The Fall of America | Book 10 | No Winners

by Benton, W. R.

  More bombs rained down on their camp and the only positive aspect was all of the computers, generators, medical supplies and most of the ammunition had been taken out of the camp already.

  "Bamboo Echo One, this is Papa Bear Actual, over." The portable radio John carried in his pocket was suddenly alive.

  "Bamboo Echo One, here. Go Papa Bear Actual." John said to the General, knowing Actual was his call sign.

  "I need for you to make your way to the new camp and take charge. I will return to our old base and see what we can salvage."

  "Copy, uh, do you need for us to do any thing particular?"

  "No, just wait for us at the location and once we're together we'll establish camp. The bombing of the base camp was probably called in by your sniper. I'm just happy most of the guns, munitions, and ammo were the first things transported this morning. Out."

  "Copy, out." John closed the radio and stuck it back in his coat pocket.

  "Well?" Joy asked, her thoughts on the danger of being here if Russian Combat troops were to show up and do a damage assessment of the bombing.

  "You and the rest of us, except those with the General, are to leave and head to the new camp, where we'll wait for the boss before establishing camp."

  "They'll not find much left serviceable."

  "I hope we notify the Russians they are violating the truce agreement." John said as he waved at a squad of partisans off in the distance.

  When they neared, John said, "I have orders to gather the stragglers up and move to the new camp. Y'all fall in behind us. Let's move."

  "Who is on point and doing drag?" a tall lanky man asked.

  "You," said John as he pointed at a beautiful young female Corporal. "...are my drag person and you, are my point man. Come to a compass heading of 165 degrees and watch out for booby traps and mines."

  "Yes, sir, I'm Corporal Beth Cummings and he's Tom Carson."

  "Okay, Tom, stay about 30 meters in front of us and Beth, you stay back about the same distance. Let's go." John said and they began moving.

  John unwrapped the gauze from his face and he could see twice as well as before. He figured the sniper was no where near the bombing, but he was wrong.

  They were near the new camp and the whole walk had been hot and boring. The point man, Carson, was good and alert. He'd led them around a good handful of traps, mines, and suspicious areas. He was good.

  "Camp is in the trees right ahead of us. See the clearing?"

  "I see it, General." Carson relied.

  They were about a 100 yards from the clearing when a voice yelled out in English, "Who goes there?"

  "A General and some stragglers from the old base." Carson replied.

  "I want you to come forward alone." the guard said.

  Once Carson moved forward he and the guard realized they knew each other from seeing each other in the old camp. They were not friends, but knew each other by sight and understood the other was a partisan.

  "Call your group into the camp, Carson, and then they can speak with the Sergeant Major."

  They entered camp, lowered their rifles and as John sat down, he felt a sharp blow to his back and it knocked him off the log. As he laid gasping for air, someone yelled, "Sniper! To the west."

  Joy screamed and moved to the downed General.

  "I caught a little smoke when the sniper fired. He's in the trees to the west, just past that open field. About a half mile off, and he's in that biggest oak in that grove." Sergeant Miller said.

  The First Sergeant yelled, "Miller, since you know where he is, I want that bastard dead, understand me. No one gets away with killing one of our Generals."

  "Sure thing, Top. Thomas, Smith, Wilson, and Powers, follow me. We have a sniper to kill."

  As the men left to hunt the sniper, John sat up and said, "Damn me, that shot took all the wind out of me. Thank God for the bodyarmor or I'd be dead right now. That's twice he should have killed me."

  "I don't think our men will find him. He has a good half a mile head start on them." The Sergeant Major said.

  "Maybe, snipers are hard to figure out at times." John replied and then gave Joy a quick kiss on the cheek.

  A loud volley of shots were heard, followed by a short quietness, then two more shots.

  "Ummm, maybe they got lucky." Joy said. "John, the General and you, will never know peace as long as that man lives."

  "We'll get him sooner or later. Again he thinks he killed me, so back to wrapping my face. He's patient, I'll give him that much, and a damned good shot too."

  Minutes later, Miller returned and they were packing two dead, Wilson and Smith. Top asked, "Did you give as good as you took?"

  "No, he killed these two before we ever saw him. He's an average sized man, but he has muscles on his muscles. His shirt sleeves were short and his arms filled them tightly, like a muscle builder or something."

  "He's Spetsnaz and that explains his build. I guess you didn't get him."

  "No, not close enough to do much but wound him. All of us fired at him when he killed Wilson, he was still in the tree. He fell, struck the ground, hit Smith with his next shot, and then disappeared. He's the best I've ever been up against."

  Powers said, "We found bright blood near the tree and he was bleeding good too. Then he must have quickly bandaged it because there was no more blood to be seen."

  "If it was bright blood, he's taken a serious wound. Okay, you three stay alert because you are my sniper fighting team."

  "Gotcha, sir." Thomas said.

  John never heard from the sniper again that day, and he had the medics wrap his face again and figured that would keep him safe for a short period of time. Eventually the man in gauze would be shot at too, probably. He felt safe with the bullet proof vest but knew it was just a matter of time before he took a head shot.

