Soldier's Promise

By Corey Baldwin

The main character, "Jack", is a compilation of stories that happened to me and to others. Some of it real, some creative writing. However; when you read this, know, that the title "Soldier's Promise" came from an actual promise made to the family and Soldiers that deployed with me.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Corey Baldwin
• Release date: Sep 23, 2012

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Soldier’s Promise

Corey Baldwin

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011 Corey Baldwin

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means— whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

Contents

Chapter One The Shock

Chapter Two Stand To, Stand Down

Chapter Three Confirmed Orders

Chapter Four Preparations for War

Chapter Five Countdown Begins

Chapter Six Train Up

Chapter Seven Journey to Afghanistan

Chapter Eight We Are Here, Now What?

Chapter Nine The New Assignment

Chapter Ten The Day-to-Day Routine of War

Chapter Eleven Operation Mountain Fury

Chapter Twelve Midtour Leave

Chapter Thirteen Gaining Trust and Creating Enemies

Chapter Fourteen Spring Training

Chapter Fifteen Spring Offensive

Chapter Sixteen The After

Chapter One

The Shock

As the morning began after a night of booze and sex, Jack lay asleep, dreaming. He dreamt about an incident from his time in basic training at Fort Jackson. It was a cold October night, Halloween to be exact. Jack and the rest of his platoon crawled out of a trench and low-crawled face-first into the cold mud left over from the rain. Red tracers passed overhead, indicating that live rounds from a machine gun were shooting just above their heads as the company of two hundred young men crawled through the mud under barbed wire, enduring the stress of live rounds and nearby explosions. The exercise was meant to give Soldiers confidence in battle. At some point, Jack’s fear became a source of motivation as he and others began calling run cadences. At the completion of the obstacle, the green recruits were directed into a building that had heat and hot soup to warm up the bodies covered cold in mud.

Still with eyes closed, yet somewhat alert of his thoughts, Jack wondered why that dream, that memory, right now. He smelled vanilla, which made him hungry and horny. The scent came from Cassie’s perfume. She was a young, blonde, blue-eyed Barbie doll cheerleader type Jack bedded the night before. She just turned twenty- one. She was a sophomore in college and a first-time guest at The Parrot, a bar where Jack worked. Jack’s wit and charm enticed her to share the night with him.

Cassie’s morning voice was sweet when she said, Your phone is ringing. Jack was slow to crawl out of bed and her embrace. He was in his own paradise and the thought of leaving this moment to be reminded about a phone bill or have to talk to an annoying telemarketer was terrible. Jack reached for the phone, but it went to the answering machine before he could pick up the receiver. He replayed the messages. They were all from friends of Jack’s and his mother’s, calling to ask if he was deploying. The weather seemed about to storm, perhaps from a hurricane hanging off the coast of Florida. That was the only thing Jack could think of that would alert his National Guard unit. The last message came from his mother. His mother simply said, Jack turn on the television and call me when you can.

Jack put on a pair of jeans and stepped into the living room to turn on the TV. Rubbing the sleep out his eyes, he saw one of the tall towers of World Trade Center ablaze as a plane crashed into the other tall tower. Jack started changing channels, believing that he was watching a movie rather than the news. As each channel began displaying the same scene, Jack learned the reality of the attack.

Cassie walked into the living room wearing one of Jack’s shirts. She was looking into her cell phone and said, I have like a thousand missed phone calls. Then she looked at the news on the television. Is that real? Jack nodded yes as her eyes filled with tears. Her beautiful face showed shock and sadness. Jack held out his arm, which she quickly took to receive his embrace. After a brief cry, she withdrew from Jack’s hugs and began dialing her phone. I have to call my mom, she said. Jack also needed to make some phone calls. He noted the airplane was an American Airlines plane, and his sister, a flight attendant, was deep in Jack’s thoughts. He dialed her number, but there was no answer. He then called his mom, who assured him that Sis and the rest of the family was safe. It was the family that was now concerned about Jack.

