Chapter 12, Mercy

The POWs we rescued are being shipped home which is good on them since they experience possibly one of the worst things in Vietnam.

Me and my unit are being station near a village, I scratched my face feeling a scruff coming on which I need to shave it again just because Military practice but also Nam is humid.

Scully was eating some of the Native's soup, Bucky was playing with some of the children acting like an older brother, Marshall had his uniform off and lay back soaking up the sun.

Paul play some cards with Kyle and Gillian, I sat down taking out a mirror and my knife after putting shaving cream on my face and begin shaving.

While I shaved I looked at a picture of my family and Chau, I smiled since I still got something I'm fighting for.

We all are, we are all fighting for something whether it's country, money or something. Once I finished I patted my face then I look into my eyes as they were still far from what they use to be.

I wonder if Dad had these eyes during his time in the Marines. I step back to my unit grabbing a cola and start drinking as I took a seat.

It was a long day for us, I waved at Jamie who saluted at me then started laughing. I took out my journal and begin writing.

'From what I heard on T.V most of America is becoming Anti-War and protests are getting heavier. Some of the guys are talking about the U.S. pulling out of Vietnam, I don't know about war America has been where we've been pulled out.

Pulled out of a battle but a war? that's news to me. My ear picked up the sound of some kind of event, I got up and walked over to a small group of U.S. Soldiers I watched them harass some of the locals.

One of them was picking on an old man while a younger lady possibly his granddaughter or other relative was trying to protect him.

I wasn't a stranger to bullying back in High School, "Hey what's going on here?" I asked.

"This doesn't consider greenhorn" One of them said. Greenhorn was slang for new guys in the military, saying your still green meaning your still new.

Of course I wasn't no Greenhorn, "Calling me a Greenhorn? when I fired my rifle more then three times then you" I said One of them approached me he was tall man not sure how tall but compare to me he's a giant.

"Look how freaking tiny he is!" He and the others laughed I couldn't take the abuse anymore so I kicked him between the legs forcing him to hunch as I bop him one in the jaw.

Just as he was about to retort I drew my revolver and aim at him stopping him and his goons, "Tell me do you wanna feel a .45 ACP right between the eyes?" I asked which he just stared and said no.

"My height is reason why your sorry butts don't crawl through the nastiest tunnels where Charlie could be taking a shit...now your gonna leave these kind people alone before I give you licking" I said to which they left.

I saluted the old man and the young lady before returning to my unit, "Almost thought you needed help" Bucky said which a chuckle.

I smiled then shrugged continue to drink my cola.

At night we had a massive barbeque as we begin to dance to some radio music, I sat with Jamie as we begin to talk.

I took out my picture of Chau and showed him "Hoooweee! You got yourself a fine one" Jamie said.

"Man shut up!" I said while laughing we drank together then he showed me his helmet.

He had around thirty tally marks and five red marks, he gave me one of his classic smirks.

I rolled my eyes and showed off my helmet which had around twenty seven tally marks and three red marks.

"You've been busy Tony" He says, "Yeah I have" I said then pointed to a dent in his helmet which had writing saying 'Hotel Paradise'

"This? sniper nearly got me" He says taking a sip.

"Jamie I told Chau after service to marry me so I want you to be my best man" I said which Jamie smiled "Hope I can become a Godfather" We both shared the night laughing.

During the Evening with the sun beaming on us we and another Platoon where moving to another base. We came across a small river it was all quiet so I held my rifle just in case.

While we went down the road closer to our objective I noticed another group of U.S. soldiers transporting captured VC. They had them tied together with rope like some kind of animal.

Not sure what'll happen to them but I shouldn't worry on the treatment of enemy POWs right now.

Just then one of the soldiers with us got hit in the chest. We ran for cover and fired back which a small group of VC from the dense fired at us across a river.

Paul jumped into a small rice field and used a surface to set up the machine gun and begin firing, Bucky fired his rifle while Gillian was giving out orders.

I was using a M1 Garand for the time being which is funny I'm using a Rifle which seen enough war. I fired at whatever I could see the enemy.

The shooting didn't last long as we watched the VC run but one stay behind as the others took shots at him preventing his escape.

A couple of soldiers were laughing while shooting at the scared VC til he begin screaming throwing his hat down and screamed at the sky while soldiers miss him on purpose.

I could tell he given up and just wants to die, but these guys are just toying with him. I aim my rifle firing into his chest as he dropped into the river.

"Why you do that for?" One Soldier asked me as I just ruined their fun I ignored him and went back to my unit as Gillian nodded at me.