NationStates Jolt Archive

Highway One, outside Hue

The roads were busy with usual traffic. The countryside was filled with either houses or rice fields. Cars and mopeds sped right alongside military trucks and tanks. It was actually a nice day out, the sun shined and the temp wasn't as unbareable as it was in the past. Farmers looked up from the fields and saw another military convoy head into the city, across the Perfume River. It was a usual sight which still caused casual stares from the citizens who have come acustomed to seeing Americans roaming around. Hue was only 50 miles from the DMZ and an important city to the U.S. and South Vietnamese and an important supply line to Da Nang. However, only three battalions of Marines called in home. Though they were few in numbers, their presence was known, especially in the bars and hotels around the city. This convoy was heading away from outposts further north which were engaged in fierce ambush and counter ambush operations against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong guerrillas in the area. These engagements were short but fierce in nature. despite this, the Americans came out on top with their superior firepower. The men on this convoy were heading into Hue to be reassigned to the city and for some R&R. A welcomed relief for these marines. Corporal Charlie Ross tipped his helmet up and surveyed the countryside and noted the good weather. A smile rose across his face as the city came into view.
"Well there's a sight for sore eyes" he commented as the trucks rumbled on down the highway. The wind blew past his face as Charlie closed his eyes and soaked to relief in. They'd been fighting for too long and now they landed an easy assignment.

seating one of the trucks was Jack Stone he been in Nam from 65
"hell just one more dam day in Nam"he said out loud as he looks around at what goes past them

One Year Earlier...

Charlie opened his eyes again to see his father yelling straight in his face and a mother sitting off at the kitchen table, beside herself. His father was in his work clothes, just back from the mills and a hard long day of work at the forge. His face was red and Charlie just stood there.
"Why do you want to do this?!" Mike, his father demanded.
"I can't pay for college, Dad. This is the only chance I got" Charlie replied in turn.
"It's a good chance for you to get killed! You watch the news wiuth us every night. You see the footage over there. It's suicide, I forbide you to go!"
"I'm not a kid. This is my decision" Charlie glanced over at his mother, Linde who sat there, eyes fixated on nothing. It nearly shattered her to hear that her son wanted to join the marines, especially now with what's going on in the world. After much deliberation he walked into a recruiter's station and wanted to know more. The recruiter wore a sharp uniform and spoke with a voice of conviction and confidence which Charlie lacked. His handshake was strong and demeanor admirable. The G.I. Bill was very appealing to the poor boy from Pittsburgh. It wa sa tough decision but he stuck to it and wouldn't falter, even to the baratone disapprovements of his father.

Ross snapped out of it and readjusted his helmet and took it off for a moment. An old photograph of his sweetheart, laura was attatched to the inside of the helmet. She was beautiful with short dark hair and green eyes.
"Try to be opptomistic, Stone" Ross said as he put his helmet back on. The driver made a sharp turn off the highway and slowed down when two mopeds cut in front of the trucks.

"easy for you to say Ross you have not been in and out bush from 65 and not seen what have i seen or heard of ,fuck still can get over the guy who did a double veteran one sick puppy "said Stone as grips his Rilfe

"I've seen my fair share. Just five more months to go and my tour's done" Ross shot back in a cheery tone, a rare sound these days but he was happy to get some R&R. "Look at it this way. Somewhere in the city, there's a woman eager to be your company for the evening" he laughed.

OOC: Is there going to be an ooc thread for this or is it incorporated into the rest of the thread?

OOC: Is there going to be an ooc thread for this or is it incorporated into the rest of the thread?

Put OOC comments on the sign-up thread.

Private James Wolfe had just gotten to Vietnam a week ago and already his battalion was getting some R&R. Taking his helmet off he wiped the sweat off his forehead. So far he had seen no real combat, he was one of the "lucky" few in the unit. The other men treated him as the "Rookie". Nobody knew his name, but just Rookie. He knew that he had to prove himself to the other men to gain their respect. They had been there for a couple of months, while he just got here. The humidity in this country was unbearable. Taking his canteen James drank some water, but never took his hand off his Remington 870.