  Four hours later, the lead truck from the convoy from the old base rolled into the new camp. He found the General in the second truck of the dozen or so that returned.

  He exited the truck and said, "Most of the camp was totally destroyed by the bombers, but they missed some MO gas and rations. Have some of the men unload all of this stuff, John. My people are tired and my rear guard said the Russians landed at our old camp to look it over. I counted 6 American bodies left behind and everyone was booby trapped with toe poppers and mines after I recorded their names and battle they died in."

  "We wounded a sniper here a few hours ago. He got away clean. But we now have four sniper teams on call, with one of our team in the bush for 24 hours at a time. We now have constant sniper protection, sort of."

  "Get the two Sergeant Majors to putting up tents and latrines for both genders."

  "Will do, sir, along with a few storage tents too."

  "Good idea, and make sure one of the Sergeants makes up a guard roster too. I want at least four on guard at the same time. That way we can overlap a bit and place them at the four corners of a compass."

  "Yes, sir."

  "John, I received a message about you this afternoon, and if you'll follow me to my car, we can have a few drinks as I explain what I heard."

  "I'll meet you at your car, sir, as soon as I get the Sergeants seeing to the tents."

  "That's fine. Meet me when you can." the General walked toward his car.

  John found the two Sergeants easily enough because they were chewing the ass of a young private and he was doing push ups, until they got tired. John remembered the butt chewings he got as a young Private.

  He quickly explained the General’s orders and then turned them loose.

  He walked to the General’s car and tapped on the window and the door opened, "Come in, John, it's starting to rain. Whiskey?"

  “Two fingers worth, sir, and that's it for me. I'm really not much of a drinker." John said but thought, You know I'm not much of a drinker, so what gives here?

  "You may want the bottle later and if so, you can take it with you. John, your Medal of Honor will be presented a Week from tod
ay in Dallas, Texas, where the new White House has been located. It will take place right at 0900 and will be presented by Full General David W. Watts, along with your promotion to Major General."

  "It makes sense, since we have no politicians today, so not having a President is kind of a good thing. This way the General will present the medal and then end things. I hate drawn out presentations."

  "John, you're a good man and well deserving of that medal and many more. I know it's supposed to be a surprise, but besides the Medal, they'll be handing you the Distinguished Service Medal, second oak leaf cluster, Two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star with a third cluster, Legion of Merit with a Bronze V for Valor, and a Combat Infantryman's badge with battle star. You're really a hero to what's left of America, son. I'm damned proud to know you." The General smiled and extended his hand and they shook.

  "I think I will take this bottle with me. Not so much for me, but for Joy when she learns of this. I think the promotion will make her pleased. Oh, she tells me I earned the Medal of Honor, but I don't see it that way."

  "You're a modest man too, and I like that in people, my friend. No, you deserve all of the medals they'll give you and then some. As a matter of fact, I heard even the Chinese have a couple of medals for you too. They are to present you with their equivalent to our Medal of Honor called the Order of August First, and the Order of the Heroic Exemplar which is like our Distinguished Service Medal. They had to change the rules of both medals to give them to you, so you impressed them, son."

  "I appreciate the medals and awards, if nothing else so my kids may see them one day and know their father was a man of great love for his country."

  "I thought you didn't have any children."

  "No, I don't, but Joy wants children, and I think a week from today we need to get married and work on having those kids, sir."

  "Well, I'm sure you'll take your woman to Dallas with you, it's expected. You will report to the Commander of the Army, General David Watts, at his office at 0900. Your quarters, rations, and uniform rank for Major General will be in your room at the Western Star Hotel the night before. I suggest you bring a second dress coat to the presentation with your new rank, so you can wear it during the Medal of Honor presentation. If you have any questions the E7 assigned to you will find answers, John. Now, go spend some time with that beautiful lady you call yours."

  John took the bottle and as he left the car he said, "Thank you, General. I am proud to have served under you. Oh, and thanks for the good whiskey."

  "No problem, and next time call me Jake. Have a great evening, General." Jake said and then laughed.

  Chapter 18

  Filippovna was in pain. The bullet fired by the partisan had struck him in the side and it had exited out the other side, but low, maybe six inches above his penis. He knew his intestines were damaged and while he'd taken a shot of morphine, he was still hurting. He knew it would take a little bit of time for the powerful drug to start working. He'd never been wounded this severely before. The bullet felt like it had destroyed his hip completely.

  He gave thought of returning and telling the Colonel that the American General was dead; after all he'd hit him twice in killing zones on the body. He never thought of a bulletproof vest, so he was shocked to see the man again, standing out in the open. He'd not expected the sniper killer team to be sent out for him, but it made sense, now that he thought about it. They'd almost killed him.

  "Your wound is serious, but not life threatening as long as you don't lose too much blood. Then if we can keep you from infection, you will be fine." Doc said. “I think the round missed your intestines, but I don't know how."

  "When will I be able to walk again?"

  "Couple of months, maybe. Do not rush it, but you could not walk 100 meters hurt like you are today."

  "Months? I must be up and moving in two days or we go home. I have killed two men," he lied, "and from this distance it appears I have killed General Williamson twice. Hand me the radio."

