5 comments/ 3583 views/ 16 favorites My Dearest Becky Pt. 01 By: Betrayer_of_Skalathrax This is the follow up to Becky's Marine. I've received much feedback concerning the series and many requests for it to continue. This is the beginning of that continuation. Thank you all for your support. This is a series mainly centered on Marines on deployment. There might be some not so PC things said here (and definitely in part 2). Please do not take offense to this, I'm just trying for an accurate portrayal. ******* It had been a long night, taking my turn as Sergeant of the Guard. Though I didn't have to do much of anything, I still had to be awake and available through the night. The benefit was that I got the following day, today, off. It had been a quiet night, as they all were, with me watching movies from someone's hard drive and catching a nap when I could. I had just finished showering and was climbing into my tiny excuse for a bed when Tyler came over, throwing the curtains aside and giving me several soft jabs in the ribs. "Wake up you lazy fuck," Tyler said as he hit me. "We're almost there, aren't you excited?" "Ecstatic," I said gruffly. "What are you rambling about?" "Our first port bro. Pearl harbor!" I had forgotten that today was the day we pulled into Pearl harbor, mooring close to where the doomed Pacific Fleet had been on that fateful Sunday morning. It was tradition to man the rails when we entered Pearl, a sign of respect to those who had paid the ultimate price. "Wake me when we can go out then," I said. "You don't wanna join us peons on the flight deck?" He asked with mock surprise. "You cut me deep Drew, real deep." "You poor thing, do you need to cuddle?" "God no, not with your ugly ass." We both laughed, enjoying the harassment we gave each other. "Where's Ryan?" I asked. "Don't know, I think sergeant Ruiz has him doing something stupid again." "That motherfucker, always fucking with my Marines. I'll have to have a talk with him." "He really needs to lighten up, maybe get laid once in a while," Tyler said, his mischievous grin showing. "Could you imagine that, Sergeant Serious getting laid," I said, laughing at the thought. "He would keep his stone faced expression the whole time." Tyler started laughing, picturing Ruiz, whose expression was always cold, unfeeling and serious, having a good time. Soon both of us were in stitches, me almost rolling out of my rack. There was a short silence, both of our bodies recovering from the laughter. I reached in my pillowcase for my earplugs, putting one in my right ear. "I'm serious, wake me when it's almost time for us to get off this floating prison." "Alright, I'll wake you then," Tyler said, sliding one curtain closed. "And tell Ryan that I wanna see him before we go. If Ruiz gives you any shit, tell him to see me as well." "Will do, goodnight honey." "Goodnight darling." He chuckled as he closed the other curtain and walked away. I laid there for a few minutes, eyes closed, thinking of Becky. I wondered what she was doing, how she had been these first nine days. My thoughts drifted to Carl and Jeanna, their engagement and what their plans for the future were. Lauren's words rang in my head again, clear as the morning she had said them. "You keep those boys safe over there," she had said. I hoped I could remain true to that. With all the unknowns of war, I could only do my best to try. ---- "Rise and shine pumpkin, Gunny's liberty brief starts in fifteen, enough time for you to get dressed and join me for a smoke," Tyler said as he flung the curtains open, light flooding the cramped space between me and the bunk above me. "Alright, I'm up. Just please, for the love of the gods, stop you infernal howling," I groaned, rolling out of the rack. "Not gonna happen bitch. We're in Hawaii!" "I'm aware of where Pearl harbor is, asshat." "Me too, that's why I'm so excited!" "Did you see Ryan?" "Yeah, he'll get with you after the libo brief." "Thanks. Let's go have that smoke." We had a quick smoke, returning just in time for the briefing. Gunnery Sergeant Ernesto Sanchez was a short, stocky man of about 30, what little was left of his hair had begun to turn grey. He was originally from Juarez, Mexico, having gotten his citizenship while serving in the Corps. Though not very imposing, his personality was more akin to a starved doberman than a man. "Listen up," Gunny Sanchez said in his thick Mexican accent. "This is our first port, don't fuck this up. Hawaii may seem like a whole different country, but it's still a state. If you're under 21, no drinking. Those of you who can drink, be smart and have a plan to get back to the ship. "Those of you that surf, this isn't California, the waves here are much bigger. Know your limitations. If you've never surfed, now is not the time to learn." At this point, First Lieutenant Brad Price joined the meeting, standing behind Gunny Sanchez. Where Gunny wasn't very imposing, Lieutenant Price more than made up for it. At 6'6 and 285 pounds of muscle, the man was built like a brick shithouse, easily the largest man in the battery. His ebony skin was covered in tattoos and he spoke with a thick southern accent. "Gunny, if I may?" LT Price asked. "Of course sir, go ahead." "I've been surfing for the past 10 years, I know my limitations. I'm not confident enough to go surf the North shore, that means I shouldn't see anyone else there either. If you can't swim, don't go out further than you can stand, especially Gunny." We all laughed at his jibe. It always made me feel good to hear the senior men act like the rest of us, makes them feel human. "Hahaha," Gunny said in mocking. "Everyone surfs on a surfboard and Gunny surfs on a boogie board." We all laughed harder, I knew where this was going, but it was funny as hell. "Shut up!" Gunny yelled. The room went deathly quiet, until Gunny started laughing. They gave us the number for the local taxi service, assigned men to shore patrol and dismissed us. Tyler and I ran to get changed into civilian clothes, with Ryan coming to talk to me. "Sergeant Anderson, you wanted to see me?" Ryan asked, keeping it professional. "Yes, get changed. We're going out." "But, aren't you not supposed to hang around junior enlisted?" Ryan asked fearfully. "Listen, I told Lauren I'd watch over you guys, now how can I do that if I'm not with you?" He thought for a minute, standing there as we got changed. "Good point," he said finally. "Good, now go get changed, we got a town to burn down." ---- Nine days, nine days without a phone call or a letter. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't stressed out, and his deployment has only begun. Carl and Jeanna had been helpful, listening when I need an ear, talking when I needed it and holding down the fort when I wasn't around. Before he left, Andrew had given me his parents email address and phone number. "If you need anything at all, feel free to call or write them," he had said. "You'll need a strong support network, and I can't think of anyone better than the two people who have been through two deployments." At 4 pm the phone rang, I was in the middle of dinner and quickly dropped what I was doing and raced to pick it up. "Hello," I said excitedly. "It sure is nice to hear your voice baby," Andrew said. "Baby! How are you?" "I'm good, just got off the ship. How are you?" "Much better now that you've called. Where are you?" "Scenic Pearl harbor, Tyler, Ryan and I are having lunch by the visitor center." "I wish I were there." The sadness in my voice was coming through, though I wished it wouldn't. "I wish you were here too babe. I miss you," he said sadly. "We all miss you too. What time is it there?" "11 AM." "How are the boys?" "Better now that we can get out of that iron crate. Things have been going pretty smooth, except for this asshole who keeps fucking with Ryan." "That's too bad. Hope it turns out better for him." "Don't worry, I'm gonna fix it." "Good." "Listen babe, I gotta go for now. The food is walking out of the kitchen and we're starving. I'll call you later and I'll send you more letters." "You better," I said with probably more anger than I should have. "I love you Becky," he said softly, just like be used to before we fell asleep. "I love you too Andrew," I said as tears welled up. He hung up the phone, leaving me to carry on with my evening. It would be much harder now that I had heard his voice. He had said more letters though, that must mean that at least one was coming. Jeanna came home a little while later, saying hi to me as she passed the kitchen. She hadn't heard my soft sobbing, otherwise she would have stopped to talk. Oh well, she will find out sooner or later. Lauren came home just as dinner was put on the table, with Carl drifting in soon after. I couldn't help but notice she was much happier than she had been the past few days. Ryan must have called her. "So, how was everyone's day?" Jeanna asked. "Long," Carl said. "Had a small upset in the plant, took most of the day to get it stable." "I got a call from Andrew," I said. "What! That's great, where are they?" Carl said, the news brightening his mood. "Hawaii, just got in this morning." "That's awesome, I wish we were in Hawaii," Jeanna said. "Me too. Then I'd get to be with my man." "Ryan called too," Lauren said. "They miss us all and have assured me that letters are on the way." "That's great, I'm glad they're doing well," Carl said. Dinner was filled with thoughts of our boys, traveling around the world in service to their country. I missed most of the conversation, my mind unable to shut up. My phone buzzed, shaking me from my thoughts. "Who is it?" Carl asked. "It's from Andrew," I said as I opened it. It was a picture of the three of them standing by the statue of King Kamehameha in Honolulu. I had to laugh. They seemed so happy, you would think they were on vacation, not going to a war zone. I passed it around, sending it to Carl and Lauren when the phone made its way back to me. I resolved to email his parents. I needed to know how to distract myself from the constant thoughts of him. It seems wrong to want to shut him out like that, but I had to be able to function. Life can't stop while he's away. ---- My mood had been a bit sour since I had called Becky. It was good to hear her voice, but the pain was evident. I had tried calling Carl at work, but nobody answered in the shelter. Ryan had been in a similar mood, having called Lauren and talked to her for over an hour. Tyler was still his cheery, brash self, ready for anything as long as alcohol was involved. We had hit downtown, wandering around the streets and hitting up an ABC store for some smokes and drinks. We had dinner at an amazing steak place called Atlantis Steak and Seafood. The food was amazing, so good that I made a note to bring Becky here later. We found a local dive bar, our never ending quest for alcohol bringing us to the first place we found that wasn't packed. The place was nice, decorated with paintings of palm groves and pineapple fields obviously some by some local artist. The crude images covering three of the four walls. "Aloha, what'll it be?" The bartender asked. He was an older man, probably in his 50's, with greying hair and a large pot belly. It was evident that he was a native, his accent and his tanned skin giving it away. "Scotch on the rocks," I said. "Jack and coke," Tyler said. "Same," Ryan added. We paid for our drinks, tipping the bartender well before heading for a table. We drank for a few hours, talking about what to expect and our plans when we return home. Becky dominated my thoughts, mostly of our life after my return. "You OK Drew," Tyler asked. "You seem distant." "Sorry," I said as I was brought back to reality. "Just thinking of home." "Bullshit," Ryan said. "You're thinking about Becky." "Guilty as charged." "I'm right there with you," Ryan admitted. "I can't stop thinking about Lauren." "Did you and her ever...?" "A gentleman never tells." "Well, fortunately there aren't any gentlemen here, so spill." Tyler's tone was rather forceful, with just a hint of mirth. "It didn't go as I planned OK," Ryan said, obviously annoyed. "She didn't tell you did she?" I asked. "No, not until it was too late." Ryan hung his head. "Tell you what?" Tyler asked. "What did I miss?" "Lauren is, or was, however the case may be now, a virgin. She had told me, and I assumed she would tell you. I guess I should've passed that along. I'm sorry," I said at length. "And you went to town like she had been previously deflowered, then when she screamed and you saw blood, you thought you really fucked her up," Tyler said, piecing it together. "Yup." It was all Ryan could get out, his expression changing to one of sadness. I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Look, if she didn't tell you then you couldn't have known. Even I assumed a girl that pretty had made a least one round with someone." "Was she mad?" Tyler asked. "No, she was more upset that she hadn't told me. She thought our first time would be more special if I didn't know," Ryan explained, fighting back tears. "Well, the damage is done," Tyler said. "No point in crying now." "Dude," I said as I glared at him. "Way too harsh." "No, its fine," Ryan said. "He's right. Nothing I can do to change it now." "So we know Ryan has some plans for when he gets back, what about you?" Tyler asked me. "After I get a large pizza in me and wake up from the food coma, I'm going to fuck Becky to death," I told them, getting laughs from more than just our table. The night passed without incident, mostly because Ryan and I controlled the amount of liquor that Tyler had. We made sure he got drunk, but not sloppy drunk. Two days, a tour of the Arizona memorial and a trip around the island later, we were back underway. I picked up a prepaid phone card so I could call Becky from the ships phones when we weren't busy. Sunday rolled around and, out of old habits and to escape from having to do menial tasks, I went to church. Over the past several years, I have had quite the falling out with my faith, but now something had come over me. I figured it was the fact that within a few months, we would be somewhere in either Syria or Iraq and, more than likely, in harms way. After church I gathered my guys for some history on Syria and its people. Cultures don't really change, especially when their base philosophy is as barbaric as terrorism, and I feel that it helps to know their past. It makes us more effective fighters. I went to the berthing to gather my seven Marines. Privates Jones and Wirth were easy to find, the movie they were watching at an unnecessarily high volume giving them away. Private Jim Jones was from Iowa, the only son of corn farmers, standing 