5 Chapter 3: Fresh experience on the front seat
Were already being deployed i said to myself. I was holding my rosary while thinking of what's gonna happen in the actual ground. Im expecting it will be really bloody and the streets will be full of walking corpses and dead people. I look at my squad and i saw the same expression on their faces. the doubt and fear of the unknown, the fear of not knowing whats gonna happen to us, to the mission. I try to lighten up the mood of my squadmates and started singing country road since thats the song we always sing in our room and in the field during halt and if we have a free time.
"Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
Take me home, down country roads
Take me home, down country roads"
Well i'll be damned it works my whole squad sing along with me even our driver did. I said to myself. Well, it did lighten up the mood a lil bit. and i can see my squad smiling now.
after a few hours of driving, our convoy split up in different direction to proceed to there designated AO's while our convoy continued it's movement towards our designated AO which is Quezon city. We reached the temporary patrol base which is the Quezon city cricle. The rationally for that is there is an easy access to any routes around the AO. after we jumped off the trucks we were greeted by the CO (Commanding officer) of the temporary patrol base in the AO.
Okay good evening getlemen and ladies welcome to patrol base Quebec. I am Col. Zamora the CO of this patrol base and i will be the one whos giving you your mission in this AO. you'll be deployed by squad. Since your only 1 platoon strong. you'll be given diffirent tasks and missions from rescue mission to elimination. You'll be our main effort since we already lost a lot of men from my company. Sad to say. Col Zamura said in a serious voice but then his tone changes at the end.
I ask myself how many men did he lost in this operation.
Then he notice me looking at him with a face with a lot of question.
Then he look straight at me and pointed at me. You young Lt. i know what your thinking, your asking how many men ive lost just in 4 days, i'll tell you. I lost almost half of my company thats why we need your assistance here. I know most of you don't have enough experience in combat but we need you on the ground to accomplish our mission and to safegaurd and enssure our country doesn't become a state of rotting flesh. We lost to them because during the initial operation our inteligence report was not sufficient our soldiers were not prepared. I want you to change that situation to our favor. I and the people needs you more than ever. Said Col. Zamora.
The whole platoon replied in chorus, yes sir.
I was still stuck in my own toughts, how did he know what i was thinking was it obuse
Our platoon leader approach our new CO and ask for the information, situation and all the things we need to know.
While they were discussing regarding with those info, i observe the and analyze the position of the base the defenses and especially the gates and the walls . it seems that they've made a strong fortress with this place. they put up walls of sandbags, barbed wire, fences, and wooden planks to harden the walls of the base, establish 8 machine gun nest, 6 sniper towers and cat walks on the wall to easily defend the base. i kinda feel safe here inside. i said to myself, but i know that maybe later we'll start leaving the safety of this base.
after a few minutes we were called by our platoon leader for briefing regarding with our first mission or i'd like to call it our first date with death.
Okay 1st platoon were going to be cut into squads, 1st squad leaded by President you'll be task to rescue our troops inside the dead zone in brgy batasan hills pook pag asa. we have a squad of men with civilians trapped in the DSWD compound radio contact has already been dead for 2 hours expect heavy contact. You'll be inserted by a commando armored personnel carrier on the jucntion of sandigan and from sandigan proceed on foot to the location of our troops inside the DSWD building your target is already been marked on your map. for the rest of the platoon stand by for further instruction. Said by our platoon leader
after the breifing was announced 1st squad automatically geared up packed and ready for there 1st mission. i got jealous at the same time relieve that we were not the first one to have a mission with the unknown enemies.
Before president and his squad leave they say a short prayer asking for protection and guidance. One by one they enter the commando and leaved the safety of the base.
after they leave we all opened our harris hand held radio to maintain contact with the 1st squad which i like to call them the "juggernaut squad" cause there all huge people. haha. everyone inside the base was nervous and stiff, even i and my squadmates were nervous and tense.
I radiod the 1st squad, Juggernaut this is Disvowed, what's your SITS over?
Disvowed this is Juggernaut, Everything is going smooth but theres a lot of obstacle in the road but other than that, it is still accessible. 1st squad replied.
Copy Juggernaut. I said.
Hey Beast did you just give my squas a callsign. President ask.
Yes President. It kinda suit your squad cause your a bunch of hulking Manongs (man).
hahaha. I replied.
Your such a douche bag Beast. president replied.
Come on Pres it's a cool callsign for your squad. I spend two hours thinking a callsign that would fit your squad. hahahaha. I said
hahaha. whatever smarty pants. just prepare 5 cups of coffee when we get back you owe us the coffee. hahaha. President said
Well if thats the least i can do for the juggernauts why not. coffee is on me after your mission just get back here safe. over and out. I replied.
