, if using my experiences in war and peace can help people, I am proud to serve.

Today I work as the 1^st. Militia Corp HQ Company Commander, and help as the assistant Supply Officer when I can, I have many good people working with me, ones to teach me about their jobs and help me with mine, so I can run a good unit. Today I am a Major in the Militia, but I would do it all even if I had no rank, because my country needs me, I’m here and I’m proud to serve.

After the Chinese invaded America and before the President asked the people to help, our unit volunteered to the man along with thousands of other patriots in Kansas and across the nation, I’m glad the Civilian Militia I worked with was training and preparing all along. We didn’t expect the invasion but America is our home our country we must free all of it. Does not the pledge say, ‘One country under God, indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.’ To me that means every American, I will fight to honor that pledge, no matter what the cost.

When the Kansas Militia arrived at Ft. Riley they wanted us but they weren’t expecting so many. They gave us old World War II barracks and four old Battalion mess halls to man. The post Sgt. Major, I know thanks to Cody, stepped in and gave me four good mess sergeants to do the paper work and get our people started on the right path. We had more then enough cooks eager and wiling to help them. Even though my job isn’t to run the mess halls, I have been hands on manager and business owner too long to set back and not do something with cooking each day. I don’t interfere with the Captains running their battalions HQ Companies but I know the cooks don’t mind me dropping in to make sure all is good.

Now in the battle zone my former experience has paid off, if I hadn’t asked Dan for a guard detail made up of the old veterans from Nam, men whom the American Army said were to old and unfit to be in a battle zone, but I knew better. If they had been rejected and setting back at home, we would have lost almost a whole battalion of our friends when that Chinese Army Special forces unit attempted to make their surprise attack on our forward kitchen and mess halls at Pickel Meadow.

It wasn’t me who captured that Jihad’s spy that was General Dan listening to his soldier’s spirit that found him out. All I did was make him talk, a little special hot sauce applied just right makes any chicken squawk.

Well we weren’t the ones who were surprised; it was the Chinese soldiers who were gunned down because we forced them from hiding and they launched their sneak attack to early. They didn’t know that the hills have eyes, our eyes, watching out for our people, keeping them safe.

Seasoned soldiers, that’s what the younger men call us, but our experience once learned in winning battles even 30 years ago saved a lot of good men that day, another reason we are here, because we couldn’t let our buddies down, we couldn’t let our friends go see the elephant with out lending a helping hand.

A lot of the men with no war experience say they're scared, and they say they won't be able to do this or that because of their fear. By watching us it helps and, when it comes time to do the job and what is required of them, to follow our example. I tell them, its OK to be afraid, because to this day I am still afraid of war, we all are. But as men and women we must learn to face our fears, not to let them rule us.

And before you ask, no I didn’t want to see war again. With my own eyes I see men who were talking to me have their heads blown off, wham just like that. I have seen more blood, wounds and shattered bodies in one day, then a trauma ward handles in one year. And that was over 30 years ago, now I have to look at it all again, do it all again. Having lost my country once, I know freedom is worth all that I have to give, and if we lose this war, there is no place else to escape to.

I hated war then, I hate it worse today, but if that’s a price we have to pay to keep our freedom, then so be it.

Thomas Jefferson said it so well, ‘ It is a sad truth, that the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with- The Blood of Tyrants and Patriot’s.’ Well our lessons learned from past battles has more then paid our way, in lives saved today!

Any Army or the Generals who run it that would turn away experience soldiers just because the packet looked old, those men will die as fools, unfortunately along the way they will get good men killed too. But the Militia is different, it’s the main reason our unit is growing so fast in size, were getting most of the older veterans, and because of them we are winning more battles, losing less men, we are making a difference. One difference is every man in our various Militia Brigades will be ski and snowshoe trained by the end of the week, that close to 40,000 men and is something to be proud of. From riflemen to drivers to supply handlers, cannon cockers to cooks to nurses, yes every last one is able to move through the deep snow and close with the enemy.

I’m proud of being in the Militia and working with true citizen soldiers, men who would not wish harm on others but who are now forced to defend our freedoms or homes, so that others will become free once again. Men and women placing their lives in harms way for people they don’t know, I say that’s good enough.

Thank you Lord, for loving me, I’m proud to be a Christian and lucky to be an American, and thank you for my friends in the Militia who have accepted me as one of their own.

(C-58)

Even During War

(Maybe even more so, Love Grows, cause young people are not bullet proof)

We see our own mortality

The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a glowing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing, it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it.

It is a sort of Divine accident.

Sir Hugh Walpoe

‘The way that you wander.

Is the way that you choose.’

In a song from Jeremiah Johnson

(1972)

1st California Militia forward AO

Medical Battalion S-1 office

Captain Janet Meyers leads her six Lieutenants, five duty nurses and one administrative nurse into the S-1’s office and comes to attention. The 1^st Lieutenant sitting behind the desk is busy typing on his computer keyboard and doesn’t look up as he says, “Please leave your files in the In box, and take a seat outside. I’ll have a clerk check them out and assign you to your unit shortly.”

Jan having been a Marine wasn’t going to let this pass, “Excuse me Lieutenant. You could at least acknowledge a ranking officer when one enters your office.”

Gavin looking up quickly realizes the mistake he has made, as he comes to his feet he salutes and says, “Sorry Captain, we are short handed and I was trying to finish the report for the Battalion CO to read, so he could then forward it on to the Division.”

“That’s why we arrived a couple of days early, so we could help out.” Returning the salute and reading the name and unit tape she says, “Lt. Marion, Kansas Militia. Shouldn’t that be of the California Militia,” she asks raising one eyebrow?

“I’m here on loan for just a few days to help out until your staff is filled, then I report back to the 5^th Kansas Brigade.”

“Five Brigades from Kansas, that’s a lot of men and women from your state.”

“Our fifth brigade arrived here one month ago, but only the original 1^st and 2^nd Brigades were made up entirely of people from our state when they deployed. The third to the fifth are a mixture of several state units, with at least two or three of the battalions full of men and women coming from Kansas. My Brigade has three battalions from other states, one each from Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri with just the last two from Kansas, as for our HQ group most of them come from Missouri.”

“That sounds like an odd way to fill in a state Militia Brigade?”

“The Corp commander plans on pulling the other states units out when they have enough people to form separate Brigades and as they get some combat experience, and as more Kansas units are trained to fill in the slots. The 1^st Texas and 1^st Louisianan Brigades started out as battalions in the Kansas 2^nd brigade, they both saw combat with the 2^nd Kansas up at Bridgeport late last fall. Come late winter they will both have close to a Division of men and women from both of their respective states and then they will form new divisions. Before that happens all of the Brigades will have been getting some combat time up in the passes this winter.”

With a smile Jan said, “You’re a little free with giving out information aren’t you.”

“No ma’am I’m not, as you will get this same information and a lot more from the S-2 later. Besides you have been checked out, you would have never gotten past the local guards with out the proper ID. I trust my guards; I have helped train them along with the whole MP Company assigned to this battalion these last two weeks. With the assistance of Major Diem from the 1^st Kansas Militia Division your MP’s have been well trained, they are good very good, they know their jobs and check everyone’s ID and orders as I’m sure they did yours.”

“Boasting a little bit are we,” Jan asked with a smile?

“No Captain I’m not, just last week General Greene tried to slip past our people, arriving in an unmarked staff vehicle and trying a bluff with out showing his paper work or ID. Sgt. Alvarez who was on duty with her squad at the time, she is the most junior of the squad NCOs and she wouldn’t be intimidated or even buffaloed by his rank or threats until the General showed the proper ID. She did her job and stood her ground, she has a very nice letter of accommodation in her file from the General because she did her duty. So I’m not worried about giving you any information, as I said you have been checked out.”

“OK, fair enough. When do we get an interview with the CO or XO?”

“Both are away right now, and the S-3 is back at Hawthorn teaching some of the Doctors, The S-4 went back up to Fallon to sign for the restricted supplies and the HQ Company commander is sick from the Flu, he was in earlier this morning but he lost his breakfast about two hours ago and the surgeon sent him back to his quarters before he left. Right now the CSM is busy with the engineers in setting us up a small Chapel,” looking at his watch Gavin added,” He will be at the Mess hall in another hour and I’ll introduce you at lunch if I get this report finished in time.”

Jan gave a smile and nodding her head as she said, “You may just be here temporarily LT, but you seem to have a handle on things or at least on who is where.”

Pointing behind the Capt and the six Lt’s to the wall he smiled and said, “Standing orders, every one of them have to write on the Dry Eraser board where they are headed when they leave the HQ area ma’am. There is a slot for your name too, you will have to post your location at least twice a day and every time you leave our camp, with your destination and anticipated return time.”

The seven new officers all turned their heads and saw the large board and several of the younger ladies giggled, Jan smiled to, and old but good system as she said, “With modern computers and all still not a bad idea.”

Lt. Marion smiled as he said, “A computer with a bullet hole in it is a paper weight. A board with a bullet hole in it can still be read. Excuse me a second,” he said as he picked up the seven folders and scanned the names. He then opened a file cabinet and pulled out a separate folder opened it and handed Jan the top papers that was stapled together along with other papers in the folder.

“The rest of the file are copies of this and are for your nurses. The first two sheets are a who’s who in the battalion and the brigade HQ, next few pages are a copy of the unit SOP, and after that the camp diagram of what is where. Don’t lose any of this material as its numbered and assigned to you, when not in your possession it is to be secured in a locked file cabinet.” Handing her another few pieces of paper he said, “You have to sign this routing sheet so we have a record of who has what. Later today when the S-2 gets back you will have more things to sign for too, same way with the S-4.”

Jan smiled as she thought typical, the military will never change, everything has to be signed for.

Gavin continued, “These last two pages are your billet assignments so you can place your bags away and settle in, sorry it’s only a GP Medium winter tent that you will be sharing with nine other female officers. It does have a solid floor with carpet and separate single bunk beds for each of you; each space has its own full size locker and a small night table beside the bed. Every two-bunk spaces share a small work desk.”

Turning to the last pages he continued. “These papers on the bottom shows which beds are or aren’t occupied, one copy you keep the other copy please fill them in on who is where and then it comes back to me and I’ll fill in the slots on the duty roster. The CO insists that all officers except for Doctors help pull officer of the day duties and this way they can be reached at night with out having to wake everyone else in your tent.”

Gavin then added, “I see that you are all carrying side arms. In the unit SOP it states that you are to be armed at all times, a magazine in the weapon but no rounds chambered. Even on duty it will be worn under your scrubs when you're making rounds and even while working in the OR. At night, or when your off duty hours occur it must be no more then three feet from you at all times. And before you ask yes, even when you’re showering by hanging off of the towel rack. I would recommend a shoulder holster verses one on the hip, it’s not spelled out in the SOP, but I think the CO will change that in the next couple of days and specify the shoulder rig.”