6'2 and weighing close to 200 pounds with pale skin and dark green eyes that made him look perpetually miserable. Scott Wirth was from Miami Florida, living every day as if it were spring break. His family owned several prominent night clubs in the city, and Scott had never wanted for anything in his life. We would give him shit when he would complain about the military, telling him to have daddy buy his way out. "Farmhand, Moneybags," I said to get their attention. "Well deck in 15, knowledge class." With a huff, they paused their movie and set it aside, grumbling about their Sunday being ruined by classes. I told them that it was just our gun doing it and that it would be informative. "Tyler," I called as I saw him come back from a smoke. "I need you to find Simmons and Drake. Class in the well deck in 10." "You got it boss," he said as he went to track them down. "Oh, Tyler," I called after him. "Yeah?" "Seen Ryan?" "Ask Sergeant Ruiz," he said, turning to leave. --- "Ryan," I called, seeing him. "Let's go, class in the well deck." "Coming Sergeant," he said, dropping his task and coming with me. "Anderson, what the fuck?" Ruiz yelled as we were leaving. "Where're you taking my Marine?" I stopped, taking a deep breath. I had really come to dislike Ruiz, his manners as a person and his leadership style. He inspired fear, and used it as motivation. Fear is a bad motivator, because once you're not the scariest thing, you have no power. "Go on Ryan, I'll catch up." I turned to Ruiz, anger threatening to overtake me. "I asked what the fuck you think you're doing?" Ruiz said forcefully. "Listen Cody," I started, using his first name. "First, he's not your Marine, he's mine. Second, you're gonna back the fuck up right now." "Or what?" "Or you'll find yourself sinking to the bottom of the Pacific with chains wrapped around your neck." "Yeah right, you couldn't get them on me if you tried." "Oh really, we both know I'm far superior in martial skill, much stronger and have absolutely no desire to be on this float." The expression on his face changed to one of concern, realizing that I have nothing to lose. He took a few steps back. "Good, now that we got that settled," I began. "Ryan isn't your Marine to make into your bitch. He's my Marine to train and teach and meld into something far better than either of us. You need him for something that doesn't involve training, you ask me first, clear?" "You realize he's dumb as fuck right?" "Doesn't matter. I can fix that." "I've been trying for quite awhile, he can't be fixed." "Listen, dumb I can work with, hell, borderline retarded I can work with. He has a quality that can't be fixed." "And what's that?" "Work ethic. He's a hard worker and isn't scared of having to get dirty. I can teach him, I can mold him like clay, but I can't fix lazy." "Whatever, keep him then. He won't improve." "Yes he will, I promise you that." "If you say so." "Look man, I want things to be civil between us. It doesn't do anyone any good for us to be fighting." "But its so much fun." "Agreed, now if you'll excuse me, I have a class to give." I left Ruiz with his working party, heading for the hanger deck and descending the ramp to the well deck. As I expected, Tyler had used the short time I was gone to educate the men. I walked up to them, crowded together in the well deck smoking post listening to Tyler tell them of one of his past sexual exploits. "Is this the part where you got herpes?" I added as I walked up. Tyler laughed as I lit myself a cigarette. "It wasn't herpes, it was crabs, and yes, that would be the part." I looked around for anyone else, the well deck pretty deserted since the seas were rough and the large cargo doors were closed. I passed my smoke to Ryan, grabbing several crates and boxes for everyone to sit on. "Have a seat guys, get comfy," I said as I retrieved my smoke. "Smoke em if ya got em, bum em if you need em." Simmons and Wirth lit smokes, the rest declining. I sat on a crate and began the class. "So, for those of you who don't know, my personal classes are kept very relaxed. This is basically an open discussion about Syria and their culture." "Why are we learning this Sergeant?" Jones asked. "Glad you asked, I believe if we know about our enemy, understand their background and how they have waged war in the past, it will make us better at predicting their methods when we get there." We talked for a while about their colorful history, beginning in the 1920's when French mandate made them basically a protectorate, and continuing until recently with the formation of ISIS. Most of the men were uninterested until we came to more recent events, then they saw that things hadn't really changed in close to 100 years. "Alright, that concludes this class. You may go about your business," I said. My Dearest Becky Pt. 01 Tyler and Ryan stayed back, chatting about everything and nothing. It wasn't long before Ryan had to ask, the burning desire to know had been plastered on his face from the first moments of class. "How did your talk go with Sergeant Ruiz?" "Better than I expected actually," I answered. "You won't be pulled for working parties constantly anymore. I made sure of it." He took a cursory glance around, checking for anyone of high rank. "Thanks Drew, I really appreciate it." "No problem, though he will probably be fucking with me now." "Sorry about that." "Don't sweat it. I can handle his stupid shit, you shouldn't have to put up with it. You just have to put up with my stupid shit." Everyone laughed as we finished our smokes and went to get lunch. The food on ship is pretty terrible, with one Marine going as far as to say that "this garbage makes prison food taste like heaven." That evening, word came down that our next stop would be Guam for three days, resupplying and getting off just long enough to not get everyone arrested. Many of the men were happy that Guam was the next stop because their drinking age was 18. I had to burst their bubble. "Guys, the drinking age was raised back to 21. Sorry," I said, leaving them to wallow in the misery. I decided with some spare time that I would write Becky another letter. I wondered if she got my first one yet, deep down hoping she had. I missed her terribly, yet I couldn't have stayed there and let somebody else go back. They might end up as messed up as me. That thought made me realize that I hadn't had an episode in quite awhile. The dreams had come back, usually of us in country, but nothing as extreme as it used to be. I secretly hoped it wasn't just a lull. I sat down in the small aisle between racks, resting my back uncomfortably against the edge of the bottom rack. I made sure I had my pen, paper and a drink before diving in. ---- Lauren and I sat in the kitchen, catching up on how things had been since we had talked to our men. I asked her to move in, at least while they were gone. It would be good for us to have each other closer than across town. She had her mail forwarded here, planning to officially move in after a few weeks. When the mailman came by, it was hard to not race out and meet him. Andrew had said there was at least one letter on the way and I couldn't wait to read it. Shortly after the mailman drove down the street a ways, Lauren and I went to the mailbox. There were the usual bills, credit card offers and local ads. Near the bottom was a pair of plain white envelopes, one addressed to each of us. We were so excited we left the rest of the mail in the mailbox and ran inside. We flopped down on the couch, tearing into the letters like kids with Christmas presents. The room was quiet as we read them. My dearest Becky, I hope you're doing OK. It's only been a few days but I miss you so much. Time is moving so slowly here on ship, our days are filled with monotony and boredom. In another week or so we will be in Hawaii. Tyler is super excited and won't stop talking about burning Honolulu to the ground. Hopefully Ryan and I can keep him under control while we are there. Ryan seems to be doing well, though I suspect he is being unfairly treated by another Sergeant. I'll bring that to an end if that's the case. He and Tyler send their love. How are Carl and Jeanna doing? I wish them the best and hope they don't get married before I get back. Send them my love, as well as Lauren. Ryan talks about her constantly, like a sad and lost puppy. It'll get better for him, but right now there isn't much to do so he has time for his mind to wander. If you need any help or support, look to my parents and those around you. My folks have been through this before and they know what to expect. Carl, Jeanna and Lauren will be good resources to help you when things get rough. I'll call you when we get to Hawaii. I also plan to get a prepaid phone card so I can call you when we're out of the states. I miss you so much darling, sometimes I feel physically ill being away from you. I can't wait to get home and spend the rest of my life wrapped in your arms. All my love, AA As I read it I began to tear up, realizing that I felt the exact same way about us being apart. I've called in sick to work quite a bit since he's been gone, but I have to stop or else I might be let go. We have plenty of money, but with a wedding coming up in the future, we need all we can get. I set the letter on the table, going to the kitchen and getting two large Ziploc bags for us to keep our letters in. I wrote down their address on a post it note and stuck it on the fridge so we would have it if anyone else wanted to write to them. Lauren had finished her letter and was softly sobbing, her tears dripping onto the paper. I handed her a bag and some tissues, letting her decide when and if she wanted to talk about it. It was a few minutes before she spoke. "He's scared," she said softly. "Like really scared." "I know sweetheart, its his first deployment." "No, he's not scared about dying or anything, he's worried he will end up like Andrew. Unable to turn off certain memories." "He'll be fine. Andrew won't let anything happen to him." "How do you know!" She yelled through tears. "How can you be sure?" I had never seen Lauren this upset before. "I can't be sure sis, but I know that Andrew promised to bring him back safely. He will deliver on that, I know it." "No you don't! Things happen, uncontrollable things. What if they split them up? What if he gets hurt? Where will I be then?" "Right by his side, where he'll need you. You do know you're all he talks about right? If he isn't talking about work then he's talking about you." She wiped her eyes, the tears smearing her make-up. "Really?" I passed her the letter I got. "Read it for yourself." She read the letter, smiling as she did. She choked back a laugh when she read about Ryan, obviously torn between her sadness and the writing before her. "I'm sorry," Lauren said at length. "I'm just so scared for him, I don't know what to do. I feel so helpless." "Because we are helpless. We can't control what happens over there any more than we can control the weather. All we can do is be strong and support them in any way they need." Lauren hugged me hard, sobbing into my shoulder. It was going to be a long eight months. --- November 18 was a foggy morning for the Pacific, the coast of Guam barely visible as a large grey shape in the distance. Tyler had woken me up early to have a smoke with him before Gunny was going to brief us. Our orders had changed and I had a feeling of what they would be. "Bet ya a pack of cigarettes that we have a field exercise here," I said to Tyler, braking the sleepy fog surrounding us. "Why would they do that?" He asked. "We can't shoot here." "We can run drills. There is an abandoned airfield we've used before." "Fuck it, you're on." When we finished our smokes we flicked them over the side, watching them fall the 60 feet or so to the sea below. We returned to the berthing as everyone else was getting up, camouflage clad zombies moving about their morning routines of showers, shaves and brushing teeth. We gathered around the quarterdeck of our berthing, mingling with several staff NCO's and a few of the platoon commanders as we waited for Gunny Sanchez. "How's it hangin' Anderson?" Lt. Price asked. "A little to the right this morning sir, how are you?" "I'm fine, just fine. How're your Marines?" "Doing well so far sir, though I'll bet we will find out more in the next few days." "Why would you say that?" "Because Gunny is gonna tell us we have drills on the airfield sir." "How do you know that?" "Matter of deduction. There aren't any resupply missions going, we haven't made for port yet, and Gunny is going to brief us. Seems like a training exercise to me sir." He smiled at me. "Very observant Sergeant. Now I see why the other officers have so much faith in you." "Thank you sir," I said rather proudly. "It helps that I've made this journey twice previously." "Of course you have," he said, shaking his head and laughing. "Any words of advice for this training exercise?" "I'll given you the same advice I give all officers, listen to your Sergeants. Odds are that between them, they've seen just about everything sir." "I'll keep that in mind." "Sir, can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Have you been to combat?" "No, this will potentially be the first time." "OK, if you wanna go outside the wire, come with my men sir." "Very well, thank you." The door to the berthing opened and Gunny Sanchez came in, followed by Captain Varren. The two of them came to the front of us, with Captain Varren standing in front of Gunny Sanchez, obviously the one to break the news to us. The room got quiet, everyone waiting to hear what he had to say and those of us who had been on this route before hoping that it wasn't orders for a training exercise. "Morning Marines," Captain Varren said, receiving a chorus of good mornings in return. "We have a slight change of plans. Tomorrow morning, three gun sections will load their guns and trucks onto LCAC's and make for the shore. They will then spend the next few days training on an abandoned airfield, where they will be tested and timed. Once they have finished, they will load back up and we will make port in Guam. Those who stay behind will be doing maintenance and preparing training for the next time we unload the guns." Groans filled the air, the men not hiding their displeasure at possibly of having to do more training. I had mixed emotions about it; not wanting to do the work, yet wanting to see how well our gun performed. "Guns 2, 3 and 6 will be going, the rest will stay," Gunny Sanchez said, stepping forward. Comm and Motor T support will be distributed by their respective platoon commanders. Today, guns platoon will complete PM work on their