Oh thus be it ever: A Fat Clap C, 17-20

(C-17)

New man, Trusted Plans, Old Ideas

(Back in the Flatlands)

‘Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men,

undergo the fatigues of supporting it.’

-Thomas Paine

Later that afternoon CSM Wolf knocks and enters Dan’s office, he is busy going over parts of the unit Standard Operating Procedure or as the army calls it SOP. A thought enters his mind as he jots down a note ‘as the brigades are forming we must also train men to be replacements for these units when they take casualties’.i.e. A replacement battalion. With out looking up he says, “Yes Sergeant Major?”

Cody steps in and partially closes the door behind him as he says, “Sir I know you asked not to be bothered, but the Brigade Surgeon has a man with him and they would both like to see you.”

Dan knew it must be important otherwise Cody wouldn’t have interrupted him, and with a sigh at the thought of the lost time, he would some how have to make up later, his mood quickly changed and a genuine smile showed on his face. Dan said, “Always time for the Doc, please show them in,” as he got up from behind the desk and walked around his desk to greet his visitors.

Cody opened the door and stepped out side holding it open and said, “Colonel, the Commander said for you and your friend to go on in.”

After the Doc steps in followed by his friend, Colonel Jesse Clark the unit surgeon introduced the two men, “Colonel Daniel Marion this is Professor Victor Hartwell.”

Dan offered his hand, and as they shook he asked, “You can call me Dan, would either of you like some Ice tea or coffee?

They both said, “Ice Tea would be nice.”

Dan turning to Cody, “Sergeant Major, would you mind calling the mess hall and have a picture of ice tea with four glasses sent over,” he asked?

“Not a problem sir.”

“Thank you, and then come back in, I’d like to have you here to listen in,” Dan asked the CSM? Turning back to his guest he said, “I would like to have the CSM present if no one objects?”

Victor and the Doc both agreed that would be OK.

Dan then offered them to take a seat.

“A please and a thank you, not what I expected from the Commander, be he with the Militia or in any branch of the military,” Victor said slightly amused as he set down.

Cody came back in and stood by the door listening.

Raising a hand to stop the two Militia officers from replying, Victor said, “Please, don’t take me wrong Dan or Jesse , I’ve always said first impressions are one’s that we remember. And kind words always get my attention these days. Before Saturday morning I used to think they were for other people to use. Now I find myself saying them again; you see I have had to completely rethink my life’s position and what I used to teach, and how I thought. Before Saturday morning Dan I was a liberal and proud of it, never seeing any good in what America was doing here at home and especially around the world, and being very vocal in saying so.

I’m a Doctor of Psychology and my specialty is in Clinical Psychology, and for the longest time I reasoned that conservatives had an adjustment problem to the modern world. Then Saturday morning came along and suddenly changed that mind set; I saw then that it was people like me the liberals that have the problem, and we were the one’s not living in the real world. It was people like me and many others I know who didn’t want to see the truth or to have an understanding that evil really was alive and plotting our destruction.”

Dan noticed that Victor used the past tense.

“Back on 9/11 I woke up for awhile but soon fell asleep again, and fell back into my old habits. But this last Saturday morning there was no going back to sleep, not this time. I know that a fanatic is holding a knife to our Nations throat in California, and there is no doubt in my mind he will slice and dice. That’s when I called a mutual friend, Jacob Thornton your media officer, I told him I could help, he then told me to call Jesse and offer my services and here I am.”

Doc could see the slight’s frown and the questions forming on Dan’s face so he quickly said, “Dan, Professor Hartwell said he served a tour in Nam back in 69’ as an infantry unit Medic, so he has seen some very bloody combat, and knows how to cope. More important then that is he, or was the head of the School of Psychology at state, and he has skills we can use. He started up and headed the State Crisis Council for a few years, and has taught counselors state wide on how to work with people who have faced disasters. To help them with the many stresses and other various situations caused by tragedies. More importantly, on how to mentally prepare emergency service people to handle and accept what life throws at them. I think he would be a great addition to my medical team, and for helping the men in learning to face the fears that we all will be seeing soon; to help them learn to accept getting wounded or seeing their friends killed in front of them, and what ever else the war will send our way.”

“Sort of like the accepting death and it’s OK to kill classes we had back during Nam,” Victor added.

Dan smiled and said, “Back in 72’ we called them ‘when the shit hits the fan classes.’ If you will pardon my use of colorful language?” The three men chuckled, as Dan added, “are you sure you’re up to this Professor. I’m not being rude, but your at least 100 pounds overweight, and you’re going to be working with some very hard headed died in the wool conservative patriots. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not doubting your conversion or your sincerity, but do you know what you’re letting yourself in for.”

Victor gave a good laugh as he said, “To you I might look in bad shape, but Jessie gave me a complete medical today and I started my diet and a rigorous exercise program Saturday afternoon. I have to take it one step at a time and I have 115 pounds to lose, which I will lose. And as for combat, well I’ve been their, seen that, and have the what’s next, attitude from back in 69’. You see I had to hold the hand of my best friend while he died. It was at night in heavy jungle and no way to get a dust off in,” turning his head slightly to wipe a tear away. He said, “Sorry I haven’t thought about Bryan Adams in years, we were buddies from high school and we both enlisted in the Army together.”

He paused for a few seconds to regain his composure, a little cough to clear his throat and said; “You know tears and remembrance are healthy for you. It’s better to let them out then try to bottle it all up. That only leads to bitterness and asking, always asking why him and not me, maybe that’s why I became a skeptic.”

“To answer your question, yes sir, I’m sure I know what you will expect from me. I’m ready to pay the price again and to make amends for the stupid ideas I have been teaching these last few years; if that is possible?”

A KP knocked on the door-sill and stood waiting for a reply. Cody turned and took the tray saying thanks and then set it down on the corner of the desk. Dan stood up and poured four glasses and handed one each to his visitors first then one to the CSM, sugar was offered but the three men said no thank you. Dan took the last glass and set back in his chair, taking a sip from it then set it down. Quietly looking at the professor and thinking, we are going to need several local crises counseling teams: People who can go along with the local minister and talk to the families when they are notified, that a loved one is killed or wounded in the coming battles. If Doc brought him to see me that means he wants my seal of approval, Dan shifted his gaze to the Brigade Surgeon for a second, who nodded his head slightly as he returned the look.

Dan stated, “A couple or three questions before I make up my mind. Were you ever a member of the American Communist party, the ACLU, and did you justify to anyone or think it was OK for the 9/11 terrorists attacks against Americans?”

“No I was never a member of the American Communist Party, I did gave some money to the ACLU over the years but that was for specific events or court challenges. To me the overall plan of the ACLU is too narrow in some aspect and in other areas to radical and selective in the causes they champion. As for the last question, I would never support the idea of any terrorists groups that uses force to kill and intimidate their way to power. When they kill for an objective, they are despicable,” Victor stated, his body language was tense but he was not hiding anything.

Victor then leaned forward to emphasize his point, “If I could, I’ll explain where I’m coming from Dan?”

