Genesis

We were all just young kids, heading into war...

  ** YOUNG WAR**

The year is 1951, 5 young boys find themselves on the front lines of an engaging battle for their life"

It was five of us. John, Steve, Mike, Paul and me, David.

John stood at a measly 5'6", you know, average white guy. blonde hair, blue eyes, just like in the magazines. Steve was 6 even with dirty brown hair and brown eyes. brown skinned and very optimistic. Mike was the shortest of us all, only 5'4". How he made it in this situation was beyond me. Paul and I were actually high school friends and although at first didn't like each other, somehow became some of the best friends you'll ever get to meet. He was 5'8" also a white guy, sandy brown hair, good at sports and really liked the track team. Me, I was 5'10", small figure, brown skinned. A look at me would not suspect of ever being in a war. Yet here we are. Walking through the jungle, and actually LOOKING for the enemy. 

"Why exactly are we looking for the enemy instead of relaxing?" John said.

"Were searching for any survivors. Wouldn't you want to be rescued?" Mike replied.

Completely clueless as to why we're here. 

"If you say so." John said as he shook his head in disappointment. 

"Just keep your eyes peeled and your mouths shut. Your gonna give away are position."

That was our squad leader. His name was Sergeant Smith. He acts like a tough ass but we know the true side. A timid 29 year old who, like us, didn't know why we were in the forest looking for the enemy. He was a sheltered kid who's parents would flip out if he got a splinter. Even though he didn't agree, he was just following orders like us. But he had to, he had to be tough, even if he had to fake it.

"This feels like a trap if you ask me. Its too quiet." Paul said. 

"Well nobody asked you soldier. Shut the fuck up and keep your god damn eyes peeled." Sergeant Smith whispered. 

I started to think, if he was to be the first hit, it wouldn't be too bad. Atleast we wouldn't have to put up with his ranting. Well, atleast I thought it would be. But who among us would be able to step up and fill his position? What feels like hours of just walking was only about 30 min. The heat added in with the irritation, thirst and constant bitching made time stay still but feel like it was flying. The sun was high in the sky and the trees didn't shelter us one bit from it. Just then we found someone, maybe not breathing, but we found someone. The excitement of finally spotting someone made my eyes open wide and scream out. 

"Sarge, we got someone. 50 meters north."

As I start to run out to the body...

"Private David! Comeback right now Soldier!" Sergeant screamed out. 

I froze in place and turned to him. At that moment, I saw everyone's weapon turned up and pointing at the body. In my confusion, I didn't see that the body was that of a Korean. Remembering where I was, I started to slowly move back towards the squad. 

"John, David, go up and check the body. David your doing the checking since you're so eager." Sergeant said.

"Shit. Why do I have to go when it was you who ran up." John said.

Well, for me I understand, but John has been getting picked on for everything lately.

"You guys got it, we got you covered." Steve said. 

"Since you're so sure of us, why don't you come and check?" John said.

"Nope, Sarge already picked the first runner-up." Steve said chuckling. 

He was really an annoying cocksucker.

"Why not send Mike's short ass? If they shoot all he would have to do is squat and avoid all the bullets." John said angrily.

"Fuck you John." Mike said.

"Fine then." John said. 

If we would have just went and done it instead of arguing, we would have been done. As John and I slowly approached the body, we started our search and haven't noticed anything. We signaled to the squad that it was safe. Just then, we all heard a loud bang and our Sarge dropped to the ground. 

"GUNFIRE!" Paul screamed.

We all hit the ground and started to return fire. The Sarge was on the ground but he wasn't moving. I glanced at him and then started to return fire again. The gun fight lasted for about 10 min, but it felt forever. Once it was done we rushed to the sarge. Upon further notice, he took a bullet to the neck. He died instantly. 

"Oh fuck man. Fuck, fuck, fuck." John screamed.

"Calm down. We're gonna be okay." Steve said. 

Paul was just dazing off further into the forest. This is horrible. I was just joking about him being killed, but this, this is unbelieveable. To think he was just here a moment ago, and now he's gone. Who's gonna take his position? who's gonna be our leader? Still in shock over the Sarge's body, we treaded on, back towards the camp. 

"What are we going to do?" Paul asked.

"We need to just head back to the camp, let our superiors know and they'll let us know." I said.

I tried to stay calm and have everyone relax, but i was the most traumatized out of us all. Not only was it my fault, but I actually saw his face as the bullet entered his neck. 

"Steve from here on out, you will be our leader until we get to the camp." Mike said. 

"Who the fuck gave you permission to assign positions?" Steve said. 

Normally, Steve is very positive, but now, he's completely the opposite.

"Why do I have to be the leader? I'm not capable of doing that." He exclaimed.

This threw everyone in a downward spiral. After 15 min. of bickering I screamed. 