howitzers, weapons and vehicles. Comm and Motor T will get with their platoon commanders and be given work instructions. Any questions?" I raised my hand, needing just one question answered. "Yes, Sergeant Anderson?" "Why are only three guns going?" "Because those three guns have new section chiefs. I have to know how they will perform together before we get in country." "Roger, thanks Gunny." After being dismissed, we all went down to the well deck to conduct our maintenance. As we descended the ramp, I pulled my guys aside, wanting to explain some things to them. "Listen up guys," I said. "Here's what I need from you today. Tyler, you and Jones PM the truck, make sure we have everything we need for five days." "Why five days Sergeant?" Jones asked. "Gunny said we would be gone for three or four." "LCAC's break down like a Swiss watch. We might be told three days but if our ride breaks down, we could be there longer," I explained. "Got it," Jones acknowledged. "Now, the rest of us will get the gun ready. Whichever group finishes first will go and help the other. When all that is done, we will go clean weapons and pack our gear. Bring your cold weather stuff as well, it may get cold at night. Any questions?" When nobody said anything I continued. "Good, those who don't smoke, get to it. Those who do finish up, then get to it. Remember, you're working for me today. Anyone who wants you for anything has to clear it with me first, understood?" Everyone affirmed what I had said and quickly went to work. Within two hours, the gun was ready and the truck was nearly done. I sent Drake, Simmons and Wirth to start cleaning the .50 cal that would mount on the truck while Tyler, Jones, Ryan and I finished the truck. In the end, we had finished hours before everyone else. ---- It had been a long few days since Andrew had called. Work did nothing to help me take my mind off of him, much to my dismay. To be honest, work at the dentist office was so slow that I've given serious thought to quitting. A close friend of mine has a ranch just outside of town and is always asking for help, maybe it's the opportunity I need. Smokey's was relatively dead this evening, just a few regulars shooting pool and having a few drinks. I sat at the bar alone, nursing my once cold beer and wondering what Andrew was doing. I knew that he wouldn't be in country yet, but I still worried almost daily about him. His parents had been a big help, sending me emails quite often. Some were chains of motivational memes or funny things about military life, some were checking up on me and telling me to contact them if I need anything. Andrew's mother Mary had been a godsend, talking on the phone with me until the early morning hours. His dad had called me a few times from work. He was a refinery worker too, working at the Shell refinery in Martinez. I noticed someone sit down next to me, a tall, thin man with long hair and a goatee. I made idle chat with the bartender, hoping he would leave me alone, but I didn't think my luck would last. "Hey beautiful," he said. "Can I buy you a drink?" "If you want, but I'm spoken for," I replied, praying that he would just go away. "Where's your man at?" "On his way to Iraq." "Shit, if I were him I'd never leave you." "Oh believe me, he didn't want to. It was his duty and obligation, so he went." "Now who's gonna keep you warm tonight?" "Not you," I said, finally having enough of this dirtbag. "And why not? Your man ain't here, so someone's gotta do it." "Because it would be hazardous to your health." Keith, one of the regulars and a frequent opponent of mine in darts and pool came by to get a refill. He was quite stocky, with short hair and a face scarred from years of fighting. He was a good man, watching over me when Andrew wasn't around. "Hey Becky, this guy bothering you?" Keith asked, his thick southern drawl making it almost impossible to understand him. "Actually," I said, looking at the lanky guy next to me. "He was just leaving." "Not without you," the man said. "I think you'd better move along pardner, she's got a mean streak a mile long." Keith said, though it really wasn't a request. "I'll leave when she's good and ready." "You ain't from these parts are ya?" "No." "Well, let me educate ya. This woman and her fiance are good friends of many of us here. Believe me when I say that you need to move it along." Keith was beginning to outwardly show his anger now. "Look bumpkin, the only way I'm leaving is with her. She obviously needs someone to satisfy her." "Well," Keith said, looking at me and the bartender. "I asked him nicely." "That you did," the bartender replied. Keith grabbed the guy by the collar, throwing him from his bar stool. He gave the man a hard kick to the ribs before hauling him to the door, tossing him outside into the cold and rain. "Don't come back," Keith called after him. "Ever!" I sat there on my stool, laughing at the turn of events. Things had been hard since Andrew had left, but folks had been helpful. This town was small enough that just about everyone knew everyone, making it easy to accept people as extended family. It also made outsiders obvious to anyone with two functioning brain cells to rub together. "You OK Becks?" Keith asked upon his return. "Yeah, thanks Keith." "You really wanna thank me?" He asked with a twinkle in his eye. "Maybe," I said cautiously. "Let me win at pool for once." We shared a laugh and ordered another round, heading to the pool table. Keith was a good man, but he was terrible at pool. I guess I can let him win once, I thought as he racked up. --- Lucky for Ryan, he was a hard worker with a strong back, because I think Sergeant Ruiz was right. Ryan's usual position on the crew was ammo man, fusing and bringing the 100 pound rounds to the gun as needed for the mission. I had decided to shake things up a bit and moved everyone but Tyler to different positions. Ryan became assistant gunner, elevating the gun up and down (quadrant), but he was slow on the wheel and had trouble getting the correct quadrant. The first day had gone relatively well, having done a few emplacement drills as well as simulating fire, move and fire again. Gunny Sanchez was pleased with us, but not so much with the others. Earlier in the day, Gunny had come by our gun and congratulated us on our ability. He told us the next few hours would be slow for us as they worked through the other guns and that I was to deliver some form of training while we waited. Being a good Sergeant, I delegated that to Tyler, having each person learn the basics of a new job. Normally I'd do it myself, but I wanted to see if my theory was correct, and our position in the middle of the gun line helped a lot. Artillery law states that one cannot smoke within 50 feet of the gun, so I went to smoke, using the distance to get within earshot of the other guns. As I expected, Sergeant Ruiz was yelling at his men, hoping to motivate them through fear of punishment. His crew was sloppy and slow, more concerned about potential punishment than doing their jobs. Sergeant Christensen's gun was much the same, not only confirming my theory but also leading me to suspect that the two were trained by the same person. "Listen up," I said as I returned to the gun. "School circle, lets go." Everyone quickly gathered around, sitting in from of me on the old tarmac. "What's up Drew?" Tyler asked. "Class time. Simmons, when should you pick up Corporal?" "Soon I hope, why Sergeant?" Simmons answered. "How should you lead Marines?" "I'm not sure Sergeant." "OK, there are two schools of leadership. One leads through fear, the other through encouragement. How do I lead?" "Encouragement." "Good, how does Sergeant Ruiz and Christensen lead?" "Fear." "Good. So why are we having this discussion while they are working?" "Because you know how to lead Sergeant." "No, because I know how to get results. I haven't yelled at any of you in a negative way, haven't belittled you or made you feel like shit. I tell you what needs to be done, how it needs to be done and when it needs to be done by. Why? Because we're all grown men here. Treating you like little kids isn't helping anyone and only hurting the crew. "You all know my proverbial door is always open, you can talk to me about anything without fear of reprisal from me or Tyler. So remember, lead from the front, lead by example and lead with faith in your crew to get the job done. Treating people with respect goes much further than ruling with an iron fist." We discussed leadership for the better part of two hours, going as far as to bust out my old copy of The Art of War. Sun Tzu was pretty spot on with his work, I must say. The rest of the day was mock fire missions and training. We finally called it a night around 1900. "Sergeant Anderson," Ryan said, sitting beside me. "Can I talk to you?" "Sure, what's on your mind?" "How is my performance? I'm worried that I'm behind the curve." "Well, speaking honestly, I think you are a bit behind. Don't let this discourage you though, you have something that can't be trained." "What's that?" "Work ethic. I can train anything from a bit behind to dumb as a fence post, but I can't train lazy." "Thanks." "If you want, we can do some training when we have down time and I can schedule something for us if I need to." "What about everyone else?" "I have a minion to take care of them." "A minion?" "Tyler. As a Corporal, he should be taking more of the work load than I give him, and I will give him more when we get in country. Right now though, I want him relaxed and calm." My Dearest Becky Pt. 01 "Why's that?" "So he's fresh when I need him." The next two days were more of the same. Little bouts of training interspersed with fire mission drills. In the end, I decided to keep everyone in their original positions, explaining to them that they needed to know other jobs as well, in case they ever had to do it. The day of our return to the ship came and we packed up everything, heading to the beach. Hours passed as we waited, talking and bullshitting, learning things about each other. Simmons had been a cop in San Antonio before joining the Corps. Turns out, he's the second oldest one on our crew. Drake had been a bull rider, competing in rodeos across the country. He grew up in Jasper Texas, his father had been a cowboy and he decided he wanted to be just like his father. That is, until his father was crippled by a horse during a rodeo. Gunny came up to our group, his demeanor was not one I ever wanted to see again. "What's up Gunny?" I asked. "God damned LCAC's broke down. Get cozy, we'll be staying here tonight," he said, obviously upset. He left before I could say 'I told you so.' "Well guys," I said. "Now you see why I told you to pack for a few extra days." Everyone laughed, knowing the others would probably be low on smokes and dip by now. I sent Tyler to find out about getting watch set up for the night and gave up Ryan and Simmons for the list. Tyler and I spent the rest of the evening answering questions about our tour of Afghanistan. Tyler got most of the questions, the junior enlisted wanting to know how it was to be in combat with me. To his credit, Tyler pulled no punches, telling them what I did well and what could have gone better. We bedded down for the night, curled up next to the gun and laying under the stars. I fell asleep dreaming of Becky. ---- I couldn't take it anymore. It had only been three weeks or so, and I was more turned on than I can remember. I had told myself when Andrew left that I would hold out until he got back, but I couldn't wait anymore. The slightest mention of anything even remotely sexual got my pussy soaked. Carl was working tonight, so I had enlisted Jeanna's help in picking out some toys to keep me somewhat satisfied. We had managed to pick out a few vibrators and dildos without being perved on by every guy in there and stopped at the store to get a large compliment of batteries. "So Becky," Jeanna said as we drove home. "You uh, planning on trying those tonight?" "Not sure yet, why?" I asked with a grin on my face. "OK, so here's the thing," Jeanna started after a long pause. "Since that first night, I've thought about you and what we did." "Oh?" "Yeah, I mean, Carl satisfies me and all, but you did things to me that he probably doesn't even know exist. I've been hoping to do it again but I haven't found a way to ask you until now." "I see, tell me more about what I do to you." "Oh my god, it was like magic. You knew exactly where to lick and suck and just the right way to tease. It was like you were inside my head. I'm getting wet just thinking about it." To be completely honest, I had been wet since she had agreed to go shopping with me. I had a decision to make. Do I throw caution to the wind, or wait til I'm alone tonight? In the end it was an easy decision to make. I began unbuttoning my jeans, careful to not run us off the road. "What are you doing?" Jeanna asked. "Give me your hand beautiful." I put her hand against the fabric of my panties, which were completely soaked. "God girl, your drenched!" "I've been that way for hours now. Ever since you agreed to come with me." Jeanna began to slowly and gently play with me through my panties, making driving a real chore. It got so bad so fast that I had to remove her hand before we crashed. "Wait til I get you home. Then it'll be on," I said when she gave me a sad look. She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I wanted so badly to take her right there, but I knew I couldn't. It would have to wait. My desire burned with the intensity of a million suns, my need now greater than ever. We pulled into the driveway after what seemed like an eternity. I buttoned my jeans and grabbed the bag of toys and batteries, racing inside as fast a I could manage. Jeanna was laughing as she walked up, my need apparently giving her great entertainment. We went to our rooms to change into something more comfortable. I settled for a short skirt and tank top while she chose sweats and a large T-shirt. We sat on the couch and got the new toys set up, giggling as we fooled around with them. "OK, enough of that," Jeanna said. "I need you." In my mind I had been playing this situation out since we got home. Our basic animalistic urges taking over and us attacking each others bodies. Surprisingly, that's not how it went at all. Slowly and sensually, we kissed, our tongues entwining and dancing together as we rekindled something I thought had come and gone. Her hands found their way to my chest, massaging my breasts tenderly and lovingly. I shed my top, letting her do what she pleased with my tits. She took one into her mouth, licking and sucking on my nipple while her hand pinched and pulled softly