“Go ahead,” Dan replied.

“After coming back from Nam I withdrew from my family and close friends and started to hang around with the Anti-war gang. At first it was just to get close to some good looking chicks, you know being a horney young man makes you do stupid things.”

The four men laughed again remembering their own wild younger days.

“So soon I was looking like some of them with long hair, dressing like them, talking like them. I did not do any drugs, I may have been dumb but I wasn’t stupid. After a while I came to believe like them, that violence wouldn’t solve problems, that it just creates more problems but with vengeance now as the motive. I continued to believe that, then to even teach that pap.”

“Then this last Saturday that all changed when violence was brought to America. From early Saturday morning until a little after noon I was glued to the TV or to the radio when we lost power for a while. My wife and my youngest son watched or listened with me in horror to the reports of brutality taking place in LA and San Francisco, we couldn’t believe that this was now happening in the United States.”

“As a grown man I should be able to take what comes at me, no excuses accepted. And as a professor who trains people to help others deal with crises, as my job was to set up courses to teach others to help people who are shocked and numbed by the sudden everyday tragedies that happen. Well watching TV that morning, I found myself numb and not able to cope at first. I can imagine now, how the average man and women seeing the same news, must have been almost completely overwhelmed and thinking that there whole world was falling apart. That the world as we knew it Friday night, was now ancient history and we had to adapt or die.”

“So after talking to Jacob, later that day he told me your people weren’t frozen in place, that the volunteer Militia was making plans and moving forward, making ready to be of help. I want to commend you Dan, you have prepared your people and your unit very well.”

Dan just shrugged his shoulders as he stated, “This unit is fortunate it has very good people to work with, and the unit belongs to all of us, it’s not mine. To tell the truth I’m the one who is lucky, to be allowed to work with such good people.”

Victor is again impressed by Dan’s frank answer, not just a modest man but a humble one too, a sign of a good leader, no wonder his people think so highly of him. As he say’s, “My father who is 84 years old called me around noon on Saturday, he’s a WWII vet and he spent three years fighting the Germans in North Africa and Europe and was wounded twice, the second time as he recovered he asked to be sent back to a line unit again. His request was denied so he went AWOL from the hospital and returned to his unit for the last three months of the fighting.”

“Anyway when he called me he asked, what I was going to do! I said I hadn’t thought about that yet. He said ‘what’s there to think about;’ he said he was to old to help fight and protect the country this time, it was up to the younger people like his grand sons that would have to do it this time, and me. He said being 58 wasn’t to old and that the Militia needed men who had been in combat, to help train younger people and to act as a reserve force. Just in case we couldn’t stop the yellow bastards and there rag headed friends west of the Rockies. His words for the invaders but I agree with him 100%.”

“Then he quoted a line, from Thomas Paine.”

‘He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression, for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.’

“And it has reached out to us again, with all of its barbaric blood-lust and wanton destruction, as war is now stalking our land. My Dad wasn’t afraid to be blunt and said I was partially to blame too, for this happening, for my being so anti-American for so long just embolden our enemies. And it’s was mostly the elites and leftist and socialists politicians that have helped cause a big part of the problems that lead up to the situation we now faced. Them and the dumb ass P.C. crowd that won’t call an enemy by its true name until it’s to late. He said it was time to step up, eat some humble pie, and then to do the right thing.”

“That was a hard truth to swallow, but I still listen to my father, even at my age. Because he’s right more times then wrong, but it was that quote that really turned on the light for me. And that an 84 year old WWII vet who had seen the worst that men can do was willing, not able but still willing to stand and make a difference, to face the horror of war and make that sacrifice again.”

“I know now how wrong I was to support a pacifist’s way of thinking, and to encourage others to do the same. I realized now, how I had swallowed the hook, line and sinker of the liberal’s lie that the world was screwed up because of America. I know they are just simpletons, naive, because they believe they are safe even if the enemy ultimately wins this war. They refuse to see that if we lose this war, they'll be just another number in a long line waiting for extermination.”

“So when classes started up on Monday, I spent all day talking to students at the U’s main student union center, telling them I had been wrong and that we needed to fight or we would all parish along with our nation. I think I changed a lot of young minds away from the wrong-headed woolly thinking crap I had been mouthing for years, and maybe made a few of them into active thinking patriots, at least I hoped so.”

“There I met your son and several of his friends saying the same things, here was this young man on crutches talking about the Militia, bragging that he was a member and that when his leg had healed, and when he graduates at the end of this semester, telling anyone who would listen that he would be joining them to help in this fight.”

“I was surprised by the reaction he received because a lot of students were listening to his arguments against their own ingrained indifference or changing others minds like mine who had mouthed anti-war rhetoric just last week. Your son won several over and made a lot of the others question their wrong head pacifist ideals. He’s a good man to have there at State; he’s going to help organizing training for the non-ROTC people so that when they join they will have some basic skills and leadership training.”

“I want you to know Sir that Gavin displayed a spirit, a drive and gumption very few people are willing to stand up and show these days. His actions made me fill ashamed of the person I had been for so many years.”

“Thank you for the kind words about my son,” Dan said as he felt a fathers pride about his son.

“He’s a good man Dan. After talking to him I remembered the line from the movie, ‘A Few Good Men’ from Colonel Jessep that was the character played by Jack Nicholson. He part was of a flawed man but what he said rings with truth. ‘Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.’

As I said I know that Nicholson’s was playing the part of a flawed character. I want you to know that your son is real, a true patriot. He is a man willing to face any enemy and to stand a post with the best of them, and give his all Your sons words and his resolve moved me even more then what had happened Saturday. So I resigned my position at State Monday afternoon, you see I couldn’t just talk the talk and let others go in my place. I needed to walk-the-walk, to do what’s right, that’s why I’m here today.”

Victor stood up came to attention and saluted, his eyes got a little misty as he said, “Corporal Victor Hartwell reporting, I want to serve my country again, sir, if you’ll have me.”

Dan stood and returned the salute and said, “Stand at ease Cpl. Stand easy, welcome aboard, and please sit back down. We are going to need men like you, with your experiences not just from being in combat, but in your chosen career too. You’ll be very busy in teaching our people how to handle the horror of modern war, they’re learning to cope with death lurking all about, hiding behind every tree and rock.”

He glanced at Cody and saw a faint smile show as he nodded his head in agreement. Dan continued, “And in the setting up several crises support groups or teams back here at home, to help the families of the ones who die or are wounded. The training wing will help with teaching those team members and others who remain at home to be ever vigilant. Do you remember that school that was attacked a few years ago in Russia?”

“Yes sir, it was in Beslar, if I remember right.”

With a smile Dan continued, “That’s correct. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the hand of the hidden Jihad members among us to attempt the same thing here, to hurt the moral of the civilians back here on the home front. And to cause the soldiers to keep looking over their shoulders. They have attacked the two major Army schools for mid-ranking officers successfully, I don't think they are going to stop there.”

Victor said, “I can set up an easily taught course for those counselors tasks sir.”