"ENOUGH!! I'll be the leader, if your scared."

It was silent. Once again I forgot that we were in a war environment. Just then we heard footsteps. 

"Hit the deck." I whispered. 

Everyone was scared shitless, but I tried to show no signs. As we got ready to fire, the footsteps stopped, as if they spotted us. I noticed John was about to pull the trigger when I whispered.

"John don't do anything stupid. There could be hundreds of them. Think before you fire." 

He looked at me and went back to getting ready. Just then the footsteps started again, but this time it was followed by atleast 20 more. It sounds like they were heading back to where we first engaged them. I guess looking for survivors. Good thing we moved out when we did, or we would have been caught. 

"Thanks man." John said.

I looked at him and nodded. It was going to be a long journey back to the camp. We were clueless as to how far we marched. Everything looked the same, which in a forest, it would. Mike looked like he was ready to give up at any moment.

"Mike, you gotta keep moving." I said

"I am, I'm just thirsty." Mike said.

I know what he means. Everybody was suffering from something. Whether it was food, water or the sarge getting a deep tissue massage. 

"I didn't sign up for this." Paul said.

"What did you think you would be doing in the army while there's a war?" Steve said.

He made a good point. Nobody was thinking, they were just in a panic. I wanted to just scream out, but who knows how many enemies are in the vicinity. I don't know what was worse, the fact that we were all paranoid or it being so quiet. Quiet. That was definitely worse. 

"What are you going to do when you get out of here?" Mike asked.

"Get me some loving from my ol' lady" John said.

"Try to forget this." Steve said.

"Same." Paul agreed.

"I'm going to..." Before I could finish we heard gunshots off in the distance. We all hit the deck simultaneously, as if it was choreographed. 

"Shit, sounds like their close by." Steve said.

They were, probably 100 meters west. Too far to engage, yet not far enough to get away. 

"We should attack them head on." Paul suggested.

He completely lost it. He's traumatized and don't know what to do right now.

"Come and get me you low-eyed bastards." Paul screamed and stood up as if about to run.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I asked.

"Get down. Are you trying to get us all killed?" Mike said.

Luckily the sound of gunfire drowned out his noise. 

"Lets use this noise to sneak out of here." I suggested.

As we hurried up towards the camp, we were spotted. 

The soldier began to yell for back-up. I turned and shot and hit him, but didn't kill him. He dragged away from us in pain.

"DIIIEE!!." Paul jumped on him and repeatedly stabbed him. 

"Paul. PAUL!!" I yelled at him. "We have to go, NOW!!"

I scooped him up.

"No. We have to kill all the enemy." He exclaimed.

"He's already dead. You killed him. Now let's go." I said.

Steve helped me grab and drag him to get away from the battle. 

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Paul apologized.

"It's okay Paul. Just try to get a hold of yourself so we can survive." I said.

He nodded and we continued. Finally we made it over the hill where our camp was located. I got to the top and turned to the team.

"We made it, we finally..."

Before I could finish Mike jolted up and over the hill. 

His little legs scrambling like a kid after seeing candy.

Paul and Steve slowly followed. John patted me on the back.

"You did it man. You lead us to safety." He said.

Proudly I headed over the hill. But as I made it, I felt something pinch the small of my back. The pain was intense and it felt like I was loosing breath.

"Hey David." John looked back at me and seen me on the ground.

"DAVID!" he shouted.

"GET A MEDIC OVER HERE, NOW!"

Everyone turned and sprinted towards me.

"What happened?" Paul asked.

"I don't know, I looked back and he was on the ground." John said.

After awhile, I could barely hear what was being said. All I can see was the Sarge, getting shot, his face and the korean that Paul killed. All I kept thinking was, is this it? All that marching, firing and surviving, and I fall short at the finish line. Several hours later, I awoke in a bed, with John, Mike, Steve and Paul sleeping around me. 

"Where am I? What happened?"I asked.

John woke up and said.

"You're awake! You're in the hospital. You took a bullet in the back and the doctor said it hit your spine. You might not walk again."

He told me this and I couldn't believe it. I tried to move up, but I couldn't feel my legs. 

"Aaah!" I screamed.

Everyone woke up and saw me freaking out. 

"David, calm down." Steve said.

"No, you calm down." I replied.

"I am calm." he argued.

"That's because your not fucking paralyzed." I screamed.

They chuckled a little bit and kept trying to get me to relax.

"You need to just lay down and be thankful for still being alive." Steve said.

"Right." Mike agreed. "If you keep moving around, it'll just make your injury worse."

They're right. The last thing I want to do is make the situation worse. So after realizing it, I started to relax and gather myself. They began to tell me everything that happened. 

"Guys, I need a moment. Can you leave for a minute?" I asked.

"Sure buddy, whatever you need." John replied.