at the other one. I threw my head back and moaned loudly. "God Jeanna, that feels so amazing." She swapped tits, trading her hand for her mouth and vice versa. I ran my hands through her hair, drawing her deeper into me and silently begging her to venture lower. She nibbled at me, obviously unsatisfied with how my nipple was reacting. She began to creep lower, kissing her way down my stomach towards my recently shaved mound. The feeling was so intense that I almost came right there. She lifted my skirt up around my waist and smiled at my lack of underwear. "Please baby," I begged. "Please give me release." She looked at me, a smile crossing her face. "Of course my dear." Jeanna's tongue snaked out, flicking my clit rapidly before gliding lower. I could feel her warmth as she parted my moist folds, savoring the flavor of my essence. "Mmm, you taste so good baby," Jeanna purred. "We need to do this more often." I didn't respond, placing my hand on the back of her head and pushing her face back into my sex. She attacked it with renewed vigor, her tongue working miracles on my body. Before I knew it, I was bucking against her mouth, screaming with pleasure as I flooded her face. She climbed up next to me, kissing me passionately and letting me taste my own juices. "Now its my turn," I said as I pushed Jeanna on her back. "Hold on, before you begin," Jeanna said, grabbing one of the vibrators we had bought and handing it to me. "Put this inside you before you start." "Which hole?" I asked with a smile. "Good point. One in each," she said, handing me the other vibrator. "As you wish." I stuck one in my ass and one in my pussy, turning them on slowly so they wouldn't distract me from the task at hand. I buried my face in Jeanna's sex, her tantalizing smell drawing me in and her sweet flavor keeping me wanting more. I ate her like a fat kid eats cake, licking up and down her slit before delving deep into her wet hole. Jeanna moaned loudly and gripped the couch cushions, her voice getting louder and more high pitched the closer I brought her to orgasm. When she couldn't hold back any longer, her body convulsed and my mouth was flooded with her juices. "Good god baby, that was amazing," Jeanna panted. She sat up after a minute, pulling the vibrators from my body and sucking them clean before putting them in her own holes. She grabbed one of the dildos and pushed me on my back. "I wanna make you cum again," she said. I spread my legs for her, giving her all the access she would need. She lives up the toy with her mouth and slowly slid it inside me, making me moan with joy. It wasn't as good as the real thing, but it would have to do for now. She worked me over for a few minutes, making me cum all over our new toy. I sucked it clean and used the other on her, sticking the other one in my ass while I ministered to her needs. We both collapsed in a heap when we were through, laying halfway off the couch. I knew the need would be satiated for now, but it would be back. At least now I knew I had Jeanna to help. ---- Guam was a blast. Between going to the indoor shooting range that let you shoot pretty much any weapon you could want and hitting up a half dozen strip clubs, we were sad to leave. Our planned stop in Thailand got changed to a simple day of offshore resupply flights, which was disappointing to say the least. I had spent many hours bringing Ryan up to where everyone else was, then we worked on preparing them all for combat. From my past experience, the Corps takes their "every Marine is a rifleman" thing serious. Between my last two tours, we fired maybe a dozen rounds from the howitzers, the rest was route clearance and convoy escort missions. I had received many letters from home. A couple from my parents, one from Carl and a few from Becky. We've been so busy lately that I haven't had a real chance to sit down and write letters, but I had been keeping notes about daily activities we did that I could give to Becky when I returned. Ryan had received quite a few letters from Lauren and only two or three from his parents. He told me they were going through hard times and were in the process of a divorce. I felt bad for him, having parents who were squabbling while he was heading into a dangerous and ultimately unknown situation. This is when he needed them most, and they were too busy with their bullshit to care much about him. Christmas had come and gone, only noticed by a special meal of surf and turf for dinner, which the military never fails to mess up. The steak was overcooked and the lobster tails were rubbery, par for the course. Our arrival to Kuwait City was fast approaching and everyone was on edge to some degree, which made picking out the veterans easier. Almost everyone had penned a death letter, including myself, and had given it to the CO for safe keeping. Some see it as a bad omen, I personally think that my loved ones would rather hear from me than receive some standardized letter with some General's signature. I went over many of the essential things to bring on missions and what to expect from the locals. Much of this training consisted of informal talks and meetings during down time and was met with moans and groans from the men. I had to explain on multiple occasions that it messed with my time too, but it may keep us alive. I had also run into an issue concerning my libido. My sex drive was higher than ever, which was odd because we really didn't have much time to think about that stuff. Sure I would find time to go and masturbate, just like everyone else, but it never really cured the itch. The morning of January 3rd, Tyler and I went to smoke. There in the distance, the high rise buildings and the spire of the Kuwait towers rose into the sky. The beauty of the city never ceased to amaze me, looking so modern in a part of the world which seemed trapped in centuries past. "Well," I said to Tyler. "Here we go again." "Just like old times," he said. We watched the city grow larger and become more clear as we came closer. It was a clear day with a bit of cool wind biting at our faces. After a few more smokes each, we headed inside. We began to pack our gear, knowing soon that the official order would come down and we would be ahead of the game. Without fail,Gunny came to our berthing half an hour after we started packing and got everyone else moving. Once we had packed, we sat around idly while the crew of the Bonhomme Richard got us moored. Captain Varren called all the senior enlisted, section chiefs and drivers together for an initial briefing on our route and where we would camp for the night. Our first stop would be at the Kuwaiti border, allowing us an early rest and early start to make it to Baghdad at a decent time. When we were able, we moved all our gear to the trucks, then played musical equipment as we tried to get all our stuff off the ship. It wasn't an easy task and was one of the few times that I was happy an officer was around to take charge. Trying to get 13 seven ton trucks, 6 howitzers and 8 Humvees off of a ship is like herding cats. That's just our equipment, that doesn't include the vehicles and trailers belonging to the rest of 1st battalion. By mid afternoon we had left the ship behind and our column was headed north towards the Kuwaiti border. It was just after 7 PM local time when we reached our scheduled stop for the night, setting up sleeping bags and getting the watch organized. I told everyone not to stay up late, we had an early morning start and about a 12 hour drive to our next destination. Before we all bedded down, I called everyone for a very important meeting. "Guys, we need to talk," I began. "I need input." "On what Sergeant?" Simmons asked. "We have to name the gun, it's an unspoken tradition. What are we going to name it?" Everyone thought for a minute, the name had to be a good one. It would be a reflection of the crew and their attitude. Ryan gave the first idea. "How about we call her Hope?" "No, not mean enough," I said. "Satan's dick?" Offered Wirth. "No." "How about Prometheus?" Jones said. "Prometheus?" Asked Tyler. "Prometheus was the mythological Greek Titan who sided with Zeus and the Olympian Gods in the war against the Titans. He stole fire from Mt Olympus and gave it to man, for which he was eternally punished. He was chained to a rock, his liver eaten daily by and eagle and regenerated by night," I explained. Greek mythology had always interested me, and it was nice to find a short use for it. "Got it," Tyler said. "Good," I replied. "When we get back, get a fucking education." Everyone laughed, knowing that I was always more than happy to teach people something. "So is that it then?" I asked. "Prometheus?" Everyone gave a nod or said yes. "Very well. When we get to our base, I'll acquire some paint and some stencils." Everyone went to lay down, the long trip ahead and the unknowns still to come at the front of the men's minds. It wasn't hard to see on their faces the plain expression of hidden fear. I took this opportunity to write Becky one last letter before we arrived in hell. My dearest Becky, I miss you so much and hope that you're doing well. I know you're doing a good job of keeping things running smoothly at home. You're such an independent woman, it would be impossible for you not to. Send everyone my love. I've received many letters from you and I keep them close, reading them again and again. It's my little piece of you to hold on to. My memories of you keep me going every day and I look forward to being home in your arms. We made it to Kuwait this morning. The men are nervous but in high spirits. Most have no idea what awaits them ahead, but I've worked with them and they will perform well when called upon. Tomorrow we drive to Baghdad, where I might be able to call you. By the time you read this, we will be at war, doing that which we were called upon to do. I love you with all my heart and I always will, no matter what may happen. I hope you have found an outlet for your sexual urges. Whether it's toys or another woman, I'm fine with it. Just remember that I won't stick my dick where it doesn't belong, so I don't want anyone sticking theirs where it doesn't belong. Send Carl, Jeanna and Lauren my love. Tell Lauren not to worry to much about Ryan, he's in good hands here. I love you so much my dear, and remember that I hold you tight each night in my dreams. All my love, AA ******* Part 2 is coming. Their journey to the front is almost over, what will lie in store for them next? Thanks for reading! My Dearest Becky Pt. 02 This is the last part of the continuation of Becky's Marine. Thanks for the comments and feedback, they help make us authors better. Some situations in this part may not sit well with everyone. This is similar to how it happened on my deployment, but this ending is much better than it played out for me. This part is dedicated to the anonymous who has a deployed Marine in her life. I pray for his return, along with all the others who are still out there, fighting on distant shores. ********* "Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood." - George S. Patton My dearest Becky, I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to write to you sooner. Things have been busy here as the Army pushes towards Abu Kamal, Syria from Qusaybah in Iraq. From what we have been told, resistance is heavy. Pray for us during these trying times, we need all the help we can get. Ryan and Tyler are doing well and send their love. Ryan is adjusting to life in country better than I thought, though the same can't be said for the others. It seems like every night I hear someone crying. I miss you. I think about you every day, wondering how you're doing and what you're doing. I cherish every letter I get from you all and long to be home again, in your arms, where I belong. Please don't worry too much, we're doing well and staying safe. I'll bring all these boys home safe, just like I promised. Know that I'm with you always, waiting in your dreams. All my love, AA Camp Qusaybah, located about three miles south of the town of Qusaybah on the Iraqi/Syrian border, was a shitty place. The men of Bravo battery had called it home for about a month now, routinely conducting patrols through the town and keeping the border crossing secured. Elements of the First Marine Division were housed there, as well as an Army tank battalion. The view was nice, aside from it being in a war zone. Both the camp and the town of Qusaybah hugged the winding banks of the Euphrates river. The area around the river was lush and fertile, with palm groves and fig orchards tended to by local farmers. Our accommodations were meager, with prefabricated buildings serving as our squad bays, a little duty free store that constantly ran out of cigarettes and dip and a basketball court that had seen far better days. It really drives home the idea that the Marines are kept angered by life on the FOB (Forward Operations Base) so they will be more aggressive in combat. I entered the squad bay shared by guns 1 and 2, the rows of beds along the walls filled with resting Marines. "Grab your shit, formation in 10," I said, waking up those who were sleeping. Captain Varren had called for a formation before we got our next set of orders. "Doesn't Gunny ever get tired of formations?" Tyler asked grudgingly. "This one comes straight from the Captain, but I'm sure Gunny would have called one if he could," I replied. When Captain Varren finally joined us, he was holding a red folder. Seeing it, I knew it was a promotion formation, but had to wonder who was being promoted. Captain Varren took the formation from First Sergeant Hayes, a tall, thin man who looked a lot like Weird Al Yankovic. When First Sergeant had taken his place next to Captain Varren, Ryan was called to the front. The Captain read the promotion citation and the two of them pinned Lance Corporal chevrons on Ryan, who then returned to formation. "Rest!" Commanded Captain Varren, allowing us some movement. "Men, First Marines will be moving into Syria beginning tomorrow morning. Their first objective is the town of Abu Kamal. Once they have secured it, Army personnel will move in to hold the town while First Marines continues onward. "Our job is to shell the dog piss out of them before First Marines gets there. From now on, Army infantry will be pulling border security. All crews report to your section heads tomorrow morning at 0400. Shelling will begin at 0500. Any questions?" "Will there be civilians in the city, sir?" Asked Tyler. "The town has been cleared of civilians. Anyone still there, is there to kill you," the Captain answered. --- I had cried for hours when I had read his last letter. They had arrived in Kuwait, but