“Good, and one more job in many that you will be called on to help perform; I see the need to set up a psychological warfare group or Psyops unit for the Brigade. When I fight, I attack from every possible angle and attack with everything I can use. After the first few battles I want the enemy to fear us before the next confrontation begins. I know that position is normally only up at Division level, but Gen. Greene said to be as self-sufficient brigade as we can be. My job is to figure out how to defeat the enemy every time, to beat them up so decisively that they will develop the conviction they can never win against us.”

“After those first wins if we are lucky, I want to get so deep into their minds that their soldiers are defeated before the next fight begins. I want to save lives ours and theirs, but mostly ours. All the while preparing our men for the same type of tactics to be used against us. The Chinese and their fanatical friends have been preparing for years for this conflict, we don’t have the luxury of years, we just have days to get ready.”

“That an understatement sir,” Victor said and as he continued with, “these Jihadists, these Islamic psychopaths we will also face, they have no empathy and they don’t feel any guilt for what they do. They won’t show any remorse in killing Americans by the millions, unless they are faced with extinction of their own people, and then it’s just a false remorse to get us to quiet our attack. We aren’t of the same mindset our fathers were after Pearl Harbor but we will have to learn that somehow if we are to win.”

Dan nodded his head in agreement as he turned and picked up his brief case and set it up on the desk, opened it and took out a folder and handed it to Victor saying, “I know just what you mean and you have your work cut out for you. Over the years I have thought about having to take my friends to war. Just to give you an example of your task, right now we have the beginnings of a good unit of strong men and women. But they aren’t warriors, before we head to the front we have to change their way of thinking so there is no hesitation. When we face our first punch up they have to be like lions in the wild ready to kill, we can’t afford to be the hunted, we have to be the hunters. So I complied a few ideas from time to time, and I’ve written down some thoughts and added a few drawings from the troops, so please don’t lose anything I haven’t got copies. Your first job will be to make copies and return the originals and then take these rough ideas if usable, add yours to form them into a working plan. You are not limited by what I have here, in fact I expect you to come up with dozen’s of plans and ideas of your own, I’m sure we have some good people that can help you with suggestions.”

“Yes sir.”

“Just to let you know earlier today we were adopted into the Comanche nation, that is an honor I hope we can live up too. And as our unit patch has the wolf totem on it, that gives us a distinction like no other, I’ll need ideas on how to use that to our advantage too. Besides our unit SOP’s, that’s the standard operating procedures, I want you to work with our members who are active in their tribes and help blend together some of their traditions, nothing outrageous, just more along the lines of something we can be proud of.”

“Sir, I know of a man down in Oklahoma who can give me some pointers sir, he was a professor at Oklahoma State and he has written several good papers on this subject.”

“Good, just remember your primary job is to start working on the best way we can take our strong minded, individualistic peaceful men and women at heart and change their thinking so that they will kill an enemy with out hesitation or a second thought. Then after the war a way that we can d-program them so to speak, and return them to their former peaceful lives with very little of the self-remorse or having to face ‘survivor’s syndrome’.”

“They now call it PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder sir.”

“That’s it, PTSD I want our people to be just like your Dad and my Dad, and to become tough old leathery veterans. I know that they both still hurt inside thinking about their friends who died in World War II, but that didn’t stop them from becoming good men and doing the necessary job everyday afterward. My troops in Africa never had any problems and neither do I, we knew we were the predators not the prey, leopards lions and wild dogs, top hunters so that their kind would survive.”

Dan paused looking Victor directly in the eyes, and stated, “Now do you still want the job?”

Before he answered, Cody spoke up and added, “The individual wolf gives the pack his strength, and the pack in turn gives the wolf its sense of belonging and of being a needed member.”

Victor nodded his head at what Cody had said and looked back at Dan thinking these guy’s are going to be hard taskmasters. He then glanced down at the folder, opened it and saw the drawings by Sgt. Little. Bingo a light went on in his mind; I want in, and with a sly smile he then looked back at Dan and replied, “Yes sir, I would really like this job. And I have a very necessary and important suggestion that our people need to do before they deploy.”

Dan asks, “And that is?”

“That I have a friend of mine come out and hold a class on making out a complete and detailed will, to helping each of them plan their own funeral or at least make a list of the things they would like to have said and done. This planning ahead really helps them to accept the risk they are taking because they know that they have done all they can for their families. And on this end back here at home it helps their family members cope with the many sudden decisions that will have to be made if they lose a son or husband or a daughter.”

“Now this might sound a little morbid but it’s not, trust me. I want all of us to also write our own Obituary to sir.”

Dan has a puzzled look on his face as he asked, “Why?”

“Once a person writes it out, he will realize that his time on earth is finite, that each day he or she must do there best for those around them, so they will be remembered as someone to be proud of. And if the worst happens the wife and the kids, if there are any will have enough grief in just coping. By all of us planning ahead for this very real possibility, its lets them know what our final wishes were on a lot of things, from music at the wake to mentioning of clubs, and of course the long lost distant relatives in the obituary.”

“My friend can take a company size unit and talk to them and cover all of this in two hours or less, using a simple hand out with outlines of what to write down the things they like and desire. Once he is done everyone will see the reasoning behind this planning ahead, again trust me Sir because I’ve seen how much relief among those who have done this feel. And when the family left behind sees what their loved one wished to have done and said, they feel some relief too. Our fellow Militia counselors or the VFW posts here at home will take care of a lot from the honor guard and the flag ceremony, down to the Army’s requirement seeing that all cost are covered. And if we make plans for all the rest it really helps Sir.”

Dan could see the wisdom in this and said, “Good idea, you can see to it as one of your first assignments. But before you join there is one condition you must agree to, and that is getting your body back into shape. I want a progress report every week, a simple chart with times walking, and other exercises completed. Then in two weeks to step up the pace with recorded times on the two-mile run, push-ups, and crunches and when you work up to them add in some chin-ups. As officers we can be a little pudgy but fit, and when we are in the combat zone we will lose even more weight. Doc please have one of your people help Victor get his kit sorted out, and I’ll leave it up to your advice as to his rank, and the size of his unit.”

“Thanks Dan, I’ll see to it,” Col Clark said smiling.

“Fair enough sir,” Victor added, “besides walking right now, I’m doing some rowing and a little weight training, to some people it might not seem like much but as I said for me it’s a rigorous workout, and I’ll keep adding more exercises as I improve. Sir, I do have a personal question to ask you, if you don’t mind? ”

With a puzzled look on his face Dan said, “OK, go ahead.”

“As the Brigade Commander, are you afraid to die, and have you ever seen combat up close?”

Dan’s eyes misted just a little as he turned his head and covered his mouth to cough and clear his throat. “Yes I’ve seen combat. Up close and personal, it’s something I hoped never to see again, too many friends, good friends die in war.”