"So Cpl. Ross, how has it been out there?"

Wolfe pointed out toward the jungle.

"a woman why im in marines in first place"said Stone as he takes off his helmet an fix the rubber band around it
"but i can just sit back and have some cold ones"said Stone placing the helmet back on

Ross's attention shifted over to the Rookie and his comment about being out in the jungle. It was an unusual but all too common question coming from new guys, fresh to Nam. He thought for a moment and looked at him.
"It sucks, Rookie" he finally said, voice stern "I've seen and done shit you couldn't even understand. You'll get your fair share of the jungle. The Zipper's are crafty sonsofbitches. I've been in plenty of fire fights already" he said to Wolfe. It wasn't a lie. He'd seen and done things that would make his mother turn away in disbelief. A thought that racked his mind from time to time. The trucks finally made it into the city as the noise of a busy day filled the air with honks, whistles, and yelling. It was loud in the city, a dead silent out in the jungle.

"bloody fngs"said Stone looking at Rookie then pulls out a photo out of his greens an looks at it

Lt. O'Conner was riding shotgun on the first truck. He took a sip from his flask, only to find out there was nothing in it. God, he thought. He couldn't wait until they got to Hue. At least there he could get some beer. "Ya know, you people really have some obsession with rice. I ever tell you that" he said in a slightly drunken haze. The driver didn't speak English though. He just nodded and kept on driving. "God bless the language barrier" he mumbled as he started to gather his things and prepared for his R&R.

The trucks finally made it to the MACV Compound in the southern side of the city, across the Perfume River, a quite beautiful river that divided the city. They men filed out of the trucks and went through the agonizing process of checking in. They were pulled from a north outpost to bolster the garrison in Hue. At least the brass tried to put a few more troops in there. because Hue was never hit by a major attack they assumed it wasn't a high target for the North. So, there were only 2,500 marines in and around the city. After a few hours they were finally let loose. They dropped their gear off at the barracks and filed out for some much needed and deserved liberty. Ross and the others wandered out of the compound and into the open arms of the city.
"I heard the Golden Flower Hotel's a real hot spot in town" Ross said "I know this guy in supply who was stationed here. Too bad he's dead because he could've gotten us in good with the owner"

"You'll manage. I'm off to find some beer." O'Conner walked off in a random direction and turned a corner.

"You watch out for yourself, sir" Ross said as O'Conner stumbled off. Their officer in Ross's mind seemed nothing more than a man who drinks his troubles away. Though, he kept those thoughts to himself.

"off to see someone"said Stone taking his gear with him

Hey, can I join in?

"if you want to get in between a yelling match feel free"said Stone

"Well, you all can have a grand time" Ross said "I'm gonna get something to eat" and then Ross was off into the concrete jungle.