that was weeks ago. I really hoped he was OK. I don't know what I'd do without him. I know he tells me not to worry, but I just can't help it. We all worry about them, even Carl, who has been a rock through this whole ordeal, broke down when he read it. Jeanna and I hadn't told Carl about our rendezvous while he was at work. She had pulled me aside and asked that I not tell him, but I felt like it would be harmful to their engagement if there were secrets between them. I hadn't said anything to her then, but the guilt has been killing me. After dinner was cleaned up, Carl went to watch TV while Jeanna and I did the dishes. I had to talk to her again, so when she volunteered to clean up, I decided to help. "Jeanna, we need to talk," I said quietly so Carl wouldn't hear our conversation. "What's up?" She asked. "I've been thinking, we should tell Carl about our hookup." "Why? What he doesn't know won't hurt anyone." "Yes, but what will happen when he finds out?" "How will he?" "Do you really think I can keep my hands to myself all the time? It's gonna happen, I promise you." Jeanna sighed, her face a blank stare as she contemplated my point. People always get caught, especially when they think they won't. "OK, we can tell him," she finally said. "Good. And who knows, he might be fine with it. Andrew did authorize me a girlfriend if I wanted." "True," Jeanna said. "Who better than the fiance of his best friend?" "Exactly." We finished the dishes and went to sit with Carl. He had the news on, as he did most days since Andrew had got to Kuwait. He seemed like he was hoping to hear something of his best friend, though what it was, he would never say. "Honey," Jeanna started, "We need to talk." "Look, whatever I did, I'm so sorry," Carl began before Jeanna held up a hand. "It's not what you did, its what we did," she said. "What did you two troublemakers do?" "Each other," I said quietly. Carl looked at us bewildered, his face saying more than his mouth could. He was genuinely confused. "What?" "We had sex, again." Carl laughed, something he hadn't done in weeks. "Is that it? You two got busy?" "Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Jeanna said. "Are you mad?" "Yeah I'm mad. Mad that I didn't get to watch, or fuck my fiancé while you two did your thing." A wave of relief hit me. I should have known Carl would be OK with it, but lately I've been so out of it that I was really scared. "So baby, would you have a problem with me taking care of Becky while Andrew is gone?" "No, just don't leave me high and dry," Carl said, pulling Jeanna in for a kiss. The news was focused on the war, frequently cutting to reporters close to the front. From what they were saying, First Marine Division would be moving on Syria soon. As they spoke, the mood of everyone in the room darkened more and more. "Gods, watch over them all," I said softly, and began to cry again. --- "Fire mission! Gun 2, 1 round. Special instructions, at my command. Shell, HE,PD. Charge, 7 white. Deflection 3325, Quadrant 283," Fire Direction Control called along the gun line, our radios seeming to echo across the plains. It was our turn to kick off the bombardment, sighting in the guns before unleashing hell upon Abu Kamal. Drake copied the instructions onto the official form as they were read, repeating them back so there was no confusion. The last thing we need is to shoot somewhere we weren't supposed to and kill other Marines. When the mission had been read off and verified, we set about making ready. It took less than a minute for us to prepare the gun for its first shots of the war. In the darkness, stenciled in white letters along the barrel, 'Prometheus' was just visible. "Drake, call back ready," I said. Drake grabbed the handset for the radio. "Gun 2 ready." Ryan was getting more ammo ready, knowing the next mission would require a good many rounds. Tyler was helping Simmons with opening powder canisters and Jones was getting an updated ammo count. It wasn't long before the radio came to life again. "Standby!" "Standby!" I echoed as the men ran to their assigned spots. "Fire!" Before the radio could finish saying it, I was repeating it. Tyler pulled the lanyard, the gun rocking back hard against the ground and sending dust up around us. Simmons pulled the lever to open the breach, smoke and the distinctive scent of gunpowder blowing out. Ryan swabbed the breach and we awaited our next mission. It took three single rounds from us before FDC (Fire Direction Control) was happy and we got the go-ahead to begin. The mission required 10 rounds from each gun, then we would stand by for further instructions. Throughout the day, we fired a few more missions for First Marines as they advanced through the town. By nightfall, the last pockets of resistance were being cleared up and we were given orders to move into the city at first light. - "Advance party up," the Captain called. It was early in the morning and fast approaching our travel to Abu Kamal, which had been considered safe for a few hours. Ryan was our advance party member, traveling ahead to mark the spot where our gun would emplace next. Each gun sent one man, as did comms and FDC, with Motor T providing the driver and Gunny going as senior support. We displaced as a battery by 0600 and were set up on the southwester edge of town by 0830, ready for further orders. The Captain gave them shortly after, conducting an informal meeting at his truck. "Listen up men," Captain Varren began. "This will be home for a while. Army engineers will be constructing a tent city for us, along with the rest of the support elements. The locals will be allowed to return soon, show them the respect they deserve as humans, but watch out for wolves among the sheep." "Sir," Gunny spoke. "Any idea what First Marines has planned next?" "Sorry, I have no idea, probably the next town down the road. I can tell you, however, that British and American forces have begun their push towards Damascus. They have met little resistance, but personally, I expect it will get worse before they get to the capital." "Very well sir, thank you." "Now, until First Marines is ready to move again, we will be doing convoy and route security as well as checkpoint guard detail. Rest up, you will be notified if you have a mission assigned to you." We set up a makeshift camp where we could, grabbing what little shade there was outdoors or grouping together inside a few of the houses when the midday heat became too much. I managed to get ahold of a satellite phone that night, at the cost of a carton of smokes. A small price to pay to call my Becky. "Hello," she answered, sounding tired. "Hey baby, did I wake you?" I said. "No, its just early," she replied, her tone now changed to excitement. "How are you?" "OK, how are you?" "Hanging in there. We miss you so much." "I miss you all too. How are Carl and Jeanna doing?" "Good, Carl is here. Jeanna is still asleep." "Sleep sure sounds good." "I bet, you guys been busy?" "Yeah, they've been keeping us busy enough. I'm not sure if I should tell you about it, but the news will happily tell you tonight." "They usually do. Listen, I have something to tell you." "OK, shoot." "Jeanna and I hooked up the other night. She's my girlfriend while you're away." "That's fine, in fact, put me on speaker and sit Carl down with you." I could hear her call for Carl, obviously not caring that Jeanna was asleep. I could hear Carl sit down beside her. "Carl," I said. "Listen, you need to hear this." "OK, I'm listening." "You know I trust you with every facet of my life. We've been best friends for over 20 years and I wouldn't trade any of them for the world. Ultimately, the decision is for you, Jeanna and Becky to make, but I wouldn't be mad if you took care of Becky while I was gone." There was silence on the line, probably stunned silence. I had been turning this over in my head for a while now and I decided that, should Becky not be able to resist the temptation of sex any longer, it should be with someone whom I not only trust, but know where they live. Besides, technically speaking, Carl gets one free pass anyway since I did fuck Jeanna that first night. "What the hell?" Carl said finally. "Are you serious right now?" "Very serious. I'd rather know she is safe with you than off with some pile of shit from Smokey's." "Wow, I never thought this would happen." "I trust you with my life, why not with my fiancee. The option is there, its up to you three to make the decisions." "Yeah, I'm gonna need time to process this. It hasn't fully sunk in yet." "That's fine, listen, I gotta run. Becky, I love you and miss you. Carl, take care of them and give my love to Jeanna and Lauren." "OK, be safe out there," Carl said. "Bye baby, I love you so much," Becky said. I hung up the phone and gave it back to the Marine who let me use it. It was hard to hear their voices, but it was good too. I went to lay down, thinking of home. --- "Um, what the fuck just happened?" Carl asked. "I'm not entirely sure, but it sounded like he removed any restrictions on us fucking," I said, still trying to wrap my head around it all. "What're your thoughts on this?" He asked. "Part of me is happy that I can have a real cock again, part of me is wondering what this could do to our engagements." "This is so surreal," he said softly. "I don't even know if this is real." "I know. It feels like a dream." Carl's door opened and Jeanna came out, sitting beside us on the couch. She was wearing one of his old t-shirts and a pair of panties. Her hair was a mess, that 'just rolled out of bed' look. "What's going on?" She asked after a yawn. "Andrew just called," Carl said, still partly in shock. "What'd he say?" "They're doing well, that he misses us and can't wait to be home. He also gave me permission to fuck anyone in this house," I said calmly. "Wait, what?" The shock was evident in her voice. "Yup, he said that he wouldn't be mad at us if we slept together." "Do I get a say in this?" She asked. "Yes, that was the other part. It can only happen if you two are alright with it. He said he would rather know Carl is taking care of me than some random guy." "Well, that makes sense," Jeanna said after a moment of thought. "Huh?" Carl shot her a glance of pure confusion. "Think about it. You've known each other forever, who better to trust with your woman than your best friend." "That's what he said," Carl said. "Well, I guess the door is open, I'll need to think about this for a while though. I'm still not sure its real." "Becky," Jeanna said, putting her hand on my leg. "If you wanna have Carl, I'm OK with it. I can't imagine what your going through and if this helps, then I'm good with it. "Thanks Jeanna," I said. "However, he's mine, please don't try and steal him from me." "I won't. I know what he means to you, because Andrew means the same to me. If there is any signs of trouble, it stops immediately." Jeanna and I hugged, Carl still sitting there putting it all together. If he thought about it any harder, I'm sure I would see smoke coming from his ears. "Babe, don't think about it so much, you'll give yourself a migraine," Jeanna said, kissing him. "Just take this good thing you've been offered and run with it." "Yeah," he said softly. "I'm gonna go lie down for a bit." He went back to his room, closing the door behind him. "I'm gonna go talk to him," Jeanna said, standing up. "No," I said as I grabbed her hand to stop her. "Let him think." "But he needs..." "He needs to figure it out on his own. This is a big decision for him. This could potentially ruin their friendship and our engagements. He needs time." "What about you?" She asked. "I'll be fine, one way or another. I still have you." --- "Sergeant Anderson," Gunny said, waking me from my nap. "Convoy escort in three hours, Lieutenant Price has your official orders." "Thanks Gunny." Gunny left and I got up, stretching and looking to see who I had in the squad bay. Ryan and Simmons were playing cards, nobody else from our gun was around. "Ryan, Simmons. You guys hear that?" I asked. "Yeah, three hours. We'll be ready Sergeant," Simmons said. "Good, I'll be back in a bit, if you see anyone else, pass the word along." "Copy." I found Tyler and Drake in the smoke pit, talking about their lives before deploying and what they hoped was waiting for them when they returned. I considered for a moment, not bothering them just yet. It was nice to see that Tyler was well liked and respected among the men. "Guys," I said, lighting a smoke. "Any of y'all seen Jones and Wirth?" "Motor pool, prepping the truck," Tyler said. "What's up boss?" "Orders from Gunny. Convoy escort, leaving in," I checked my watch. "2 hours and 50 minutes." "Where to Sergeant?" Drake asked. "Don't know yet, I'm going to see LT about it in a minute. Tyler, can you or Drake let them know?" "Yeah, I'll take care of it," Tyler said. "Thanks, meet back here in an hour for briefing." I found Lieutenant Price on his way back from the restroom, his usually calm and rational mood still prevalent as ever. "Morning sir," I said. "What's the news?" "We have a convoy to take south. When and where are you planning to brief your men?" "We, sir?" "Yes, I'm coming with you. Now, back to my question," he said. "Smoke post, 45 minutes sir." "Very well, I'll be there to brief you all." "Yes sir," I said, knowing that meant for me to become scarce. I headed back to the squad bay to make sure the men were ready. We wouldn't be causing a delay. We met an hour later in the smoke post, joined by Sergeant Ruiz and his crew. "Listen up gents," Lieutenant Price said, lighting a cigarette. "Here's the briefing. Last night, insurgents captured a railroad station in Akashat. This poses a problem for our supply lines to the south, as our plans to move men and equipment quickly between Al Qa'im and Akashat call for the use of that train. "We will be taking a convoy of ammo, water and chow south to Akashat for the Army units currently moving to retake the station. The trip should take about 3 hours, then we will post security while the supplies are delivered. Any questions?" "Sir," Sergeant Ruiz said. "What kind of resistance along the way can we expect?" "Minimal, the road south is used mostly by farmers traveling to and from one of the major towns. So far the locals haven't bothered us much." "Sir," I began. "Any intel on enemy strength in and around the station?" "Latest intel reports over 200 insurgents at the station. How many are holed up in the town is manageable." "You have no idea sir?" "No." There was silence, letting anyone ask questions. I was busy wondering just how incorrect the intel really was. Last time the word 'manageable' had been used to describe enemy strength, I