Firefight- A Gunny Harold Short Story.

Option 6 oppression and fighting back1

Firefight- A Gunny Harold Short Story. 2

By3

Patrick La Bash4

It was hot, it was humid, it was wet; the monsoon season had begun. Gunny Harold lay in his bunk sweating; wondering if it was worth the effort to put on his rain gear and slog through the mud and rain to the mess tent. While it was only a hundred years away, he would be soaked to the skin and have mud half way to his knees. It was then that Kimi came through the screen door of the hooch; she had placed her poncho over a large tray she was carrying. She was drenched.5

As Kimi bustled around the small hooch getting the table (an old parts crate) cleared and set to receive the food she had brought, Harold watched her and smiled. She was small, barely pubescent, skinny but beautiful. Harold was always surprised that she had stayed so long. It was over a year now, and she was still with him. As he watched her, his thoughts wandered back to the day he had found her.6

It was June of 1962, and Gunny Harold and Team One were approaching a village in the mountainous region that bordered on Laos. The trail was clear, but after a year in Vietnam, Harold was cautious. So, progress was slow.7

The people of the village they were going to were good friends to the Marines that were assigned to this area. Harold’s unit, Team One, 1st Platoon, Headquarters’ Company of Group Five, had been there twice before. Harold remembered the head of the village. 8

To Harold, not yet eighteen, the man seemed very old. However, Harold knew the man to be in his early forties.9

The man had a wife and four daughters ranging in age from 10 to 18 years of age. Kimi was the youngest. On the unit’s second visit to the village, she had followed Harold around for the three days they had stayed in the village. That was six months before. She had walked beside him to the edge of the village when the unit left. When Harold had looked back from the top of a small hill a half-an-hour later, she was still standing at the same spot. Without thinking, Harold had waved. To his surprise she had waved back and then turned and ran back into the village. Harold had smiled and turned back to his unit, “Cute kid.” His thought caused him to smile – he was just coming to the top of the same hill but this time he wasn’t smiling.10

With the instinct learned from nearly twenty-five missions, Harold was cautious. Harold signaled the team to halt. Something did not feel right. It was nothing he had seen, it was nothing he had heard; it just did not feel right. He had learned to trust that feeling. More than once, it had saved his life. So, this time, he listened to it and squatting down he signaled for Patterson and Duc to join him. As the two joined him, squatting opposite him so that part of the horizon was under observation by each man.11

Harold had removed his soft cap, and was wiping the sweat from his face as he spoke, “Something isn’t right. Patterson, have you spotted any signs of visitors?”12

Patterson scratched his head and thought before he answered, “No, Gunny, not a thing. There wasn’t a single footprint on the trail.”13

Duc nodded and grunted, “That’s it!” He turned and looked back toward the small river they had crossed an hour before. 14

“Hasn’t been any rain for the last week.” He paused and then swept a hand toward the back trail, “Nothing to wash away the prints. The villagers use this trail to get to the river.” A quizzical look passed over his face, “There should be some…Somewhere.” All three men scanned the horizon, and tightened their grips on the weapons in their hands. 15

Harold nodded. He stood and looked toward the crest of the hill that was less than thirty yards away. Then he looked at Patterson, pointed to the right side of the hill and held up four fingers. Without a word, Patterson turned and started in the direction Harold had pointed, as he went he tapped four of the resting Marines and waved for then to follow. As he moved off, he slipped off the safety of his M-1 rifle, and opened the flap of the holster that held his .45 caliber pistol. The men following him did the same. Duc and four more members of Team One had been sent to Harold’s left. Harold and the last three members of the team watched as Duc and Patterson moved out of sight.16

Harold nodded and his group began to move forward. As they advanced, Harold’s feeling of something being wrong increased. 17

As they crested the hill and got closer to the village, Harold saw – rather did not see – smoke from cooking fires. He knew that this was a sure sign that there was something very wrong. While none of the villages in this area built large fires that gave off a lot of smoke, most kept small fires burning around the clock. To see a village without any smoke was a warning signal.18

