A Fallen Hero

by Sharon Kimbra Walsh

  “All right. Five until we offload. You know what to do. Let’s get to it.”

  Everybody began to move, the men tightening the straps of combat helmets, readying their weapons and shifting equipment into positions that were more comfortable. The truck rumbled on for a few more minutes then came to a stop. The driver jumped down, jogged around to the back of the truck, unlocked and dropped the tailgate.

  By virtue of her seated position at the rear of the truck, Katie was the first to stand up and jump down, landing lightly on the hard, dusty ground. She immediately raised her assault rifle and moved off the road onto the baked, hard-packed sand and dust of the desert. She faced outward, socking the buttstock of her rifle into her shoulder, and sighting along it, watching for any movement or telltale sign that there was someone in the area that shouldn’t be there.

  Her surroundings felt surreal, as though at any moment, the protective bubble encircling her would burst, and she would be plummeted into a harsh reality.

  The desert was silent. No wind soughed through the hidden rocks and no animals scurried for shelter at the appearance of the intruders into their territory. It was hot, the air laden as it always was with dust, and Katie found it difficult to breathe, as though her lungs could not draw in enough oxygen to sustain them.

  A full moon hung in all its bloated cream glory against the black backdrop of the night sky, surrounded by a powdered sugar coating of stars. The glow threw shards of luminous light on the surrounding terrain, creating areas of shifting shadows and blackness among the rocks that would keep the squad on an even higher level of alert than usual.

  In the open, the moonlight made parts of the desert sand look like ice and created a hazard of exposure and vulnerability. If there were any insurgents waiting for them in the pockets of darkness, Charlie squad would not be able to see them.

  Katie hastily pulled down her night-vision goggles, her surroundings instantly bathed in green and she waited patiently. Behind her, she could hear the continuous muffled thud of boots as the men landed on the road and moved to their patrol positions. As they formed up, she found her own place behind the pointman and coverman and silence fell.

  As she waited, from out of the corner of her eye, Katie noticed Joe come to stand beside her. She was as aware of his presence as ever and with a sad feeling realized that no matter how he had treated her and Josie she still loved him—would always love him.

  He glanced at her and Katie’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She had not meant for any of this to happen and now felt desperately guilty and uncomfortable at putting Joe in the dangerous situation where he had a job to do and her presence might make things very difficult for him. He needed his full concentration and she promised herself that she wouldn’t create any problems for him or endanger the lives of him or his men.

  She turned her head to return his stare and nodded in an attempt to reassure him, expecting him to return the gesture but he stared at her for a few seconds more before turning to face front without responding, leaving her feeling slightly hurt.

  I can’t blame him, though. After the things I said to him following the briefing, I’m surprised he’s even taking the time to look at me.

  Joe raised a hand and gestured for the patrol to move off.

  Katie tried to concentrate on the task at hand. She followed the man directly in front of her, placing her feet slowly and carefully where he had already trodden, trying not to raise any dust clouds which could alert the enemy—if they were nearby—to the patrol’s presence, also ever mindful that somewhere on the dark ground could be the small piles of rocks or disturbed earth that denoted the presence of mines or improvised explosive devices—IEDs.

  * * * *

  Charlie patrol marched for two hours unimpeded, keeping to a well-used path running parallel to the road until finally it turned and moved off into the desert, the terrain becoming more uneven and rock strewn.

  Katie, unused to marching long distances over such rough ground with a heavy equipment, found herself sweating freely even though the temperature had dropped a few degrees and some of the stifling heat had abated. The webbing on her shoulders began to dig in and chafe and she felt tired, uncomfortable and thirsty.

  At 0200 hours, they came on a small semi-circular outcrop of rock and Joe raised a hand, bringing the men to a halt. Katie heard his voice come quietly over her PRR.

  “All on this net…take fifteen.”

