Shoup Airlines

Redemption

My radio crackles to life.

“Red 2 (me)! Get 2nd Squad on their feet. Lock and load. We’re going out tonight.”

Being the smartass I am, I can’t resist…

“Drill Sergeant, I’m flattered, but I’m pretty sure most of 2nd doesn’t swing that way. Plus this out in the field stuff has really played havoc with my hair.”

You ever been told to do push-ups over the radio? Yeah, that was a new one for me as well. Anyway, long story longer, 2nd squad was going out to create a little chaos on Bravo Co.’s 4th Platoon. Black Ops style!

Or at least whatever can be considered Black Ops on a full moon night. We snuck up on their 6 o’clock position and spread out the fire line. The mission was basically to test their perimeter for weaknesses and blind spots. Right, with blanks, we’re going to test their defenses. Uh huh.

So we sneak on over, caring less about the blanks because, come on, this is the kind of stuff we’ve been waiting to do since Day 0. Less than 20 meters from their perimeter we take up positions with nary a sound. As the uber bright full moon peaks out from a set of clouds, I crouch closer to the base of the tree, hugging its shadow. In that minute of peace I find it ironic (and no, not the Alamis Morrisette definition of irony) that Nature bears her beauty in the form of little white flowers gleaming in the moon light as the whistle from the simulated artillery shell slices through the warm evening air.

One magazine later, we’re breaking contact and regrouping. Mission accomplished as we hear Bravo’s Drill Sergeants ripping into their soldiers. It’s good to be OpFor.