got shot in the leg. Not exactly the best of days. "If there are no more questions, the convoy leaves at 1500. Pack for overnight, just in case. Dismissed," Lt Price said, walking away. I pulled Ruiz aside. "Listen, he said pack for overnight, don't. Pack for 4 days. Never know what might happen." My Dearest Becky Pt. 02 "If he said overnight, I won't pack for longer," Ruiz said defiantly. "Look, he hasn't been outside the wire, he has no idea what could be waiting there for us. Hell, we don't even know how these guys will fight." "What do you mean?" "In Iraq, we learned they like hit and run tactics on the roads and would dig in when their cities were attacked. Afghanistan was much the same, but they would sometimes draw us in for a prolonged period. These Syrians might wanna stick it out til the end." He was quiet for a minute before nodding his head. "4 days, no more." He walked off, heading after his men. I instructed my own men to pack for an extended stay and we went to pack. --- It had taken hours, but Carl had finally came out of his room. Jeanna had curled up on the couch while I sat in Andrew's chair, patiently waiting for Carl. His whole reaction had been bothering me all day and I had to know he was OK. He moved to sit at Jeanna's feet, his face almost returning to normal. It was a long minute before anyone spoke. "So, I've done some thinking," he began. "And, as strange as it seems, he must have a good reason for saying what he did. I know he trusts me beyond measure, but its still so surreal." "I know, but he wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't believe it," Jeanna said. "He wants the best for Becky in his absence, and he thinks that's you." "What if it isn't," he said. "What if it turns into a real shitshow. What if I fuck it up?" "Carl," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You won't fuck it up. We won't let you. You're not alone in this." "I know, but what if..." "No what ifs," I said, cutting him off. "Andrew has faith that you won't fuck it up, Jeanna has faith that you won't go astray. I have faith that you won't hurt any of us. I know this is a big deal, our actions will determine the future. I know it will all be OK." Carl smiled for the first time that day. "OK, I believe you. If you want it and Jeanna is fine with it, I'll oblige you." We hugged Carl, kissing him on each cheek. Jeanna and I sat on either side of him, his arms around us when Lauren came home. "Hey guys, getting friendly I see," she said. "It's not like that, Andrew gave me permission," I said before Carl could change his mind. "Wow, I wish Ryan would give me permission, even just to have a girlfriend." "I didn't know you were into women too," Jeanna said with a glimmer in her eye. "It was once back in high school, but right now I'd be willing to give it another try." "Carl honey," Jeanna said with a smile. "If you don't mind, I'm gonna take Lauren somewhere a little more private." "By all means, go easy on her though," he said. Jeanna got up and took Lauren down the hall, her bedroom door closing after them. Carl and I snuggled for a few long minutes, lost in thought. It felt good to be back in someone's arms again, even if it was Andrew's best friend. I felt comfortable with it, knowing that he was more terrified than I was. "Are you sure about this?" He asked me. "No, but I know its OK," I said, looking him in the eyes. "If you say so. Come on, lets go." We headed for our other spare bedroom, both quietly deciding that each of our marital beds were not the right place for this. We stopped just before the door. "Carl, I can't thank you enough for this. I know how wrong and strange this feels, but things will be fine. Trust us." "I trust you guys, all of you." We were just about to head inside when Jeanna opened the door, stark naked. "Becky, can we borrow your toys?" "Only if you clean them when you're done." "Deal!" She ran to my room as we disappeared into the spare room. --- The diesel engines of our convoy droned loudly in the afternoon heat, the assemblage of 10 vehicles waiting for one man. Two Humvees led six trucks, followed by another two Humvees. Gun two had the lead, while gun three had the rear. Lieutenant Price had insisted on coming, and now I was regretting allowing it. "Where is that shitbag?" Ryan asked from the turret of our Humvee. "No idea, but if he doesn't show up soon, we leave him behind," I said. "He's just another liability at this point." Price came jogging up to the truck, climbing in the back seat. "Sorry I'm late, couldn't find my pistol holster," he said through heavy breaths. "Sir, make sure it doesn't happen again. We're already late as it is," I said. "Don't think you can order me around Sergeant, I still have rank." "True, but this is my convoy sir," I told him. "We live and die by my clock, and right now it says we're 10 minutes behind." I grabbed the radio, "All vehicles, move out." I put the handset back in its cradle. "Jones, get this death trap moving," I said. Without a reply, the Humvee rolled forward, turning to the left and heading for the gate. The guard there lifted the swing arm and we thundered into the unknown. The trip was rather uneventful, mostly just desert road with a few local ranchers who stopped to wave as we passed. I watched each person carefully, hoping not to see any weapons and knowing Tyler was doing the same in his Humvee, 150 feet behind us. "Sergeant Anderson," Lt Price called. "Mind if I smoke?" "Only if you don't say anything about it to anyone outside this truck," I said back, reaching for my own pack. When I heard his lighter and smelled the smoke, I lit me up one as well, cracking the window for ventilation. "Jones, want one?" I asked. "Fuck it, why not?" He said. I lit another smoke and passed it to him before tapping Ryan on the leg. "Want a smoke?" I asked. "No thanks, I'm good," he yelled. We drove in silence for the last hour of the trip. Thoughts of home and what lay ahead played through my mind and I wished they would shut up. I needed my full attention on our immediate surroundings the closer we got to Akashat. Growing ever larger through the windshield were great minarets and large cobalt domes of mosques, offset rows of buildings and homes, and the clock tower of the train station. As we got closer, the piles of garbage strewn throughout the streets became larger and more closely spaced. "Ryan," I called, tapping his leg. "Look alive. You see any rag heads with weapons, take em out, understand?" "Way ahead of you Sergeant!" He called back. We skirted the city from the north, turning down a main access road that led to the train station. When we stopped, my guess was we were about 5000 yards from the station, in a large square almost in the center of the city. A few hundred yards ahead of us was a group of soldiers, impatiently waiting for our arrival. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon when we stopped, setting up a perimeter along the road we had just come up. Small groups of soldiers moved further down the street, creating a second layer of protection for us. "Sir," I said as we got out to stretch out legs. "How you holding up?" "A little on edge, being in hostile territory and all, you?" "Same. It's perfectly normal sir, get used to it." "That'll take some time. What's the situation with the watch?" He asked. "Well sir, I was hoping you could go find out. Ask if the Army is posting the watch or if we have to post our own." "Shouldn't we post our own anyway?" "With those soldiers further down from us," I said, pointing the way we had come, "I don't think it'd be wise to have some jumpy PFC on a .50 at night." "Very well, I'll go ask." "Go and come right back sir, I don't wanna have to send someone to find you." He went up the road to speak with a soldier, leaving us to take a breather. Ryan came down from the turret, joining us for water and food. He, like me, was struck by the simple beauty of this place. If it weren't full of men who would love nothing more than to kill us, it might even seem like a vacation. "Who's in charge here?" A gruff voice called as we finished eating. "I am," I said, standing. "Sergeant Anderson, Bravo 1/11. You are?" "Lieutenant Brewer, 15th infantry brigade supply officer. Is this the ammo?" "Yes sir, we can begin unloading it whenever you're ready." "Don't worry about it, my men can handle it. How was the drive in?" "Long sir, nice views though." "I bet. Thanks for your help, we should be able to get you boys on the road at first light." "Sounds good sir. How's things here?" "We've probed their defenses along the station, not one weak spot to be found. These guys are dug in like ticks." "Well, best of luck sir," I said, returning to my men. "This is such bullshit," Ruiz said as he approached. "Fuck this mission." "What's up man?" I asked. "All this way and not one single enemy. I was hoping for a share of the glory." "You've never seen it, have you?" Tyler asked. "Seen what?" "What a human can do to another human." Ruiz stood there puzzled, not quite knowing how to respond. He finally gave up, walking back to his men and grumbling. Tyler and I laughed, knowing he had just admitted to never having seen combat. "Anderson," Lt Price said, pulling up a seat with us. "The major down there said the army has watch duty, we're free to get some sleep tonight." "Thank god," I said. "Alright, Ryan and Jones, on me. I wanna know where the Army has set their perimeter to the west. Tyler, take Drake, Simmons and Wirth and check to the east. Meet back here when your done." "What about me?" Price asked. "Stay put sir, I don't wanna have to explain how you got shot." We found their perimeter was five blocks either direction. Satisfied that we were fully covered, we bedded down for the night in an abandoned house near our trucks. I laid there and thought of home, wondering what Becky was doing and hoping she was safe. I saw Ryan scribbling on a small pad of paper and figured he was writing to Lauren. I considered writing to Becky, but I needed sleep more. It had been a long day and tomorrow would be just as long. I closed my eyes and let sleep take me home to Becky. --- Carl's hands were shaking as he worked his shirt off, his muscles not quite sure how to respond to the situation. The struggle was evident in his face as well, his right eye developing a slight tremor. I knew he would be able to perform by the tent in his pants, he just had to get there. I took my shirt and bra off, tossing them aside and letting Carl enjoy the view. It looked like the bulge got bigger as he stared at me. His hands shook as he fumbled with his pants. "Here," I said, sliding to my knees before him. "Let me help." "Thanks," he replied. "I'm a bit nervous." "I know," I said softly. "It's OK, I want this." I pulled his pants down to his ankles and pushed him on the bed to remove them completely. His erection strained against his boxers, desperately trying to free itself. I pulled them down and took hold of his dick, unconsciously examining it and comparing it to Andrew's. It wasn't quite as big, but the difference in size was almost unnoticeable. It pulsed with my touch, as if begging for me to work it, to stroke it and please it. I looked up at Carl, who was looking at me, eyes fixed on mine, full of desire. "How long have you wanted this?" I asked him lustfully. "A long time. You've been something of a fantasy for me for a while now." "Tell me about it," I said, stroking his cock. "I walk in on you and Jeanna eating each other out, quietly moving to Jeanna's head. She sucks me for a minute, then sticks it in you," he said, his breathing changing as I take his cock in my warn mouth. "Oh god, that's amazing," he said, throwing his head back. After a few slow bobs, I let his cock fall out of my mouth. "As good as you hoped?" I asked. "So much better," he said. I went back to work, sucking and slurping his flesh as he groaned with pleasure. My tongue snaked around his shaft, the pulsing organ filling my mouth and hitting the back of my throat. He made some incoherent sounds, driving me to work faster. "Becky," he gasped. "I need to lick you. Get up here." He patted the bed next to him. I stood and shimmied out of my pants, kicking off my socks and laying down beside him. He slid off the bed and pushed my legs up toward my chest, exposing my bald slit. "Spread those cute lips for me," he said. I spread them as wide as I could, the suspense of waiting was killing me. He gently worked his finger up and down my slit, getting my juices flowing. With each touch I inhaled sharply, so sensual and soft was it. He brought his head close to my pussy, breathing deeply and inhaling my scent. "Please Carl, lick me. Please eat me like you eat Jeanna." He needed no further encouragement. He flicked his tongue across my clit, then moved down and licked from bottom to top. He repeated this process several times before he sucked my clit into his mouth. "Oh fuck that feels good!" He didn't say a word, just continued to tease my clit until I was cumming in his face. He lapped up all the juices and kissed me. "Ready Becky?" He asked. "Gods yes. give it to me, please!" I could feel his cock gliding up and down my lips, moistening his head before he entered me. As he pushed himself inside, my lips parted, the throbbing of his cock beating in time with his heart. He slowly buried himself in me, each of us feeling every inch of the other. "Holy shit you're tight," he said, starting to work himself back and forth. "Fuck me, fuck me hard!" He quickly increased speed, thrusting deep inside me rapidly. It didn't take long for my second orgasm to hit, my body convulsing as he kept up his relentless pounding. Shortly after, my third orgasm hit, sending me into a pleasurable delirium. I felt a fourth beginning to rise when he announced he was gonna cum. "Cum on my face babe," I said wistfully. "Are you sure?" "Yes, I have a surprise for you." He pulled out and covered my cheeks with his cum, letting me lick him clean before standing on shaky legs. I stood and took his hand. "Come on," I said, pulling him towards the door. We went into the next room, the soft sounds of moaning coming from behind the door. I opened it and dragged him inside. "Jeanna, your man came on my face, clean it up," I said. "OK," she said happily, getting up from between Lauren's legs and licking my cheek. "Lauren, you want some?" "I don't know," she said cautiously. "Maybe next time." "If you insist." Jeanna cleaned my other cheek, wiping a little spot and sticking her finger in my mouth. When she was done, we kissed and Carl and I left the room. "What'd you think of that?" I asked as we got dressed. "That was amazing, all of it." "Did you like how your fiancé licked