  The squad broke formation to rest, leaning or crouching against the rocks. Embers of cigarettes glowed in the dark, and the men took on water or chewed on some of the rock-hard candy bars that came with the MREs.

  Raising her night-vision goggles, Katie found her own space against a boulder a few meters distant from the others. Struggling out of her pack, she let it drop to the ground then took off her helmet, wiping a gloved hand across her forehead. Bending over, she placed the helmet on the ground, extracted a bottle of water and took a long gulp, sighing blissfully as the coolness of it ran down her throat. She was just screwing the top back on when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

  Turning, Katie saw a marine standing behind her, shuffling awkwardly from one foot to the other.

  “Yes?” she enquired.

  “My buddy has a bad foot and needs you to take a look at it,” the man explained quickly.

  “All right,” Katie said, noticing that the man’s eyes did not meet hers and with some amusement realized that he was nervous. “Let me just get my equipment.”

  She once again picked up her medical rucksack, slinging it over her shoulder then turned to the marine.

  “Lead on,” she said and took one pace when Joe’s voice from close by said, “Helmet, Corporal.”

  Katie stopped dead, stared at Joe through the murky darkness for a second then said, “Sorry, Staff Sergeant,” and grabbing her helmet from the ground, slammed it onto her head in a fit of temper, mumbling a swear word beneath her breath. She knew full well she had just acted like a petulant child and that Joe had probably heard her insulting remark quite clearly.

  Ignoring him, Katie followed the marine along the line of reclining men until she reached the last man. A young private sitting on the ground had removed his boot and sock and glanced up at her as she stopped near him. A wary look appeared on his face at the sight of her and she sighed inwardly. Anyone would think that she was about to do something illegal to him.

  After removing her helmet, Katie placed it and her pack on the ground then crouched down beside him.

  “What’s the problem, Private?” she asked.

  The young marine cleared his throat, tried to speak but couldn’t.

  Katie’s mouth twitched in a smile. “Come on,” she coaxed gently. “I don’t bite. I know what I’m doing. Trust me.”

  The man sitting next to the private jabbed him in the ribs and hissed something at him.

  The young marine’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, then finding his voice he replied, “I’ve a blister on my heel, Corporal. It’s busted open and fucking hurts like hell.”

  “All right,” Katie responded, her tone brisk. “Mind if I take a look?”

  The private shrugged and thrust his foot almost in her face, nearly causing her to over-balance.

  Flinching slightly and feeling a little put out, Katie removed her combat gloves and delved into the depths of the little pouch on the front of her body armor. She unerringly found a pair of nitrile gloves and while pulling them on, moved a little to the right so she was better able to see the injured limb and said to anyone within earshot, “Can someone shine some light here, please?”

  Within seconds, someone had aimed a red torch beam at the outthrust foot, and Katie, grasping the limb, turned the ankle slightly and was able to see a large open blister with blood drying around the outside on the young marine’s heel.

  “How long have you had this, Private? It’s not a fresh blister.”

  She glanced at him and saw that he had the grace to look sheepish.
/>   “Coupla days,” he answered sounding evasive.

  Katie shook her head. “You should have had this seen to before we left base. Never mind that now. Where are your socks?”

  The private produced thick combat socks and Katie felt them.

  “Soaking wet,” she said. “Right. This is what you need to do. Put on fresh socks, which I’ll dust inside with medicated powder. I’m not going to clean the blister because it’s clotting nicely and that will stop any further bleeding. I’m going to put on an antibiotic dressing and a second padded dressing on top of that. It will prevent the wound from rubbing against your boot and making it worse. I’ll dust your boot as well. Is that acceptable to you?” She glanced at the marine, waiting for a response.

  The private nodded and retrieved a spare pair of socks which he handed to Katie. She took out a small plastic sheet and the requisite medical supplies that she would need. She sprinkled medicated powder into each sock and laid them down. Then placing an antibiotic impregnated dressing on the raw area of skin and patting it gently into place she folded up a large square of gauze, laid it on the wound, and wrapped surgical tape around both the ankle and foot to keep it there. She then dusted both the private’s feet with medicated powder.

