I walked into our makeshift barracks. Sarge sitting on a footlocker, idle and expressionless. He’s still in his gear, vest and all. His helmet lay on the floor. His eyes gazing ahead into what could have been another galaxy. Who knows.
“Hey Sarge, whats going on?” I asked.
“Nothing Willie, nothing at all.”
“You don’t look yourself.”
“I am not myself,” he says. “I am someone else now. I’m different.”
“You’re creeping me out Sarge, what is it.”
“I killed today.” he stated matter of factly.
“So” I replied gruffly.
Sarge gets up quickly and stomps toward me, grabbing my neck and pushes me against the wall. Others in the room quickly get up and stand by with looks of astonishment.
“What the fuck you doing Sarge. This is combat man!” I yell, our faces only inches apart. “WAR!”
“War! Well war doesn’t take away the fact that I have feelings dammit.”
He lets me go and stares into my eyes, his lips quivering with either rage or hurt. He turns and walks toward his footlocker. Its quiet. He stops and looks around the room.
“I believe judgment will come when I face God,” he says. “I get that its war. That don’t mean it don’t hurt. What the fuck are you guys, soulless! Look at me, I am different now!”
“You ever kill Mackie?” he calmly ask the Wyoming native laying in his bunk.
“Why no Sarge,” he states in his country accent.
“How about you Pryor?”
The cocky Brooklyn native answers “Nah man.”
“How about you?” he says to me.
“No.”
“I hope you don’t. None of you!” he yells. Then says calmly, “I have to live with this, right or wrong. Forever.”
“But Sarge, its ok man,” I say to him.
“Oh yea, tell that to that kids mother,” he says quietly. “Is that what the Marines telling your mother if you die here. Its ok?”
War gives birth to pain. Eternal pain. I now know. I learned today. From Sarge.
This work of fiction was written for Trifecta: Week Sixty.
- Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.
- You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.
- The word itself needs to be included in your response.
- You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
- Only one entry per writer.
Mind of Shoo 
Nice one. Good moral tale.
TY
Your message is very good there, in this story..
🙂
yes, oh yes. Our lives change with every event don’t they? Births, Deaths and for soldiers, yes I’m sure that it changes you immediately when you take a life, even if it’s in the pursuit of freedom.
I know that my dad, as a Green Beret in Vietnam, told me many stories of how he was never the same afterwards. I think that is why killing is a sin and against the law, because it’s really a crime against nature..to take something that isn’t yours?
this was brutal and well written. WELL DONE
I would image war changes everyone in many different ways. Luckily I never experienced those conditions. Thanks for reading..you have read all my new works today. 🙂
I can’t imagine how hard it would be to kill someone in battle. Each soldier, no matter which side, is a human being with a family first. Good message.
I can only imagine what goes through your mind even when you are prepared to face this aspect of war. It has to weigh on you at some point I would imagine.
It’s nice that the Sarge was the sensitive one, so he could teach the privates. I hate war.
I never was in combat and often wonder how one would feel. I am sure not all are sensitive like Sarge.
Your story reminded me of this:
gosh darn it, it was on a play list and I didn’t notice 😦 Sorry… There was a video on this playlist called Germans in the woods where a soldier recalls the day he killed a young man and how it’s haunted him ever since that day.
I imagine that would be anyone with any morals reaction! Whether it is at the moment as in my story or later in their life.
The last movie/documentary that I paid money to see was, “War” by Sebastian Junger. He spent fifteen months imbedded with a U.S. unit in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan. At the beginning of the documentary, many of the young soldiers are ready to be cowboys and kill the Taliban wherever they found them. But, by the end of the movie, each one of them has this haunted, far-away look in their eyes. No words of moral judgement need be stated in this doc., the eyes say it all. Being a front line soldier is no easy gig, as your story so aptly states.
That sounds real interesting. I remember him from “The Perfect Storm” I need to check that out. And you are correct, being on the front line is no slice of cake. TY
ah that’s what bootcamp is for…. take away those feelings at least until the return home and ptsd
True. 🙂
A sensitive reminder – nicely done.
TY for stopping by and reading my story.
There is so much truth in this piece. Great writing.
Thanks for reading it and glad you enjoyed it.
You portrayed sarge well. War changes all involved and I imagine those who have killed are saddled for life with what happened. It doesn’t much matter to our hearts of killing was done in war or not.
Well said. I am happy that I don’t carry that burden of war but I appreicate and salute those who did in the name of freedom.
War gives birth to pain. Well said.
TY. I can only imagine that is part of being in war. I would say it gives birth to brotherhood as well. TY for reading.
As usual,you gave food for thought with this excellent piece:-)
Awe..thanks for the kind words. TY
🙂
I can’t imagine the kind of change that would be. And so many people having to find out these days.
So many indeed. Thanks for reading.
this is so real and so relevant to today. My dad kept many terrible memories buried in a bottle. thanks for this story.
You are welcome. I definetly understand about the bottle. Glad you enjoyed the story.
Our so-called leaders ought to read more pieces like this. How quick we are to send our young men and women off to war and then refuse to take care of them when they return – traumatized. Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox. This was really good – thought provoking. I could feel Sarge’s pain.
Glad you enjoyed it Steph. Lots of kids will be suffering for years because of the wars. I hope we take care of them properly. They deserve it.
A moral tale well told.
Anna :o]
http://puzzelcious.blogspot.com
TY..glad you took time to read it.
There’s a whole lot of this type of pain around the world these days. Thanks for linking up.
Thanks for having me! I am enjoying it immensely.
You can definitely feel Sarge’s anguish in this piece! Great job!
TY Draug…Anguish is a great way to describe how these guys and ladies feel in their situation.
WOW, so very thought provoking and emotional. Grabs you by the throat and hopefully makes you swallow something. Terrific piece. Thanks for sharing.
dk
Thanks Donna. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the kind words. 🙂
This was very powerful, heartbreaking and thought provoking. You brought the message of the pain caused by war across without preaching, reminding us to pray for the young men and women who suffer and risk everything in the name of freedom for our sake.
It’s amazing how powerful just a few short words are. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Cheryl
TY…I am truely humbled by your thoughtful words. Those who protect our freedom do need our support through prayer.