Dreams of Our Fathers

By TH Hollimon

A fictional fantasy story of a young man (Beto) who immigrates to the US after a high ranking Mexican Army Colonel brutally murders Betos father, and who’s very life is threatened when the Colonel tries to have him murdered as well.

While Beto joins the Marine Corps in search of his manhood and citizenship, he meets Matt and Jared who like him want to test themselves in the fields of battle during their deployment in Kuwait and Iraq.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away , an official investigation by the Attorney General of Mexico, is opened into the “Colonel’s” life, gathering evidence to convict him of crimes against humanity.

Years pass when one fateful morning Beto receives a call from the President of Mexico’s Attorney General, that changes his life and that of his mother.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483513768

Book preview

ISBN:9781483513768

Chapter 1

A FAR AWAY LAND

My name is PFC Roberto Beto Manuel Olivares Rodriguez. I am a Mexican national fighting for Kuwait City as a United States Marine as a part of Operation Desert Storm . My Uncle Luis told me if I joined the Marines I would automatically qualify for U.S. Citizenship.

My story begins in the small farming town of Tres Rios Zacatecas, which I will explain later for now I belong to 1st infantry division. It was a cold, overcast February night when we donned our gas masks in case of chemical attack. The M1A1 tanks were engaging the Iraqi T-55, T-62, and their top line T-72 tanks, long before the Iraqi Forces ever spotted them.

My English was passable but the marines had a translator who gave orders in Spanish at the same time the regular U.S. Troops were receiving theirs. There was also Jared and Matt, two white boys who befriended me, they would teach me English and I would teach them Spanish. Both wanted to learn to cuss in Spanish, and in the heat of battle there is a lot of cussing in any language.

We were able to seize AL JABR airfield, when another battle began at the Kuwait International Airport. By days end U.S. and Arab Forces had decimated Iraqs 3rd Armored Division and libertated the Kuwait Airport and took control of all access routes to Kuwait City.

During all these engagements all I could think about was home my mother Adelita, my dead father Chencho, and Colonel Abel. If it wasn’t for Col. Abel, I would have never come to the U.S. in the first place. Those thoughts of brave soldiers dying for their country and honor carried me through every battle we engaged in. If I died on the battlefield, would america even notice my patriotism, honor and service? Would there be any yellow ribbons waiting for me? A Mexican national fighting for freedom of the United States of America? My freedom was deeply personal to me, I was fighting for the right to gain entry and live freely in America, willing to die bravely like a United States Marine.

When I informed my mother I joined the Marines for the chance to become a U.S. citizen she was very happy, but cautioned me cuidate mijo resare que me regreses completo a mi me escribes mijo todo lo que puedas she said Take care my son I will pray you return to me whole, write to me as often as you can".

To this day through 3 tours, many firefights not a scratch or so I thought, Matt and Jared would not let me breathe for a minute. We saved each others lives countless times. They kept me from sweeping buildings, streets, and rooms for insurgents. They ordered me to stand guard outside a building. I was not understanding and wanting to prove my bravery and courage, they told me those were the parameters of my service as a soldier. Even though I drilled the same way they did technically I was not allowed.

fuck you! yelling at them and participating in the building sweeps anyway, needless to say I won their respect.

We took a lot of sniper fire, RPG attacks, IED’s by now my English was a little better still thick with a heavy accent, at times laughable. There were some words and phrases I still could not pronounce to save my life.

Orders I would pronounce Odors and Jared replied Orders Pendejo!! ORDERS!!! if the Gunney says we must follow orders its not we must follow ODORS! Jared and Matt would just laugh.

Besides the fighting we got drunk, chased women and raised hell. Jared and Matt told me that’s what Marines do. The Marine experience was a valuable one to me. I did not realize how valuable it was until my trip back home. I am 19 years old today and my compas are going to celebrate that I was able to get my hands on some Russian vodka. It’s the closest to tequila I could find, but man do I miss home! Mexico! Zacatuercas!

The customs and traditions are so different I felt like a fish out of water. God knows I was having a hard time just learning English, Much less Arabic. When on patrols I would just let Jared or Matt talk to the locals and I’d Keep people from rushing us or attempting to talk to us. That also meant women and children, which the Al-Qaida and the Taliban at times used as suicide bombers.