  “Okay, Private, you can put your boots and socks back on now.”

  Katie returned her equipment to her pack then addressed the young marine.

  “Now,” she continued, “you need to keep your socks and feet as dry as possible. That dressing will not stay on forever so I’ll check on it in a few hours. If you have any swelling or the pain increases before then, shout.” She smiled at the private, grabbed her equipment, then straightened up.

  The marine nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” And she heard a new respect in his tone.

  Katie turned and began to walk back along the line of marines, noticing that she was now receiving nods from a few more of the men. It was as she was walking back to where she had intended to rest that she heard, “Corporal Anderson, a word.”

  Chapter Seven

  Sighing, Katie turned. Joe was standing a few meters away with his arms folded. She walked briskly over to him.

  “Yes, Staff Sergeant,” she responded coolly.

  “What’s the problem with Private Bradley, Corporal?” he asked.

  He was studying her face intently and flinched, an expression of guilt crossing his face. She wondered what he had seen in hers, and she was fed up with the charade she and Joe were playing with each other. She was tired and hot—the temperature was unbearable even this late at night—and she was unhappy at the hostility flaring between them.

  She moved so that her back was toward the rest of the squad and brushed back her damp curly hair. Trying to keep her voice steady, she replied wearily, “Private Bradley has an open blister on his ankle, Staff Sergeant. I’ve treated it but I suspect he’s had it for a few days and ignored it. I’ve told him that I’ll need to review it in a few hours but to report to me if it gets any worse in the meantime.”

  Joe glanced over to where Private Bradley was sitting then turned his gaze back to Katie.

  “Is he going to be okay to continue on with the patrol?” he asked.

  Katie nodded. “He should be as long as we keep on top of the pain and prevent infection,” she answered, forcing her tone to remain completely neutral, reflecting none of her inner turmoil.

  Joe nodded. “Okay, that’s fine,” he said then murmured, “Are you okay, Katie?”

  Katie hesitated, unsure of to how to reply and finally she decided simply to speak the truth.

  “No, I’m not all right,” she answered quietly. “I don’t think I’ll ever be all right again.”

  Her voice trembled slightly and she swallowed, biting her lip to stop herself from crying. “I’m not as tough as I thought I was.”

  Joe pushed his helmet to the back of his head then wiped his face.

  “God, Katie,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry about all this. I should’ve known you’d not sit back and take it—that you’d end up out here. I really have made a fucking mess of things.”

  Katie nodded, not letting him off the hook. “Yes, you have.”

  She stared at her husband, determined not to allow any of her true feelings to show. Nonetheless, a small amount of warmth stole into Joe’s eyes and he even smiled slightly.

  “Stubborn, aren’t you?”

  Katie raised her chin. “You should know,” she replied, her tone sounding a little short and chilly.

  Joe hesitated. “Look. We’ll talk soon and I’ll try to explain why I did what I did. It might not make sense but you deserve that much. And…” But he didn’t complete the sentence.

  Katie nodded then turned away. “That’s fine, Staff Sergeant. Thank you.”

  Joe watched his wife walk away.

  “By the way, Corporal, when you’re on the move, wear your helmet at all times,” he added.

  Katie glanced back over her shoulder. “Yes, Staff Sergeant,” she said again, her voice stilted and because nobody could see, she gave him the slightest of smiles.

  Joe read some of the hurt at his dishonesty and betrayal evident in the wistful look. His heart ached watching the slim, straight back and the proud, stubborn way she held her head as Katie walked away. He wished he could turn back time.

  However, would I have done things any differently?

  “Shit,” he murmured to himself.

  He thought not.

  Katie made her way back to the shelter of the rocks and was about to sit down when she heard Joe give the order to move out. She sighed and murmured, “Damn!”

