by Phil Walker
Then Robby jumped to the front of the Spanish, in full view, and screamed in Spanish, “If you value your lives, stop firing and throw down your weapons. One of the Spanish soldiers cocked his flintlock and fired at Robby. The musket ball jarred him, but his body armor stopped it. The man who fired the flintlock was immediately cut into pieces by at least 200 rounds.
“I said if you wish to live, throw down your weapons and get off those horses.”
“Who’s the ranking officer still alive?” shouted Robby in perfect Spanish. “Step forward immediately.”
A man wearing epaulets, signifying him as an officer came forward slowly. He was sweating and his eyes were darting around the scene at other Rangers.
“Do you know who we are,” asked Robby?
“There have been stories of an army of giants with weapons that are deadly, and who move with no sound, striking without warning and killing every person on a battlefield.”
“What do you call these soldiers,” asked Robby?
“Beasts of the Devil,” said the shaking officer.
“We are not demons of Satan,” said Robby, “Every man here faithfully worships God and has accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are Rangers. Our mission in Mexico and Central America is to drive out you foreign Spanish Europeans, just as we have the British in the American colonies, and Canada. Your time of occupation is over. From now on North America is only for those who were born here and see it as our native land.”
Robby paused, “We’ve just attacked the city of Veracruz and killed all of your senior commanders in the headquarters. We did this with just 20 Rangers. Can you imagine if we were to bring all our weapons and a brigade of Rangers to Mexico?”
“We are going to release you all, alive. You are to report to the Spanish leaders in Mexico City that they must all leave this new part of the United States in 30 days, or we will be back. Tell your commanders what happened here and say, ‘The Rangers Are Coming.’”
Robby looked over the group, the sun was just coming over the horizon, and his men flipped up their night vision scopes, not that it made them look any less menacing. Within the Spanish, there was mostly awe and fear. However, at least two men stood tall, undefeated and angry.
“I can see that not all of your men are convinced,” said Robby. He pushed his way through the crowd and up to three men who looked hatred from their eyes. Robby smiled, “I know what you are thinking. We’re not so tough. If we didn’t have our weapons, you could tear us to pieces.” One of the men spat on the ground.
Robby shrugged, “Very well, let us see if you are right. Take off your belts. The rest of you make a circle around these men, so that you can see.” Robby whispered into his mike, “Make sure you send your best two fighters in here.”
Two Rangers came forward through the crowd. Robby was already stripping off his body armor and dropping his belt. The other two Rangers did the same.
“Now we are all just men,” said Robby. “Kill us, if your can.”
The three burly Spaniards rushed toward Ranger. The man that spit squared off against Robby. He lowered his head and tried to tackle Robby. In that pass, he found himself flying through the air onto his back. He jumped up and started to punch at Robby, who calmly fended off the blows and was suddenly sending the man crashing down on the ground again.
Robby made sure the demonstration went on for a while, until the Spaniard no longer had the energy to get to his feet. His mouth and nose were bleeding. It looked like he had several broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. The other Spaniards looked no better.
Robby walked back up to the officer, barely breathing hard. He grabbed the officer by his tunic and pulled him close. “We are the best trained, most deadly, army in the world. We can defeat your best with or without weapons. My patience grows thin. Leave for Mexico City right now and announce to all your commanders and to the people as well, ‘The Rangers Are Coming’. You have 30 days.”
The Spanish rushed to their horses and rode away, nursing those who had been injured in the skirmish.
As soon as they were gone, Robby called the Chinook to pick them up. “Make sure everyone in Veracruz sees you, and put a rocket into their headquarters. Then come get us.”
He flipped the command switch on his radio and said, “Crystal Palace, this is Hawkeye.” Almost immediately the answer came back, “Roger, Hawkeye, this is Crystal Palace, stand by for Papa Grizzly.” Papa Grizzly was Washington’s code name and in just a moment he was saying into Robby’s ear, “Roger, Hawkeye, this is Papa Grizzly, report mission status.”
“Papa Grizzly, this is Hawkeye, main target engaged and neutralized, estimated body count of 100, including all senior command. Have further engaged mounted force on horseback. Gave graphic demonstration of capabilities and sent them to Mexico City with warning that all foreigners evacuate Mexico in 30 days. They are riding with the standard warning ‘The Rangers Are Coming’. Must sadly report one casualty, Raking Punch is dead. We’re bringing him home.”
“Sorry for you loss, Hawkeye,” said Washington. “Congratulations on successful mission. Return to Home Plate”
25
Fort Independence, Virginia
Robby hadn’t been back to Fort Independence for six months. The Fort was not very crowded with the majority of the Brigade still scattered across the continent and engaging in skirmishes. The majority of the operations were headed into Mexico. Robby’s raid had had the expected results. The main port of Veracruz was neutralized, and the whole city had seen the Chinook take out the main headquarters building. The men Robby released had gone immediately to Mexico City and did not have to embellish the story of their encounter. The term, “The Rangers Are Coming” brought terror to the Spanish and happy tidings to the Mexican nationals and native tribes.