Looking back at Victor he answers the first part of the question, “Death does not scare me. What does scare me is standing in front of God and having to answer for my shortcoming, and the sins I have committed. Because in warfare I had to do some pretty awful stuff to the enemy or threaten to do, so we could get tactical information. It saved my men’s lives, and if necessary I would do it again to save more of my men’s lives today. I’m sorry for what I did or might have to do, but my men are worth what it might cost me later. I pray that when I do see God, that’s he’s in a good and forgiving mood that day.”

“I like to read on line some of the Conservative web sites; The Tree of Liberty .com has a regular poster known as Rhodie. He has a little saying from a friend called 7.62 PK that sums up what I know to be true;

‘I have seen the Elephant (war and worse),

I do not love it, nor do I fear it.

I just dread what it can do to my country.’

I don’t think I could sum it any better than that.”

Victor nodded his head, “Thank you sir, I’m proud to be in your unit.”

Cody slipped out of the open door with out a sound, a smile on his face, he could see that Victor would become a very valuable member of the Militia, another piece of the puzzle that would make it complete.

As the CSM left the room Dan looked over at the Brigade surgeon, and asked, “Any thing else to add Doc?”

Colonel Clark shacking his head yes said, “I’ll have Victors chart on top of the stack that I’ll be watching and reporting on back to you weekly. I think the rank of Major would be appropriate for the job, Colonel. As for the unit size, we ought to have four to six, two person teams to stay here at home. As for his deployed unit maybe four counseling teams of two each and another ten individuals as a PsyOps unit. I do have a recommendation for his platoon Sergeant. You know that Staff Sgt. Collins is 59 years old, and a former Green Beret, he speaks and reads some Chinese and knows their customs, and he’s not attached to any unit right now. He and I both agree, since he had his surgery last year his knees, he won’t hold up to a lot of strenuous walking, So I think he would make a very good Platoon Sgt. and can also help out in the S-2 as needed.”

“Good recommendation Jess, we will swear Vic in tonight at the officers meeting.” Dan stood up and reached across the desk to shack Victor’s hand again saying, “Welcome aboard Victor, now if you both will excuse me I have a lot of paper work to do.” Both men saluted and left Dan to his work.

Dan then set back down and turning back in his notes referring to the Brigade staff sections added S-5 (26 to 32 people, (Maj. 1) Capt. 1) Lt. 2) SFC 1) SSgt./ Sgt 21) 14 people for deployment. All men working back home in the crisis teams must be veterans of combat and at least 50 years old, and fit. Disabled is OK, but fit.

As a side note he added, talk to the Chaplin about enlisting local support with each of the militia member’s separate church ministers just in case. Setting his pen down and rubbing his temples Dan says a silent prayer, “Please Lord look out for my men. Give me the wisdom and guidance to keep our causalities to as few as possible. And to help us drive this enemy from our shores as soon as we can, through your strength and love for us, all things are possible. In your name Amen.”

(C-18)

2nd Battle on the Little Blue

September

(Day 17)

‘If he prepares to defend the front, the back will be weak.’

SUN TZU THE ART OF WAR

If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.

Mark Twain

‘Depending on one source for 75% of anything needed for your survival, not smart.’

‘In this war on terror if you haven’t the money to pay for the necessary man power,

Ask for volunteers, better yet use what the founding fathers provided for our common defense.

POLITICIANS wake up and Call out the Militia.

Organize them, train them, it is one of your duties, and ours.’

“Ensha Allah Rostam we will be know as ‘mustash-hidin’ when we complete these missions, think of the glory,” Hibab said with satisfaction.

“I know that ensha Allah means, God willing but what does ‘mustash-hidin’ mean? Remember I’m a Persian not an Arab,” Rostam answered, his voice showed that he was annoyed with Habib’s constant chatter.

“Sorry, that is my fault I forget, ‘mustash-hidin’ means heroic martyrs.”

“Heroic martyrs! Habib you might relish that thought, but I would rather live through this and be the old man who remembers, and tells the stories to delight my grandchildren.”

“But to die in glorious battle, and be assured our place in heaven and to receive our rewards as promised…”

“Habib, you need to focus on the task at hand, not on what is promised.” Reza-Ali said as he and Muhamed Matos the big blond haired Albanian walked up and set down their second load of 82mm mortar rounds. “Muhamed and I have carried up 24 rounds each and you are still unpacking the sight for the second tube. And you bother Rostam with your constant chatter, you’re like and old hen. Let him finish his work of preparing the two Grouse missiles, we will need them to fend off any helicopters they might have guarding this facility.”

Habib got quiet but glared at Reza-Ali, he didn’t like the Iranian telling him what to do even if he was their leader, it didn’t matter that he had lead them on six successful raids in 16 days. Blowing up power sub-stations and railway lines in the middle of no-where Arkansas, and flea-bit Indiana and then to run away, to do it again in one lake Minnesota, then again three night’s later in no-rock Nebraska and again the next night in no tree Kansas, oh how he hated America. These small fights might be his idea of taking this War to America but not for a lion like Habib.

Killing people, lots of people was the way to win a war, and what better way then with this mission today.

Reza-Ali knew what the man was thinking and said, “Don’t be mad at me now Habib, all our targets were selected over a year ago and set up so that there was no pattern, it’s the same with our hidden caches of weapons close to our targets, that way the Americans wouldn’t be able to figure out our movement. Now look over there; those three large buildings are prime targets, and the specialists in them do not suspect a thing. If we are only half as successful as planned we will kill several hundred of their best technicians and destroy machines and equipment they haven’t got elsewhere. This one blow could cripple America beyond recovery and assure us that we will win this war. Now finish setting up and sighting in both tubes, the range from here is 1.2 kilometers to all three buildings we won’t need the aiming stakes and we can see our rounds striking the targets or if any fall short and make corrects.”

Reza-Ali then said to Rostam, “When you finish the circuit test on the two missiles set up the PKM about fifty meters over on the left flank and fill up eighteen to twenty sand bags and place them on those rocks in front of your position, they might have some machine-guns set up to return fire.”

Turning and heading back down the trail he said, “Come with me Muhamed we have two more trips to make to carry up all of those mustard gas shells.”

Just a few hundred yards away

An oath once given;

“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend

the Constitution of the United States of America

against all enemies, both foreign and domestic”

Nope, don’t see any expiration date in there, do you?

4:19 My soul, my soul! I am pained to my inmost heart; my heart is troubled in me; I am not able to be quiet, because the sound of the horn, the note of war, has come to my ears.

:20 News is given of destruction on destruction; all the land is made waste: suddenly my tents, straight away my curtains, are made waste.

:21 How long will I go on seeing the flag and hearing the sound of the war-horn?

Jeremiah (KJV)

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check Made payable to

'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life

.' That is Honor,

and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

Author Unknown

“Mr. Russell my Dads not making fun of you, that’s why he sent me and my brother Davie. That's why he had us bring along our AKs, if its for real, we can call back on the radio, and he will then call nine one-one.”