  She had not had a chance to rest, let alone eat, and she was tired. Fastening the chinstrap of her helmet, she again heaved her rucksack onto her back, grimacing at its weight. She knew that the patrol was going to have to quicken its pace because dawn was only a few hours away and they had to reach their first ORP, an unused compound already searched and used by previous patrols, by first light. It was another ten clicks away and they needed to set up operations and while away the daylight hours before continuing the patrol that night to reach their primary destination by the early hours of day two.

  The squad formed up and moved out from the low outcrop of rock onto the exposed desert. The temperature had dropped even further and a slight breeze had sprung up, a fact Katie was thankful for as it chilled the perspiration on her face and went some way to cooling her body.

  The patrol moved onward carefully and in silence, resting every so often. Dawn broke with the moon seeming to drown in a flaming aurora of colors on the horizon and at last, Joe raised a hand and everyone dropped to a knee—still alert—aiming their weapons out to either side.

  Katie heard Joe speak into his radio from her position close by. After he had done so, four marines joined him then after a few minutes’ conversation he gestured for the rest of the squad to gather around him.

  “Okay,” he said quietly. “I’m taking a small recon team to scout out the ORP. Sergeant Eastman, set up security and keep your eyes peeled. The terries could have come back and planted more IEDs. Get a couple of guys out using the mine detectors but I don’t want them any farther out than the perimeter.”

  Sergeant Eastman nodded and moved away to comply with the order while Joe and the four marines moved off.

  With dawn spreading across the sky, the outline of their figures was barely visible, moving among the rocks and boulders that formed the surrounding landscape. She tried not to stare but it was hard to watch her husband disappear into what could be enemy territory.

  She and Charlie patrol waited patiently, some of the men taking the opportunity to drink water, eat rations or smoke cigarettes. There was some murmured talking but for the most part, everyone remained silent.

  A short time later, the pointman reported someone approaching and their level of alertness increased. Katie sighed with relief when Joe and his men re-appeared in their midst where he reported that the area was clear and they could proceed.
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br />   The patrol formed up again, the men eager to reach the compound and settle down for sleep. Katie was equally as eager. Her feet burned in her boots and her legs and shoulders ached. All she wanted to do was lie down on her pad and sleep for a few hours undisturbed.

  The squad finally neared the compound, a ragged oval, sand-colored sprawl of small buildings with an inner courtyard, the whole separated and encircled by a narrow no-man’s land and a three-meter high outer wall of dried mud.

  Hunkered down at a safe distance, Joe ordered two two-man teams, each equipped with a handheld standoff mine detection system—HSTAMIDS—to sweep the perimeter of the compound, including all windows and doors.

  Other patrols had used the compound for downtime, but insurgents were notorious for re-infiltrating cleared buildings and replacing mines and IEDs already removed. Katie was relieved Joe was not about to take any chances.

  The squad waited out in the open, tension elevated because of its exposure, an opportunity for the insurgents to mount an ambush. They pointed all weapons out onto the surrounding terrain with everyone focused intently on the heat-hazed distance.

  At last, after several minutes, a transmission received via the PRRs gave the all-clear then the squad entered the compound to begin to set up headquarters within the central courtyard.

  As the huge orange sun began to heave itself into the sky and the temperature began to rise, the marines began building makeshift shelters from various pieces of scattered wood lying on the ground and lengths of material each man had brought with him for that purpose.

  With shelters erected and sleeping pads put down on the hard dusty ground, the men crawled beneath them, most appearing to immediately fall asleep. Others remained on watch in the hot sunlight, having climbed up onto a ledge halfway up the three-meter outer perimeter wall, leaning against it to watch for any sign of the enemy.

  Katie had not thought to bring anything with her to build her own shelter—the idea had never crossed her mind—so she proceeded to search the compound until she came across a building where the roof jutted out slightly, creating shadow on the ground that would shield her from the sun.