1010102
26-03-2008, 00:05
Cries of "Incoming" were heard throughout the swamp as the whine of incoming artillery got louder and louder, followed by explosions and the creaking and cracking as trees fell all around. I tried to run, zig-zagging through the dark, wet hell-hole I had been patrolling. "HQ, This is Lt. Buck Arnarson with Second Platoon, D Company, Three-oh-Fifth AirCav Regiment. My Platoon is taking heavy fire and needs immediate evac. Is anyone reading me? Over." Only static answered back. I franticly repeated my call for aid. "Damn. Radio bought the farm." I continued my hushed rant for a few seconds before calling out to my squad leaders, "Anyone got a working radio? Mine took shrapnel all to hell." After a minute or two, that felt like hours, "Mine works, Sir." Sgt. Dave Anderson shouted back over the now, thankfully, distant sound of exploding ordnance. " Looking around, I couldn't see him. "Anderson! What is your position?" I shouted in what I thought was his general direction. He got a stick and waved a piece of torn, red cloth. As I stumbled through the thick foliage to get to him, the entire area came under heavy shelling from what seemed like dozens of artillery emplacements. I dove to the ground and belly crawled under a fallen log. I stayed there for well, I don't know how long, it could have been minutes, or hours.
When I finally emerged, I was wet, and covered head to toe in black mud. "Squad leaders, I want a unit sit-rep ASAP." The Sergeants started barking orders to their squads. Anderson, my XO yelled back five minutes later. "Eight dead, three have minor wounds, mostly scratches and bruises from falling trees. We lost all the medics. They were dividing supplies when the shelling started. One shell wiped 'em out." I swore. "Damn it." Sighing, I looked back at him. "Give me that radio Dave. I'll call for evac. Like it or not, we can't hold this position against those kind of numbers. Before we lost the Skylark, I saw dozens entering the edge of the swamp, with hundreds more farther south. That was at oh-six-hundred. Its been at least three-four hours, this swamp is probably swarming with them right now." The Sargent looked at my contemplating what I had said. He handed me the radio. I dropped the broken one and put the ear piece on. "This s Lt. Buck Arnarson with Second Platoon, D Company, Three-oh-Fifth AirCav Regiment, I have taken losses including all my medics. The swamp is probably crawling with enemy troops. I need Evac Raptors on ready to lift on as soon we get out of the wooded part. Over." Static buzzed for a moment. "Roger Second platoon, two Raptors are prepping for lift off as I speak. Over." I replied. "Roger that HQ, We'll contact you when we get near the RV point. Over." I switched frequencies to the Platoon channel. "Ok, boys and girls, we are going to get out of here in twenty minutes. But, we need to get to sector three. Unfortunately, those bastards are holding the only way to get to Sector Three. Move out!"
The groups split up into their ten-man squads. Not three minutes after we started toward the RV point, a claymore went off. Ears ringing, I screamed into the swamp. " Squads check in!" I heard only four shouts. I ran toward Third squad's last position. To this day, I wish I hadn't. The entire squad was ripped to shreds. All but one man was dead. He sat there groaning about a huge hole in the side of his left leg, with his right arm laying ten feet away. "God damn it. Fucking new guy was dragging his feet complaining about taking point. He stepped on the trip wire where the trails cross. Its my fault. I put him at point." I walked over and got his right arm. "Its not your fault. You couldn't have known about the mine. Wanna hand?" I looked at him grinning, holding his own arm to him." Meyer looked back up at me with his huge toothy grin. "You have always been a son of a bitch Buck." He grabbed his arm and pulled him self up. "I'll live for a while. Just get me crutch." I picked up one of the branches blown off by the AP mine. Steve grabbed it. He hobbled for about twenty feet and feel down dead.
When I finally emerged, I was wet, and covered head to toe in black mud. "Squad leaders, I want a unit sit-rep ASAP." The Sergeants started barking orders to their squads. Anderson, my XO yelled back five minutes later. "Eight dead, three have minor wounds, mostly scratches and bruises from falling trees. We lost all the medics. They were dividing supplies when the shelling started. One shell wiped 'em out." I swore. "Damn it." Sighing, I looked back at him. "Give me that radio Dave. I'll call for evac. Like it or not, we can't hold this position against those kind of numbers. Before we lost the Skylark, I saw dozens entering the edge of the swamp, with hundreds more farther south. That was at oh-six-hundred. Its been at least three-four hours, this swamp is probably swarming with them right now." The Sargent looked at my contemplating what I had said. He handed me the radio. I dropped the broken one and put the ear piece on. "This s Lt. Buck Arnarson with Second Platoon, D Company, Three-oh-Fifth AirCav Regiment, I have taken losses including all my medics. The swamp is probably crawling with enemy troops. I need Evac Raptors on ready to lift on as soon we get out of the wooded part. Over." Static buzzed for a moment. "Roger Second platoon, two Raptors are prepping for lift off as I speak. Over." I replied. "Roger that HQ, We'll contact you when we get near the RV point. Over." I switched frequencies to the Platoon channel. "Ok, boys and girls, we are going to get out of here in twenty minutes. But, we need to get to sector three. Unfortunately, those bastards are holding the only way to get to Sector Three. Move out!"
The groups split up into their ten-man squads. Not three minutes after we started toward the RV point, a claymore went off. Ears ringing, I screamed into the swamp. " Squads check in!" I heard only four shouts. I ran toward Third squad's last position. To this day, I wish I hadn't. The entire squad was ripped to shreds. All but one man was dead. He sat there groaning about a huge hole in the side of his left leg, with his right arm laying ten feet away. "God damn it. Fucking new guy was dragging his feet complaining about taking point. He stepped on the trip wire where the trails cross. Its my fault. I put him at point." I walked over and got his right arm. "Its not your fault. You couldn't have known about the mine. Wanna hand?" I looked at him grinning, holding his own arm to him." Meyer looked back up at me with his huge toothy grin. "You have always been a son of a bitch Buck." He grabbed his arm and pulled him self up. "I'll live for a while. Just get me crutch." I picked up one of the branches blown off by the AP mine. Steve grabbed it. He hobbled for about twenty feet and feel down dead.