Robby learned all this in his after action briefings were he filed his report and got caught up on the news. There was a lot of it. In addition to what he already knew about the publication of the Declaration of Independence, he learned of the subsequent ratification of the new Constitution by the Continental Congress. There was the movement on the part of the colonies to ratify it as well. Six had already done so, and approval was expected from the others, even the southern ones of Georgia and North and South Carolina
The most interesting news was from abroad. The English Parliament had no choice but to accept the existence of the United States and agreed to abandon all their claims in the western hemisphere. The French and the Spanish were outraged by their being summarily kicked out of the same territory. However, all three of the great European powers were astonished to find that America apparently bore no ill will to anyone. They offered full trade with Europe and offered a tempting list of consumer products in addition to the cotton and tobacco they were already exporting. They also offered open borders inviting anyone who wished to immigrate to the new and vastly expanded, United States.
The entire experience was bittersweet. Robby would have to find some way to tell the Grant family their son and his oldest friend had died 2,000 miles away. He moped around the room they shared following the briefing and couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything. Then two mornings following his return there was a gentle knock on his door. He opened it wearing nothing but his fatigue pants and a t-shirt. Standing there was both General Washington and Arcadia.
“Good morning, Robby,” said Arcadia. “Can we come in for a minute?
“Of course,” said Robby. “Sorry about the mess.”
“That’s quite all right,” said the General, “you’ve only returned from a six month deployment, and we know you have a heavy heart.”
“When you talk about suffering 5 or 10 percent casualties, you always think it’s going to be someone else, but when the casualty is you or someone you know, the rate is 100 percent. Part of me died when I lost Willis.”
“We would like you to lead an honor guard to take him home for burial,” said Washington.
“That would be very much appr
eciated, General,” said Robby, “I know his folks would be happy to know he didn’t die without cause. What do we do?”
“Arcadia has shown me the burial ceremony used in her times. I think it’s a very moving and respectful last rite,” said Washington.
“I would be honored if you will allow me to do the ceremony and speak at the funeral,” said Arcadia.
“Thank you, Arcadia,” said Robby, “You being there would be a great tribute.”
The honor guard turned out to be 20 of Willis’ platoon. They were all, along with Robby, fitted for new uniforms. General Washington said they were dress blues for special occasions. “We’re not in combat here, so our fighting uniforms will be replaced by these.
Robby had to admit he’d never seen such beautiful uniforms. They were made up of blue coats and pants, with mirror bright black shoes, headgear that was sharp, round hats with a shining visor in the front. The ranks of the soldiers were sewed on the sleeves in gold. The nametags were outlined in white, and there were gold buttons on the collars that said “US Army.” The decorations and awards of the soldiers were a blaze of color in rows above their left shirt pockets. Starting at the right shoulder was a white length of braided cloth that looped down under the arm. This, Robby was told was to symbolize that the men were all Rangers.
With need for secrecy no longer necessary, Robby flew up to Concord in one of the Huey helicopters. It was his sad duty to inform the Grant family of the death of their son, and to make arrangements for the funeral. For this mission, he wore his combat fatigues, helmet, radio and he was armed with his M-4 sniper rifle and accompanying side arm of a 45 caliber automatic pistol. For Robby, there was nothing new about this; except for the extra stripe, he now wore, signifying that he was a Sergeant First Class. He remembered Sergeant Seacrest having such rank, clear back on the day he enlisted in Boston.
The helicopter landed in the town square of Concord, and instantly drew a crowd. The marvel of a flying vehicle only added to the legend and fame of the mysterious Rangers who had so soundly defeated the British and gave the colonies their independence. The papers had been full of news about their exploits in expanding the country to include Canada and Central America. Almost everyone had read the Declaration of Independence and the New Constitution, considering them to be among the most important documents ever written.
Robby stepped out of the helicopter, and the crowd instantly stepped back. The lethal reputation of the Rangers was well known. He smiled at this and looked through the crowd for his own family. He saw his mother first. He took off his helmet and said, “Mother, is this the best greeting you can muster for your son?”
“Robby!” she cried and ran forward to embrace him. The rest of the people of Concord now were able to look beyond the uniform and see it was filled with one of their own. Robby hugged his mother, and then his father, brothers and sisters. He shook hands with the dozens of others who crushed in to greet him.
“I’m sorry,” he said, I’m on official business. He broke away from the crowd and separated the Grant family taking them off a distance to speak to them privately. He sadly delivered the news of the death of their son.
Willis’ mother leaned against Robby and cried. Robby did too. He reached out to take the Grant family in his arms to console them.
“How did he die, asked Willis’ father?
“Very bravely, in combat, he was the leader of the unit we attacked on a very large installation. You can be proud of Willis, Mr. Grant he was a credit to the Rangers and to the United States of America.”
“Where is he,” asked his mother?”
“At present he is being prepared for burial at Fort Independence in Virginia. Tomorrow we’ll bring him home and formally lay him to rest in the village cemetery.”