me clean?" "Fuck yeah!" "Do you wish my sister would have helped?" "Yeah, I know she likes Ryan, but she is pretty cute." "No harm in fantasizing. Just don't act on anything without permission." "I know, window shopping. Look but don't touch." "You're a good man Carl. Thank you for today." "Thank you. Adding material to my spank bank is awesome." "You still beat your dick? Even with Jeanna to do it for you." "Sometimes, when she's at work." "Ahh, got it. Well, I've gotta go start dinner. See you in a bit." "Bye." I went to the bathroom to clean up a bit, then to the kitchen to start dinner. Things had become very interesting here, I just hoped that it wouldn't get weird. --- I woke up after a few hours, unable to fall back asleep. I headed out to have a smoke, throwing on my flak jacket and kevlar helmet and grabbing my rifle. As I stepped outside, I saw the glow of a cherry coming from a tall figure leaning on a Humvee. "Sir," I said as I joined him. "How you holding up?" "Can't sleep. I'm too nervous." "What's on your mind sir?" "I can't help but think we are in danger, like immediate danger." "Such is the price of duty sir, it always feels like that when you spend the night outside the wire." "How do you deal with it?" "I'm not sure, we just do sir." Our attention was drawn down the road by a pair of bright headlights. I could see the silhouette of the night watch as he instructed the truck to halt. In the dim glow of the few remaining streetlights, I could see it was a large fuel tanker. "Sir, get inside. Now." "What's going on?" "That feeling you had about imminent danger, I think it was right." We dropped our smokes and headed quickly indoors. I had been nervous around tanker trucks since one carrying an IED had gone off during my last deployment. As we got inside I moved to the middle of the room. "Stay away from the windows. If they shatter, the glass could kill you," I said. Price joined me in the center of the room. Minutes felt like hours as we waited for something, anything, to happen. I was just beginning to think that it was OK, that I had been wrong, when we heard the shouting. Seconds later, the ground shook and the deafening roar of the explosion reached us. The windows blew out from the pressure wave, sending glass falling around the room. I could hear the men moving about in the other room, grabbing rifles and getting their gear on. "What're your orders?" Tyler asked, rushing into the room with the others behind him. "Stay put for a few minutes," I said. "Let things settle out." "We need to go out there," price said. "Those guys might need help." "Agreed sir," I said, "However, if that was the first move of a coordinated attack, we could get caught with our pants down. Just sit tight sir, follow my lead." Price was about to speak when the distinctive bark of AK-47's erupted down the road. The distant sounds of battle rose as the few remaining soldiers pulled back, waiting for reinforcements. As we saw men take cover behind our Humvees, everyone knew it was time. "Let's go kick some ass," I said. "Ruiz, we will provide cover fire for you guys, get out there and take position in that house across the street." "Roger that," Ruiz said. "Ryan, Drake and myself will make for the trucks. I need you two on the .50, lay down suppressing fire and hold this road until reinforced." "I'm coming with you," Price said. "Yeah, no. You stay put sir, help Tyler in any way he needs it," I told him. "Fuck that, I'm coming with you," he said again. "Fine, but know this. When we're out there, you listen to me, do as I say, and don't be mad if I don't respect your rank." "Fair enough." "One last thing, your ROE is as follows. If you see a motherfucker with a seven year snot rag, kill him," I said. "Sergeant, that's not the ROE we were given," Price said forcefully. "I know that sir, but we're under attack. It's 0330, who's gonna to be out that's a non combatant?" "Fine." "Good, check ammo and get ready." The men checked their ammo and stacked at the door, Ruiz and his men in front, followed by myself, Lt Price, Ryan and Drake. Tyler, Simmons, Wirth and Jones moved to shoot from the blown out windows. "Ready?" I called. I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder, the sign for ready. Before I let the next Marine know I was ready, I yelled to Price. "Stay on my ass, don't stop until we reach the far truck, understand?" "I'm right behind you," he called back. I squeezed the next man's shoulder, who squeezed the next, until it got to Ruiz. "Covering fire!" He yelled. The crack of M-16's echoed through the house and Ruiz took off out the door. Each man made for his rally point, leaving Price and I to slam into the Humvee. Drake and Ryan slammed in next to us, panting as the adrenaline surged through us all. "Drake, you're in this one. Ryan, with me." "Anderson!" Price yelled. "Stay there, call out any targets you see and make sure Drake has ammo," I hollered. Ryan and I dashed across the street to the other Humvee with a .50 cal. He climbed up and racked the slide, leaning into the gun as he was taught. I looked back to the other Humvee, seeing Price crouched beside the tire, looking for targets. My Dearest Becky Pt. 02 "Drake!" I yelled. "11 o'clock high, second story window! Waste those bacon hating heathens!" The deep chugging of the heavy machine gun cut through the cacophony of battle, sending dust and bricks tumbling down as he hit the window with short, controlled bursts. I scanned the surrounding rooftops but saw no movement. Ryan's gun fired next, tracer rounds arching down the street at approaching targets. Drake shifted his fire to match Ryan's, cutting down men as they charged wildly up the street. I fired off several shots when I had targets, but I can't be sure if I hit anything. "RPG!" Price called, firing towards a window down the road. The rocket went short of its intended target, slamming into the ground about 50 feet in front of Drake's Humvee. The detonation sent dirt and rubble flying, with rocks pinging off the metal plating. Ryan kept firing, but Drake's gun had gone quiet. "Price, check on Drake!" I yelled. As the smoke and dust cleared, drake was hunched down in the turret. He was moving, but he wasn't firing. I ran over to check on him, fearing the worst. "He's fine," Price said. "A little shaken, but unhurt." "Thank god," I breathed. "Drake, get that .50 up!" He didn't respond, still hunched over and rocking slightly back and forth. I climbed up on the Humvee, shaking his shoulder. "Drake," I said calmly. "Either get back to firing, or get out. We need this gun." He said nothing, just slowly got down out of the turret and moved behind the Humvee. I took his place in the turret, firing down the street at windows and rooftops. "Price! I need ammo!" I yelled. Price jumped up with a fresh case of ammo, setting it where I could reach it. I grabbed his arm before he left. "Give Ryan another case, then check on Drake!" "Copy that!" He yelled. I could hear shouting from behind me, followed by diesel engines. I smiles as I let loose with the .50, laughing at times even. When three trucks full of soldiers and a few dozen more on foot came running past us, Ryan and I stopped firing, scanning for threats in the upper windows. As the soldiers began clearing houses, I left the turret, followed shortly after by Ryan. He jumped off his Humvee with an emotionless face, his hands trembling. "You OK?" I asked. "Yeah, its just adrenaline. I'm fine." "Good work," I said, patting him on the back. "Go get some rest." "What about Drake?" "Lt and I will take care of him, you go sit down and drink some water." Drake was sitting behind the Humvee, crying his eyes out. His fists were balled and he beat on the pavement in anger. I knew how he felt, I had felt similarly after my first fire fight. I sat down next to him, passing him my canteen. "Drink this, you'll feel better," I said. He took it and drank, passing it back to me when he was done. I lit two cigarettes and passed him one, which he accepted. We sat there together for a while, smoking cigarettes while we each cried. Several Marines had come by to check on us, but I sent them all away. "How do you do it?" He asked finally. "How do you expose yourself to danger so easily?" "It took a long time, and came at a great cost. I hope you never feel like me." "I pussied out today, I let everyone down and acted like a bitch. How can I face them now?" "Everyone deals with the stress of combat differently. I reacted much like you did my first time." "Really?" "Very much so. I didn't speak for a week after my first experience." We talked for an hour before heading back in. The sound of distant gunfire was fading as the fighting came to an end. --- It had been a few weeks since Andrew had given us permission to fool around while he was away. Carl had warmed to the idea after the first week and it helped me a lot with my sexual appetite. I made sure to keep things slow, only having a chance encounter with him once a week, yet getting with Jeanna almost nightly. It was nice to have an outlet, yet it still felt wrong with Carl. Andrew had given his approval, yet I would still feel dirty afterwards. For his part, Carl was a decent lover, making sure I was taken care of before himself and usually making love to Jeanna shortly after or before me. I was watching the news, something I had taken to since Andrew got into combat, and was dozing off when Lauren came home. "Hey sis, mail's here," she said, setting the mail on the coffee table. I sat up and stretched before glancing through the usual bills and junk. "Letters from our men," I said, handing her the plain white envelope addressed to her and opening my own. My dearest Becky, I love you so much. I hope that all is well and you're as happy as can be in these hard times. I miss you terribly each day and continue to dream of my return. The boys are well, Tyler and Ryan send their love. We had our first fire fight a few weeks ago, with the only casualties being wounded prides. Ryan performed to the highest of standards and saved many lives, making me damn proud to be his friend. I just hope he isn't scarred by the incident. We will be moving out soon to the next town, driving further into this god forsaken country in the name of freedom. We have already rooted out several major terrorist operations, each one bringing us closer to our trip home. Next month marks the halfway point of our tour. It's all down hill from there. Time will fly by and we will be returning home before you know it. I dream every night of our return, triumphant and safe. Pray for us as we continue to do our jobs and make the world a little safer every day. I love you with all my heart and always will. All my love, AA "So, it's started," I said, more to myself than Lauren. "What's started?" She asked. "The war. Did Ryan not tell you?" "He didn't mention anything about combat, just that he isn't as worried anymore." I passed her my letter, watching as she read what Andrew had said. Her eyes began to water and she handed me back the letter. I took it back and pulled my sister close to me, silently holding her as she wept. "It's OK Lauren, Ryan's in good hands. Andrew won't let anything happen to them." "I hope you're right," she said. "I know I am. He's much more scared of us than anyone over there." -- Since our first contact with the enemy, spirits have been high for everyone except Drake. He was still having trouble dealing with his reaction to almost being killed, crying at night and staying quiet during the day. He and I had a few more talks, but nothing seemed to help him. First Marines had started it's move to the next town, Al Mayadin. We followed behind them, having set up a few times to shell targets they had marked. As the weeks dragged on, we began to run into a supply problem. The entirety of First Marines required close to a metric shit ton of diesel fuel, ammo and rations. All that had to come all the way across Iraq and it took quite a while to get to us. We heard rumors that Fifth Marines would be making an amphibious assault on the other side of the country, intent on hitting them from both sides and opening a more reliable supply chain. I had asked the CO but he hadn't heard anything more than we had. "Anderson," Gunny called. "You got a minute?" "Of course Gunny, what's up?" "How's Drake doing?" "He's OK, just dealing with the stress of combat." "He's been awful quiet, some of the others are worried about him." "I've got him Gunny. He'll be fine." "OK, I trust your judgement. But if he can't hack it anymore, let me know and we'll swap him with someone else." "Will do Gunny. Got anything for us?" "Maybe, I've gotta check on some others before I give out the mission." "Very well. We're ready if you need us." He headed off, leaving me alone in the smoke pit. It wasn't long before Tyler, Simmons and Jones joined me, joking like old friends. "Guys," I said, "Don't let Tyler push you around. I'm counting on y'all to keep him in line." "Right," Tyler laughed. "Like they could keep me in line. It takes both you and Ryan to watch me at the bar." "Yeah, but when alcohol is involved, you get worse." We joked for a while, telling stories and bullshitting until Gunny came and found us. "Anderson, got something for you," he said. "What you got Gunny?" I asked. "Patrol orders. Need you and your men to take a foot patrol to check up on some houses to the west." "I think we can handle that, anything specific we're looking for?" "We got a tip that someone over there is making bombs disguised as sidewalk curbs. Check it out, see what's up. If you find anything, document it, then call EOD for disposal." "Copy that Gunny, we'll be ready." "Alright, I'm going to find Christensen. Be ready to leave in two hours." Gunny left towards our tents. "Well, you heard the man. Pack for overnight, just in case," I said before heading to our tents to find the rest of my crew. - The village was small, not even listed on any maps. Seven mud huts arranged in a circle around a large fire pit gave it a very primative feel. If you didn't follow the directions exactly, you'd drive right by it, and never know it was there to miss. Off in the distance, another grouping of buildings sat, the same circular pattern barely evident there. We parked the Humvees about 100 yards from the buildings, walking in the rest of the way. We started clearing the houses one by one, finding no signs of anyone having been here in a while, until we came to the last house. The clue that gave it away, tea, still hot from being brewed moments earlier. "Look alive," I said. "Someone was here minutes ago. No telling where they went." "Drew!" Tyler called. "I found something!" As I entered the tiny bedroom, I saw