  "I saw both kills and they were right on spot. Both center mass hits and no one survives one of those, much less two. The man is dead."

  Eyes handed the radio to the Colonel.

  "Python this is Cobra."

  "Go ahead Cobra."

  "Uh, I have taken a wound, but my mission was successful."

  "Do you need a medical evacuation, Cobra?"

  "Yes, and I have been shot from side to side about even with my belt buckle. I have taken morphine, but my hunting days are over for a few months. Hell, I do not even know if the wound is fatal or not. How soon can you pick us up?"

  "Wait one, Cobra."

  "I am waiting to see when we can be picked up." he said to the other two men.

  "Cobra, I have a Kamov Ka-3 returning to base and they will pick the three of you up, in about fifteen mikes over.”

  The colonel replied, "That's fine, and do you have my location on GPS?"

  "Roger that. We have satellite coverage of you as well. The chopper will land and the three of you are to load as quickly as possible."

  "Roger Python. Cobra out."

  Fifteen minutes later a voice on the radio said, "Pop smoke, Cobra, so we can confirm you are near and check the wind."

  Doc pulled pin on a smoke grenade and tossed it beside the men.

  "Uh, I see Purple Grape, Cobra."

  "Roger, that is us and you are overhead . . . now."

  "I have you visual now. I am setting down now, so load as quickly as possible, please."

  The helicopter landed and the two packed the Colonel to the aircraft and loaded him first, then they climbed on board. Then three shots were heard, as small arms fire struck the soft aluminum skin of the aircraft. They immediately started back up and then the nose went down and their speed greatly increased as they climbed to get above the small arms fire. The door gunners fired and kept it to a minimum.

  The flight to the base was short and ten minutes after landing everyone was off the chopper, with all three of the passengers going in for a physical exam. Filippovna was given an IV and less than ten minutes after arriving at the hospital he was wheeled into emergency surgery. The nurse added a syringe of something to his IV and he went to sleep suddenly.

  He awoke in a room where everything, including machines, were white. He felt no pain but didn't realize he'd been on morphine the last two days. Colonel Igorevich was sitting in a chair beside the bed, asleep.

  "Hello, Colonel."

  "Huh? Uh, morning, so you are awake?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "They had to remove about 12 feet of your intestines in surgery, because of the damages caused by the bullet. You should heal quickly now."

  "Your man is dead. There were two who looked like him, so I killed both of them."

  "Good, and you will be heading to Moscow at 0500 tomorrow on the first plane out of here. Russia needs a hero right now and you are him. When you get there, you will be contacted by a man named Tolya and he will arrange for your bonus money as well as your 100 acre farm. All that I promised will be provided to you once he meets you and verifies who you are."

  "I understand. But, understand me, Colonel, if you lie to me, you are a dead man, understand?"

  "I am not lying. I have no reason to double cross you in this. You did as requested and deserve what you get. Now, I must leave and get some other work done. If I do not see you before you leave, have a good trip back to the homeland."

  "Yes, sir." he replied, but something about the man made him uneasy, almost a sense of something bad was going to happen. But, he brushed it off and would take it as things came in their own time and place. He was suddenly very tired again.

  He fell asleep as the Colonel was talking.

  When he woke the next time it was early morning and a doctor was standing by his bed writing in his chart.

  "Good day, Colonel. I am pleased to tell you that you will be returned to Moscow on the next Medivac aircraft heading home today. You will be there by this time tomorrow and have
a drink of vodka for me. Your wound is doing great and you should be released within 30 days unless it gets infected."

  "Good, Doctor. Has anyone been around to see me?"

  "A couple of men who claimed they were your friends. I should probably search your pillow. They said they had something for your pain, but I was busy at the time."

  "Was one named Timofeyevich or Valeryevich?"

  "I am sorry, but I do not remember their names. I must go now, but they know you are returning home."

  "Good."

  As soon as the doctor walked out of his room, he reached under his pillow and pulled out a pint of vodka with a note taped to the side. "To the Best Senior Sergeant in the Russian Army, Filippovna. From: His Friends."

  He opened the bottle, took a long gulp and then toasted his men with the next drink. He suspected they'd discharge him as soon as he arrived at the hospital in Moscow. That is if the Colonel here didn't try to get him killed before he landed there. As a member of Spetsnaz, he trusted no one.

  Near noon they came for him and took him out to the airplane. He was carried aboard and placed on a litter mounted on the wall of the aircraft. There were a good twenty litters along the walls and maybe twenty people in seats, walking wounded, and those who needed to return to Russia. He was checking the aircraft out when the engines started running. He closed his eyes. A nurse came by and treated each patient according to their charts.

  He'd been given morphine before leaving the hospital and now the nurse was attempting to give him another dosage. He argued with her for a minute or two, but since he was restrained, only able to move his hands and arms level with his body, he was unable to physically stop her from adding another dosage to his IV pick. As soon as she moved on, he pulled his IV from his arm, and placed the arm with the needle under his blanket.

  Five hours later, he inserted the needle back into his bruised vein and his pain stopped almost immediately. He fell asleep, and when he woke they were being fed through the IV and no solid foods would be given to the patients.