O'Conner had found a small bar a half mile away from the base. He went in and was almost knocked out by the smell. It was like death mixed with a touch of body oder. Now, even woozier then he was before, the Lt. sat down in the nearest chair in a way that was far from graceful.
"Can I help you?" said an old man on the other side of the table. He had a slight accent to his English. A Russian one actually.
"Just trying to regain ma senses" replied O'Conner.
"It's the smell isn't it?"
"Pretty much. I hold my liquor better then most. I've had a fair amount of practice."
"It is not wise for a young man like yourself to be drinking spirits whenever you get the chance. Bad for the body you see" advised the old man.
"If you've been through what I have, you would understand."
"Oh really. You think that in your few years, you have suffered more then I have in my many? Let us compare stories and see who has had the harder life, then maybe you will stop complaining."
"I'll start. I've seen two of my best friends die only feet away from me. One by a grenade. The other cut to pieces by bullets."
"My wife died a painful death. Her last few minutes were spent in my arms. I watched her suffocate and then give into death's cold embrace." The memory seemed to take away from the glimmer in the old man's eyes.
"I was part of an airmobile unit in my first year. We had two helicopters. I was in the first, my two cousins in the second. We were flying low altitude when we were fired on by a salvo of bullets, rockets, and B-40's. The second copter went down in seconds. We barely made it out alive." Telling this tale seemed to take much out of O'Conner.
"My son was part of an irregular unit. While scouting an area near the boarder, his group was fired upon by the North. Many were cut down instantly. My son should have ran, but he didn't. He fired back and tried to carry as many of his comrades as he could. For his bravado, he was murdered. His group was found three days later. The bodies had been mutilated." These last words seemed to send a shudder through the old man as if he was fighting of demons. O'Conner was speechless.
"I have never fought in wars, but I know the pain they bring. I am alone and I will die that way. You have a family back in America do you not? All you need is courage. Be like my son and fight back even when you know when you will lose. Do not wait until the alcohol destroys the memories of who you are. It is the suffering we go through that makes us who we are. Not the good times. Give up this nectar of evil and purify your body and soul. So, should you die, you will not have to die as a drunkard, but instead, you will die as a man who was honorable in the last minutes of his life."
The old man got up. "Remember my words. If you ever need to talk again, I will be here." He turned and began to walk towards the door. He spoke one more time. "But only on Wednesdays. It doesn't smell on Wednesdays."
O'Conner was left stunned. He sat for another few minutes, and then returned to his barracks.

Stone head to a building climbed some stairs and knocks on a door
a Beautiful woman in greens opens it
"Mary why in hell did you drop out and sign up"ask Stone
"i was sick of school and want do my part in helping " said Mary as Stone walks in to room

Thorpson and troop came out of the jungle, he had his SLR in one and the handset of his radioman's radio in the other. "This is Troop C, we have arrived in Hue." his orders came in, he was to support the local MAC-SOG unit. He and his men headed to the local rest area.

Jack places his gear down and then sits in a chair
"i can't stay mad with you ,i love you too much thats why i join the Marines so i could pay for you to go to college"said Jack to Mary

"i know an i know you would be mad at me when you got the letter telling you what i did,but i all so knew you would stay mad for long "said Mary as she digs around in a chest of drawers

"here it is"said Mary lifting a small box out of a draw
she then goes over to Jack and sit on his lap
"here it a late birthday gift i hope you like it"she said as she hand the box to Jack

Private Wolfe quickly put back on his helmet and jumped off the truck. Getting his stuff, he walked over to the barracks. Most of the men had put their stuff on their beds, and had gone to the town. He was all alone. Unpacking his stuff, he thought about the stories his father had told him about World War 2. Once done unpacking he went outside and saw Cpl. Ross. Walking over to him he asked.

"So Cpl what are you up to?"

Trooper Stevens and Lance Corporal Roberts were playing cards in the bar when Stevens lay down a hand with ace, that Roberts had.

"You F**king cheating, Kiwi" Roberts roared and then attemped to punch him but Stevens caught his hand and the men began to fight. Then, Sgt. Stephen came in. "What in the Hell!, are two doing." he demanded. "Stevens cheated, Sergeant." LCpl. Roberts replied,

"That didn't mean you can try to kill me." Trp. Steven replied

"God, we just got here and already you two are causing problems. Let's go, Thorpson wants for a breifing, we got a mission."

The three men left the bar, and Stephen gave the bar owner some money to repair the damage.

Ross looked up and dusted his pants off and lite a fresh cigarette from his dwindling carton. "I'm going to the Golden Flower" he replied through the smoke.

Jack opens the box
"a new watch just what i need"said Jack then kissed her on the Lips
"dam is that the time ,i'm on duty in a Two mins"said Mary looking at a clock on the wall and getting off Jacks lap
"i walk you to the base and pick you up when you get off"said Jack picking his stuff up
mins after walking Mary to the base, Jack drops his gear on his bed then heads out to get a drink

Johnny Moses chewed on his pen as he glanced out his hotel window at the arriving convoy. His small, musty hotel room had one window, that let in the only light. The electricity wasn't too good, but he got by. He had stationed himself at this town specifically to stay out of the way of the raging Viet Cong, who had a tendency to be less-than-courteous to Americans, even reporters. He was here to find the news, not to be the news. He could see it now "American Reporter Disapppears in Viet Cong Terrirtory". Maybe Tommy back home would write an editorial in the NY Telegraph..."He was a good man," Tommy would probably write "But I can't say I'm grievin' cause I got his job,". Somethin' like that anyway.