Jan nodding her head said, “As you can see that’s how we are carrying them, a couple of the girls have a spare pistol and a hip or ankle holster, and a couple of us have rifles that we will keep locked in our lockers. Now let me introduce my officers to you and their duties, but first you are?”

“First Lieutenant Gavin Marion,” he answered then added, “Acting S-1.”

“Well Gavin this is Second Lieutenant Audra Logan,” Capt. Meyers indicated the first lady to her right, “she is to be the assistant S-1 and will work with you learning that job in the next few days. She is also our field medical administrator for keeping all of our patient’s records up to date. She has an associate degree in office management, and the last few months before we joined the California Militia, I trained her as well as I could to act as an EMT. She’s not state certified but as a combat medic she knows her stuff and then some.”

In a very pleasant voice 2Lt Logan said, “I’m pleased to meet you Lt. Marion, my friends call me Audi.” She smiled and looked directly into Gavin’s eyes.

It’s a good thing that Gavin had learned to play poker at state and could control his facial reflexes so well. His looking into Audi’s light brown eyes for that one second, he knew he was seeing an angel inside, the peace and strength, compassion and hope, a loving and caring soul. Forcing himself to look at the rest of her face he saw that she was darn good looking too. Hoping his voice didn’t betray the emotional storm racing through his mind as he said, “Pleased to meet you to Audi.”

Jan introduce the next one as Lt. Carmen something or other, as the Medical Logistic officer who will be responsible for…

Again Gavin said, pleased to meet you as each one was introduced, Carmen, Peggy, Camil, Zoe, Meggin, he would be able to place a name to their faces and the jobs they would perform mostly as nurses. But he wouldn’t be able to describe their faces or able to provide much detail on hair color etc. for the next several days when the other single male lieutenants and captains asked him about the new girls. Right now all he could see in his minds eye were those soft consuming light brown eyes of Audi and hear her voice say, “I’m pleased to meet you Lt. Marion.”

After the introductions were complete Gavin called for some of the female MP’s to help the Nurses move their equipment to their quarters and to show them where the mess hall was. He then excused himself and set back down to finish the report. One half of his mind doing the routine work, the other half wondering how he would be able to work next to her, teaching her what needed to be done in the S-1 office. And at the same time to keep from looking into her eyes, seeing that angle, and dreaming.

Gavin wasn’t shy or awkward around girls, over the last few years he had several girl friends, and even fallen in love with one of them, but now he knew that was just puppy love.

But this one, Audi was different somehow, he didn’t believe in Love at first sight, he knew that love was suppose to be a feeling that slowly grew and made both people more mature and content. He wasn’t sure about what happened to him when they were introduced, looking at his watch, one hour ago. All he knew was that he was blindsided by a fog, one that was overwhelming all of his senses, he was still able to act normal, but it was if his mind was somehow detached from his body, like he was floating and watching himself.

Finishing the report and sending it to the Division HQ, he then took the seven files and pulled the USB flash drive attached to each one and entered the electronic file to his computer and then filed the paper files into the proper cabinet. He looked at all of the attached photos of the other young nurses and they were all more or less the same with hair pulled back and a photo half smile on each of their faces.. Looking at Audi’s picture he could see that she wasn’t the cutest one, maybe number two, but when she had been here with them standing by the window and said ‘I’m pleased to meet you Lt. Marion’ it didn’t matter who else was in the room. His life had changed in that split second, from now on only time would tell how much it had changed.

Taking a deep breath he had the distinct feeling that the next few days were going to be difficult ones, and he knew why, ‘enough’ he said to himself 'you’re here to do a job; Do It.'

Looking at his watch he saw that it was almost 1300 hours, better get to lunch as there was only a half hour left. Signing out of the net he turned off his lap-top and closed it, then he placed it in a lockable file cabinet and secured it, then writing on the location board in his slot ‘Mess Hall’ he then told one of the two clerks he would be at the mess tent.

In the female officers tent Jan had directed the Lieutenants to choose an unoccupied locker and bed,. When they did so she then wrote their names on the two papers Lt. Marion had provided with each location. When she was finished she handed the extra one to Audi saying, “When you finish un-packing after lunch and go back to the S-1 office please give this to Gavin so he can post it.”

“Sure thing, Captain,” she took the paper and set it on her shared desk, and went back to unpacking.

“Your lucky Audi, you get to work with such a cute guy,” Camil joked from the other side of the alcove.

“Your just jealous,” Audi retorted, “I’ll be busy learning my job, and you’ll more then likely will be packing or re-packing the ER equipment boxes getting ready to deploy.” Then thinking to herself he was cute, but from Kansas, probable a farm boy

“Uuh, don’t’ remind me, how come if there’s nothing to do, some doctor has us doing make-do work?”

“That’s no doctor, that’s my orders,” Jan said from across the tent, “I want you to be able to open one of the boxes in the dark and pick up the right piece of equipment every time. In the infantry units each man has to know his rifle or weapon that well, his life or his buddies lives might depend on it. As for us someone else’s life can or will depend on us knowing where everything is stored.”

“I never thought of it like that, there is a method to what we do, I’m sorry I complained.” Camil said her face slightly blushed in embarrassment.

“That’s ok, we all learn something new each day. Including me,” Jan said as she continued unpacking her things and putting them away.

A little after 1430 hours in the S-1 office Audi reports back coming to attention she salutes and says, “2^nd Lieutenant Audra Logan reporting for duty Sir.”

Gavin looking up from reading this mornings Intel report, he smiles and returns the salute, as he says, “Lieutenants don’t salute each other Audi, nor do they address each other as Sir.”

Her face blushed as she offered, “No one told us that when we took our officer’s training course, but then our officer training lasted just two weeks, I guess there wasn’t time for all of the finer detail?”

“Not to worry you’ll catch on quickly, three simple rules to remember; rule number one, don’t be embarrassed if you make a mistakes. Rule number two, no need for excuses so don’t make any. And rule number three if you don’t know, ask as we are all learning on the run,” he said with a knowing smile.

“Are those written rules, and how many of them are there?” She asked with a serious look on her face.

Gavin laughed, “They should be written but they aren’t. And please don’t be so serious I’m not laughing at you, and I don’t know how many unwritten rules there are. They are sort of like the Murphy’s Laws you know, they only pop up when things are obvious.”

A Sergeant entered the room and Gavin who was getting a little nervous in talking with Audi said, “Staff Sergeant Garcia, glad you came in, Lt. Logan I would like you to meet SSgt. Maria Garcia she is the number one NCO in the S-1 office, and with out her we would all be lost.”

The two ladies exchanged hello’s as Gavin continued, “She will walk you through our daily and weekly routines, reports and most of the admin procedures. When she is finished I will work with you on the officer’s files etc. and personnel logs that we have to keep up to date, OK?”

Audi smiling said, “No problem, lead away Sergeant.”

In the outer office Sgt. Garcia said, “I overheard Lt. Marion saying don’t be afraid to ask questions, and please ask any that you have it’s OK. If and when you don’t know something you can ask me, I was regular army for eight years before I got out a little over four years ago. And a lot of changes occur in four years, I didn’t know everything back then, and I still have to ask a lot of question myself, or I look things up, that’s life and we help each other. Lt. Marion told me you have an associate degree in office management, any practical experience Lieutenant.”

“Yes, almost two years working for a air freight company, I guess I was the number three in our office as there were two others who had been there longer.”

“Good, because you know that when theory meets the real world there are never two offices in the same corporation that ran the same. That’s how an S-1 office is, we have standards that are maintained, and a lot of detailed procedure that has to be done in a certain order. But as you know a Medical Battalion S-1 job is a lot different from a front line Battalion such as an Infantry or Armor…”

One week goes by quickly in learning the new job, there is some time left over each day to talk to each other, with Audi and Gavin being close to the same age they have a lot in common to talk about and she is surprised to find herself liking him as a friend, he is very respectful and kind. And he’s a gentleman at all time, which is a change from the west coast boys she knew.

He’s very friendly, funny and willing to talk up to a point but she can see the barrier he maintains between them, maybe it’s because he is fairly open about being a Christian, and a proud one? Audi believes in Christ but had never been baptized, and she hadn’t been to church for years, it wasn’t a big thing in her life. She saw that being a good Christian was the most important part of Gavin’s life. It wasn’t like he was studying to be a minister or some such thing, but when something would come up that involved religion he would share his ideas. A good example was the war, he saw it as the fight between good and evil, not just countries or cultures that were different and couldn’t get along. Of course we were the good guys, and the Jihad Army and the Chinese were the bad guys everyone could see that.

She remembered the Communications Arts professor at junior collage and he would constantly harp on the evil that America was doing to the rest of the world especially when the religious right was in office. I’ll bet he has changed his tone if he’s still alive back over the mountains and in occupied California, waiting for Christians like Gavin to come and save his commie skin.

Any way, when Gavin put forth his reasons there was no disrespect shown to anyone who differed in opinion, his arguments were all reasoned and persuasive, and his manner calm. My Mom would have said that Christ’s light shown through his eyes. I didn’t know what that meant until I met Gavin. A man that was at peace with himself and all those around him, and at the same time a man who would help anyone who needed help, his caring and respect for others came natural, from the heart. She also saw the steel in him that if it became necessary he would defend his family and country with his life, and it wasn’t a false bravado either.

In her heart she knew that he was a good man and a gentleman, not a turd like others she had known, all full of themselves. And his asking her to chapel service in the evenings was the only time’s he asked her out. But then there was no place else to go except to the Officers club and that place was a joke.

She was glad he asked her to the evening service as it was very nice, a shared time between them and the Lord. After the second evening service she realized that maybe she needed to start going to the Sunday service each week too. With Gavin she saw that it was a need, a love and a duty, and one that he wanted to share with others, she found herself wanting to share this time too.

When the 1^st and 2^nd Brigades of the California Militia were notified that it was their turn for rotation up to the pass their Division medical battalion is alerted for the deployment too. The rush was on to secure all of the extreme cold weather gear they could lay their hands on. The day before the Cal. Units deploys, Gavin receives orders that he will be going back to his unit in three days so he will stay back with a small admin and supply group of the Medical detachment assisting as needed until his departure.

When Audi finds out that Gavin isn’t going up with them, she gets a real sinking feeling in her stomach, wondering if she will ever see him again. She had really enjoyed working with Gavin, maybe it was more then friendship that had grown with the casual talk? She didn’t know? Even though he hadn’t held her hand or even tried to kiss her, she realized that he was now her best friend, one she knew she could share any secret with, knowing it would stay between them.

She was surprised by the depth of her feelings she got when he give her a pair of Arctic Snow boots, the army was out of stock, non on hand for the Militia. But Gavin got a loner pair from his Dad’s friend Boa; his unit had been at the top a month ago and wouldn’t rotate back up for another two months. Jan asked him for a few more pairs for the other nurses and Gavin was able to help them too. But her pair was special, she hadn’t asked him but he saw the need and had gotten them for her on his own.