My unit never told me I was a burden because of the language barrier or lack of battle experience. Any time their was a rookie recruit in our ranks we worried, will he hold up? keep up? will he cower under fire? Understanding that very real fact could get you or the whole unit killed.

So damn right I wanted to prove to my unit I was not a coward. That I could be an asset to my unit and contribute my part in a firefight. That was my greatest challenge I faced everyday. It was more than just staying alive but to prove to these Yankees this Mexicano can fight!!! I thought.

{You need a transfer from first person to third person to begin the story}

Why the fuck would you want to become a jarhead Marine Beto? asked Jared, as we were celebrating in the mess tent.

How the fuck can you talk with all that food in your mouth Jared? Your fucking spitting food all over us you asshole said Matt. Jared couldn’t reply with his gourged mouth. Matt kept at Jared. Let Beto answer the question but you gotta stop eating please, fuck! Your gonna drown us!

Well Jared its like this when I immigrated to Houston and got work in a restaurant. That granted me my green card and when I turned 18 years old my uncle Luis said if I joined the Marines I could automatically qualify for citizenship. Beto explained.

So tell me now why the fuck did you join? Beto asked Jared.

I’m from New Orleans, my number one problem is women. I lovvvveee women! I got involved with someone’s wife, and that someone turned out to be very important in the community. That’s as far as I will go to explain to you two losers! Jared said laughing.

Jared had hollywood looks and could have been an actor in the movies if he wanted to. He explained that women would proposition him constantly wherever he went. Fuck even married women would come up to me and hand over their digits. So I made my money doing tricks, yeah I was a man whore and proud of it! Jared said.

We thought he looked like Elvis and around the base they would make fun of Jared. He would just say fuck off! so I figured I better get the fuck out of New Orleans before I end up as gatormeat so here I am with you losers! Did I make the right choice? Jared laughed.

Later in that evening, he confessed about living with his grandmother and the hardships. He was the only person that would help his grandmother while his aunts and uncles were not interested in taking care of their own. Jared lived in a two story Victorian with his grandmother who was cared for by a senior services with a nurse and maid. One night he spoke to his grandmother of joining the military and she gave him her blessing. We never asked him about his family because we didn’t want to know each other too much but private Jared Pinky Pinkerton III was my friend and Compa.

Well I’m off to clean my rifle with Ms. briggitte Jared said.

Ms. Lietenant Bridgette? Matt asked with a grin and hands depicting a curvy woman.

That’s the one. Don’t wait up boys I’ll catch you later this huckleberrys gots to work for all Mankind.

Happy Birthday Beto Jared said he walked out. They had almost finished the vodka, and there was still some birthday cookies left over. It still was not lights out yet and we were still sitting at the table.

Was it hard to leave your home in mexico Beto? Matt asked drunkedly.

Beto replied "Matt when you see people crossing into the U.S illegally it is not because we are desperate to leave our families. In my journey through the desert some died and we had to continue. I was looking for more opportunities to work for a higher wage and send the money to my mother in Tres Rios. We wanted to eat like everybody else. If it was the other way around wouldn’t you cross into mexico to seek opportunity for your loved ones Matt?

Yeah, I would Beto, but what about your dad? Matt asked looking for a chance to tell Beto something that’s on his mind.

What about my dad? Beto asked

Well where is he in this? Matt asks almost indignantly.

My father was killed in a cardgame he won, but the loser decided otherwise and back shot my father on his way home. The killer is a large landowner a former Army colonel and his name is Col. Abelardo Gomez de Santilque. After turning sixteen he tried to have me killed just in case I wanted to avenge my fathers murder. My mother told me that I had to leave Tres Rios because when she was heartbroken about my father. If she would lose me too that would be a travesty!

Beto continued. I then began my journey to the U.S. and that’s is my reason for being here. I’m not here to take up taxpayer money, or to be a burden to the U.S! All Mexican people come to the U.S. to work. When have you seen in the U.S. a Mexican illegally panhandling for money Matt? Never! Because we come here for work! I’ll be damned if I end up in a mass grave somewhere with other good people who are never seen or heard from again

Wow this Col. has a real fancy handle! Matt laughed a bit. I didn’t know things were like that. I always thought Mexicans would come here illegally because they wanted our jobs?

"We come here because there are greater human rights and advantage. We have a chance to progress into someone greater. We could start a business that will thrive, provide for