He sighed at jumped up from the hard matress, fumbled around his desk for a cigarette, found one, jammed his hands in his pockets in search of a lighter, cursed when he couldn't find one, and headed downstairs. He walked out of the lobby briskly, headed towards the convinience store at the corner. It was a sort of dodgy, filthy, 3rd world joint, and unfortunately the only one in town. The man behind the counter knew him well. Mon was the guy's name. Sumthin' like that. Johnny pushed the door open and strode inside the shabby shop. He searched his pockets, pulled out a bill, and handed to him. "Matches,"

Mon handed over a small pack of matches, Johnny thankfully snatched them, lit one, and put it to the end of his cigarette, which he then took a long drag out of and briskly walked out the store, towards "The Golden Flower". Maybe he could find a soldier drunk enough to tell him something interesting.

Jack walks in to the The Golden Flower and heads tio the bar
"a beer"ask Jack min later a one has given to him
as he drinks he looks at the new Watch his girl had given him as a late birthday gift

Johnny Moses walked into the Golden Flower. It was a smokey place, owing to the amount of lit cigarettes. The stench of old whisky protruded from it with strong velocity, making it relatively difficult to breath. He sucked on his cig and walked over to a army-looking fellow, sliding into a seat next to him. "A beer," he said to the tender before turning to the man.
"You with the Americans?" he asked, nodding the tender as he was handed his drink.

"whats it to you"ask Jack looking at Johnny

O'Conner walked back to his barracks, still mulling over what the old man in the bar had said to him. He dropped his flask on the street and before he realized what he had done, someone else had picked it up. Perhaps it was best to be mostly sober for rest of his tour. You don't want to be in a battle when you can't tell the difference between a friend and foe.
When O'Conner got back to his bunk, he laid down and was about to take a nap when he felt something strange on the back of his head. He reached his arm back without opening his eyes. His fingers grasped the paper and pulled it out from under his head. O'Conner sat up and looked at the note in a better light then the one in his bunk. It was from the communications office. There were two things on it. One was heads up. A reporter was in the city, apparently trying to find soldier drunk enough to tell him something. "I couldn't have picked a better time to quit drinking" he mumbled to himself.
The second was a notification that another troop had come into the city. As one of the ranking officers, he had some obligation to meeting them. O'Conner sighed. I'll do it in an hour he thought as he fell asleep in his bunk.

Capt. Thorpson decided to visit the Golden Flower, with LCpl. Roberts. They enter and sit at the bar, "Got any scotch for me and the Lance Corporal, mate" he said, and Thorpson looked at Roberts, "The fight you two had was here, I guess." "Aye, sir" he replied. Thorpson looked at a Marine, "How are you doing."

"happy to be out of the bush how about you lot"said Jack as he order one more beer

gunny Hartman who had been asleep during the ride into town woke up and grabbed his gear heading off with out a word. he dropped his gear off on a bunk in the barracks and disappeared down the street stopping at a nearby market he bought a case of beer and a bottle whiskey and headed off to the nearby river. the gunny had been in country longer then most the men in his unit being here since Kennedy had sent military advisor's over back in 63. having little to go home to gunny had simply agree each time his tour came up to stay in country and keep fighting. he had seen the deaths of many men and many friends. the pictures stored in the gunny's head were those of scenes no man should ever have to see and when he had time for R&R he drank those images away just as he was about to do now.

"What unit are you from, Yank" he said to the Marine.