And then another surprise, one that was even more rare then hen’s teeth. From some were he was able to obtain for her some body armor too, in the right size. Not one person in fifty people in the militia units had body armor; this showed that he cared for her. In this short week she knew he cared too, but he said nothing, again he was too much of a gentleman. His father must have really cared about his son to teach him such qualities and respect, to be that gentleman at all times.

Gavin was torn inside he had wanted to say so many things this last few days to Audi but he couldn’t, as his feelings had grown for her, it wouldn’t be right to burden her with such things. So he tried to act normal or what he thought was normal and to stay relaxed, to be content enjoying their time together. Chatting about their past, their homes and growing up, in learning the little things about each other. And now she was going up top and he was going back to his unit up on 4 highway. His time here as the S-1 had been very busy and he had learned a lot, but he had to get back to his Medical Platoon with the 5^th KS. Brigade.

He knew he was going to miss Audi a lot, a whole lot more then he was willing to let on. But that was life and we are two people in a war, yes our chances of making it through were higher then any one soldier at the front. But it could be several months or even years before we might see each other again, even if we were just a few dozen miles apart, it wouldn’t be fair to ask for her to wait. Best to keep his feeling to himself, buried and hidden from view, locked away!

Walking back into the familiar office with her Kevlar helmet under her arm and her Vietnam era M-16 slung over her shoulder, Audi wants to say a last good bye to Gavin and thank him for being such a good and true friend. Instead of sitting at the desk working, he is standing by the window looking out at the trucks and buses that are about ready to roll.

Hearing someone walk in he turns around, seeing Audi his face lights up as his heart skips a beat. Smiling he says, “Did you forgot any thing?”

“No and yes. I just wanted to say good-bye and to say thank you for all of the help offered. This last week has been a lot of work but you have made it enjoyable.”

“Thanks, it really didn’t seem like a whole week though.”

Stepping away from the widow and around from behind his desk, he took both of her hands and said, “I have talked with a lot of guys who have seen duty up top, they said we are really giving the Chinese hell, and they in turn get a chance to shoot at one of our people every now and then. The Brigade medical position is hidden but still within mortar range of the Chinese, when you move from the medical bunker back to your quarters dart from bunker to bunker, don’t walk in the open. Wear that body armor, that’s what’s it’s for, to be worn, OK?”

Audi trembled a little at holding his hands, her helmet slips from under her arm and clatters to the floor, afraid to say anything as she nodded her head yes.

“Well it’s about time, you two have been moon struck for a whole week, and this is the first time you have held hands.”

Audi and Gavin both looked over and see Jan standing in the door, smiling she says, “I figured I’d find you here Audi and I wanted to let you know there was a last minuet change and you're now riding in the last bus. So that gives you about five minuets for both of you to say what needs to be said.”

Gavin started to answer, opened his mouth and then closed it, knowing he had nothing to offer in his defense. Audi looked at Jan and then looked down at her boots blushing.

Jan with a smile said, “Don’t look at me like that either of you, you two people are in love; it’s been apparent to those who know you two, even though neither of you would admit it. Gavin make it quick, you know I’m telling the truth because I saw it in your eyes when I introduced you two,” as she turned and walked back to the outer door.

Still holding Audi’s hands he asked her in a gentle voice, “Please look at me?”

When she looked up he said, “Jan’s right, but I was afraid to say anything all week, I didn’t want you to think it’s was a come on line. I have to much respect for you, and I want you to know that. Any way here goes,” a lump forms in his throat and he takes a deep breath to say, “I love you Audi. I have from the first time you looked me in the eyes, when we were introduced last week. At first I was afraid of my feelings. Then later I wanted to tell you so many times and now I don’t know why I didn’t? Maybe it was because I knew I would ask you to wait for me until this mess is over? I didn’t know if I should ask that from you, but the one thing I do know, I want to be with you for all time.”

With a big smile Audi exclaimed, “Yes, I love you to Gavin, maybe it was because of your restraint and your respect, I don’t know when I first knew, but it’s a love that will grow to fill up my whole life, I do know that.”

Gavin got down on one knee, he was anxious and filled with apprehension at the same time as he said, “I don’t have a ring to offer, but I’m asking you anyway, Will you marry me Audi, I have only my love to offer, a love that is true and one that is only for you, if you will have me? We will have to wait, I don’t know how long but that’s how our love grew, it was patient it waited.”

Trembling a little as a single tear escapes she smiles and exclaims, “Yes, I’ll marry you Gavin no matter how long we have to wait.”

Standing back up Gavin and Audi embraced and kissed a long deep kiss, then they held each other for another minuet. Then he said, “I’m sorry it took a war for me to find you.”

“Don’t be sorry, something’s are meant to be. The thought of you and your asking me stirs my soul, more then anything ever has. This is how it was to be.”

Holding her close he whispered, “Yes, that is how it had to happen. Out of war comes love, my Dad and Mom found that out so many years ago.”

Before Audi can answer Sergeant Garcia in the next office said, “I hate to say this, but the first truck in the convoy just pulled out.”

Gavin and Audi gently push each other away at the same time, as they say, “I better go. You better go. I’ll e-mail you if I can, or I’ll send a letter, we have a lot to talk about.” Then they both smile as he say’s, “I’ll not come outside. I love you, thank you for loving me in return.”

Audi smiles in return as she says, “I love you too, “ Then adds, “this might sound funny especially since we are a war with the Chinese, but it’s my favorite song. Do you know the song by Katie Melua, ‘Nine Million Bicycles, that’s how I feel, I do want to send the rest of my life with you.” She then turns picks up her K-pot and as an after thought says, “Nine Million bicycles in Beijing now that is ironic.” She then quickly walks out of the office, once outside she finds Jan is waiting.

Seeing Audi’s weak smile and the tears in her eye Jan said, “And?”

With a huge grin and a loud, “Yes. I love him and he loves me just as much.”

Jan says again, “And?”

“You have no idea how I feel Captain, he asked me to marry him and I accepted. We will both wait for each other, no matter how long it takes.”

With a smile and raising one eyebrow Jan told her, “Well I’m glad for you girl, I’m glad for the two of you. My husband is somewhere up north with D’s people and I haven’t seen him for three months. I tell you that because waiting isn’t hard when you are truly in love. One thing though don’t expect any special considerations from Gavin’s Dad, he won’t give them.”

With a genuine puzzled look Audi asks, “Gavin’s Dad? What considerations?”

Jan lets out a hearty laugh, “You haven’t a clue have you? Well that’s good to know, because no one can accuse you of being a Gold digger. Gavin Marion is General Marion’s son, you know our Corp. commander?”

Audi’s face expressed it all as she said, “I had no idea, it never crossed my mind, for all I knew his dad was just someone else in the Militia just like Gavin, someone just like you and I.”

“He is, and he’s also our boss. Just another American doing what he has to do. And we are darn lucky for having him too, at least that’s what Eli said, he’s a close friend of my husband and I trust what Eli says.”

Gavin watches the last bus pull away, a little sad and just a bit ticked at himself too, all because he hadn’t said anything before now. Taking a deep breath to help calm his racing heart he knew that things always work out for the best, just as this will. He offers a prayer, “Oh Lord, thank you for loving us and for the wondrous miracle of allowing Audi and I in finding each other. I ask of thee to please keep her safe, I know now the anguish others have felt when their one true love has to depart. And if it is to be your way help keep me safe and sound so I can return to her later, help keep all of us safe in the coming battles as we face this threat to America, so we can all see our loved ones again, Amen.”

Picking up the phone he ask the operator to connect him to the Corp HQ Company, I’ll ask Major Diem if he knows when my Dad will be in the area. I need to tell him face to face about finding the women I plan on spending the rest of my life with. With all of the other stuff he has to put up with and the constant flow of Intel I know he will rejoice in how the Lord has worked a miracle for Audi and me. Then somehow I’ll get a message home to Mom, Sissy and Neil, I’m to overwhelmed with joy to keep this a secret.

(C-59)

Wake up, the Wolfs are here,

It’s Time to know fear; it’s time to die.

(A Chin Companies Night Camp near Hell’s Hallow CA)

‘No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country.

He won it by making the other poor dump bastard die for his country.’

General George S. Patton

‘Short the sleep the foe is taking;
Ere the morrow’s morn is breaking,
They shall have a rude awakening,

Roused by Harlech Men’

Men Of Harlech

‘Short of sleep the foe is weary,

Before this evening sun is setting,

They shall have eternal slumber,

Provided by the Militiamen.’

The Militia Men

Captain Chang woke in an instant, setting upright in his sleeping bag and looked around. His body was covered in a cold sweat; his mouth was dry and he felt a burning knot in his stomach. His senses were shouting and he knew something wasn’t right, but what? His hands ached from clutching his rifle so hard, relaxing his deaths grip and laying his weapon down, then taking his night vision goggles and placing them on his head he switched them on. The familiar soft whine as they charged did nothing to release the anxiety that he was feeling. With out standing up, he slowly looked around at the guards pulling sentry duty, some were standing others setting against trees, some of them moving their heads as they scan the trees and under brush around their sleeping company’s camp, other guards are not moving as they were listening intently for something out of the ordinary.

All looked well, but something was wrong he could feel it, taste it, almost smell it. Shifting his position a little against the side of his sleeping trench, he was just able to reach and touch the foot of his radioman and give it a slight push to wake him up. Sgt Zailie woke instantly and set up alert, listening and looking at his Captain.

Holding a finger to his lips, the universal silent signal to stay quiet, Chang then cupped his hand to his ear and indicated that he wanted him to listen too. Both men were motionless not even moving their heads side-to-side channeling all their senses to hearing, listening for something out of the ordinary, but hearing nothing.

Something is wrong Chang know it, he just couldn’t figure out what, as he sat quietly, scanning the area and listening.

Then one of the sitting guards closest to them stands up stretches a little and gives the hand signal to his team mate that he is going to take a crap and walks a few meters out from the camp and steps behind a bush that screens the slit trench they had dug last evening for the latrine.

Captain Chang is mad; instead of just setting there the other guard should have gotten up and went with his teammate. The unit SOP (standard operating procedure) dictated that no man was to answer the call of nature unless another squad member went with him to act as a guard between him and the enemy. I’ll have to have the first sergeant give all of the men a good cussing and especially those two on guard, they weren’t following his orders, and they will pay for it.

Their division was made up of reservist and militia, the same with his Company and they haven't seen any action yet. And that is why they are out here training, getting ready for the American attack that will come with the spring. All reports from the Intelligence people say the attacks will begin in two or three months when the snow melts in the high mountain passes.

Looking at his watch Chang sees that it is 0500 hours; with just a few minuets before first light and stand too begins. There wasn’t enough time left for him to lie back down and rest for a few more minuets.