“It’s for real Sam,” the old man said softly as he was pushing the low hanging branches and scrub out of his way trying to be quiet as he could on his crutches. “I watched them for several minuets through my binoculars, unloading two mortar tubes and the two base plates for them, carrying them in on their first trip, then on the second trip the bi-pods and two stinger like missiles or MANPADS. I'll bet you they are a couple of the new Russian SA-18’s they are called GROUSE, just like our American Stingers. And one of the men was carrying an RPK machine-gun slung over his shoulder and four boxes of ammunition for it, the last man carried other stuff but I couldn’t say what it was. Damn right this is for real son.”

“I’m not doubting you Mr. Russell…”

“And with the last several trips two of them have been carrying up 82mm mortar rounds, I timed them and they are taking about fifteen minuets per round trip. If we cut across the north side of this ridge as we are doing they won’t hear or see us and we will be behind them.”

His closest neighbors thought of Jay Russell as the old odd ball, a harmless hermit who lived back in the woods in an old run down home. He was nice enough but odd, just an old Korean War Veteran who kept to himself, who lived almost hand to mouth each month on his disability check. The three other families that lived on the road helped out some with a little cash now and then and on Christmas, Fathers Day and his Birthday they would give him presents of clothes and food. They would have done more but Jay wasn’t one for charity, only asking for a ride into town two or three times a month to get groceries or to go to the doctor’s office for his twice a year checkup.

And he shouldn’t have to go twice a year, Damn Army pencil pushers; what did they think, that his right leg was going to grow back. Afraid that he would get a proper job and still take their tight ass hand out. Or that he would up and die on them and their checks would then pile up in his mailbox not cashed, messing up their glorious paper shuffling game.

The-Hell with them, he was a man still, one that was a little older and banged up some that was all. And he sure was a whole hell of a lot of smarter then they were. Long before retiring from his night watchman post he had warned them about the need to secure the hills around the plant, to set up a strong fast mobile reaction force with either tanks, APC’s or better yet an Air assault unit just like our Army people did in Vietnam.

Jay might not be as mobile since before his war, but he had kept up his learning before he retired, reading the provided Army manuals on the communist’s latest weapons, especially their small arms and other weapon systems.

And after retiring and reading in the papers the last few years about our open borders, warning anyone who would listen and writing letters to congress, that we were setting ourselves up for a Surprise attack, again.

And damned if he wasn’t correct cause seventeen days ago just after midnight, he was proved right, and that’s when he sent a letter to his old job warning them again, of a possible attack from this direction, but they did nothing. He had gone to City hall and warned them and they said they had more urgent matters to worry about. His city council women was a nice enough fool, she said ‘I’m sure there is a plan, don’t worry.’

But listen to him, why do that, this was America it’s safe; well maybe California wasn’t so safe right now and besides we are in the heartland, we’re OK, we are safe and sound. Just like all those Officers killed on those two Army post. Safe because someone else was protecting them, right and now they are dead. You have to protect yourself first, some how they had never learned that lesson. To late it was learned now, again the hard way.

And 18 days ago it had been peaceful in sunny California, but not today, and still the elected fools do nothing. Thinking doesn’t cost money, and that’s why politicians don’t think. And what plan do they have? Will if I’m right but to late to do something about what’s going to happen, I sure hope they have a plan on cleaning up the mess of dead bodies that they will have on their hands. And then they will have something to worry about, again after it’s to late! Stupid, Damn ass politicians!

Jay had fought his war over a half-century ago, wounded and taken as a POW two days before the Armistice was signed in 53’, then spending four weeks barely hanging on to life in that small Chinese Hospital after his mangled leg was amputated almost at the hip. Jay remembering their Doctor and him apologizing that he had it to take so much of the leg off just to save his life; at least the man was honest. Recalling their talk the night before he was to be handed back over to the American side and how the Doctor said that he envied Jay, even now disabled but soon to be a free man. And warning him to tell America that if ever the Chinese attacked us here in America to be prepared to defend everywhere, to be alert.

Well Jay stayed alert and he had warned them, even if no one would listen. He had tried his hardest to keep warning them for the last 54 years, he had never stopped not once.

Jay knew what was going to happen soon, they will set up the two tubes and drop the deadly HE bombs directly into the manufacturing and assembly line right at the shift change, killing and wounded at least half of those present and maybe setting off secondary explosions and fires that will wreck all three production lines.

Jay motioned for both boys to stop as he got down and wormed his way forward to look around the side of a large oak tree. Sure enough the enemy was right where he would have been if he was the one setting up the firing mission. Just a little forward of the crest of the hill, with this whole section of the Little Blue Valley spread out to their south, there wasn’t a mile distance between them and the target, with the terrorist were just a little less then 100 yards from him and the two boys. The two men carrying the mortar rounds set down four more each, he could see that they were different from the others, these were Gray in color with a dirty yellow band close to the nose; then the two men turned around and headed back to their truck, to get another load he thought.

Jay shuddered as he remembered the color code used by the Communists, gray with a yellow band and lettering, the SOBs had some chemical rounds, mustard gas if he remembered right, damn that’s not good, not good at all. Damn, wished I’d bought that M1 rifle back when they were just $56 in 1961, I could drop all four of-em from here before they even knew they were being shot at. It would be a lot better then having just his old 30-30 and the two small boys along with a couple of AK’s.

Taking one last look he slides back from the tree and motions for both boys to crawl forward. “How many rounds did you boys bring along?” He whispers as he mentally gave himself a kick, I should have asked them before we left my house.

Sam’s whispered answer, “One full magazine of thirty each and I brought one more with ten to have as extra.”

“Ok, that will have to do, Davie leave your rifle and crawl up beside that tree I was next too and take a look.” As he crawled forward Jay told Sam, “When he’s done you can have a look next. I want you to take out Davies thirty rounder and place your spare ten round magazine on his rifle, he is going to go back closer to my house and call your dad on the radio, telling him to call 911. Your Dad and older brother can meet him at my house and wait for the cops or they can come up here fast if these Terrorists start firing. I’m hoping that the police will get here in time before the shooting starts. But we can’t take a chance and wait on them!”

Taking a deep breath to steady his voice Jay doesn’t like what he has to say next, but says it anyway, “I’m going to need your help Sam if the Terrorists start shooting first, OK,” his face a hard wooden mask as he asked?

Sam swallowed or tried to swallow the huge lump that suddenly formed in his throat, knowing that the old crippled vet was right, with an effort he shook his head yes, OK.

Davie crawled back and Jay told him of the plan and to go call for help, being only fifteen he was scared for his brother and Mr. Russell, but he understood what he needed to do. Then he took the rifle with the ten round magazine and quietly ran back toward the house. He knew the message to give, ‘we need the police, lots of police and no sirens, the terrorists are here with some chemical weapons, mortars and surface to air missiles, just north of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

As Davie took off, Jay told Sam,” I want you to find a place about ten yards away from the base of that big tree, take your time and find a place in a small depression, or next to some rocks. Very slowly move some of the rocks and quietly place them in front of you, even if they are small ones pile them up, they will help protect you.”

“When should I cock my rifle?”

