SHOWDOWN IN AFGHANISTAN (REVISED)
It's a quarter till 0400, and the sun is about to rise
we've been pinned down in this small village,
engaging the enemy all night.....
Fatigue has set in, yet adrenaline keeps us alert
preparing for the last big stand, about to bring the hurt......
As I look around at my Soldiers, the price of this battle
has truly been paid,
we're tired, bleeding, dazed, confused
yet steadfast and very un-afraid
In a small village in the eastern provence of Afghanistan
surrounded by mountains, in a valley, we stand
vulnerable on this land
12 Soldiers, alone we stood, just our rifles and our pride
tattered and battered, some with bullet wounds,
one of my spotters missing an eye
no water, no food, all communications cut off
no way to call in any airstrikes, no help coming at all
just a prayer and a cigarette, before we make our last stand
this battle will be epic, this battle will be Grand
360 degree coverage, we provide ourselves, no shelter
no shelter....we're out in the open,
no regrets at this point, a quick death is what
we all were definitely hoping
the minute the sun rose, the first insurgent emerged
yet today would certainly not belong to him
the hot un-welcomed sting from the barret 50 cal round,
was the response that was waiting on him
the rockets began to fly, shooting right past our heads
yet the assassins we are, kept us unshaken
we vowed to defend, this piece of land
till the earth around us was quaking
Johnson took a round to the right side of his neck
then Smith got hit with shrapnel in his right knee
Harrison was struck in the back of his head,
death came unto him instantly
Rogers leg was blown off, by a fast moving rocket
his scream still to this day is heard in my head
overpowered we were, outnumbered we accepted
that by sunset, we all would be dead
I called out to Jenkins to give me more rounds, but
the rounds nor response I ever received
see Jenkings entire chest had been blown out
he died as a man fighting, not on his knees
One by one they picked us off, like a sick game of chest
we were pawns
but little did they know, the four of us who still remained
had a fighting spirit to charge on
Thomas zoomed the scope on his sniper rifle
for what seemed like a thousand yard out,
he gently squeezed the trigger and let out a bark
direct hit, he took their unprofessional sniper out
then the distinctive sound of RPG's started whistling
you could hear them coming from a mile away
"INCOMING" I yelled, as we braced ourselves,
for the carnage that was headed our way
A deafening blast knocked us off our feet,
couldn't hear, no noise, not one damn peep
I slowly looked around, dazed and confused
at the crater that surrounded me
To our surprise, the fatal rocket that was to do us in
turned out to be a dud, the only one that didnt explode
was lying at our feet
My spotter focused in the direction of the attack,
my sniper rifle was begging for some action
he called out direction, windage and distance
I replied "Now watch my reaction"
Through my scope, I measured the distance to be
roughly one mile away.....
I squeezed the trigger, it traveled and hit him
through his scope, his left eye, through his face
TO BE CONTINUED.
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Comments
Greetings Stephen,
Once again we meet and from one service member to another, I ask of you, were these actual events, that transpired, during your tour of duty and if so, I applaud you and if not, the applaud still remains, well deserved, for the valuable time in your life, which you have allocated, to the military of this nation, here and abroad, as time very well served and with a safe return. This, would and can easily be, considered a wonderful story as well a wonderful poem and truly reads, of highly intensive visual effects, through the mind’s eye, Judging from this submission, that has been rendered to the reader, by the author . A Strikingly action packed page, of intrusive and in your face, direct combative battle, for control of and maintain your (A.O.) “Area of Operations,” that you have a whole lot of eventful, areas of un-interrupted, non-existing interludes of military tales in your pen, just bursting to be told and placed on paper…..Looking forward, to the next military briefing to be held, in order to view your next piece of ground to be defended and/are conquered…Mission at hand accomplished and job very well done in this piece..
With High Regards,
Jim
EXTRACTED LINES OF INTRIGUE:
just a prayer and a cigarette, before we make our last stand
this battle will be epic, this battle will be grand
360 degree coverage, we provide ourselves, no shelter
left out in the open, no nerves, no fear,
no regrets at this point, a quick death is what we all were hoping
AND
12 Soldiers, alone we stood, just our rifles and our pride.
AND
just a prayer and a cigarette, before we make our last stand.
AND
the price of this battle has truly been paid,
we're tired, we're bleeding,dazed and confused
thirsty as well, yet remain steadfast and unafraid
In a small village in the eastern province of Afghanistan
Thank you Jimmy, I truly appreciate the level of respect in your response, much appreciated. This poem is actually the first in a series of personal memoirs about my and my Soldier's combat experiences.....these stories are all based on actual events we have lived through and or died trying to live through. I have kept these things hidden in my subconcious for years, never to speak of many of them again,....but you can't escape the dreams nor the constant reminders of living through hell.....and requesting to go back in. I have never even told my family about my experiences in combat. Anyway thanks a million for your support I really appreciate it.
This is just one battle in a series I intend to write about granted I get the approval I need to discuss sensitive operations that is But yes it's time to give My mind the therapy it needs.