With a quiet chuckle he remembers that this is the time that ghost quit walking the earth and return to their graves, or so his grandfather would say to him when he was a young boy. Just some of the tales and superstitions that an ignorant people would believe in, especially as his family had been peasant farmers up to his going to officers training. Educated people do not believe in such silly and foolish tales, he told himself. Sgt Zailie leans his way and whispers faintly, “Sir would you like a cup of tea? I can have some ready in a couple of minuets.”

In a low whisper he answers, “Yes, that would be nice, we have close to fifteen minuets before stand too. Make four cups I will wake the first lieutenant and first sergeant in five minuets.” As he continues to look and listen, the fear that woke him up hasn’t gone away and if anything is more intense and growing. From all of the intelligence briefings he knows that the Americans when they do arrive will attack just as the sun rises above the mountains to the east, so that we are blinded and have a hard time seeing our rifle sights. But sunrise is still over an hour away and the company will be awake and alert long before then.

Captain Chang can smell the alcohol burning in the small cooker that Sgt. Zailie has lit, and soon I should be able to smell the brewing tea. Just like back home letting his mind wonder a bit as he starts to think about his family, then he quickly stops his random thoughts. I must focus on the matters at hand, I will wake the first lieutenant and first sergeant when the tea is ready, they will both like that. A simple pleasure that will help take away for the moment the knowledge that they were so far away from home, and at war.

The Khan’s generals had been wrong, the Americans hadn’t surrendered in the first few weeks or months. They had fought our Armies most of the way, and just before the winter set in they had stopped our advance here in the north, not in the large battles expected where our numbers and firepower would have overwhelmed them, but in many small battles making our forward units pay a heavy price for each mile we had gained, or held onto.

So far this winter it had been quiet in our sector, the Americans forces for the most part are on the east side of the snow covered mountains, our troops and allies on the west. The units that were up in the passes had reported snow and more show. In one storm alone they had over two meter fall. Capt Chang shudders at that thought; and the reports of snow that is so deep that tanks couldn’t get through to re-supply them. His friend at Brigade said one of the Division Commanders at the front had been forced to send half of his men back down from the highest pass, the snow blocked the roads and they were with out food for three days. A full brigade leaving behind their rations for the one brigade chosen to stay and fight, to hold off the enemy. And the stories from the few men who had managed to make it back to the rear Brigade area, most of them were limping from frostbite to their feet. Soaking wet from the hips down, from the deep snow, hungry and scared. Their tales about the constant fire from snipers, shooting at them, hearing the single shot, knowing that one of their friends was dead.

During the retreat, one of our men was killed for every 100 meters covered or less, and they never saw the shooter. In a few seconds another shot would ring out and another man was dead. And this was going on all around the retreating Brigade; pure butchery and they couldn’t find anyone to shoot back at. He said the worse part was in stopping for the night and waking up in the morning and finding some of the guards dead with their throats cut from ear to ear.

Then having to double the guards the next night, and the following morning still finding a dozen men dead, scattered all about the temporary camp, their throats cut as they slept. Then that fateful last morning just before they resumed the march, when the sniper fire was almost constant and deadlier then the afternoon before, and then the men couldn’t take any more as they broke and ran the last few kilometers down the road to the lower camp. Abandoning all of the wounded men , leaving them to the Americans who had shown no mercy in herding them down the road, like pigs or ducks to be slaughtered.

One of the few company commanders that lived from that division, gave my friend one of the cards that was found on the dead guards who had his throat slit ear to ear. It had a picture of an American Indian on one side wearing feathers. In one hand he held the hair of the fallen enemy at his feet, in the other a bloody hatchet. But the reverse side of the card was the one that bothered him the most. It had the faint outline of a wolf standing in tall grass, you could just see the outline of his head and shoulders, and it was looking at you. The Intel section Major told him it was the symbol of one of the American Militia units they faced. It was a ghost wolf that represented one of the American Indian warrior tribe’s from the 1800’s, they had been called dog soldiers, men with mystical powers, very proud warriors that didn’t quit fighting no matter the odds against them. Captain Chang shuddered at that thought; if the Americans had the sight and senses of a wolf, and the cunning of a warrior his untested company would be in trouble.

To keep his bravado up Captain Chang had laughed at his friend then, not in disrespect but at the intensity of the expression on the man’s face, like he was trying to scare him, just like his old grand father had, with stories of ghost walking the earth when he was a small boy.

Smelling the tea, the Captain takes off his night vision goggles, flicks the switch off and sets them on his pack. He then gets up from his position and walks over and wakes the Lt. and first Sgt., telling both in a whisper, “Tea is on, we have stand too in ten minuets,” as he smiles and looks around.

The guard that went to do his business hasn’t returned, that’s what canned rations does to you, stops you up and makes life hard. He walks over to the other guard to tell him to go out and check on his squad member. The guard doesn’t even look up at him or act as if his Commander is even there, so Chang reaches down to his shoulder and gives him a hard shake, he jumps back at what happens.

The Guards head almost falls off of his shoulders, his throat has been cut all the way back to the bone. In a loud voice, almost a shout and with a hard edge to it, he orders. “Stand Too now, enemy in the camp,” as he runs the few shorts steps back to his position. In seconds all of the men are wakened and the company is now at 100 percent alert waiting, watching, listening. The only sound they hear is their own hearts beating and a few birds starting their early morning spring twitter.

Several minuets go by then off to their west behind them and toward the Battalion HQ they hear a lone wolf give its mournful cry. Then a single wolf cry on the company’s right flank follows this, it is between them and first Company. Just as that call dies down then another wolf calls out on the left flank, between them and the third Company. The First Sergeant looks at him and you can see the fear in his eyes as he asks, “What is going on? Have the Americans gotten between us and the rest of the Battalion?”

Before Chang can answer, you can here three separate wolfs give their cry all at the same time and less then one hundred meters to the east, his men are alert watching their front, several rise up a little with their head and shoulders sticking up above their dug in positions looking for the first signs of an attacking force. Before the last wolfs haunting echo finishes sounding through the woods, there are several loud explosions in and among the trees his Company's positions are dug under.

With out being ordered his men in the front shell scrapes start shooting towards the east and a few of the machine gunners and grenade launchers join in expecting to see a charging enemy. No return fire is directed at them and the platoon sergeants get their men under control and stop them from wasting any more ammunition. Then the pained sound of several men calling for medical help for themselves and their fellow squad members, pleading for help. The 1^st. Sgt. Calls out, “Check ammo first then look for any dead and wounded, everyone is to stay at full alert.”

The Battalion Commander is calling all of the line companies on the radio, asking who is under attack and wanting a situation report (Sitrep).

Captain Chang answers him, “Not sure what is happening sir. I found one of my men dead, his throat was cut and he was only ten meters from my sleeping position. I called stand too, right after that is when we heard the wolves baying all around us, suddenly and with out any warning there were several explosions among our positions. Some of my men panicked and thought we were under attack and fired off their weapons. The Sergeants have them under control now and we are waiting for the sun to come up. Then I plan to send out a clearance patrol consisting of a full squad, over.”

“Give me a Sitrep as soon as you know something, over.”

Chang answers, “Willco, out.” As he shouts orders out to his Platoon leaders, “Give me a count of casualties, dead and wounded by platoon.”

This order is then passed down to the squad leaders and it takes several minuets, as each squad leader has to call to the separate positions his men are in and get an answer back. If he doesn’t get a reply he has to crawl over and check on those two men, then let the Platoon Sgts. know. The Platoon Sergeants then lets the 1^st. Sgt know so he can make a tally, and then he briefs Chang.

The Captain doesn’t like what he is hearing, and it sends a shiver down his spine as he listens.

“Five men dead with their throats cut including the HQ guard; and another twelve men dead from the three explosions, it looks like those were claymores that had been tied to trees. We have eighteen more men wounded from those claymores, they are mostly face and neck injuries almost all of them will have to be evacuated as they have serious shrapnel wounds sir, and we have two men missing. One is the first Lieutenants radio man.”

Chang remembers the guard who went to take a shit so he tells the 1^st. Sgt. “Wait fifteen minuets then send out the clearance patrol make it a full squad; at the same time send a section to the latrine trench. I saw a guard heading there just after I woke you up. He is probably hiding there afraid one of our men will shot him if he attempts to come back inside the perimeter.”

Handing the Captain some cards the 1^st. Sgt said, “We found five of these sir, one beside each man who had his throat cut.”

Crouching down and placing his poncho over him, Captain Chang uses his flashlight so he can see what the cards say. Looking at the cards he shudders and is suddenly filled with fear, and he is barely able to control his body, to keep it from shaking even more. The cards, they were all the same, an American Indian on one side wearing feathers, a scalp in one hand in the other a bloody hatchet. On the backside you could just see the out line of a lone wolf in tall grass looking back at him. Chang knows that wolfs never travel alone always in packs.

Chang takes two deep breaths to keep control and has to make an effort not to cry out; this is too eerie, just exactly like the other captain had described what happens at night up in the pass. He now knows the other Captain hadn’t been trying to scare him, but to warn him; that the devil now walks with the Americans. Turning off the flashlight he takes the poncho off and sits up right.

It takes Chang a few more minuets but he regains his composure and calls battalion HQ to give them the details of his dead and wounded and the action he plans on taking when it gets lighter. The Battalion CO is livid with rage, a company is reduced by almost one quarter of its combat strength in an instant, and all they can do is send out a clearance patrol.

The next fifteen minuets seem like an hour but soon it is light enough to see in color and the patrol is sent out, and another team is sent to fetch the missing guard. The rest of the company waits in their position as the medic works on the wounded. In a few minuets the early morning light changes to dawn and soon the sun will rise over the mountains.

The men that checked the latrine comes back in and they are carrying one more dead man, he is with out his uniform, they place him next to the guard with the slit throat. Capt. Chang gets out of his position and squats down to look at the man. He recognizes him as one of the men from the HQ section. He has a strange cut to the forehead that looks deep and his body is cold and stiff, he must have been dead for some time. One of the men who helped bring the body back; handed the 1^st. Sgt. a card just like the rest found on the men who had their throats cut, as he said, “We found this laying next to him.”

A strange feeling comes over the Captain as he tells the 1^st. Lt. and Sgt. about waking up in fear, and about the man he saw who walked out of the camp. He must have been an American soldier dressed in the dead guard’s uniform, the one who was cutting their comrades throats and setting up the claymores, he had been less then ten meters from my positions.

The First Sgt. hand the card to Sgt. Zailie as he asks, “You can read a little English, what dose the card say?”

Taking the card Zailie mumbles a little trying to read it, turns it over, then says. “This side with the American Indian on it says, Who’s Next, and this back side with the faint outline of the Wolf says, Prairie Ghost.” Laughing he adds, “A cheep attempt to scare us, I…”

A crack and a thump then the sound of a single shot far off to the east, sends all of the men who had gathered around the Captain, scurrying back to their positions. All except Capt. Chang who sits down hard on his butt next to the dead guards. He is making a gurgling noise as he tries to breath, and a small stream of blood starts to flow out of one side of his mouth.

