Patrol

Specialist Landon James sat cleaning his gun under the shade of the overhanging roof at his post in Iraq. He looked at the picture of the woman with the baby inside his hat. "I can't wait to see you again Keris..." he thought to himself. His wife Keris was so strong. She had bravely watched him go when she was about 6 months pregnant. On his two week leave, he had gotten to see his daughter Aven two weeks after she was born. Keris had once more watched him fly off to war.1

He tried to console her, and the rest of his family, by saying he was relatively out of the action. The truth being that he was very much near Baghdad and hardly a day went by that he didn't hear the sounds of mortars in the background. Him and his buddies, Simon, Mack, and Graves had become used to the sounds of war. If there weren't mortars going off, they became worried.2

Today was a quiet day on post. Though there were still mortars going off, none of the soldiers really spoke a word. Though they had been here for nearly a year, they had just learned that their tour was to be extended for three months after the time they were originally to come home. He hadn't called his parents or his wife yet. 3

"Hey James," Sgt. Graves said as he came up to sit beside his buddy, "Called the family yet?"4

"No," Landon replied, "I haven't figured out quite what to say."5

"Nothing you can say but what there is to be said, James," Graves said slowly, "You are in the military. Tour extensions are to be expected. You call them now, son. They need to hear it from you, not the news."6

Landon got up and went towards the phone room. Many guys were still on the phones trying to comfort their families, spouses, and girlfriends. Landon sat down at the nearest phone to call his wife first.7

"Hello?" he heard Keris' soft voice say over the phone.8

"Hey honey, how are you?" he asked his wife trying to sound as amiable as possible.9

"I'm fine honey. Aven is well too. How are you hon?"10

"I'm great Keris. Running everyday. Boring same old same old."11

"What is it babe?" she asked, "I know something is up."12

"My tour has been extended, I won't be home til July." He heard Keris take a deep breath before answering.13

"It's what the Lord wants for you, Landon. I can't say anything other than I miss you, and God Bless you."14

Even though Keris tried to sound strong Landon could hear the emotion in her voice. It couldn't be easy for her being without him and with a baby. She had moved in with her parents, but it still didn't help much. He heard his daughter crying in the background.15

"Sorry honey, much as I would like to talk to you, Aven is hungry." his wife said as she tried to regain composure.16

"I love you hon," Landon said.17

"Love you too, soldier." 18

.........19

It had now been a little over a month since Landon had learned of his tour being extended. He still called his family when he could, and patrolled almost everyday. They had brought some insurgents into custody, and even once found an insurgent who's bomb had backfired and blown HIM up. 20

It was getting pretty late when mortars began raining in thier screaming fury in the compound hitting several buildings including the latrine. The soldiers grabbed their guns and began shooting in the direction of the fire. Blasts and screams from artillery filled the camp. The big guns began shooting as well and then it was silent. As the smoke settled, the soldiers began surveying the damage, and looking for injured. Only a few soldiers were injured in the attack. Immediately Landon and his buddies were ordered to go check things out in their hummer. Two convoys were sent out. 21

Their patrol led them to a village not far away where some Iraqi Police asked them to check out a building. Just then the radio sqwaked "Guys, get back here immediately! We need you in case of attack!"22

"I don't feel good about this," Simon said, "shouldn't we stay here and check out what the officer told us about?"23

"Once we get the order, we have to go." said Graves. Mack then put the humvee into motion behind the lead. Landon gazed out the turret at the cool Iraqi night before him. Something didn't feel right. Soon a flash of light and an explosion shook the ground in front of their humvee.24

"IED! IED!" someone shouted out over the radio. Landon set his right leg down to adjust himself higher in the turret for a better shot. At that instant the second IED shot off headed straight for them.25

.................26

Immediately Landon's right leg collapsed and another IED shot off and hit them. Fire was everywhere. "I'm in hell...." Landon thought. He was on fire, he was in immense pain. All he could see was orange. Landon fought back screams of agony and pain. "Don't let them hear your pain," he told himself, "Don't give them that satisfaction." The searing heat was nearly too much to handle. He heard guys from the other humvess firing shots into the night. "I'm going to die..."27

The fire was out now. Landon tried to free himself of the turret harness, but it was welded shut in the fire. All he could do was hang there. He could feel the lower part of his leg dangling by a thread. "Graves? Simon? Mack? Anyone?" 28

He heard the medical support arrive. They pried open the door of the humvee checked, and pulled out Mack. Then they began to check Graves and Simon. The rescuers were silent. "What's wrong? Tell me are my buddies ok?" Landon begged. That brought one's attention to him, and that soldier began to cut Landon out of his harness. Just then he heard another radio out "Command, we have two KIA's, I repeat two KIA's....."29

Landon was being pulled out of the humvee, and he recognized his rescuer as Spc. Martin, one of his running buddies. Martin drew in a sharp gasp when he surveyed Landon James' right leg. As Landon tried to sit up to survey the extent of his wounds, Martin stopped him.30

"Don't look, James! Please don't look!" Martin pushed him back to the ground.31

Landon lay back on the ground gritting his teeth at the pain. "It's ok Martin. I know its gone, I know its gone."32

"The choppers are going to be here in a little bit, James. Just hold on. Tell me about Aven and Keris..."33

Landon looked over and recognized the form of Graves covered under a tarp. "He's gone, isn't he Martin? Graves is gone."34

There were tears in Martin's eyes as he nodded. A shout of "Alive! This one's alive!" drew both Martin and Landon's attention. "Looks like Simon's alive." Martin sighed in relief.35

Landon could hear moaning in Mack's direction. "Martin, is Mack gonna be ok?"36

"Yes James, he is. Now tell me about your daughter and your family!"37

Once again their attention was deterred by the sound of a chopper flying overhead. As it landed, the men taking care of Mack and Simon carried their wounded, bloodied bodies to the chopper."Your's is coming soon, James." Martin said.38

Landon felt like a million razor edged knives were piercing his whole body over. He could still smell the pungent odor of burnt flesh, his own flesh burnt. He closed his eyes as the next chopper sounded overhead. He felt his body being lifted up. He opened his eyes and saw they were bringing the lifeless body of Graves to the same chopper. He felt the wind from the revolving blades. As he was strapped in, Martin smiled and said "You're going home, James. You're going home!"39

With tears in his eyes, Landon smiled. He was going home.