part of the floor had been removed, Tyler stood over it with his weapon pointed inside. "Tunnels?" I asked. "Yup, don't know where it goes, but I'd sure love to find out." "You're not going in. Drake and I are." "Damnit," Tyler said. "You're in charge until I get back, cover this entry and make sure the men get chow." "I'll see to it," he said sadly. "Drake, on me, lets go." We climbed down inside, turning on our flashlights and heading down the tunnel. It was small, maybe five feet tall, and seemed to go on forever. We finally came to another ladder, leading up to God knows where. I radioed Tyler, telling him to grab the others and join us. "Damn this place is small," Jones said. "Can't they make these things for tall people?" "Right, like they're expecting us to use it," Simmons said. "Quiet, all of you. I'm going up, cover me," I said, heading up the ladder. I slowly pushed the trap door open and was greeted by an object about the size of a baseball. It rolled right to me, stopped only by my weapon. I batted it back and jumped off the ladder "Get down!" I shouted, hearing the explosion above. Dust fell on us as we got back to our feet. I started up the ladder again, throwing the hatch open and scanning for enemies before climbing out. The grenade had shredded the walls and furniture, but there was no body to be seen. I sat guard as the others made their way out, gathering in the small room. "Drake and Ryan, on me. Simmons, Jones and Wirth with Tyler. Spread out and watch your backs," I said quietly. We proceeded down a hallway, me in front, with Drake in the middle and Ryan bringing up the rear. We swept each room carefully, turning over beds and checking for more trap doors. This house was much larger than the others we had been in, and was probably used as a front for whatever operation they had. We exited a bedroom, moving to the back of the house when another grenade came flying down the hallway. "Grenade!" Drake shouted. I heard a weapon hit the wooden floor and turned to see Drake on the ground. As the grenade exploded, his chest rose sharply, landing with a wet smack. "Fuck!" I yelled, charging into the room it had come from. The window was open and the bastard that threw it was running hard for the next house. I shot him 3 times, watching him fall and tumble, before returning to Ryan. "Tyler!" I called. "Get over here now! Bring the med kit!" I could hear running feet as Drake was rolled over, pulling me in closer to him. "I didn't hesitate this time," he said, blood dribbling from his lips. "Drake, listen to me," I said. "You're gonna be OK, lay still and try not to talk." The color was draining from him, his once tan skin looking white as paper. "I am redeemed," he said softly. I felt his grip on me slacken, his hand falling to the floor. "What happened?" Tyler asked as they rounded the corner. "Drake saved us," I said, tears falling from my eyes like a waterfall. "Where's the hadji that shot him?" "Bleeding in the sand," I said, my tone surprisingly calm. "Stay here, I'm going to see him." I headed for the window, knowing full well that they wouldn't listen to me. I was surprised to find the bastard still alive, bleeding from two gunshot wounds. "Hi there," I said, letting my anger show. "Nice of you to throw that grenade. It killed my Marine, and that is unacceptable." I was just getting ready to kill him when Tyler grabbed me. "Drew no! That's enough killing for one day." I struggled against him, every fiber of my being demanding this man's death for what he did. I finally gave up, letting Tyler release me. "Fine, he's on his own then," I said, walking away and leaving him to bleed. "Jones, Simmons, get the trucks. We'll prepare Drake for transport." "Aye aye Sergeant," they said, running to the Humvees. "This isn't your fault," Tyler said as we walked back to the building. "Then why does it feel like it is?" "That's war. You can't control who gets hit, who dives on a grenade, who lives and who dies. It's just war." "Why'd it have to be him?" "Because if it wasn't, then it would be you or Ryan, or all three of you. What would I tell Becky then?" I didn't reply. Tyler had struck a nerve I didn't know would have such a profound impact on me. What would he have told Becky? Hell, what was I going to tell Drake's parents? "Drew," Ryan said as we got back. "We found this letter on Drake, what's left of it anyway." It was his death letter. I cried almost uncontrollably for a few minutes, trying to read what was left of it. It had been ruined by the blast, and what was left was covered in blood. There would be no transcribing it for his family, I would have to write a new one. --- My dearest Becky, Hope all is well. We lost one Marine yesterday, PFC Sean Drake. He saved our lives by giving his, selflessly diving on a grenade that would have killed me and Ryan. He was a good man and a fine young Marine, his loss is felt throughout the battery. On a brighter note, only another month or so until we head back to the ship. It seems like I've been gone forever, and it seems like I still have an eternity to wait. Tyler and Ryan send their best. Tell Carl and Jeanna that we miss them and can't wait to be home again. I just hope Carl hasn't burned the plant down. I may get a chance to call you soon. It's been so long since we last talked and I can still hear your voice clearly. I miss it, as I miss everything about you. I love you, every day, from now until eternity. AA My eyes welled up as I read the letter he sent. I prayed that he was doing OK, knowing how he had reacted the last time he lost Marines. The letter was dated a week ago, so he must have been busy. He said he would call me if he could, but I haven't had any calls. I stopped having sex with Carl after a rather embarrassing time we had together. Memories of Andrew had come back to me and I started crying, running back to my room and showering for over an hour. Carl was scared shitless until I explained it to him and Jeanna. I still made love to Jeanna, but it was much different than before. I looked at the calendar, having marked off the days until his return and the days I received letters on. I marked off today, another red X in a calendar full of them. "I love you Andrew, please stay safe," I said softly to myself. --- "Guys," I said, getting the attention of my crew. "Bring it in, we need to talk." "What's up?" Tyler asked. "I need your help." "With what?" "Drake saved Ryan and my life, he deserves something for that besides a spot in Arlington." "What'd you have in mind?" "I wanna nominate Drake for the Medal of Honor. He wouldn't be the first to get it for jumping on a grenade, and won't be the last. Any objections?" It was quiet for a while, the crew taking in what I said. Ryan spoke first. "What do you need from us?" "Ryan, you and I will probably have to write witness statements. They might want character statements from the rest of you. Write them. If they don't need them, then you can do whatever with them. I'll talk to the higher ups and find out what we need." I talked to Gunny, First Sergeant and the CO. Each said that Drake had been recommended and it was out of our hands, however, witness statements couldn't hurt. Ryan and I retold the events of that day as best we could remember and submitted them to the Captain Varren, who sent them off with the rest of the packet. The last month of our deployment dragged by, with our crew being put on unofficial bereavement time. Nobody said anything, but I knew they weren't sending us out because of what happened. I guess that's just the way things go sometimes. --- The phone rang early in the morning. I was already up and getting ready for work and, judging by the early hour, it could only be one person. "Hello," I answered. "Hey beautiful," Andrew said. "Baby! It's good to hear from you. How've you been?" "Been better, but things are drawing to a close now." "When do you go back to the ship?" "Just got here about two hours ago. We leave in the morning." "Yay! When do you get back to California?" "In about a month, I'll call again with the details of our arrival. Bring Carl, Jeanna and Lauren." "We'll all be there. Have they said anything about your discharge?" "The Monday after we get back I have to turn in my gear to supply, then I'm a free man." "Can they call you back again?" "No fucking way." --- August 3 was a warm Thursday, the California coast within sight. Tyler, Ryan, Wirth and I stood on the smoke deck, staring at the tantalizing view of home. We had arrived in the late afternoon, the traffic on highway 5 giving it away. I had turned on my phone for the first time in months, texting Becky to make sure they were in town. We were due to leave in a few hours, the LCAC's taking us close to Pendleton. I was pretty excited, but tried to stay calm. Ryan however, couldn't contain his excitement. "We're almost home guys!" He said happily. "I can't wait to get my hands on a burger," Wirth said. "I'm dying for a drink," Tyler groaned "Y'all got your priorities wrong," I said. "I can't wait to fuck the hell out of Becky." Tyler and Ryan laughed, while Wirth looked lost. "Will I get to meet Becky?" Wirth asked. "If you want," I said. "You can meet the whole dysfunctional group." "Who else is coming?" Tyler asked. "Carl, Jeanna and Lauren." "Who's Lauren?" Wirth asked. "Ryan's girl," Tyler answered. "Ryan has a girl? We all figured he was gay." We all laughed at Wirth's joke. "Anyone coming to meet you Wirth?" "My parents and my brother." "Do we know if Drake's parents are coming?" Tyler asked. We were all silent for a bit. I had invited them, wishing to meet the parents of the man who had saved my life. I hadn't got a response but I hoped they would show up. "I don't know. I hope so," I said. --- We had gotten separate rooms at the same hotel in Carlsbad at Andrew's recommendation. Based on what we were told, they would be back by 8:30, but there was no harm in being early. My Dearest Becky Pt. 02 Carl, Jeanna, Lauren and I left the around 7, giving us time to get coffee before heading on base. We stopped at Starbucks and headed for the Las Pulgas gate, showing the gate guard our ID's. "Evening," the gate guard said. "Evening," Carl said. "Here for Bravo battery's return?" "Yes sir." "OK, drive safe." "Thanks." We followed the directions to the parade ground, down the winding road until we came to the barracks buildings, then turning left on C street, then right on 2nd street and parking at the PX. We gathered with the other families, talking and waiting for the Marines to show up. "I hope he hasn't changed too much," Lauren said. "Don't worry, he hasn't," Jeanna said. "I was reading online, there may be an adjustment period for them," I said. "What do you mean?" Carl asked. "They've been gone for nine months. Their lives have changed and so have ours. We have to get used to them being around again, and they have to get back to being home." "I guess that makes sense," Lauren said. "Just take things slow. If you're not comfortable with something, say so. Communication is key in these first few months back." About 8:20, we heard marching feet coming towards us, the cadence being called loudly. They came marching in behind us, past the bleachers and out in front of us. --- This was an amazing evening. We had put the guns back at the gun park, the trucks in the motor pool and our weapons in the armory. Then Captain Varren had marched us from the armory to the parade deck. The sense of pride was amazing, everyone held their heads up a bit higher, marched with more bearing. This was a day we would all remember for the rest of our lives. We marched along parallel to the bleachers. "Battery, halt!" Captain Varren called. "Left, face!" "Parade, rest!" He turned to the families, grabbing a microphone that had been set up for our arrival. "Families of the Marines of Bravo battery, welcome to Camp Pendleton. We are honored that you could join us this evening for our return. In a moment, we will dismiss your Marines. Take good care of them, they've earned it." The crowd applauded as Captain Varren turned back to us. "Battery attention!" "Dismissed!" Most of the men cheered, I didn't. I ran straight for Becky, catching her as she lept into my arms. We held each other for a long while, enjoying the feeling of being together again. Ryan found Lauren, hugging and kissing her. I hugged Jeanna and Carl, then Lauren when Ryan let her go. "I've missed you so much," Becky said. "I've missed you too. Everything good?" "Everything is fine, now that you're home." "Good. You didn't fall madly in love with Carl did you?" "Nope, he took care of me, but it felt too weird not being with you." "I'm glad. I don't know what I'd do without you." Tyler brought his parents over, introducing us and talking about our time together when I heard a soft voice. "Sergeant Andrew Anderson?" "How can I help you?" I asked, turning to the couple that approached. "I'm Paul Drake, this is my wife Sandra," the man said. "Mr and Mrs Drake, hold on just a minute." I went to round up Simmons, Wirth and Jones, returning with them and their families. "Guys, this is Paul and Sandra Drake, Sean's parents." Everyone introduced themselves, giving condolences for their loss. I could see the hurt in their eyes, the pain of their loss and the pride of seeing all of us brought together in honor of their son. "What your son did that day, he saved us. He truly is a hero," I said, shaking Paul's hand. I went to shake Sandra's, but she shook her head. "We hug around here," she said, embracing me as if I were a long lost friend. "I should let you know, Ryan and I have done all we can to see that your son is nominated for the Medal of Honor. He has more than earned it." "Thank you. It means so much that you all knew him as we did," Paul said. "If I may, these words have helped me through some dark times. It was part of a letter written a long time ago to Mrs Bixby of Boston Massachusetts." "I'd like to hear it," Sandra said. "I pray our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solumn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the alter of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, A. Lincoln." "The Bixby letter," Paul said. "I've read it before." "I will always cherish the memory of your son, the man who gave his life so that we may live. Through his actions, we are all redeemed." ********** OK readers and fans, I need your help. Comment or give feedback and let me know where we go from here. There is the obvious of getting Carl and Jeanna married, as well as Andrew and Becky. Suggestions are more than welcome. Thanks to all who have stuck with me through this. I love hearing from you guys, whether good or bad. Keep the comments and feedback coming!