O'Conner woke up later then he planned. No matter, he thought. Not much to do anyway. The Lt. got out of his bunk and stretched for a minute. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. There were a few bags lying around, some combat gear.
O'Conner put his holster onto his belt and put a Colt .45 in it. He had a combat knife in his boot as well. He always slept with one since his unit was ambushed one night in the jungle. That had been a mess. Bullet flying and the occasional explosion. Had they showed those commies.
The Lt. walked out of the barracks and tried to remember that place that a few of his comrades were going. The Golden Flower. That was it. He stopped a local on the side walk and ask for directions. His Vietnamese wasn't too good, but good enough to get by on a minimal level.
After a fair amount of walking, O'Conner found his way to the bar. He slipped inside quietly, found a corner with a good vantage point and lit a cigarette. Just blend in, he thought. If that reporter was going to be anywhere, it would be where a few troops would be.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw him. He was sitting at the bar, just a little bit away from Jack. And surprisingly enough, next to jack were two other soldiers that didn't come in on the convoy. One was a captain based on the insignia he wore. The other looked like a corporal, maybe a bit higher. "Well," he murmured to himself, "this should be interesting. Two birds with one stone and one of the birds wants a story. No doubt he's a dove."

"What unit are you from, Yank" he said to the Marine.

"1st Marine Division"said Jack as he looks at the his new watch
"three more hours and she off duty"he said looking

"Im Captain Thorpson and this is LCpl. Roberts, My troop and I are send to support your operations in the area, which odd since this is way out of our operational area." he said

"not to me i was in the Iron Triangle no were near our area so how long you been in nam"said Jack

Johnny turned to the new arrivals. "Huh," he said, before turning back to the kid he was talking to. He took a drag from his cigarette before saying,
"What are you doin' in this backwater dump?"
The town was indeed that, but some US Troops should bring...attention. Definitely of the bad sort, Johnny thought.

"R@R whats it to you reporter"said Jack who did not like reporters since 65

"Well, We're a SAS troop send to support the local MAC-SOG." Thorpson said, "I have been in that jungle since 1966."

"Well, a SAS troop send to support the local MAC-SOG." Thorpson said, "I have been in that jungle since 1966."

"here since 65 after i signed up in 64 so i could pay for my girl to go to college now she drop out and now here in Nam as a nurse"said Jack

"Well thats a stupid question. Reporters find out what they want, when we want, 'ow we want. Kinda like the Cong." he paused nad listened to the kid talk about his girl before flicking some ashes off the end of his cig.
Johnny took another drag and sipped his drink.
"Yall expecting some fightin' here?"

"so lying to make the story better,as for fighting the signs are there that they are up to some thing but the big shots don't think so"said Jack
"hell i'm off to wait for Mary at the base"said Jack leaving money on the bar
on the way out Jack nods his head to the LT

finishing off what was left of the alcohol he had bought the gunny decided to head back into town. he got up and made his way into town half drnk and not giving a damn about much. he stopped in front of a building looking up he noticed it was the golden flower. gunny had been here plenty of times since his coming to the nam. he walked in and sat down near the end of the bar ordering a shot of whiskey telling the bartender to leave the bottle. he began to slowly take shot after shot glancing around the bar he noticed the new rookie there and shook his head " the poor bastards probably gonna end up in a body" gunny mumbled to himself going back to is whiskey.

O'Conner saw Jack leave. Something had obviously happened. Probably because of that reporter. Well, now or never, he thought. O'Conner got up and walked to the counter. He ordered a bit of bac si de. He had grown accustomed to it after a year in Nam. Now, on the other side of the reporter, O'Conner just waited to get noticed and scare him off.

back at base Jack just sits outside the building Mary works waiting for her to get off duty which now two more hours away

two hour past and Mary cames out
"how long have you been waiting"said Mary when she came out an saw Jack sitting a box
"two hours"said Jack
"you said you were going to the golden flower"said Mary as they walk back to her place

"i was there then a reporter showed up"said Jack
"oh,when get back to my place i'll cook dinner then ,we can shower together then play"said Mary