As they reached the edge of the clearing, Harold stopped and signaled his men to fan out. Slowly he slipped forward, scanning the compound for danger. As he reached the first hut, he slid along the wall to the corner of the hut. He took a fast look around the corner of the building, and what he saw made his blood run cold; bodies. Over a dozen scattered like rag dolls. The flash of a signal mirror from the other side of the village caught his eye. Looking toward it, he saw Sergeant Patterson coming from the tree line. A moment later, he saw a movement on the left of the main compound told him that Corporal Duc and his team were also in place and moving in. There was no need to signal the teams to go slow and use caution; the bodies did that.19

A few minutes later Harold, Patterson and Duc stood near the center of the village as team members cut down the head of the village, his wife and three of the daughters. All were naked and showed signs of extreme torture; the father had been castrated, and the women showed signs of rape.20

As the men laid the last of the bodies on the ground, Harold turned slowly, scanning the entire area. “Where is Kimi? The youngest. Has anyone found her?” The men began another search of the village; this time they were hoping to find a survivor. This was a slow process, as the men had to be wary of booby traps. They had found some of the bodies had been rigged with grenades. Had his men not been very careful, there would have been more bodies.21

Thirty long minutes later, the call came from the far side of the village, “Gunny!!” Harold took off at a run followed by Patterson and Duc. He spotted Corporal Levine waving from the door of a hut near the edge of the village. As they approached, Levine called out, “Gunny, I think we have found the girl, but we can’t get her to come out.”22

As Harold entered the hut, Levine pointed at a hole in the floor that had been covered by wooden planks and fiber matting. 23

Harold approached the edge of the hole slowly and heard the whimpering of the young girl. There was a stone in his throat and he could not swallow. His heart was hammering in his chest, “Oh God,” his mind screamed, “Let her be O.K.”24

He approached the trap door slowly and fell to his knees at the edge of the opening. “Kimi.” His voice was soft. He thought she had not heard him and was about to call out again when the small girl suddenly exploded from the opening and wrapped her arms around Harold’s neck. She was crying, and had blood on her face. There was a large bruise on one cheek and her dress was torn in so many places that it barely covered her.25

Harold stood with Kimi clinging to him and crying. “It’s O.K. sweetheart,” Harold said softly as he wrapped his arms around her and began walking from the hut. Patterson answered Harold’s call and approached the two of them; he was already opening his field first aid kit. As the unit’s field medic, he began to assess the small girl’s injuries. As he moved to take her from Harold, the child began crying louder and she wrapped her arms tighter around Harold’s neck. She refused to let go.26

Patterson looked at Harold and said, “Gunny, it looks like nothing more than some bruises. I don’t think the blood is hers. But, she is very scared and in shock.” He patted the young girls arm gently and then looked at Harold, “What do you want to do with her, Gunny?”27

The question caught Harold off guard. He looked at Patterson and then down at the pathetic figure in his arms. After a moment’s hesitation, he raised his eyes to Patterson, “I’ll take care of her now.”28

The team had buried the dead. Harold and Kimi had collected a small bundle of things she wanted to take with her. During the entire time, the small girl had never left Harold’s side. They moved out toward the LZ with Kimi riding piggy-back with her arms wrapped around Harold’s neck.29

About two hours into there trek to the LZ, Levine’s hand shot up, fist closed, and then dropped down hand open palm down. 30

The team dropped to the ground. Harold pulled Kimi from his back and placed her next to a small bush. He held out his hand and motioned for her to stay put. She nodded and pulled herself into a small ball; hugging her knees to her chest. There was fear in her eyes but she did not utter a sound. Harold placed his hand on her head and smiled. Although there were tears of fear in her eyes, she smiled back and nodded again.31

Harold quickly moved to where Levine had taken cover. Harold knew that when Levine was on point he did not panic. So, his signal meant that he had seen something that was wrong; very wrong. As Harold slid into place next to Levine he spoke in a whisper that did not carry more than a few inches, “Where?” 32

Levine pointed forward and to his right. Then he moved his arm to the left. “It’s one camp. But these critters are smart.”33

Harold looked over the layout of the NVA camp and nodded; Levine was right. The NVA camp was divided into two main parts. While one part was camped in an open position, the other part was within the tree line and almost completely hidden. Anyone fool enough to attack the exposed group were in for a very rude surprise. Harold tapped Levine on the shoulder and pointed back to where the rest of the team had gone to ground. He and Levine crawled back until they could rise to a crouching position and then made their way back to the team.34