Sgt Zailie seeing that the captain is shot jumps up and runs over to him and yells for the 1^st Lt. “The captain is hit, we need the medic, call the regiment to send up some stretcher barriers.” To Chang he asks, “Where are you wounded sir?”

But the Captain can’t answer as he trembles, trying to breath.

“Here let me help you lay down.” Sgt. Zailie says placing one hand around and on Chang’s back to help ease him down. He quickly stops and looks at his hand that was on the Captains back, it is covered with blood and he had felt a big hole where the shoulder blade should have been. The 1^st Sgt. is now helping him and sees Sgt. Zailie blood covered hand. He grabs a field dressing off of the Captains webbing and applies it to the back wound as he states, “This is the exit wound and it’s pumping a lot of blood check his chest, quick.”

Sgt. Zailie nods his head in replay and rips open the Captains combat shirt, all he can see is a small hole just above the heart with only a little blood showing around it. Chang’s eyes are wide open and starting to go glassy, his breathing is labored and he starts weakly coughing up blood.

Corporal Chew, the company runner is standing watching the two Sgt’s. work on the Captain, then everyone hears that super sonic crack again, quickly followed by the thump, then the Cpl suddenly falls flat on his face not moving. Dead!

The few men that had gotten out of there shell scrapes and had been standing watching, all go to ground where they were and quickly low crawl back to their positions. As they hear that long mournful call of a single wolf howl, and the whole company is instantly afraid every one of them, wondering; which man will be shot next.

The Captains face is now ashen white and he is shuddering as he starts to go into shock, what seems like minuets is really just seconds as he quiets breathing, his heart stops as it runs out of blood to pump, and his eyes roll up.

The Company medic runs up to them, he had been treating the wounded from the claymores. Just by looking he can see that the Captain is dead, but he goes through the motions of trying to find a pulse.

The 1^st. Sgt. knelling, looking at his dead Captain and holding the wolf card wonders, how many more this way.

The 1^st. Lieutenant quietly sums up the situation as his superstition win's over logical thought, he says, in a low voice, “We can fight men but not ghost, we can fight soldiers and kill them, but how do we fight against men who can change into wolves.”

Two more shots are heard to their rear, it sounds like a sniper has had a go at the Battalion CP? (Command Post) As they hear the distant call go out, “Medic.”

Then they hear that solitary wolf let out his mournful cry, and everyone shudders, all of the men feel that bone cold fear running up their spines, as if some one has stepped on their grave.

They are all thinking, no one and nowhere is safe now that the Americans are here, Who’s Next?

The Sharpshoters

“Men don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”

i.e. make every shot count especially when you have a limited supply.

Words uttered by General Israel Putnam at Breeds Hill June 17, 1775

he wanted his soldiers to only take shots that would almost definitely kill

Six hundred seventy meters to the east beneath a fallen tree Lyle was lying on his belly looking through his binoculars and said in a low whisper, “Good shot Gunny, I think you hit both of them right in the chest, the second one straight through the heart, cause he dropped like a stone.”

Lyle takes what looked like a small cell phone from one of his chest webbing pockets, turned it on and pressed two numbers, then the send button, about half way between them and the Chinese camp and two hundred meters off to the north they heard a long solitary wolf call.

In a whisper Sgt. Curry says, “I normally wouldn’t take two shots from the same spot sir, but we knew this Chin Company was green, I won’t do it again.” Then with an easy well-practiced move he takes the scope off of his rifle and stows it in the padded carrying tube on his pack. He then ejects the round from the chamber and unloads the last five rounds and the clip from his M1-D, then he takes two rounds out of a small shell holding case attached to his web belt, reloads the eight rounds into the clip and then with a smooth as habit motion, reloads the rifle making it ready.

As they were slipping away from the firing position Sgt. Curry whispered “Damn, don’t know about the Chinese but that wolf call sure puts the willies up me sir.”

“Just exactly what Eli and Major Hartwell said it would do; and I know exactly what you mean, it spooks the hell out of me every time too, and I’m the one playing it.”

Hearing the echo of two more shots Sgt. Curry gives the thumbs up sign, his other sniper team has shot someone or two someone’s over by the Chinese battalions CP, then they hear the last wolf call, and both men shudder again.

When they are at least another half kilometer further away from the enemy, Sgt. Curry asks, “Sir, do you think that first one was the Company commander?”

“I’m pretty sure of it, the prisoners that D has interviewed, all of them separately have drawn a detailed outline of their defensive camps and the company commander’s position has always been in that forward part of the HQ section. If he hadn’t woke up when he did I know Haus would have placed that claymore around the tree facing him and we would have got him the XO and the 1^st. Sgt in one go. Enough talk for now we better get out of here and over to our two teams and the prisoner. It’s been a long night and we still have about fifteen k’s to hump before we can sleep.”

“You still want to let Lt. Burroughs team and the other half of my squad’s sniper team to have a crack at that supply company tonight down by Mariposa?”

“Sure do, and as you know we also have two other teams that struck last night too or will do so soon. That’s the plan General Marion wants us to use, to have at the very least all four platoons working all across this area. With two or three attacks on one night twice a week and then at least one attack the rest of the nights. Then we move to a new area set up our OP’s and find a nice soft target to hit and then go to ground while we look for and find another target, no pattern to the times or the areas we hit. And when the opportunity is offered we do a few daylight hits too, on convoys and radio relay outpost and the supply units in the Chinese rear areas.”

“The one for tonight is just outside of our primary AO but we want to spread these operations out and as I said not give them a pattern to fix on. That way we will make the Chinese disperse a lot of companies away from their battalions, chasing the wolf teams when spring comes. Then, but I don’t know when or where but somewhere some one will push through one of the passes and we will have helped by keeping the Chinese off balance looking over their shoulders. At least that was the plan three weeks ago when we headed this way. That’s why we spent so much time building the six, main hides and stashing numerous supplies caches all over the place”

“I think we can make that plan work, sir.”

“General Marion said he will give them a snott squirt, while we pummel them about the head and shoulders, to set them back a bit.”

“A what sir?”

Laughing Lyle repeated, “A snott squirt, you know, a hard rap to the enemies nose with your knuckles. The type of hit that’s a surprise and makes your eyes water and for some one who’s not ready to fight, it makes them reluctant to step back up. Then we continue to rough them up so they keep looking for us, Dan will do the rest.”

“Come on now sir?”

“Honest that’s what he said when the General and Eli were talking to me as I got my final briefing. Those are the exact words he used,” he said as both men laughed quietly.

At a little over two thousand meters away and with two small hills between them and the Chinese position Lyle and Sgt Curry join up with most of their detachment at the RV and are waiting for the other sniper group to join them. They exchanged information on how many of the Chinese the infiltration teams killed and try to estimate the causalities from the claymores. Lyle shares the GPS coordinates for the equipment left behind.

Sgt Curry asks, “How many more of those small solar and battery powered digital recorders and speakers do you have sir?”

“Each team has 28 of them, we just used the six we brought with us last night. I did a GPS location on each one I set out, as our four men slipped into the camp. I will have a two-man team return in five days to collect them, so we can use them again. Eli has them programmed for three other predator calls, not as haunting as the wolf but I guarantee they will keep you awake all night long when you hear them.”

The Sgt. said, “Just what we want a large number of cranky Chinese, who desperately need a nap, ” and both men laughed again.

With a smile he continues, “The number two call is the hyena laugh, and if you space them out around an enemy unit, and slowly walk that laugh around a perimeter at night; you know that everyone in that camp will be awake and watching. Eli did that to me one night in training and it worked and I knew what he was doing too, for the rest of that night I kept looking around and got very little sleep.”

“Col. Hartwell said if we were to do that a couple of nights in a row to the same unit, and take out just one guard each night before we walk the laugh around. It will reduce that units combat ability and even their working ability by over seventy-five percent in two nights.”

Gunny had a smug smile at the thought of a large unit of the enemy not able to function due to fear and lack of sleep. Then he nods his head in agreement, more of my friends will be going home, this is one good idea.

“The number three call is a leopard snarl and challenge, if used at night as a single position or in a small area that one sure keeps you looking over your shoulder too and guaranties a very long and sleepless night. And the last one really raises the hair on the back of my neck, it’s of a pride of lions as they grunt and growl and then the fighting over a kill. Eli said to use that one when we have isolated and silently killed a single guard just out side their position. D agreed and said the average Chinese soldier is very superstitious and he will think we are some type of demon a ghost or even a man that can change into an animal something, like a were-wolf, and the sounds of lions fighting over a kill will really spook them.”

Gunny Curry shuddered at the thought, “I’m sure glad Eli is on our side, he would make a very bad enemy!”

“Your telling me, I heard him, D and Dan along with Major Hartwell; all of them were talking about some other mind numbing tricks to use. I tell you those four men are playing for keeps, I almost feel sorry for the Chinese but not for the Jihadist. But knowing Dan as I do, I know it’s not personal or vengeful. To all of them it’s just a job, not a job to their liking but one that has to be done. A task that has to be won, Dan said if the enemy fears us we then double or even triple our abilities. I do know one thing, that company we just hit is fearing us right now.”

“That’s for sure, and that’s why we are winning so far sir, we have a man in command who wants to keep as many of us alive and to get us all home to our families as soon as possible. That’s the old KISS principle, Keep It Simple Stupid; keep the enemy off balance and guessing while you eliminate his support units. With out food or bullets or artillery, the enemy is defeated, before any decisive battles happen.”

“General Greene knows that too and will give us the free reign we need, He’s a damn good man to work for.”

Sgt Curry agreed with a smile saying, “Your right there sir, that man is a Marine at heart.”

They all got quiet, waiting, watching, and listening.

Lyle filling elated by their success, was thinking about the nature of this mission, he didn’t realize he was singing softly,

‘Short of sleep the foe is weary,

before this evening sun is setting,

they shall have eternal slumber,

provided by the Militia men.’

Gunny Curry says, “nice tune, that Chinese Company now has several soldiers taking the long sleep. What song is that?”

Lyle chuckled, “If I tell you, then you’ll have to learn it.”

“Fair enough sir, we will have plenty of time before this mission is over.”

“The melody and some of the words came from the song ‘Men Of Harlech’, you know that’s the song that the Welsh soldiers sang toward the end of the movie ZULU, to counter the Zulu war chant,” Lyle explained. “Anyway, Major Hartwell and CSM Wolf came up with the idea for a unit song. Cody knows that I’m in the choir at my church, so I got volunteered one day back during December to help finish the wording and then to help in singing it. Major Hartwell said we would finish wording the song close to the end of our fighting here in California, to reflect our victories. So when we left to come on this mission it’s still a song that’s growing, Cody said it should reflect some of the operations we do. Here’s the opening verse,” Lyle hummed a note then sang softly,

‘Stolen the fire from cannons flaring,

foes of freedom fear this declaring,

too the many deeds of daring,

stand ready the Militiamen.’