Jack just smilied at this and hug her waist

"Fucking juveniles," Johnny muttered to himself. He puleld out a Swiss Army Knife and started absentmidnedly scratching something on the wood-topped bar when the soldier came up next to him. The reporter put away the knife in a casual manner, propped his feet up on the bar, and took a drag on his ever-shortening cigarette before throwing it to the ground.
"You wanna talk or act tough guy? Cause I'm waisting my money on alchohol over here,"

gunny pulled a cigar his pocket and lit it leaning back against the bar and took another shot. he flicked the lighter open and shut over and over trying to enjoy the R&R. knowing soon they would be back waste deep in the shit hating to even think about the events that would more then likely happen back out in the bush. he reached for the bottle again and was about to fill te shot glass again but instead just stuck the bottle to his mother and turned it up all most killing what was left of it.

"Don't harass my men, or anyone's for that matter. While you were sitting on your ass in a hotel, they were fighting to make sure the North didn't capture this city and kill you. How much are they paying you anyway to get a story against the war? If you were a good reporter, you wouldn't need to get soldiers drunk."

Jack and his Girl walk into the golden flower an take a seat
"a bottle of whiskey"ask Jack then kiss Mary on the lips

"Bloody, Reporters" said Thorpson said as he and Roberts leave the bar and head to their camp. At the camp, a group of soldiers found a wooden pole and had raised it with the Australian flag. "Where did the flag come from?" asked Thorpson. "Sir, Roberts brought it over" replied Sgt. Stephen. "We're shadows, so why do we need to announce our presence. Hmm, it may scare off some VC, but ok."

"Don't harass my men, or anyone's for that matter. While you were sitting on your ass in a hotel, they were fighting to make sure the North didn't capture this city and kill you. How much are they paying you anyway to get a story against the war? If you were a good reporter, you wouldn't need to get soldiers drunk."

Johnny gave a short bark of a laugh. "You think you're all special, don't you. You think you're the only one in the entire world who has a difficult time sometimes. You think you're the only guy in Vietnam having a rough time. What do you want me to give you, a fucking medal?"
Johny paused to let that sink it, before lighting another cigarette and putting it to his parched lips. He took a drag before saying "Listen, the only reason I need to get you dumbshit bigshots drunk is because when you're sober you don't talk, because you think you seem badass by not saying a couple o' words to a reporter. It just makes you look stupid."
Johnny spoke in a hushed, calm voice, before turning and sipping from his drink.
"And I ain't harassin'. You think you know harassment, try working for a damn newspaper,"

gunny finished off the rest of the bottle an dropped some cash on the bar walking back down the street towards the barracks enjoying the cigar. he jokingly mumble the marine corp hymn as he strolled along. he stopped near the barracks looking up notice the new flag raised nodded and headed inside and flopped onto his rack taking his pistols out from the holsters under his arms sliding one under his pillow the other into his boot as he took them off. he laid back on the bed and finished his cigar staring at the ceiling

picking up the bottle and leaving cash on the bar Jack and Mary leave
on the way out Jack specks to Mary
"came i want to fuck you some more"he said to her
"well well'said Mary

Johnny gave a short bark of a laugh. "You think you're all special, don't you. You think you're the only one in the entire world who has a difficult time sometimes. You think you're the only guy in Vietnam having a rough time. What do you want me to give you, a fucking medal?"
Johny paused to let that sink it, before lighting another cigarette and putting it to his parched lips. He took a drag before saying "Listen, the only reason I need to get you dumbshit bigshots drunk is because when you're sober you don't talk, because you think you seem badass by not saying a couple o' words to a reporter. It just makes you look stupid."
Johnny spoke in a hushed, calm voice, before turning and sipping from his drink.
"And I ain't harassin'. You think you know harassment, try working for a damn newspaper,"

"Oh yes, bravo. First insult me and then generalize. Yes, all soldiers are alcoholics that are out to get reporters in the war zone. You have us all figured out. How many of your friends and family have you seen killed? Me? Four in the past three months. I don't want a medal, but I don't want to die. So, I keep the people that are supposed to look out for me and each other happy by not having to talk to some self proclaimed do gooder who thinks that he is serving his country by getting its soldiers drunk and then getting them to spill their guts. How good a person you are. How we should all bow down to you. Let e guess what is coming next to me. Evil bastard out to kill all happiness. And if I thought I was special, I wouldn't be risking my life for people like you. You want to experience Nam. Next time we go out in the jungle, you come with us. That will be a story."