As soon as the team had gathered round, Harold felt Kimi’s small hand touch his arm as she squatted next to him. Harold wished she were not there. This was going to be a firefight and she was in danger. Harold looked at her once and then began to layout the picture for the team. He sketched a layout of the NVA camp and began planning his attack. About half way through he felt a soft tug on his sleeve. He turned toward Kimi and frowned. She seemed to shrink even smaller, but her voice was clear.35

“There is a small cave.” She reached across the dirt sketch and placed her finger to the left of the hidden ambush team. “Here.”36

Harold twisted rapidly, the look on his face scared Kimi, and tears began to run down her face.37

“How big is this cave?” His voice was tense and hard.38

Kimi’s small voice squeaked, “Hold maybe five, six men.”39

Harold was silent for a moment, “Kimi, are you sure?”40

“Yes, I played there with my sisters.” Her voice broke on the word ‘sisters.’41

Harold pulled her close and hugged her, “Kimi, honey, thank you. You just saved our lives.” He kissed the top of her head. He did not see the smile that made her face light up as he turned back to the men.42

“So… There are probably three groups, not two. And, I suspect the cave is where the officers and the radio will be. We have to make very sure we take it out before they can call for help.” Patterson and Duc nodded. “Duc, take your men and hit the bait. But, come in from a position directly opposite the ambush team. That way if they open up, their own bait will be in the crossfire. Harold looked at second squad and nodded, “We will come in from the flank… here… and when the ambush team begins to move we will hit them. If they turn to engage us, that will leave the bait exposed to first squad. Either way we will hit them hard and fast. By our splitting the front, they will not be sure which way to turn. Duc, you hit your bait hard. Give them everything you got.”43

Harold turned to Patterson and Levine. “You two are to take out the cave. Grenades. As many as you can get through the opening. That will be the signal for first squad to hit the bait.” 44

Harold looked around the assembled team. Each man was hand picked for this unit. Hand picked for Team One by Harold himself. He had no doubts about any of them. Then, his eyes fell on the small upturned face of Kimi. His heart lurched. “Christ,” the thought burst into his mind, “what do I do with her?”45

Kimi seemed to understand his look. She smiled a grim smile and pointed at herself and then at Harold. Harold shook his head “No.” But she just smiled, “You go, I go.”46

Harold’s thoughts were in turmoil; they could not delay, and it was obvious that Kimi had decided that her place was with him.47

“Kimi…” He began. She just stood and shrugged. Harold looked at Patterson and then at Duc. Both men shrugged, stood and motioned for their men to move out.48

“Jesus!” Harold swore and turned to face Kimi. “You have to stay back here. I don’t want you hurt.”49

“I love you.” She said softly.50

“Oh, crap!” Harold looked at the upturned face and said, “You stay next to me and stay down.”51

Private Carlton muttered, “Like you could drive her off with a stick.” He smiled and shifted his pack. Reaching inside he pulled out a small .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He jacked a round into the chamber and handed it to Kimi. Looking at Harold he said, “She might need it.”52

Kimi looked at the small pistol and said, “Thank you.”53

Harold shrugged; there was nothing he could do, and it was time to move. “Let’s go.”54

Kimi stepped very close and patted his arm. The lump in his throat made it hard to swallow and speech was beyond him. He did not know if it was fear or something else. He just knew that he could not let anything happen to her. He swallowed hard and turned to move out.55

They had moved to a point about thirty yards from the NVA ambush team; it had taken them forty minutes. But, they had done it without alerting the NVA. They had been in position less than two minutes with the grenades went off, four of them. At the sound of the first grenade, Duc’s squad hit the exposed element. Five grenades arced through the air, and rifle fire from Duc’s squad took out half of the enemy before the last grenade had detonated. It left only four of the twenty NVA soldiers alive. As Harold had guessed, the ambush team began to move. His squad opened fire with devastating accuracy. The ambush team tried to split into two parts; one to attack Harold, and the other to reinforce the bait. It was a fatal mistake. The baits’ last four men had died in a burst of fire from Duc’s squad. When the reinforcing group rushed forward, more grenades arced through the air. Duc’s squad bracketed them. His team had thrown four grenades long, and four grenades short. The resultant explosions were horrendous. Of the seventeen attacking soldiers all but three died. The last three tried to run, but Duc’s squad set up a hail of bullets that cut them to pieces.56