Good he’s thinking, a little fear showed in his eyes but his mind wasn’t frozen with fear. He’s a good man to have by my side and to help take on these terrorists if that becomes necessary. The said, “I’ll call you on the radio when I want you to cock it, we have close to fifteen minuets or longer before the last two men get back. I’m going to work my way west and get closer, I want to be within fifty yards of them. I only have seven rifle shoots before I have to reload and I need to make each one count,” he didn’t add, if we’re meant to live through this. “You will be afraid when the shooting starts, but you can control your fear.”

“Yes sir.”

“When I tell you over the radio to cock it, I want you to do so and fire three well-aimed shots fast and then stop. Then I want you to roll right or left two times to a position you have selected then aim and shoot again. Remember to take well-aimed shots, shoot for the stomach that way at 100 yards you won’t miss. I’ve watched you fire your AK many times and you can hit a bowling pin at 100 yards. Your going to be shooting at targets that are at least five times larger, you won’t miss.”

Sam’s face was white and his lips blue, it looked like he was really cold, but it wasn’t cold, it was fear showing, yet his eyes were clear and his hands steady and his breathing normal, good he was in control of that fear. “How old are you son?”

“Seventeen and a half.”

Jay softly chuckled, “Back in 53’ I was just a year older then you are now, and I was just as scared as your face is showing Sam, that’s when I had to kill my first enemy. We called them Commies back then, today their Terrorists. The only difference between then and now, I had to go to Korea and help free those people.”

Sam nodded his head listening.

“You’re here in America Sam you’re helping to defend other Americans, it was up to me then to do a job, the same with you now. One thing I need to know, can you do it Sam?”

Shacking his head yes, then he answered, “Yes sir, my Aunt Betty is working over there today, I can do it. I have to do it!”

Jay patted him on the shoulder and turned to work his way west, as he heard Sam softly say, “Good luck Mr. Russell.”

Jay took another five minuets to cover the next sixty-five yards, staying behind the ridgeline and out of sight of the terrorist. Setting his crutches down he then wormed his way forward using his elbows and one leg. Holding his rifle in his hands and moving slowly and very quietly, as he got closer to his selected spot.

He wanted to be on their flank so he could hit them from the side. Continuing working his way forward he soon found the perfect spot almost forty yards away from them. One man was placing a rocket launcher back on top of a carrying case and said something to the man working the optics on one of the mortar tubes, he then picked up the RPK machinegun one box of ammo and walked straight at the two small trees Jay was laying behind.

Thank the Lord, he stops maybe fifteen yards away, it helped that Jay had on his old and worn brown hooded jacket, it blended in perfectly with the end of season dried out grass. Setting the RPK and the box of ammo down the terrorists turned and walked back over and picked up two more ammo cans a shovel and several empty sand bags and walked back again.

After the terrorist had walk back for his second load Jay had slid a little further back, now with a couple more small clumps of grass between them as he watched the man walking back to the machine gun with his arms full. Jay not moving a muscle watched silently as the terrorist’s filled ten sacks and stacked them up on the military crest of the hill. Then he started digging a shallow trench behind them..

The other two men returned carrying more of the gray rounds with the yellow markings, and set them down. One of these two men, the big blond one came over and took the shovel. He got to work digging the trench larger and the man who had been digging went back and picked up an AK with a grenade launcher under it and loaded both.

Looking at the gray mortar rounds with the yellow painted ring Jay has a very nasty feeling about them. As he knows that no matter what, he must stop these terrorists from using them.

The man who had set up the mortar sights was now lining up the rounds, four HE, ‘yeah that’s what the green ones were’ he now remembers, and then four of the chemical.. Then four HE between the two tubes and four more Chemical and then the same in front of the other tub just like the first one. The last man arriving had set up the rest of the HE rounds in two pyramid shaped piles just behind each tube and started pulling out the wire pins and unscrewing the safety caps covering the fuses on all of the rounds.

Jay whispered into his radio, “Cock it,” knowing they don’t have much time left.

He heard two small clicks over his headphones, as the answer, he thumbed off the safety of his already loaded rifle.

Off behind him to the west he can hear a helicopter approaching, Jay silently praying that’s it’s the police, and that Davie, his Dad and his older brother are coming up the hill with dozens more.

Hearing the helicopter the four Terrorists suddenly spring into action, the big blond man stops his digging and grabs the PKM and cocks it making it ready, as he is moving over behind a large tree.

Jay can’t see him now, Damn-it all to hell!

The other man picks up one of the stinger like weapons and he takes aim at the approaching helicopter, the weapon must have already been in stand by-mode because he fires it in less then fifteen seconds…. Just as the loud speaker on the helicopter announces, “You men on the hill stop what your…”

At the same time the other two men pick up and drop one round down each tube of the mortars. Even though the drop is less then four feet, it seems like a dozen seconds pass before both rounds hit the fixed firing pins at the bottom and thump, thump both rounds jump up, out of the tubes and arch high into the sky toward the plant. Then time accelerates, the stinger missile has climbed up and strikes the helicopter just behind the engine hitting the exhaust, damaging it and spraying shrapnel into the three men packed in the back seat.

The pilot having seen the missile coming and with just a few seconds before it hits, turns the craft sideways as he gooses the engine, this maneuver forces excess heat out of the exhaust causing the heat seeking missile to strike further back saving the transmission, shaft and rotors from being destroyed.

Jay has to move a little to his left and sits up to shoot the man with the PKM and this takes him a couple of seconds.

The first two mortar rounds impact within 200 meters of the buildings, just short of their targets. Both of the men make a quick turn on a small Knob on the sights. They drop another round each and before these bombs jump out both make ready their third shot, the sound is louder this time Thump, Thump.

Jay takes aim on the man with the RPK just as Sam fires his first three shots, dropping the one mortar man to his knees. The man with the RPK raises the machine-gun and leans forward to fire a burst at Sam, exposing his head.

Jay pulls the trigger, he is only ten yards away, shooting up at an angle, and imagines that he can see where the bullet strikes the mans left jaw just above his cheek bone. He does see a sizable spray of blood and brain matter erupts as an expanding cloud out of the right side of his head, where his ear should have been. The man drops in a heap not moving, he’s dead.

The helicopter pilot is doing auto-rotation and trying to keep from crash-landing in the trees lining the creek. In a controlled hard landing he drops the powerless craft onto the railroad tracks below the hill, everyone inside is banged up a bit, but still alive.

Even though the one mortar man is hit by Sam’s shots he is still able to drop his third round, the same as the other mortar man and both men reach for a fourth round. THUMP, THUMP.

Sam fires again this time dropping the mortar man he had first shot at and he knew he had hit the first time.

The terrorists that fired the stinger type missile has dropped the empty launch tube and picked up the AK with the grenade launcher and shoots the small grenade at Sam’s hiding position, and then he turns toward Jay.

The last two fired mortar rounds fall through the roof of one of the buildings and those on the hill hear the muffled explosions.

A louder, THUMP as another mortar round is fired.

