Chapter 9, Beach Infiltration

I sat at a desk with only a lamp on me, I focused marking my helmet with one red mark and a few white marks. I counted I had two tank kills and nearly thirteen kills, I don't know how many Jamie had but it didn't member.

I'm still wondering what's the point of counting my kill record? I turned to look at Chau as she slept in the bed. She looked like a angel sent to me to help me in my times of need.

To be honest I love her right now, just watching her sleeping with the bedsheet covering her I could see the shape of her body. I stood up kissing her cheek then held her in my arms.

Bucky said I have to marry her and I gave it some thought after the war's end or at least my service is done I'll bring her to the states.

After some time of sleeping I redressed and left her a note telling her I'll come back and I love her.

Returning to my unit as we sat around waiting for Sergeant Gilligan, then a lone Soldier walked in handing us our mail.

"Hey it's my Ma!" Bucky said with a smile, he begin to read as he teared up while smiling.

"I love you ma!" He said which we laughed with him Kyle opened his letter then his eyes widen as he begin to smile brightly.

"It's my girl! she actually wrote back" He said Paul opened his letter and cracked a smile "Got one from Cousins"

"This is from my wife" Scully said.

"Hey Tony what about you?" Marshall asked me which I opened then smiled.

"My little sisters" I begin to read it out load for my teammates to listen 'Dear Anthony, we still miss you and hope you'll becoming home soon; Hayley has won the science fair and I took up drawing

Things back home aren't to good, Hayley and I got into a fight with some people who were badmouthing you, saying on how your killing people for personal gain which I know isn't true

We miss you badly and love you big brother' I finished and hold the letter to my head as I let out some chuckles.

I was happy the girls are continuing their dreams without their big brother for the time being, I begin to write to my parents and my sisters about Chau and I.

While I write I also wrote down how I'm feeling about the war but I'm keeping my head held up high thanks to my brothers in arms and Chau. Then Gillian walked in pulling up a chair and sat down.

"Men right now we're going to be involved with a amphibious landing on a nearby island" He pointed onto the map to a small island then he continued.

"178th Marine Division will be assaulting the beach head while we will be sneaking under the cover of night, at 0900 Hours they'll begin their assault our objective to raise hell on the island and make sure our boys can take the island if we do this then we just might turn this damn war into our favor" Gillian says.

At 0600 hours we boarded a boat and set off for the island off the coast of North Vietnam, we painted our faces to mask ourselves and landed to land.

Gillian smoked his cigar before tossing it into the waters, Bucky wore a green bandana around his his head while Paul was painting Kyle's face.

I listen to Marshall who was muttering a prayer so I patted his thigh which he looked at me and nodded.

The boat stopped and we jumped out and made our way to beach, we huddle with Gillian as he spoke "Listen we're to destroy much of the enemy's presence here, destroy anything radios, maps, weapon caches the works" He says then we moved into the island's jungle.

I controlled my breathing Gillian and Scully taking point, Kyle's eyes darting everywhere he's our medic and he's on major edge.

Paul was behind me with his trigger finger twitching a bit and I was licking my dry lips while my vision seem to be zoned forward on my Sergeant's back.

Paul was equipped with the B.A.R rifle instead of his usual M60, Kyle was wielding an M14 Carbine, Bucky was still using a M40 bolt action rifle, Marshall carrying a S&M M76 which to be fair was a strange looking weapon if I ever seen one when I was doing Small Arms Repair.

Scully always preferred shotguns so he was carrying a Remington Model 870, Sergeant Gillian was carrying a CAR-15 rifle which had some straps on it with a scope attached.

I was using a M50/55 Reising rifle they said it's a Submachine Gun and it looked very strange that I can't describe it then again I rarely see this weapon so it must be very rare weapon.

We made our way through the jungle til we came across a small camp of VCs, they weren't NVA just the farmers and other peasants who took up arms.

I've heard stories that they are fighting both sides but I don't know much on that since the fact they been shooting at us, unlike normal NVA I couldn't tell from Civilian and Charlie. Gillian had Paul prepare to set his BAR while Bucky lay on his belly aiming through his rifle.

Marshall and Kyle stayed behind with while Me, Scully and Gillian went towards the Camp. I watched Gillian take out his grenade from his vest then he tossed it over.

Within a minute one of them noticed and shouted before it exploded killing him. I heard Paul's BAR open fire so did we all.

It was almost hard to see I could only see silhouettes of them but I continue to fire. Then Gillian order us to hold fire and check their bodies for any Intel.

I kneeled down to and turned him over, he looked to be quite old, I'm not sure how old he is but least he doesn't need to fight anymore.

He had no Intel so I searched the next body which only had letters. "Found a map" Scully said which Gillian nodded and ordered us to keep going.

"Charlie must of heard those gun shots so they'll be coming for us, so boys lets give Charlie a piece of his own medicine" He says.

We had to set up an ambush point, I dug some holes with Gillian and placed some charges inside "Corporal I want you to scout ahead if you see Charlie I want you to use this whistle" He says handing me a silver whistle.

I nodded taking it as I quietly ran into the jungle by myself, I checked my watch reading 0800 meaning I had one hour til the actually Assault I need to search for Charlie and notify my team.

"Lord...Give me protection and please...give me guidance" I whispered to myself I wasn't religious but it couldn't hurt to be to safe.

I turned back and see I'm far from the Camp where my unit was waiting, I continue to search which should be to hard since it's a small island.

Suddenly I heard a twig snap and I turn around facing a VC, it was a woman before I could react she cracked me in the face as I lean back and fell making a groaning noise.

She glared at me then I watch her motion for the trigger as I close my eyes and prepare for my fate.