Meanwhile, Harold and his squad were engaging the NVA coming at them. Harold had, once again, used the “V” deployment with himself at the point of the “V.” This, effectively, caught the advancing NVA in a crossfire; a three way crossfire.57

The NVA leader realized his mistake and ordered his men to retreat. He back straight into Corporal Duc and his squad. There were no survivors.58

Harold heard Duc call out, “Clear!” His call was echoed by each of his squad as they advanced on the bodies and separated them from their weapons. 59

For the first time since the firefight began Harold looked at Kimi. She lay next to him, about five feet away. She looked frightened. Harold stood and picked her up. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she squeezed tightly. As she did the small pistol brushed the side of his neck, it was hot.60

Reaching up with one hand while holding her and his rifle with his other arm, he took the small pistol from Kimi’s hand. He peeled her from his neck and stood her on the ground. He checked the magazine of the weapon and found it empty. He was holding the pistol and the magazine and staring at Kimi when Carlton came up.61

He looked at the pistol and said, “I thought so.” He rubbed Kimi’s head affectionately. “Gunny, there are two NVA out there with .25 caliber holes in them. Looks like we have a new team member.”62

Kimi move close to Harold and put her hand on his arm, “They come close. You not see. I shoot.”63

The look on Harold’s face made Carlton laugh, “She’s not joking. They were within five yards of your position. Coming from your right and slightly behind you. She emptied the mag into them. I didn’t count the holes, but I don’t think she missed with any of them.”64

Harold looked where Carlton was pointing and saw the two bodies. They had gotten very close. If it had not been for Kimi, they would have taken him out. He put his arm around the small girl and pulled her close. “Thank you, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head and she threw her arms around his waist and hugged with all of her strength.65

The Huey had made the pick-up and Kimi sat close to Harold and clung to his arm tightly for the entire trip back to Group Five. 66

She did not let go of him until they were on the ground and ten yards away from the choppers. “Don’t like choppers.” She said in a serious voice.67

Harold laughed, “Neither do I, Kimi, neither do I.”68

Harold bent down, picked her up, and kissed her cheek. As he turned, he came face to face with Colonel Davidson. “Sergeant Harold, just what have you got there?”69

The look on Davidson’s face was serious and Harold knew that levity should not be used, but he could not help himself. 70

“Colonel, I would like you to meet the newest member of Team One. Kimi, Colonel Davidson. Colonel Davidson, Kimi.”71

Davidson frowned, “Gunny, you want to explain that?”72

So, as Harold, carrying Kimi, walked toward the briefing hut he told his C.O. what had happened. Including Kimi saving his life.73

When Harold had finished Colonel Davidson smiled at Kimi and said, “Well, in that case I will make sure she goes to a good home.”74

“No.” Although the voice was soft, there was no mistaking the conviction in it. Kimi was staring at Colonel Davidson.75

“But… Kimi…” Davidson looked at Harold to make sure he had her name correct. When Harold nodded, Davidson went on, “Kimi, you can’t stay here. You need a home, someone to take care of you. To…”76

“No.”77

“Kimi,” Colonel Davidson stopped and looked at her. “You can’t stay here. Where would you live? Who would take care of you?”78

“Harold.”79

“But, Kimi…” Colonel Davidson sputtered.80

“No.” Kimi had not once raised her voice. Nor had she cried or begged. She just said, “No.”81

Colonel Davidson had called for a psychiatrist to examine Kimi. He was afraid that losing her family had caused her mental trauma and she had latched on to Harold out of a sense of desperation. After talking to every member of Team One and a four hour session with Kimi, the doctor made his report to Colonel Davidson. “Colonel, it is simple; she loves Harold. It seems that she had decided that when Harold’s team came to her village six months ago.” As Colonel Davidson began to interrupt the doctor raised his hand, “No, Colonel, there has been nothing physical between them. And, no, it is not a small girl’s crush. She loves him, just as your wife loves you.”82

The doctor stopped to light a cigarette, and then went on, “You can send her to an orphanage or somewhere else. But, it had better be on another continent if you do not want her back here as fast as her feet can carry her.83

“Colonel, I have dealt with a lot of fully grown adults that would have come apart after going through what that girl has. Only one thought kept her going and sane, ‘Harold came for me.’84

“You can do what you want. But, you will not win this one. Talk to the other members of the team, they will tell you the same 85

thing; Kimi is a part of Team One and Harold belongs to her.” The doctor smiled as Davidson’s head snapped up.86