Jay has continued working the action of his 30-30 and places his next two rounds into the chest of Reza-Ali the last mortar man, knocking him down him before he can drop that very deadly fifth round down his tube.

Jay can sense the man with the AK turning his way and knows he hasn’t the time to turn and face him. He hears three sharp cracks of the AK, and the instant sound of wump, wump, wump as the rounds strike their target. Strange because he doesn’t feel a thing no pain at all, time has been on hyper drive since the first two mortar rounds flew skyward.

WHAM, WHAM, WHAM, louder this time, three more rounds from an AK a lot closer this time and the last terrorists falls over dead.

Jay lets out a long breath, the last six shoots were fired from Sam’s weapon, as he had rushed forward just as the terrorist had fired the grenade at him, and escaped it’s deadly blast.

Firing at their stomachs and not getting the results he wanted, Sam suspected they had on some type of body armor and that his rounds weren’t doing as good as they should. But at point blank range he knew he would drop them.

Sam shouts, “Are you OK Mr. Russell?”

“Yes I’m OK Sam, just tired, and worn out. How about you?” Looking at Sam’s face he then said, “I’m sorry, you didn’t like having to do this did you son?”

“I’m OK, and no sir’ I didn’t like it. I was sacred, and excited at the same time it’s sort of like the feeling I get when I’m helping mom kill and clean the chickens, I don’t like the blood and guts, but later when she’s frying them up, I can hardly wait for dinner. Its one chore I don’t like but it’s a job that I have to help with. Just like I helped you now Mr. Russell it’s just another dirty chore that has to be done. And since I’m here with you I’m the one having to do it!”

“That’s a good and healthy way to look at it Sam, war it is a very unpleasant and distasteful job, but one that a free man has to face every now and then. I felt the same way back in 53’ just as you did now, it’s just another bad, messy task for a man to do. Never get to like it Sam, that would be listening to the devil, and that’s just what these four terrorist did, as you can see they just paid the price for listening.”

Suddenly several men are shouting at them as four Sheriff deputies and Sam’s Dad run over the crest of the hill with weapons at the ready, one-deputy yells “Put your weapons down.” Another yells. “Are their any more terrorists, you guys OK?”

Sam’s Dad starts yelling at Jay, “You stupid old fart, are you trying to get my boy killed?” He’s excited and relieved that Sam is OK and lashes out without thinking.

The four deputies check the terrorist’s bodies; one of them says, “Hey this one is still alive; he’s got on body armor. It looks like he’s just been knocked unconscious,” pulling the terrs jacket open and seeing the mangled lead from the two 30-30 bullets he snickers. “The SOB had the air kicked out of him good though,” as he quickly cuffs him and then searches the downed man for any hidden weapons.

The seventeen-year-old boy five minuets ago is now a man and says, “Shut up dad, we had no choice, they shot first.”

“He should have never put you in such a situation.”

“NO Dad, you did it by not listening to him, and then sending me and Davie instead of coming yourself to check his story.” Pointing over to the two smoking buildings of the Ammunition Plant he then said, “over there, a lot of people are scared, wondering what happened, but still breathing because of Mr. Russell. It would have been worse, a whole lot worse if he hadn’t told me what to do and how to do it. He may be an old man but he just saved a lot of lives, don’t you ever speak bad of him again, ever!” The anger in Sam’s voice was there, it was real, and a lot of it was from the shot of adrenaline rush and the after crash he was starting to feel. Then add in the euphoria that always comes after a close call with death, the knowing that you are still alive after-wards and that you could take on the world if necessary.

Sam’s Dad is stunned as he quickly realizes that his middle son was a grownup now, he’s become a man from living through a hard lesson in life, fighting to save other lives. His Sam, standing there with his back straight and looking him directly in the eye, he knows that the boy is gone forever, in the last few minuets he’s been replaced by a young man, one with a strong spirit and a spine made of steel.

More Deputies and several City police officers were coming up now, as well as a couple of Para-medics, checking the three dead Terrorists and then on Mr. Russell. Jay asked the one Para’s if he would go back and get his crutches so he could walk out, he’d be damned cause he wasn’t going to let them carry him. It took a couple of minuets but the man found them and with a smile handed them over to Jay saying, “Here sir, I can see that you want to walk out on your own. And I do want to say that I’m really glad to have meet you and see first hand what you have prevented, I wish it had been under better conditions.”

Another Deputy shouts, “Hey this one, this terrorist is starting to come around what do we do?”

The Sgt calls in to his HQ and the Sheriff said, “Have one of the medics give him a shot of something to keep him under.”

The medics have to call this request in and clear it with their boss and get the OK to go ahead. The Feds had informed all major Police Departments across the country if they capture a terrorist to drug them until they can get there and take control, as disorientation is a very effective tool in gaining information.

The Deputy Sergeant then asked Jay if he could carry the 30-30 for him? Given the OK he picked it up and ejected the last four rounds as he cleared the action, and then he picked up the four rounds from the ground, wiped them off and handed them back to Jay. “When we get back to the cars, I’ll be returning your rifle to you then sir, normally it would be held by us and tested or to be used as evidence. I’ll take a couple of photos for the DA, but if that’s not enough to satisfy him I’ll come back and get it later, and if you need it I’ll loan you one of my personal ones if it comes to that. You put yours to good use today.”

Mr. Russell smiled and said, “Hell son you’re the first peace officer I’ve seen in a long time, that knew how to clear a weapon. And thanks for the offer of a loan if needed.”

He was answered with a big smile as the Deputy said, “I was twelve years old when I took my first deer with one just like yours sir, a 30-30 is one of the best brush guns ever made. Yours is in a lot better working shape then the worn out one I had then. And thanks for calling me a Peace Officer I like that. Now if you wouldn’t mind telling me what happened, I’ll record it while its still fresh in your mind sir.”

Jay smiled then did a strange thing, and asked Sam and the Deputy to give him a hand up. Then looking over toward Lake City and seeing the smoke he asks, “Can some one call over first and see how many of my friends are hurt, then I’ll fill you in from the beginning Sarge, OK.”

The medic used his radio and called over to the fire trucks and medics there and got a quick answer, “There are only two dead thank goodness, but twenty-five more were wounded, one of them very seriously.”

Five mortar rounds had hit two of the buildings, three into one and two into the other. Some of the equipment was damaged but nothing that couldn’t be repaired within a couple of hour’s hard work. America got lucky today, Production had been slowed but not stopped.

Jay got a tear in his eye as he said, “Shouldn’t have waited, they almost got one chemical round off, hate to think how bad it would be if they had gotten off all twelve gas rounds into the three buildings. And all of the HE rounds too, it would have been a real mess.”

“Gas and Chemical mortar rounds,” several of the deputies and the one medic say in unison? Looking at the rounds lying by the tubes one of the deputies asked with some apprehension, “Sir which ones are the Chemical ones?”