After they left, I started to cry.

"I can't believe this." I said. "What am I going  to do now? How could they let this happen? Why couldn't they get shot instead of me?"

As I sit up in the bed, I could overhear the doctors as they talk with everyone.

"Gentlemen, it's a good thing that we got to him as quick as we did. Thanks to your quick reaction, we got to the bullet in time to save his life. We still can't tell if he'll be able to walk, but for now, we'll just need time and prayer. Gentlemen."

I could hear the doorknob turning as the doctor walks away.

"Well, what was that about?" I asked to see if they would be honest with me.

I'm aware of what's going on already. I just wanted to make sure I was hearing correctly.

"Well" John began to say, "The doctor said everything is fine and you should be good within a week." He said that without looking at me as if he was holding back the tears, but I knew he was lying.

"That's good! I can't wait to be back on the field with you guys!" I said.

As John looked at me, I could see his eyes swelling up with tears.

"Hey John, are you ok?" I asked him.

"Of course! I'm still just in shock about this whole day." he replied.

As I laid in my bed and thought about everything that happened, he was right. With Sergeant Smith never being able to go home, and me being shot, this has been an interesting day.

"Alright guys, let's give David some time for himself". John said as he pointed towards the door.

"You guys don't have to leave. You can stay and we can talk more if you want." I replied.

I didn't care what they wanted to talk about, as long as they didn't leave. I...I just didn't want to be alone.

"Naw, I gotta go David." Mike replied. "I have to make sure I write my folks back home that I'm ok."

"Oh, okay then Mike. I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I said.

"You got it buddy!" He gave me a thumbs up and hurried out the door.

"Paul...? Hey. PAUL!" Steve called. "Are you ok?"

Paul has been peculiarly quiet since I woke up. I figured it was because of the exhaustion of the day.

"Y..yea, I'm ok. I guess I'm just a little tired." he said.

"Yeah, I know man. Let's go back to the tents and get some rest." Steve said.

As Paul gave a nod, he and Steve began to head out. Before they disappeared out of sight, Paul turned back and said.

"I'm glad you're alright, David. I'm.. just glad you're alright."

As he turned and walked away, I felt a kind of coldness in his voice. Almost as if he had a vendetta on his shoulders.

"Hey John." I called out. "Did anything else happen while I was out? Anything... important?"

He looked up in a puzzling manner and after a few seconds he replied.

"No, not really. There was the doctors trying to get you fixed up, the nurses...Oh yea!" he exclaimed. "The First Sergeant and the Platoon Sergeant stopped by to check up on you. I guess they heard of what happened and decided to check for themselves."

I looked at him in disbelief.

"Really? How'd you forget that?" I asked.

"Well there was a lot going on and it was the furthest in my mind" He answered.

I guess I could understand that. Hell, if it was any of them shot I would've panicked and tunnel visioned everything as well.

"Okay, man. Thanks for everything." I said.

"No problems, leader." he said with a wink.

As he turned and continued to walk away, he hesitated.

"Hey, David?" he spoke.

"Yea, wassup?" I answered.

".... It's nothing. Just get some rest and we'll all see you tomorrow". He said.

I nod my head and then he left. As I lay in bed with my thoughts, all I could hear were the moans of the other Soldiers who were along side me. I couldn't help but feel their pain. As nightfall began to settle in, the moans seemed to get louder and louder. I try to ignore it, but every time I closed my eyes, I'd see Sergeant Smiths' face. Over and over again. I'd just see him, lying there motionless.

"I can't sleep." I thought. "Maybe there's a nurse around that can help."

As I sit up and turn on the lamp, I looked around and spotted a wandering nurse.

"Excuse me. Nurse?" I called out. "Excuse me?"

She didn't move or budge.

Maybe she didn't hear me.

"EXCUSE ME, NURSE?" I said a little louder.

Still nothing. Maybe she couldn't hear. So I began to rock my bed and make as much noise as possible. Just then, she started to move towards me. The light from the lamp was dim, but I can see that she notices me.

"Yes, is there anything you can give me to help me sleep?" I asked.

She was silent. She still continued to approach though.

"You see, I'm trying to sleep, but it's kind of difficult. I just want to..."

Before I could finish, I froze with fear. As she got closer and closer, the light from the lamp started to reveal her face. She wasn't a nurse at all, but was Sergeant Smith!

"AAAH!" I screamed.

Just then, I awoke from what felt real was in fact a dream. As I sat up breathing hard, I reached over to turn on the lamp. Covered in sweat, I wiped it away and called out for a nurse.

"NURSE!" I yelled. " I NEED A NURSE! PLEASE! I NEED, Help..."

As my emotions started to overflow, I put my face in my hands and tears flowed uncontrollably down my face. The stress from the day finally caught up with me and I could no longer hold back the tears.