“What the hell do you mean by that?”87

“Simple, Colonel, she has chosen Harold for her husband.”88

“But… She’s just a goddamned kid!”89

“Yes, in size you are right. But, I am telling you that it is her choice. Hell, even Harold couldn’t change her mind.” Colonel Davidson’s eyebrows raised and his eyes went wide. “That’s right, Colonel, Harold talked to her, even shouted. No good. She just looked at him and said, ‘I love you.’ Damn, I thought Harold was going to cry. Hell, I thought I was going to cry.” The doctor stubbed out his cigarette and stood. “Colonel, do as you will. This one, you can’t win.”90

Colonel Davidson talked to all of the members of Team One, and then called Kimi into his office. He spent over an hour trying to convince her to go to an orphanage or to a private family in Da Nang. Kimi listened politely and then said, “Can I go to my Harold now?”91

Colonel Davidson sat for a full minute and watched her. Her gaze never wavered and she just waited. Finally Colonel Davidson said, “Kimi, please wait outside with Sergeant Jenkins.” As she left the office, he called to Jenkins, “Send Harold in.”92

Harold marched into the office and came to a halt eighteen inches in front of the desk. He saluted and said, “Gunnery Sergeant Harold, Reporting as ordered, Sir.”93

Colonel Davidson waited about ten seconds before he returned the salute. “At ease, Harold.”94

Harold came to the position of parade rest, and was staring the prescribed eighteen inches above the colonel’s head. His thoughts were in turmoil. He was facing the hardest thing he had done since joining the Marines; saying good-bye to Kimi.95

“Harold, I want the truth. There is a little girl out there,” Colonel Davidson said pointing toward the door, “and she tells me she wants to be your wife. What did you do or say to encourage her?”96

Harold swallowed and said, “Sir, nothing. I don’t know why she chose me. I tried to talk her out of it. But… But…” he 97

stuttered to a halt, his head dropped and he said very softly, “Colonel, I can’t explain it. She loves me. And…Sir… I love her.” Harold stood quietly for a moment and then continued, “Sir, I don’t know how to explain it. I just know that if it comes to a choice between Kimi and staying in the Corps… I would choose Kimi.”98

Colonel Davidson’s head snapped erect. “Do you mean that, Gunnery Sergeant?”99

Harold stood straighter and said in a very firm voice, “Yes, sir, I do.”100

Colonel Davidson shuffled some papers on his desk and kept his eyes fixed on them. He had seen something on Harold’s face he had never thought he would see on it, tears. Finally, he looked up and said, “Gunny, if you hurt that child or abuse her, I will come down on you like the wrath of God.” He stood, “I am doing this against my better judgment. I doubt if the corps will grant you permission to marry, legally, one so young. But, I do believe that you love her, and there is no doubt that she loves you.” Colonel Davidson’s voice softened, “Harold, be careful with her. She could have a hard time if you don’t…”101

Harold interrupted, “Colonel, she will never regret her choice.”102

Colonel Davidson nodded, “Dismissed.”103

That was fourteen months ago, and he had never regretted his decision. He loved his child bride and she loved him. As he 104

watched her set out the food, his heart thumped in his chest and there was a quiet joy that soared through him. “Kimi,” he held out his arms and she came to him and sat on his lap. “Kimi, I love you.” He hugged her and she put her arms around his neck and kissed him.105

She leaned back in the protective circle of his arms and looked at his face. Then in a very serious voice, she asked, “Yes. But, will you still love me when I am fat?”106

Harold laughed, “Kimi, you will never be fat. And, even if you do get fat, I will still love you.” He kissed her on the forehead and then looked into her face, “What brought this on?”107

She smiled the mischievous smile she had when she was about to spring something one him, “Yes, I get fat very soon.” She patted her belly. Harold’s jaw dropped.108

“You mean… you… you’re… um… ah…” Harold stammered.109

Kimi giggled like the little girl she was. “Yes, I have baby.”110

Harold hugged her tightly, buried his face in her hair and cried. Finally, he looked up and, as she kissed his cheek, he said, “Kimi, you are the most wonderful girl in the world.”111

She wiggled off his lap and pulled the crate they used for a table closer. “I know,” she said with an impish smile, “how you think I get with baby.”112

– FINI –113