Robby turned to the crowd, now comprising the entire population of Concord. “My friends, I am here with sad news. Sergeant Willis Grant was killed in an operation of the Rangers, three days ago. It is a terrible thing when a Ranger falls. I would like to ask you permission to return Willis to Concord tomorrow for a formal burial, and I ask that all of you, who can, come to the ceremony.”
There were general outbursts of grief among the villagers. “As you all know, Willis was my oldest friend. He and I fought together for the independence of America, and his loss is greater than I can bear.”
One of the soldiers on the helicopter jumped out with a long bag that held Robby’s uniform, his pack, and his rifle, and brought it over to him. “With your permission, First Sergeant, we are ready to depart.”
“Permission granted,” said Robby, “Thanks for the ride.”
“It’s the least we can do for the man who saved so many of our lives and is a hero of the Rangers,” said the Corporal. He jumped back aboard the helicopter and soon it lifted and was gone over the trees.
Robby turned back to the villagers of Concord. “I know that you have many, many questions. Some of them I can answer, some I cannot. However, I am willing to tell you what I know, if you are interested in listening to me for a few minutes.
The fact that the entire village sat down on the village green made it clear they were willing to listen to Robby for as long as he wanted to talk.
“Five years ago, a secret group of American patriots, who had anticipated the coming war with the British over the question of Independence of the Colonies, ran an ad in the papers everywhere, saying they were organizing a grand exploration of the lands to the west and were recruiting young men for the adventure. This was a deception, to prevent the British from becoming suspicious of our true intentions. Willis and I were accepted as recruits and went to a special installation in Virginia, called Fort Independence. There we were intensely trained. We received a very comprehensive education and now all of us have graduate degrees that are recognized at Harvard, so, along with my rank, I am also Doctor Pierce with a degree in politics, history, and sociology.”
“But education was only the beginning of our training. We were part of what has become the Ranger Brigade, which as you already know, is the best army in the world. I am not at liberty to disclose our exact numbers, but you would be surprised to know how few of us there really are.”
“Our modern battle tactics and superior weapons made us more than a match for the British.” He held up his M-4 Sniper rifle, “This is my weapon. I won’t demonstrate its use now, but let me just say that I can hit a target from a mile away.”
“As you have read in the papers, the new United States has a constitution that is based on the belief that government exists by the consent of the people. This is a concept, which is unique in the entire world. Basic rights are given to you by our new constitution. We believe these rights are those of all men and are given to us by God, who is our ultimate authority.”
“I know you have also read in the papers mostly garbled and confused reports about the use of the Rangers to expand the actual size of America and the creation of states under the new national government. The papers simply do not understand the scope of Ranger operations. How could they? The truth is such a stretch of the mind that it’s incomprehensible to most people.”
“Here is the actual truth. At the present time, the United States of America comprises the entire North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. We have absorbed Canada into our union. We are currently doing the same in Mexico, Central America, and all of the islands of the Caribbean. We have defeated not only the British, but also the combined strength of the French and Spanish fleets and forces stationed in North America. We are now the largest country in the world. Very soon, we will invite immigrants from all countries to fill the empty lands by giving them land of their own. We’ll also begin to produce a long list of goods and products which we will sell to any nation that wishes to buy them, or trade things we need for our own purposes.”
“Here is the most important thing that I am going to say today. We are a Christian nation. We believe in the power of God and life, resurrection, and forgi
veness of sins. We live our lives in this manner, with the Holy Spirit in each man and each woman, regardless of race or sex, or national origin, guiding us to eternity through faith, not works. The United States will remain the most powerful nation on Earth; however, we seek no further conquests of land or people beyond what we now have. We are neutral in the affairs of all other countries. We offer fair trade with all nations, but will not interfere with their governments or how they govern their own people in anyway.”
“Tomorrow, we will lay our brother Willis Grant to rest. An honor guard of Rangers will conduct the ceremony at the gravesite. There will also be speeches, not from me; I have already told you all you need to know. You will hear from none other than our Commander in Chief, himself, General George Washington, and you will hear from one other person, whom none of you know, but is considered by every Ranger to be the heart and soul of our consciences and who has led us spiritually all these years. I wish I could tell you what a singular honor you’re receiving by her presence, just believe me when I tell you that it is so. Her name is Arcadia, and her name is on the lips of every Ranger each time he steps into harm’s way. If George Washington is the Father of our Country, she is the Mother.”
Robby glanced at his watch. “I think I have spoken long enough and given you plenty to think about. Our burial ceremony begins at 2 PM tomorrow. I’ll see you all then.”
He walked over to his family and they all walked off toward the Pierce home. His younger brothers and sisters fought over who would carry Robby’s bag and uniform cover. Robby’s father put his arm around his son’s shoulder. “There have been some changes since you were last here. That marvelous improvement you gave us for wagons has made our wagons the most popular in all of New England. We have bought more land and put up a building to make wagons to keep up with the demand. I have over a dozen men working for me. They’re very happy. They make a good wage and support their own families very well.”