“The first line refers to our raid on Martis Valley and the killing or taking as POW’s most of the Chinese Artillery Division people, and the capture of their artillery, which is now ours. The third line is from the battle of Bodie hills where the 1^st Brigade ambushed that half Chinese Division marching in. And the 2^nd Brigade’s attack on Bridgeport trapping that other Chinese Division between them and 1^st Battalion and forcing them to surrender later. The last line because we as a unit stood fast long before the war. Mostly against the liberal press lies and of course the lazy politicians who wouldn’t do their jobs. This next part speaks for itself and why we are needed to help our country. Of course this isn't the final order as I don't know all that will be added.

The sight of wounded soldiers lay dying,

Tears of wives and children crying,

for that distant battle field of fighting,

call out the Militiamen.’

“Now back to that first verse I sang and you asked me about, ‘Short of sleep the foe is weary’, I just made it up and thought of it as fitting…”

Lyle paused looking and listening, then pointing to two figures approaching their hide as they gave the proper hand sign he added, “It’s our men don’t fire, its the other sniper team, I’ll tell you the rest of the verses later Gunny. Now alert the rest of the men to get ready, we move as soon as I can debrief the other team and then disseminate all of the Intel to everyone. And Sgt. make sure the guard on that prisoner watches him the whole time, we need information from him and D’s two attached Intel people will be glad to have a friendly chat with him later.

(C-60)

Smoke and Mirrors

The Fog of War

‘Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman,

before which difficulties disappear, and obstacles vanish into air.’

--John Quincy Adams

(On the East side of the Mountains)

Militia Corp Commanders meeting includes all Brigade Commanders

“Gentlemen, a month ago we had over a dozen teams of our best scouts and sniper section move to the west side of the Mountains down toward highway 49. Some of them are there to harass the Chinese; others are doing recon work and will not engage the enemy unless they have too. Unknown to these teams we have over a whole battalion of engineers or pioneers as Eli calls them, that’s five companies of men and women building large low-lying cabins along hidden paths leading down to Battalion size RV points on the west side of the mountains. Each cabin can accommodate at least fifty-militia personal at a time.”

“Some of these cabins or hides are above the snow line with many others below it, and all of them along the trails are spaced out at either a short days skiing away or a whole days walk. That way the men will be under cover when the Chinese satellites pass over twice a day. There will also be several open sided shelters in between that can act as temporary hides when we detect any stealth aircraft or UAV’s in the area. This will be one of the largest infiltrations ever attempted by any army, so we don’t want the Chinese to even get a hint of our plans from picking up a thermal image of a large number of our troops behind their lines.”

“The plan is to infiltrate two Divisions in a single month behind enemy lines, now you know why each of your units is being trained in snow shoeing and skiing, the use of snow mobiles and ATV’s. Just before the snow starts to melt we will attack these two passes ‘here and here’ from both directions. In the mean time we keep up the pressure on the Chin units occupying them the whole time, as we slip around them one company each day bounding from hide to hide. The Engineers say they will have the infiltration lines finished by next week and by the end of next month enough scattered ones at the lower end of the trails to hold over six brigades, maybe eight if we are lucky and of course your people will give a helping hand.”

“The two Divisions chosen for the infiltration will send half of their Engineers in first to assist, and to test out the trails to make sure we can send that many men down them with out leaving them looking like highways. Their second job is to help the other men ahead of them build the necessary hidden facilities, cause it’s going to take a lot of log and earth cabins to hide two divisions and their supplies. And before anyone asks, no your armor and artillery can’t be in the mix, this is a job for the Infantry right now.”

“One other thing before anyone starts to volunteers their Brigades, I want to remind you that like any plan this one could change at any time. Or the whole operation could be called off and you will have to come back up and on to our side of the mountain, cause Murphy's Military Laws number 2 always applies, ‘No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy.’ And one rule that is not on the list but is very true and if you will pardon my French, ‘plans change because shit happens,” everyone chuckled; they all know that’s the truth.

“Right now I have the go ahead but we have a few other things we are working on that might change what we are trying to do. OK now who wants to be the first unit too …”

The R.C. Sky

(Radio Controlled)

Mid March

‘Don’t let any man even try and convince you otherwise,

but what you do, every day does make a difference.

It doesn’t matter wither you’re a cook,

or a medic, a clerk doing paper work or the

man loading the truck, or the person standing guard duty at the gate,

or walking a lonely guard post at night in a rear area.

All of these jobs and many others’s that I didn’t mention

are just as important as those soldiers’ jobs that are up at the sharp end.

Without your hard work here, they couldn’t do their job up there.

Your job may not win you any combat medals,

you might not think it glamorous or brave,

but believe me, you are appreciated and needed.

The Militia and soldiers who are fighting on the front lines

know they couldn’t do it with out your long hours of

hard work, always pushing the supplies forward and you attention to detail.

And to the mechanics, who fix and repair all of our vehicles, all of you at this end.

Or as some have said, ‘those here at the rear’

you are all valuable parts of a team, and I thank you for what you do.’

General Marion address to the support troops,

Militia Corp Depot

“Aawh, those Americans have done it again, I just lost another unit,” Sgt Tai-shan exclaimed angerly.

“What area are you working Sergeant,” Lt. Lee asked as he climbed up the steps into the control van?

“Area 6-E sir, that’s just to the east of Eagle Rock off of highway 50.”

Looking at the map the Lt. says, “That’s four of our UAV’s in two days for that sector, I wonder what the Americans are up to?”

“That’s five in two days sir. They got another bird earlier, just after first light this morning in the same area. And what ever they are using it happened again, exactly the same way.”

“What, why wasn’t I informed about the first one?”

“You were at the Division meeting sir, I got the assistant G-2 to give me permission to use one of the last WuZhen-2000’s and that is what I just lost control of. So what ever the Americans are using it must be good, as no missile could lock on to a WZ either in using its radar or as a heat seeker.”

“It would have to be fast too, you were flying at close to maximum power, traveling at almost 600 km/h,” Sgt. Chu added from his controller position.

“And your unit is still flying Sgt. Chu,” Lt. Lee asked?

“Yes sir, but I’m flying up over highway 80 in sector 4-C right now.”

“Do you have the fuel to loop around and come back over the area Sgt. Chu was flying over?”

“Yes sir, but I have the last WZ, do you have the authority to re-route it sir?”

Lt. Lee was picking up the phone as he said, “I will call the G-2 and get permission.”

“What do you think the Americans are using,” Sgt. Chu asked Sgt. Tai-shan?

“Up in till last week we had lost only two units and I suspected some sort of capture net, dropped from one of their RC planes or from an helicopter, that was flailing the prop, the ailerons and the tail controls, killing the engine. I had no control then and both units crashed so they didn’t capture them whole.”

“But these last five we have lost, I don’t know what is happening? I lose control instantly and the engine dies, if I have the trim set right the plane either glides to a smooth landing or slowly veers into the wind and then glides down. I still have telemetry and live video feed until the mountains masks the signal, so I know they haven’t jammed us or taken control by using a more powerful radio signal. If they had used a missile it would have destroyed the craft instantly.”

“If they used a more powerful transmitter they would only have control for a few seconds, until the program jumped to the next frequency. And I have personally set the auto controller on every craft, if it doesn’t receive its programmed sub code every 20 seconds they are set to fly back to our location for capture.”

Sgt. Chu scratched his head thinking then said, “I don’t see how they could send a control overriding message in such a short time to rewrite the program?”

“I don’t think they are doing that, the 2.5 seconds between frequency jumps wouldn’t allow them enough time,” Sgt. Tai-shan answered, still puzzled and trying to figure out what is happening?

“I’m not a computer jock, but could they infect our planes from the ground with a virus?”

“I would think that a virus would attack all of the systems, as I said I’m still receiving live video, look at my monitor. The camera is pointed to the north west, I just don’t have any control over the plane or the servos that control the camera lens and the direction it points.”

“We will need to get a tech up here and have him throw out some ideas then.”

“One thing that I find funny is that the ASN-207 I was flying this morning it must have landed close by to some American troops, I was able to watch it glide to a landing in the snow and the top camera was pointed towards a concealed position that was maybe 50 meters away. I could see them talking and pointing at the craft, so I left the camera on to see what they would do. Almost an hour passed and then a short heavy built American approached on snowshoes. When he was maybe five meters away he took off his hat, and I got a surprise, he was an older man but it’s hard to tell their age as the Americans look so muck alike, but I would say he was in his sixties. But what got my attention was his head, it was covered with hair the color of bright copper with a little gray showing, I don’t know why that sticks in my mind. I have just never seen anyone with hair colored like that, anyway he used his hat to cover the top camera turret. In another two minuets the unit went dead, he must have opened the access panel and turned off the battery power. Here is a picture of him I saved on my computer, I think we are looking at our American counterpart Jung,” Sgt Tai-shan said with a smile and satisfaction in his voice.

“I can read and pronounce English his unit tape is reverse of the normal American Army people, it says Kansas Militia, and his name is T. Bochynski, I have never heard of a name like that for an American, do you think he might be a Russian?”

Sgt. Tai-shan shrugged his shoulder as both Sgt's. looked back at the monitor of the gliding WZ, both Sergeants know that the Americans are going to get another of their most advanced aircraft intact, as it looks like it is going to land in the median of the highway where the snow is fairly deep.

“Yes sir, we will follow your orders,” Lt. Lee answered into the phone, then hung it up, his face beet red. Turning to his two Sgts. he orders, “Sgt. Chu bring your bird home now, the mission is canceled As of now we are to keep all of our UAV’s on this side of our front lines, this order comes straight from Gen. Jiu Chen. The Intelligence officer is afraid that the Americans are starting to mass troops for the spring offensive. As soon as we recover the craft we are to relocate our operations and control center back down by Placerville, we are not to be exposed up here by the front.”

“He could be right sir, yesterday I saw a lot of trucks and equipment further east down by south Lake Tahoe, and I mean a lot of equipment I counted over 500 trucks alone, the photo analysts section says there are a lot more then that, the Corp commander has had that information for over 24 hours.”

“Good, now how long before we can move back,” Lt. Lee asked?

“Twenty minuets to bring the bird home for capture, and then close to half an hour to load the trucks up and get ready to move, sir.”

“I’m going back to HQ for our orders and I will be back in one hour, we will move out then, Sgt.”

“We will be ready sir,” Sgt Tai-shan answered.

Sgt. Chu waited until Lt. Lee was gone then added, “We better make plans on become infantry very soon unless we can get a couple more drones.”