"Oh yes, bravo. First insult me and then generalize. Yes, all soldiers are alcoholics that are out to get reporters in the war zone. You have us all figured out. How many of your friends and family have you seen killed? Me? Four in the past three months. I don't want a medal, but I don't want to die. So, I keep the people that are supposed to look out for me and each other happy by not having to talk to some self proclaimed do gooder who thinks that he is serving his country by getting its soldiers drunk and then getting them to spill their guts. How good a person you are. How we should all bow down to you. Let e guess what is coming next to me. Evil bastard out to kill all happiness. And if I thought I was special, I wouldn't be risking my life for people like you. You want to experience Nam. Next time we go out in the jungle, you come with us. That will be a story."

"Hold up, I don't get you drunk, you're the ones getting yourselves drunk, I just take advantage of that. And don't pull the bullshit guilt "how many whatever have you seen killed" cause I've seen my fairshare, and they weren't armed either. Now go hit your head against a wall or something if you don't want to talk,"

later on Jack awakes up next to a sleeping Mary
"oh have i miss you" Jack said to the sleeping woman then get out of her bed put on his green then looks out on the city from the window

"Hold up, I don't get you drunk, you're the ones getting yourselves drunk, I just take advantage of that. And don't pull the bullshit guilt "how many whatever have you seen killed" cause I've seen my fair share, and they weren't armed either. Now go hit your head against a wall or something if you don't want to talk,"

"Suit yourself. That "bullshit guilt" was just to tell you that these boys don't need bad memories brought up again. They get a few days of R&R, then it's back to the jungle being worried about being shot at. Don't ruin for them, because if they get drunk and then tell you something the public shouldn't know, then they have to face consequences."
O'Conner paid the bar tender and was about to leave when he said, "My offer to go in the jungle still stands. We won't let you get a scratch if that's what you're worried about. Imagine the story you could write then." O'Conner walked out of the Golden Flower and to the barracks.

Johnny stared after him, thinking hard. Now wouldn't that be somethin', he thought, taking a weak drag from his cigarette. He snatched up his fedora, and walked out, still thinking. In battle...huh. He'd have to use that revolver he had in the hotel room. Keep by him for security. He scratched his unshaven face before walking over to the hotel. He arrived at the dingy lobby, jogged up to his room by stairs, (the elevators frequently jammed), snatched up the phone, and rang up his edit. "Hey, Carl. Yeah, its me, Johnny, y'know, Nam?" he paused and listened to the response. "Yeah, yeah, listen, I was talking to some captain or something like that, he said they might let me join up with their platoon or whatever, y'know, for a battle. Get some real firsthand reporting. Think of the look on the Daily News's face when we pull that big, fat Exclusive." he paused, listening, before adding "Haha, yeah, we'll be laughing at Vinny all the way to the bank." He paused, laughed at a comment on the other end of the line, before saying a farewell and hanging up.

Mary awakes an see Jack standing at the window so she gets out of bed an still naked goes over to him and hugs him
"Mary i don't regret marrying you at seventeen"said Jack as he hugs her back
"no do i regret marrying you at seventeen" Mary said back to him

"what you still got this i would think you would have lost this by now"said Mary pulling out the Photo from Jacks breast pocket

"as if my girl"said Jack as he takes out of her hand to look at it
"you look so Beautiful in your Cheerleader Uniform on day we got married in secret ,mind you ,you still do"said Jack then kissed her on the lips

When can we do something?