Jack was a sergeant in the Florida Army National Guard, with almost fourteen years in and planning to go the full twenty. The thirty- three-year-old sergeant had never experienced combat. He was a weapons repair specialist, and the work he did and the training he got made his life seem honorable. Otherwise, he would be just a bartender, college drop-out, and player. After hanging up from his call to mom, Jack dialed his National Guard unit. The sergeant who answered had no answer to give Jack other than stand by the phone and be ready. Jack nodded and responded, Roger that, out.

Jack hung up the phone and looked over to Cassie, who was finishing her call with her mom. Repeating several times to her mother that she was safe, Cassie started tearing up again as she hung up the phone and asked Jack, Are you in the military? Jack nodded, and she hugged him again. What will happen to you? she asked.

Jack held her close, breathing in her sweetness. I don’t know, said Jack. My mom wants me back home, and I think I should go. Said Cassie.

She looked up at Jack as she spoke with the same sadness he witnessed earlier. Jack nodded in agreement. Keep in touch with me, will you? she said as she buried her face into Jack’s chest.

I will, said Jack as he kissed the top of her head. Cassie looked up into Jack’s eyes, and they kissed again. The kiss became more passionate, and they both started for the couch with the news still on. The plane was shown again hitting the towers, which dampened the mood. Jack turned off the television and held her as she laid her head onto his lap, deep in thought. Jack stroked her long hair and thought about what to do, what to say. How about I make breakfast? said Jack. Cassie sat up, kneeling on the couch with her finger on her lower lip and seductively nodded yes. She grinned with her hands balled into fists on her lap, looking up at Jack as he walked in to the kitchen. They ate, cuddled, and had sex once more before Jack had to go to work later that night. That was the last time Jack saw Cassie.

Jack’s National Guard unit never called that day. Not knowing what to do, Jack did his normal routine and went to work. The tragedy that impacted Jack’s life was not his own. Parents pulled their children out of schools, law enforcement was put on alert, and people were calling off work for fear of being a victim.

Traffic was light as Jack pulled into the parking lot at work. It was unusually slow, and the thought of things picking up was doubtful. Jack’s manager looked at him, surprised to see that he reported to work. He said, I did not expect to see you. A lot of people called off. I figured that you would be deployed or something.

Jack looked into the manager’s eyes and saw fear. Greg had been Jack’s manager for just over a year. He has been to Jack’s house for drinks after work, and they talked about the usual guy stuff—sports, women, etc. Greg was a family guy with two little girls and a third on the way. Hopefully it was a boy, as Greg always wanted one.

Greg was in the bar doing the books when everything happened. He could not leave, as he was responsible for keeping things going. The daytime bartender had called out to check on her family. Greg kept busy as best he could to focus on work rather than the tragedy. Yet, Jack could tell that his mind kept drifting back to what could be, what might be happening to his family. He had called his wife Cathy that morning, and she pulled their girls out of school. They were fine, safe at home, and yet Greg still felt bad for not being there. Jack could sense that. This was not the normal family crisis that Jack or Greg could have ever predicted. Someone had invaded their country, someone had taken innocent lives, someone was terrorizing America, and it was working. Greg was relieved when Jack showed up because it meant he could go home to see his girls and his wife, hold them in his arms, and never let go.

Jack’s shift ended up being fairly busy. Many of those who came in were regulars, friends of Jack’s, and they knew Jack served in the National Guard. All came for the same reason: curiosity. Where was Jack going? What was the United States going to do? When would it happen? Everyone came to Jack as if he was the president’s advisor or the person in the know. One of those there was Jen, who at one time had been Jack’s lover. A one-night stand would have been a better word. Jen was a few years older than Jack and had had a thing for him for a long time. Jack gave in to her once and discovered that she was just not the person for him. However, she was a great fuck! She arrived at the bar thinking that this might be her last chance to see Jack, and she wanted him on top of her one more time before he left. She dropped all of her subtle tones, hinting that she was available. Jack picked up on them. How could he not? They were obvious. Jack considered the moment and thought this would be his last time for getting some ass before he left to … wherever.