“Don’t worry I have a friend in the 10^th Army Quartermasters office, they have a lot of spare units left, but he will want something in trade. If I have too I will give him that Samaria sword I took from that museum the first week we landed.”

“I can give up the American M-16 rifle I traded for too, if it will help?”

“When we pull back and set up our operations, I will see the Division Sgt Major and make the necessary request to go back to 10^th Army for more equipment. The paper work will take at least two more days, we should be able to come up with more items to trade with by then.”

“I know the Lieutenant has over a dozen cases of wine, if he doesn’t want to lead a platoon of infantry he will give up some things too and help lubricate the trading action.”

“That a good idea my friend at 10^th Army likes his wine.”

Kansas Militia

1^st RC Air Reconnaissance Command/Control Center

‘What work I have done I have done because it has been play.

If it had been work I shouldn’t have done it.’

Mark Twain

“Another one, Sgt. Ski, that’s two today, hey that makes you an Ace,” Jake Zimmerman said with a smile

“Maybe in your eyes and a few others, but I don’t think the Air Force is going to let me hang that moniker around my neck. They might get just a wee bit testy if I were to use it,” he answered laughing.

Capt. Carl Shannon laughed too, having been a Lt. in the Air Force years ago, he knows very well they would not appreciate the using of the word Ace, not by some RC jockey anyway. It wouldn’t matter how many kills he achieved, they would say it wasn’t man to man in the air facing death. But air-to-air combat close in was rare these days, he knew of at least two pilots from Fallon who were now considered Aces, both had shot down five enemy aircraft, all from a distance of 18 to 20 miles using their long-range missiles, that really wasn’t face to face was it. So why not Sgt Ski?

Was there really any difference in the kills? What Sgt. Ski had achieved might even prove to make a bigger distinction in the war’s outcome. Besides he was within three miles of all five of his kills, and really the last ones shouldn’t be called kills either as the UAV’s had been recovered intact. Their brains scrambled but those chips are easily replaced, and with everything else in working order, another something we can then use against the enemy. And these last two were some of their best equipment if not their best period. A little easy work switching out the old Chinese electronics add our own stuff then a fresh paint job was all it took and the Militia would have two of the small jets, not bad for a bunch of amateur RC dudes.

Jake shook his head as he shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t care what they will say, I’m going to call you an Ace Sarge.”

“He’s right Sergeant, I know Dan will be proud of what you have done; I’m going to send a letter of recommendation up the chain asking for his signature. I’m going to let him know it was your idea to use that borrowed police EMP gun against their UAV’s and it’s paying off, five for five,” the Capt. said.

“I’m just spending time on my hobby sir, it’s not that big of a deal. Besides since we capture the 25ths Corp entire drone detachment HQ last November with all of the paper work listing what each of the Chinese Division has, it’s been easy. And once we figured out their radio frequency hopping pattern it has been even easier since we got that EMP gun last week.”

“Shooting fish in a barrel,” Jake says.

“No, it’s more like the Chinese are bringing a baseball bat to a gunfight; we will win every time, hands down. Really simple after we detect one of their planes and can get close enough to it, it’s a gimme then.”

“It doesn’t matter how easy they make it for us, you're still doing a bang up job. You might not think it deserve a medal but it does deserve a thank you. They have a limited number of craft and soon they will have to conserve their last ones and keep them back from our side of the front. Single handed you have seriously degraded their ability to gather information and spy on us.”

“Gee-wiz sir please stop it, your going to make me blush,” Sgt Ski said as if embarrassed.

This made the Capt. and the other two operators laugh as he said, “Very funny Sergeant, but I meant it. A big part of our deception depends on denying the Chinese the ability to gather any information from this area. This will make them look harder up here and neglect or even over look what is building elsewhere.”

Cpl. Zimmerman added, “The Captains is right on this Sgt. Ski, they are limited in the number of craft available. I know that they captured some of the SkySeer units down in LA from the local police to use but they are slow and they had just a few units.” Then the obvious solution occurs to him as he says with a grin, “Unless you think they will make some stuff up from what is available in San Fran? There were a lot of clubs and several quality specialty hobby shops around. When you add in a lot of the high-end electronic firms, they could get all types of cool stuff up and going. It wouldn’t be to hard for them to make up some quality planes.”

“They have good people and they are innovative, but I don’t think they pose to big of a threat there.”

“Why’s that,” Jake asked?

“I see it this way; the communist system didn’t encourage the free spirit in their people and that’s what old hands like my friends and I are, Free Spirits. When I got to interrogate several of my counterparts that we captured up in Martis Valley, they are good operators and all, and they are innovative but every one of them were drafted and all of them are just doing a job they were trained for.”

“So?”

“I have been making RC models and flying them since I was 12 years old. I have designed new planes and built them from scratch. Our other people like me in the Militia Brigades some of them are even better, I know you might find that hard to believe but its true.” Ski chuckled, “for some of them it is more then a hobby, it’s a passion, it’s their life. And they are very boring people to be around because that’s all they talk about; I love to shoot my M1A and to fish and work on my 49’ street rod, I’m more diversified.”

That got a laugh from the rest of the section.

“As you guys know our people in the RC world have pushed the technology barrier every time we could, smaller and lighter power plants with more horsepower, then lighter electrical controls, more powerful lightweight batteries, using digital video cameras with a live feed back to the controller, and then in using thermal scopes long before the Army or Air Force set up their units. Or so we think, cause they might have had them but they never tell us a thing. And since we couldn’t afford to spend the money that some cities or the Feds do we have to use off the shelf stuff from other fields, all the while we have set the pace over the years.”

“You know until a few years ago, the smallest jet engine used by the military was from a BD5 jet, and the whole craft weighed in at several hundred pounds and it was the size of a VW. Then comes along some wiz-bang and he figured out how to make turbo fan engines that are ten inches long and provides 12 lbs. of thrust, very soon followed by the large model engines the are just 6 inches across and 18 inches long with 40 lbs of thrust.”

“The RC world now has competition jet models that are only 86 inches long and with a wingspan of 56 inches across and they are able to fly at over 180 mph and stay airborne for hours the same as some of these Chinese models that can stay in the air for hours. And to top it all off they are all very stealthy too some of them with the radar cross section of a small duck.”

“That’s some duck flying at 180 mph,” Capt. Shannon chuckled.

“The attack plane I’m using has two of these 40 lb thrust engines and looks a little like an F-18, and to keep the weight down I built the plane around the EMP gun using it as the core with everything attached around and too it. It’s still heavy at twenty-five pounds, and the maximum speed I can get out of it is only three hundred and fifty mph on the level, in a dive I can get up to four seventy-five. Now if I’m allowed to keep these latest two Chins that I brought down I’ll get another gun and mount it internally in one of them and maybe add a couple of the Chinese Parakeet heat seekers. That baby would have a sting to it then, and I know I’ll have a craft capable of doing an easy four hundred maybe up to five hundred mph,” he said chuckling again.

Capt. Shannon shook his head in agreement saying, “I like the idea of the two heat seekers, do you think the Chinese will figure out your using an EMP gun?”

“Maybe not right away, though it’s plane to see. Their cameras are with out a solid frame and are mounted inside a wire mesh cage to let any heat escape and to keep the weight down. It’s really just a simple Faraday cage system and that keeps out the microwave burst our gun shoots at them. They know the cameras are still working but with all of the other controls gone, nothing outside of that mesh cage is working. Their smart, they will figure it out sooner then later, we just have to be smarter and faster to keep a few steps ahead. You know the old farts motto don’t you sir?”

“Your going to tell me no matter what I say,” Capt. Shannon laughed.

“That right sir, old’ farts with Guile and experience beats youth’s strength and speed most of the time.”

Everyone laughed at that one, their morale was high; Sgt. Ski just hoped that with courage added it would also beat numbers too.

Wonder what the idiots in the elite media are writing about now, a few years ago our military was fighting and kicking butt on the terrs in Afghanistan and winning. And all they could put in the news was on how bad things were going over there, and forced us to pull back before the job was half finished.

Because of that we get invaded, and the dumb smucks still haven’t a clue to the real world, then when you fast forward to today, I’m an old fat and I’m having to help fight the same war, but it’s now here in America. Damn the PC crowd and the career politicians for failing to do their jobs. Before the invasion if every state had just even one Militia Brigade trained and ready to assist for what ever happened, we wouldn’t be fighting a war here at home.

(C-61)

Don’t be Deceived by the

Bad Moon on the Right

‘I see a bad moon a rising,

I see trouble on the way,

I see hurraquakes and lighting.

I see bad times today.’

‘Hope you got your things together,

hope you are quiet prepared to die.

Looks like we ‘re in for nasty weather

‘One eye is taken for an eye.’

CCR, Bad Moon Rising

“Just as I suspected, all of these little attacks the last four months have been a deception. Two of the three or four American Militia brigades down around Bridgeport and all their support units departed yesterday and moved up highway 395. They have linked up with the Army Division in South Lake Tahoe and are preparing to attack down highway 50 to take Placerville and then to continue their attack against our units on the east side of Sacramento.”

“I’m not so sure sir?”

“Don’t interrupt.” He said angrily, “I should have never let you talk me into dispersing the 45th division down along highway 49 chasing those mosquitoes. That’s all those attacks are, annoying bites to get our attention. To spread us out and keep our attention looking away from their spring objective, but we have seen through their ruse and this time the Americans will be surprised and stopped, we will destroy one or two of these American Divisions.” Tenth Army Group General Toson Gobi said, a satisfied smirk on his face as he scolded the Corp commander.

“I still have my doubts sir,” General Jui Chen of the 25^th Corp said. “This General Marion who commands the Militia is a curse we dare not underestimate. I have read the history books about his forefathers who fought in their American war of Independence; he uses the same tactics now against us that the British fell for back then. We must not make the same mistakes, we must not underestimate him or his abilities again.”

“Reading history does not tell you about your present opponent. Just because he bested you three times Jui does not mean he will get the best of me once,” Toson laughed, “Our satellites and the last SF team have reported the same thing, their several camps are empty of soldiers and with a considerable movement of heavy traffic all heading north. You take it to personally General, when they attack toward Placerville, then you will have your revenge.”

“It is not revenge I seek, but victory Sir. Of the three SF groups we sent only this last one was able to get through and report back. I think they were let in on purpose, the Americans allowed them to see what they wanted us to see.”

“How so, you give the Americans to much credit, you think the American Militia has one division on both highway 4 and 108 holding the passes on their side, and both of those passes are still snowed in. I think they have pulled most of those troops back from the front, and our units are only facing at most a strong Brigade in both cases along with maybe some small units of supporting Artillery, not a Division.”

“As for us we also have two Divisions for guarding both passes on our side of the mountains, and both of them have reported reduced shelling and sniping in the last three weeks and even less indirect enemy activity. And there are no attacks on their supply convoys now, the Americans are shifting their attention else were.”