Jay pointing said, “Those gray ones, pick up those moron colored Bakelite cups and screw them back over the top to protect the fuses. Like this,” as he leans over and screws one on for them. Then picking up one of the safety wire pins he inserts it back into the hole it came out of as he said, “Don’t worry it’s safe to handle them, they aren't armed until they are fired, that’s when they turn deadly.” Two of the deputies set to the task and it takes less then a minuet to make them all safe.

Standing back up the Sergeant pulls out a digital recorder and says, “When ever your ready sir,” looking at Sam he adds, “If you want to add any thing Sam, you can join in to.”

And the story is told from the beginning it’s a little more then forty minuets old from when Jay first saw the crew cab pickup stop and the four men get out.

After telling the story to the Deputy; Sam tells Jay, “Right after the invasion began our JROTC instructor at school asked for volunteers to attend some special classes. For now we’re meeting three days a week after school for two hours. I signed on but the little bit of training we have had so far didn’t prepare me for this Mr. Russell. Maybe I better tell Sgt. Barnes we need to work on some tactics.”

“I’ve got 150 acres here Sam except for a couple of small fields it mostly older growth, if you guys need a place to train, your more then welcome to use it.”

“Thanks Mr. Russell, I’m also going to call the local militia tonight and ask to join, six of my friends and I have talked it over but we were afraid of what our parents might say. I don’t care now I’m going to join for the training.”

“Didn’t mean to be nosy Sam but I heard what you told Mr. Russell, I have an 18 year old son, he and a couple of his friends have been talking about getting some training maybe with the Militia too. I was a Sgt. in the Air force years ago and I’ll help work with you guys every other weekend if you want,” the Deputy Sgt offered? “We might even get a couple of the SWAT guys who were in the Army to help out too.”

“Aren’t you afraid your Sheriff might have something to say about you working and helping with the Militia,” Jay asked with a grimace? Before the Deputy could answer Jay said, “I thought a bunch of you guys were getting called back in to active duty?”

“The guys and gals with the Guard and Reserves got called out and left last Monday, and the departments policy would only let a few more who recently got out of the military to resign, as it is we are down almost twenty percent and we all are now on 12 hour shifts until we can get some recruits, I’m not going to be fired for helping the Militia. And the hell with what the sheriff says anyway, these Terrorists are deadly serious about killing us all, this attack right here sure proves that fact. He better wake up, all of the damn politicians better wake up.

The Militia, are good people and after this terrorist act partly happened, I know they are needed. There aren’t enough of us peace officers to guard the nations weak points, never has been. We need the Militia to help us, just as you two helped today, to be honest just you two guys saved a lot of lives today, not just at the plant either. If all of the terrorists attacks these last two weeks and now this one today doesn’t prove to them that the Militia is one of the countries most valuable assets I don’t know what will.

As I said Sam I’ll help, in any way that I can. Here,” he handed him his business card after writing on it, “I’ve added my cell and home phone numbers, give them to the Militia if you need a reference. Call me after you talk to them and we can set up a meeting for my son and his friends to meet you and your friends. By this coming weekend we need to kick this off and get to work, we don’t have a lot of time from the way things are going out west.”

Jay had turned back to looking at the smoking buildings and Sam joined him again as the old man said, “Sam I’ll bet you didn’t know that in the distant past a cousin of my wife’s fought for the Union in a battle not too far from here, back in Oct. of 1864.”

“How did we do back then, Mr. Russell?”

Placing his hand on Sam’s shoulder as both men stand looking across at the flashing lights around the Lake City Plant he said, “They were out manned and outgunned and forced to retreat, but they lived to fight another day. As for us we had a little better luck today Sam, we may have been out gunned and faced odds of two-to-one but we held our ground, we won this battle.”

(C-19)

Maybe Now They Will See The Need

In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave,

and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him,

for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.

Mark Twain

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United Stated where men were free." - President Ronald Reagan

Because of this attack and many others that are going on all a cross America a lot of the States don’t want to see their newly forming Militias be used exclusively as a reserve manpower pool for the needs of the federal government and start asking that some of the forming units and troops be kept back as a home defense force. They also ask that the state Militia units to be deployed are kept intact and under their original commanders if that is possible?

Dan and several of the elected commanders suggest that they use the people that are too out of shape, and the older men and women that are disabled veterans to help form a home Militia defense guard. The threat to the country is too great for the states to wait any longer, and they accept that suggestion.

Politicians after 9/11 should have taken the hint especial after being hit up side the head with a 2x4 at that time. If it wasn’t for the unorganized Militia on flight 93 a good portion of them wouldn’t be working in Washington DC right now or alive either.

What’s the excuse for your inaction?

The terrorists have promised more attacks, how many more dead American civilians before you do your constitutional duties, to equip and see to the training of the Militia?

Hell if you can’t do that, just recognize them and encourage them, Americans will rise to any task, always have, always will.

(C-20))

Later that week, Building Pride

Lt. Col Dix and Boa stop at the cross walk to let a platoon jogging by pass, as Jim listens to their Jodi.

“I don’t know if you’ve been told,” the jogging Sgt calls out the Jodi.

“I don’t know if you’ve been told,” the Militia personnel in the platoon sound off in return.

“Damn the Militia is mighty old.”

“Even if they’re pushing three.”

“Three proud centuries of history.”

“Standing tall for Liberty.”

“When the call went out for men.”

“The Militia stepped up, ready again.”

“Hug the kids, and kiss the wife.”

“With a kiss and fare-they-well.”

“No more tears were off to fight.”

“Grab the rifle and grab the pack.”

“Out the door no looking back.”

“Muster up and dress right dress.”

“Learning how to hold the line.”

“Then off to war to look at hell.”

“Chins and terrs, you’re going to die.”

“Kicking ass until you run.”

“You’ll soon know about Kingdom come.”

“Sound Off.”

“1….2….3….4.”

Lt. Col Dix didn’t hear the next line as the unit had turned the corner and had moved too far away, but he smiled and thought to himself, ‘not PC. That’s what I like about working with these guys and gals. What they say or didn’t say wasn’t meant to be offensive to anyone, they just said what’s on their minds. And if some one said something they didn’t like, they didn’t get a false huff up and start going off about having hurt someone’s feelings, instead with just a shrug of the shoulders and it’s back to work, the slight was forgotten.

This was the way America was supposed to be, to live and let live, no special privileges for anyone or any protected status. To say what need to be said and then get on with life.

Then he laughed a good laugh, Dan had influenced his people more the he could imagine. In the Jodi the Sgt had used the phrase Terrs, not terrorists. That was good, they weren’t vilifying or maligning anyone they were just calling a spade a spade.

And these patriots were working very hard building units, and every one of them had a growing confidence in their own abilities, as I do in them. These are people who will get any job done, and he has a part in helping them do that, there was satisfaction in that, something he hadn’t expected, a bonus.

But in the back of his mind he has one small doubt, will we have enough time to train properly? I hope so, Oh Lord I really hope so!

Oh thus be it ever

Thursday, January 13, 2011

A Fat Clap C, 17-20

Just a few hundred yards away

Maybe Now They Will See The Need

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