His thoughts were interrupted by a ring on his cell phone. It was his platoon sergeant. Jack knew this could be the call and silenced the bar when he answered. The jukebox was turned down and the silenced crowd stared at Jack, waiting for the answer.

Sgt. First Class McGregor was Jack’s platoon sergeant. McGregor was close to reaching his mandatory retirement age, but Jack guessed he wouldn’t be retiring for a long while.

McGregor spoke to Jack, leaving no chance for Jack to interrupt or reply.

Jack, he said. You are ordered to guard some federal buildings with Sgt. Kapowski until replaced. McGregor paused, then continued, I know this is sudden and not exactly what you were expecting, but I volunteered you and Jim because I have trust in you two.

Jack listened to the order and responded slowly, trying to choose his words without compromising the mission, considering that he had an audience. A pin drop could be heard in the bar, which had never happened before, even at closing time. When should I report and what equipment do I need? Jack said.

Be in proper uniform and bring all of your TA-50, McGregor said. Show up at the armory tomorrow at 0800 hours.

Jack nodded and said, Understood. Out. After hanging up, Jack looked at his audience. All had looks on their faces that showed they wanted to know something, but they were afraid to ask. Finally, someone asked, What did they say?

I have to leave tomorrow, but I do not know what I will be doing, Jack said. I think I will be Stateside though. Jack looked around at a shocked bar.

Jen asked, Will you be around here?

Jack shook his head and shrugged. Then he said, Is this a bar or a morgue? Let’s get that jukebox back on! Then Jack started pouring drinks. Thinking to himself, I got to call Greg to cover my shift.

Jen started tapping her glass and looking into Jack’s eyes. With a half-smile and a devilish look, she mouthed, Tonight? Us? Jack nodded yes and returned to his work.

Chapter Two

Stand To, Stand Down

The alarm went off several times until Jack finally turned it off and started to rise out of bed. Closing time was rough, as no one wanted to leave. Jack got home at three in the morning, and he wasn’t alone. Jen was asleep in his bed, and she wasn’t much fazed by the alarm clock. They got more like minutes of sleep than hours, and Jack was exhausted. Jack stroked her hair and breasts one more time before rising out of bed. It was six in the morning, and Jack needed almost all of that time to get to the armory in Tampa during rush hour traffic. After a quick shower and a breakfast of an energy drink and a candy bar, Jack dressed and looked one more time to see if Jen had awakened. He did not like the idea of waking her or leaving her alone in his apartment. He reset the alarm for a later time.

Jen was a self-employed realtor. She set her own schedule, and Jack worried she would be there all day. However, Jack did have an ace up his sleeve for these situations and left her to sleep as he made the journey to the armory. Jack was close with an older couple that lived in the apartment complex. They had looked after Jack since he moved in several years ago.

Doug and Carol had remarried after a bitter divorce from their former mates. They started a family of their own, already each having a boy and girl in high school when Jack met the family. Doug and Carol were both nearing retirement and thought of Jack like a son.

Jack’s parents lived in the same town as him, but Doug and Carol still visited Jack occasionally, offering a dinner plate whenever they noticed he was home. Jack returned the favor by helping fix their car and performing other maintenance help. Jack also played racquet ball and shot hoops with their son and always had a wink and a smile for their daughter Kayla, who’d had a crush on him since first meeting him her junior year in high school. With both kids now in college, Doug and Carol had always helped watch Jack’s apartment when he had deployments and other National Guard situations. Later, Jack planned to call them to check on his apartment and Jen.

Jack arrived at the armory and met Jim Kapowski in the parking lot. Jack and Jim had been close since they both met in the National Guard. Both were assigned to Fourth Platoon, Bravo Company. The platoon was considered the best in the 53rd Forward Support Battalion, or at least considered the best by those who served in the platoon. The platoon was a mix of electronics repair specialists, TOW missile repair specialists, and weapons specialists. Unlike the other platoons of mechanics, Fourth Platoon was a mixture of computer geeks and gun nuts, and still they meshed better than any other family Jack had ever witnessed. Sergeant