OOC: When everyone is done laying on their asses and imperial isa is done getting laid.

OOC: I'm not laying on my ass, how the hell is a reporter supposed to start a battle?

OOC: When everyone is done laying on their asses and imperial isa is done getting laid.
OOC
i'm wait for the others hell i be back at base in one post if i know what they up to

OOC: W/e. Everyone seems to have disappeared.

OOC: I'm not laying on my ass, how the hell is a reporter supposed to start a battle?

You're supposed to come with us on a patrol or something to that extent. Just trying to keep things moving. But everyone else seems to have disappeared.

Johnny donned some down-and-dirty gear, holstered his revolver (under his jacket), and jogged over, and up into the hills, where he had seen the platoon go to patrol. In his other pocket was tucked a pen and paper, with which he armed himself to keep himself busy just incase he couldn't help in firefight. He really looked forward to this.

You're supposed to come with us on a patrol or something to that extent. Just trying to keep things moving. But everyone else seems to have disappeared.

OOC so we out in bush are we mmm
IC
Jack had left Mary back at base as she went on duty and he went out on patrol

with AR-15 in hand Jack scans the trail when he spot something he lift his hand in the stand stop hand sign

gunny crept slowly up near jak with his Thompson machine gun in hand. " you spot something?" he whispered as he cocked the gun and scanned the tree line. gunny had been on thousands of these damn patrol and hated having t do them but that was life in the nam. he glanced back at the other soldiers and slowly shook his head think of how some of these boy wouldn't get to see the states again and that was the cold hard facts of this dang war. he turned back and scanned the tree line again. he gave the signal for the patrol to split into two groups sending one to the right and the other he lead to the left figuring if someone was out there they would box them in. gunny hate charlie every single last one of them even the one that were supposedly on their side

" small gook marking on the tree on the left means theres a boobty trap ahead"said Jack as he pulls out wirecutters out of a pocket

Johnny spotted the patrol up ahead. But it was too late. Some fuck opened fire at him from the trees. Johnny dived, and whipped out his revolver, shoving a bullet or two into it, before crawling over to the patrol. The constant ratatat of machien gun fire kep him down. Then it stopped.

"Jesus," he muttered.

the words didi mau could be heard caming from the trees
"hit and run attack"said Jack still standing then goes and cuts the wire of the boobty trap

gunny reached out and grabbed johnny by the collar and pulled him to the ground . " are you out of your mind man get your ass down" gunny yelled. he raised the Thompson and opened fire on the tree line emptying two clips into the tree line in three round bursts. then reached up and pulled a brenade from his vest pulling the pin clear and chucked it into the tree line the explosion erupting in a loud bang and a tree feel over.

OOC: He was already on the ground he CRAWLED over.

Jack cames back after cutting the wire of booby trap and see gunny wasting ammo
"gunny didi mau slang Vietnamese for go quickly they gone"said Jack


---------

"so whats that lover boy of yours doing today when you are on duty here"ask a nurse that work with Mary

"hes out on a patrol "said Mary
"i bet hes not happy is he not meant to be on R@R"ask the same nurse

"no hes not should of heard him when he found out"said Mary as she goes about her work

(OOC gunnys been in country since before the actually out break of war i think he would know if he was wasting ammo or not if he opened fire he did so for a reason pal. )

(OOC gunnys been in country since before the actually out break of war i think he would know if he was wasting ammo or not if he opened fire he did so for a reason pal. )

OOC you could just posted ic him saying i'm just making them run fast then post a ooc post and did i post jack saying a word about wasting ammo i said he saw it and him saying they go

IC

Jack looked at Johnny turns an heads up the trail with AR-15 in hand

(OOC actually if you go back read your post that exactly what you said it says word for word that jack watched gunny wasting ammo.)

(OOC actually if you go back read your post that exactly what you said it says word for word that jack watched gunny wasting ammo.)

OOC but did he have a gone at him for wasting it no,it posting from jack view point to jack he wasting it at a hit and run attack