Mission 9

I was sound asleep when a voice broke through my sleep, sounding rather urgent in it's tone.

‶Sarge wake up! The General sent us to escort you to his office. He said for you to get showered and eat because you would be there most of the morning.″

I sat up looking at my watch and it was 0530 in the morning. I rubbed my eyes and saw two MP's standing next to my bed. Jenkins was still snoring, probably from last night's party that Gunny threw for the men after we got back from Pleiku. I didn't go, because I just wasn't in the mood to party after what I had seen at the VC camp. I didn't say anything just got up and went and showered, and was escorted back to the hooch to get dressed. I started to grab my 16 but the MP said I wouldn't need it. I was escorted to the chow hall and when I finished eating I was loaded in a jeep, and taken to Saigon to the Embassy where the General kept his office. The MP's turned me over to the Embassy guards and left after wishing me good luck. I was told to follow them and we went down a long hall. I spied a coffee pot and stopped to get a cup when one of the guards grabbed my arm trying to pull me back to the hall.

‶If you pull on my arm one more time you'll be wearing it as a necklace. Now I don't know why I'm here since I haven't been placed under arrest, but I will get a cup of coffee without your interference.″

‶Sarge, sorry I grabbed you but the General said to bring you right in when the MP's dropped you off. I am sure the General has a coffee pot in his office.″

‶Regardless, I found this one now, so I might as well take a cup with me just in case he doesn't want to share.″

This brought smile to both their faces, and the mood was a little less somber as we walked down the hall to the last door on the right. I was shown in and told by a good looking female clerk to have a seat. She said the General would see me in a couple of minutes. I looked around sipping my coffee as she buzzed the General telling him I was in her office. I didn't hear his answer but from her frown it didn't look like he was in a good mood. I was almost ready to ask her why I was here when she told me to go in, pointing at the other door. I got up, dropped my empty cup in the trash and went in. When I closed the door behind me and walked to his desk going through the formalities of reporting in like a good little boy, I came to attention and waited. He didn't even look up from his writing, just told me to have a seat. Damn I thought another salute wasted. I sat for about ten minutes when he buzzed his secretary telling her to hold all calls until further notice. When he looked at me I could immediately tell he was mad.

‶Sarge, I have gone along and even defended you with some of your shenanigans, but this time you went too far. General Thompson wants to bring you up on charges for assaulting a superior officer. Do you want to tell me what happened and this time I want the truth not some comedy crap.″

I started at the beginning, and went through the whole thing up to the point to where the Captain showed up and lifted us out. The General just looked at me for a moment before he spoke again.

‶Ok Sarge, I can believe that because all your men as well as Jenkins said almost the same thing. Dammit Sarge, you shouldn't have hit him, but I understand your reaction since you just came in from the bush and hadn't unwound any. I gave you my word I would back you, and I will but you WILL apologize to him and in person. And god Dammit it better be sincere, or your ass is gonna be in the brig for thirty days. He is on his way here as we speak and should arrive in about an hour. Now the President has put a complete lid on the whole rescue for some reason. He has the men you brought back in isolation on the hospital ship undergoing intense psycho evaluation. I have no idea what they hope to accomplish with that crap, but I was ordered to tell you and your men not to speak about it to anyone. I thought that was like closing the door after the flies came in, but I don't have a choice. Sarge, one of them died last night and two more may not make it. The doctor who is treating them is mad as hell because of their condition. He says if they had been brought in a couple of weeks earlier they would all have made it. HQ is getting reamed big time over this one because they had to admit they knew about the camp, and did nothing to rescue any of them. As we speak they are putting together a specialized team to devote all their time to investigating and rescue of prisoners when they find them. Sarge, you and your men did a hell of a job under a lot of adverse conditions. I have a couple of clerks going through the records on those dog tags you gave the Captain. Where did they come from? ″

‶Monkey found them in the camps commanders hut, in his footlocker. Before he died he admitted to Monkey they had all been in the camp. General, he said that he had shot several of them to keep the prisoner population down to a manageable level when he took over the place. The rest he admitted were either sick or were worked until they dropped then shot. God Dammit we should do that to those assholes at HQ. Maybe then they would get off their asses and let us win this damn war and go home where we belong. That whole sorry bunch should have to go out on a patrol at least once a month, instead of sitting behind their desks playing god with everyone's lives. Hell, they wouldn't survive a mile of humping in the bush, but to hear them talk they know exactly what we go through out there. Hell General, I got an article 15 because I took AK's into the bush instead of 16's. They said it was a violation of the Geneva Convention. Charlie sure as hell don't believe in it, so I feel if I gain an advantage by using their own weapons then too damned bad.″

‶Calm down Sarge, I already reamed some asses over that one. I am about as sick of their bullshit as you are. You haven't, nor if I know you, ever violated the Geneva Convention. Considering what I heard of those men's condition, I wonder if it even applies here. I agree with you, Charlie don't go by it but we have to. Sarge, you have two months on this tour, and I am supposed to dock you thirty days pay, but I lost the paperwork somewhere. I will tell you that if you go home you won't be allowed to come back here for a third tour, but if you sign the paperwork now for another tour, I will backdate it a month so they can't enforce the orders to send you home. You will, after you do your apology to General Thompson, be given 60 days leave starting tomorrow, before reporting back for your third tour. Sarge, why don't you go visit someplace, and have a good drunk, and get laid instead of spending it with your men. You need to get away for awhile to unwind. You have a big bonus coming this time, as well as all your back pay. Hell, go somewhere in the world and have some fun. I can't order you to do it but it would be good for you if you did.″

‶General if it's all the same to you I ain't lost nothing out there in the world. I would rather spend it with my men because they are my friends, and probably the only ones I will ever be able to call such. Other than them I have always been a loner and went out of my way to never get close to anyone in the world. My family are always glad to see me, but to them it's like it's a chore when I come home on leave. I am welcomed but they are always happier to see me leave again. No Sir, I think I will stay here like I always do, and enjoy what I am used too. I may catch a ride to Bangkok for a week, but I will come back for the rest of the time. The village and my men are my family, and they all feel the same about me. I am comfortable there, and they are always happy to see my ugly puss when I visit.″

‶Ok Sarge, sign these papers then go find some coffee until General Thompson arrives. If you need a pass or anything, I will instruct the Captain to give you what you need.″

I signed the papers for another tour and for some strange reason I was happy to do so. I knew I was pushing the envelope, and had already survived against all the odds, but I knew I had good men and was confident this one would be fine like the other two. If I could muster up the guts to do my apology without laughing in General Thompson's face, I would be free for the next sixty days. I thought about him laying on the ground with a big purple mark on his jaw and almost laughed out loud. I went down the hall looking for the coffee pot I had raided earlier and almost ran into the General just coming in the door. I immediately came to attention, and in my best military manner saluted him. I immediately apologized to him for my actions, explaining that just coming in like I was I was jumpy and that I should have looked before I acted. He glared at me a moment then grinned.