He paused for a second then continued with, “And I suspect it’s up north, as they are restricting our drone’s flights over highway 50, which is where your 53^rd Division is defending. And now over highway 80, where your main body of 25 Corp is covering, we have another SF team in that area and they have had several contacts with the American SF teams in the last few days as they are now moving forward.”

“Sir these movements and increased patrols on the north could all be a deception to divert our attention, they still have a large area of scattered supply depots in the Bridgeport area.”

“Yes the satellites show that, the Americans may still have supply troops and maybe at the most another full infantry Brigade down around the Marine training center at Pickle Meadows. And maybe one more scattered Brigade over by Bridgeport, from the photos it looks like a mixed Brigade of supply and engineer units. Today there were only a few small observer aircraft on the runway, and our intelligence says the Americans are moving north. It takes time to move supplies, but the majority of their troops have gone, they moved north to support their middle in its attack west. They think to end this war soon by recapturing the state capital, that is what I would do, and our intelligence says that is what they intend to do.”

“I’m not sure sir, all winter long they have pounded my units with increasing attacks always on my right flank, why would they change now? And with just two over flights from our satellites each day they can move a lot of people and equipment in the time in between them!”

“You never boxed did you?”

“What has boxing to do with what I’m facing?”

“Your opponent is right handed, as most men are, so he jabs a lot with his left, stinging you and keeping you watching that left glove. Your opponent is watching you closely, when you glance one time to many at his left glove, kapow his right fist hits you like a sledgehammer. You never saw it coming and your down flat on your back. You see we are being set up my friend. So I have order the 9^th Corp, they have two divisions down by Mariposa and one other south of Modesto, to break camp in a week and have them move to just north of Jackson, to assist you. As a strong reserve force I will have them deploy one division forward along Pleasant Valley road that places them a few kilometers south of Placerville ready to counter-attack against the flank of the Americans when they attack us.”

General Jui Chen can’t believe what he just heard as he asked, “Am I to take control of this Corp, since you are placing them in the middle of my units?”

“No, General Lu is their commander.”

“But that splits my command in to two-halves.”

“That doesn’t mater General Lu will coordinate with you, but he reports directly to me.”

“I must protest sir this is a bad tactical decisions sir.”

“Protest if you want, I have made my mind up.”

Shamed by this verbal exchange, General Chen then said, “What about their raiding parties sir they are attack anything that moves along highway 49 that is smaller then a battalion size unit?”

“9^th Corp will move by Brigade size units with a short gap between each unit hoping to be attacked, so they can destroy these ambushers, and end this guerrilla style fighting. You see if one unit is attacked the following unit can send people to hit the flank of the ambushing Americans killing them and putting an end to their annoying hit and run tactics. These small raiding parties may be brave and daring, but if they attack one Brigade the following units will destroy them, thus ending their pesky raids and annoying side show distractions.”

“I still have my doubts sir, why not use a few of the reserve units out of the central valley to move up…”

“Enough questioning my decision. If you are worried about them being slowed down or delayed then keep parts of the 45^th support division back as they are now deployed in Battalion size units up on the roads to the east of highway 49. The Americans may be daring but they aren’t suicidal they won’t attack the main road with troops to their rear and covering their escape routes. I’ll have the Artillery Brigade from the 27^th Division that’s west of Lodi move forward and we will place them in battery size packets scattered along the east side of 49 while the move of the 9^th Corp is being made, they can assist with fire support if needed. Once the three divisions move is completed they can link back up as a Brigade and then move back west to rejoin their command.”

“Twice now you have mentioned the 9^th, I didn’t know we had a 9^th Corp sir?”

“When I took away from your command what was left of the three divisions the 5^th the 66^th and 118th after they mutinied I was going to send them back onto the line as a discipline measure. Then I had a better thought and exchanged them with the southern commander for two of their support divisions, the 90^th and 93^rd. In the last two months we have retrained them over into two infantry combat divisions and added to them a new Jihad Division, made up mostly of American convicts, to form the 9^th Corp. These three Divisions have very little Armor and almost no Artillery except for heavy mortars but that is just what we need in the forest to fight against the American Militia.”

“The Jihad Division is made up of one brigade that came with us in the landing ships or were already here in place, their last two Brigades are made up of local converts who have just finished training south of Modesto and have been added in to form their new 6th Jihad Division. It’s called the Dhul-fiqar Division; their commander says the name comes from their Prophets sword.”

With a laugh he said, “Whatever, they will be coming in on highway 108, and since these units want to be battle tested, I have made the decision to place them on the front when they reach Placerville. When the Americans attack in the spring we will see how well they fight. A bullet or bomb used to kill one of them or a dozen saves our men lives.”

General Gobi’s tone changed to one of sarcasm as he added, “The Jihad Corp commander of the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, or Army of the Pure, as he calls his Corp has been complaining that his men are not being taken seriously as front line troops, here’s a chance to see what they are worth.”

General Chen wanted to continue voicing objects but he knew his commander had his mind set on a course of action and nothing he could say would make any difference. Then the added insult of placing a separate command in the middle of his, with a commander he knew nothing about and troops he had never seen train, and he knows nothing about their unit makeup or abilities. He shames me again.

But the worst shame has come from this American General Marion, he has punished my southern command hard this winter, but if he attacks down highway 50 as my commander thinks then it will be I who will punish him even harder.

I know General Gobi wants me to give up my southern Divisions and the areas they occupy to a favorite of his, and I should because I have too much ground to cover now. Except that it was my men who paid the price in blood for our advance this far. Maybe that’s why he moves the 9^th Corp in, after the coming battle to give them that area and the divisions there?

It would only be four Divisions now, the 45^th Support, General Yu Shan and his weak battered 28^th Infantry Division holding the pass on 108 with just two Brigades. And General Tsingtao and his 89^th Division with its three badly mauled Brigades up on highway 4. And of course General Yintag and his 43^rd Division on highway 88, who thinks the war has bypassed him except for a few men killed by the always present snipers; he hadn’t had any action all winter, until last week when his supply convoy was ambushed, where all of their trucks destroyed and all of his men killed, or captured.

Maybe General Gobi is correct and that is where the next attack will come, in the middle? But shamed as he was his pride won’t let him admit to the sound tactical move of losing his southern units. Maybe I’ll agree to the change next week if it’s suggested again? And I’m not locked in battle around Placerville, or dead. But next week is a long time away, better yet I will wait until the Americans make their move and I have defeated them. Then I can dictate my own terms and demand more troops to finish our push back into Nevada with a chance to regain the lost ground.

We have enough resources to make one last hard push and then hold off the Americans for two years. By then our forces will have overran most of Europe and all of Asia and then all of our might can be applied against America. I know that the Khan is all-powerful and the Americans will find that out the hard way. But that is the future; just maybe before that happens these men of the west will wise up and surrender?

As he was getting ready to leave Gen. Chen offered, “I have a little more information about this General Marion, he was once a reserve officer in the American Army and was to be promoted to the rank of Major but he resigned instead, a few years before that he was a mercenary a Captain in the Rhodesian Army at the end of their war. Weren’t you a Colonel stationed in Mozambique at about the same time sir?”

“I was promoted to Lt. Col while stationed there, and I had spent close to a month inside Rhodesia the year before the war ended.” A frown crosses the Army Group Generals face as he is thinking back, of his younger days that were so many years ago. After the war was over, and Mugabe was in power he remembered reading the Rhodesian after action reports at their Army Headquarter. The summaries of countless small battles fought deep in the bush. Especially the ones during his time in country, and how a young mad American and his company of African troops kept Mugabe's troops on the run. And in the continued fighting how that Company grew into a light battalion, where they had chased and decimated that regiment of Mugabe’s people I was with. It was hard fighting and that young American/Rhodesian, he had very little air support, and in less then a month he forced us out of the country, with his relentless aggressive attacks. I wonder if… The Zimbabwe government must have some of this mans records still, or even pictures of him, no that’s to far fetched these two can’t be the same man. Besides there had been over a thousand Americans in Rhodesia fighting, it would be too much of a coincidence.

Lose Lips Sink ships

‘Never ASSUME security.

Assume just makes and ASS out of U & ME’

Anon

Kansas Militia, Soldiers Manuel.

Cpl Yang was having a hard time understanding Sgt. Hauigi on the other end of the phone, the constant rain must have gotten into the lines and he sounded as if he was at the bottom of a well and yelling up to him so he said, “Say again after, 2nd Brigade of the 6^th Jihad Division!”

This time Hauigi’s voice came through loud and clear, “Of the three Divisions moving that are being deployed a week from this next Wednesday, your unit will have to supply food for one brigand that’s two meals each for 3100 men. No pork or ham, both meals are to be hot. That’s the evening and the morning meals. Plus you will have to re-fuel 140 trucks carrying the soldiers of the 2nd Brigade of the 6^th Jihad Division and a dozen smaller trucks with their commander and his staff, all of these trucks will arrive around 1830 hours. They will leave at 1000 hours sharp the following day heading north to Placerville. Except for having to help with any vehicle break downs of the two following Jihad Brigands,” Cpl Yang had to laugh at the term ‘soldiers’ when used to describe their allies. “And if necessary to assist the 90^th Division which will be following them, your commander has 10 days to make his plans and request the needed supplies. Did you copy all of that this time?”

“Yes I got it this time, I’m sure Major Tsang will have question when I tell him, he will have to call back and talk to Col. Linkou at least once before he completely understands, we have most of the stores on hand or we can request the rest of what we will need from Division. Do we have to supply them with any ammunition? And I’m not sure I want to give up my bed to some flea ridden, smelly goat herding Jihad Officer though.”

“No they will have a combat load with them, all of their reserve munitions has been set forward from Depot to their AO’s.” Laughing Sgt. Hauigi added, “You will need delousing powder for sure my friend, I have a whole case in stock and can ship it to you before next week. I will talk to you later, I have two more units to call and alert, cheers,” both men were laughing when they hung up their phones.

Two miles down the road, hidden in a patch of thick brush Lt. Woo shook his head as he finished writing down the conservation he had overheard from his wiretap. Fools, talking in the clear like that, lucky for them they weren’t my men. If they had been they would be very sorry, for punishment I would have them carry two large and very heavy rocks back to the top of the mountain, that would be the easy part to start with.

A smile was showing as he began typing a message with this information into his laptop, which automatically encrypts it, then he hooks it to his satellite phone to send a burst message back to the J-2 at Corp HQ.

Still smiling he knows General Marion will use this info, and make plans accordingly. He almost pities the poor bastards then. Well not really pity, for they started this war and his country of Taiwan has had to endure months of missile attacks sometimes up to a dozen every day, just because we have refused to bow down and surrender. What ever the General plans to do will be a pay back, as his friend Lyle keeps saying, ‘it’s going to be a tough job no doubt about it. But they asked for some Whoop Ass, and here it comes so they better not complain when we give it to em.’