A Different Kind of Hero

By Michael P. Senadenos

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13, NKJV

Armed with unshakeable faith and a powerful conviction, Indiana Jamison Thompson embarks on a remarkable journey that transcends the bou

• Language: English
• Publisher: CITIOFBOOKS, INC.
• Release date: Jul 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781960952462

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Copyright © 2023 by Michael Senadenos

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2023910605

Table Of Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1: Army-Navy Game 

CHAPTER 2: The Ice Tub 

CHAPTER 3: Christmas Eve Service 

CHAPTER 4: Christmas Eve Dinner 

CHAPTER 5: Santa’s Visit 

CHAPTER 6: Boot Camp 

CHAPTER 7: Rool Call 

CHAPTER 8: Letter To Winnie 

CHAPTER 9: The Food Fight 

CHAPTER 10: The Dance 

CHAPTER 11: The Confrontation 

CHAPTER 12: Guard Mountain Duty 

CHAPTER 13: Big Red Goes To Church 

CHAPTER 14: The Grenade Incident 

CHAPTER 15: The Questions 

CHAPTER 16: Boot Camp Graduation 

CHAPTER 17: Home On Leave 

CHAPTER 18: The Young Girl 

CHAPTER 19: The Ambush 

CHAPTER 20: Buck In The Infirmary 

CHAPTER 21: The Visit 

CHAPTER 22: Kindness Returned 

CHAPTER 23: New Information 

CHAPTER 24: Village United 

CHAPTER 25: The Rescue 1

CHAPTER 26: Indy In The Infirmary 

CHAPTER 27: The Christmas Miracle 

EPILOGUE: The Cardinal Draft 

PROLOGUE

For the second time in a week, Indy and Buck were given orders to pick up supplies that had arrived by ship at the nearby coastal village. Once again, Buck drove the Humvee while Indy gave directions. For this assignment, because of the incident with the young girl on the previous trip, a second group was ordered to be the protective escort. So, following directly behind Buck and Indy was a second Humvee driven by Big Red with Hannity and Teddy as passengers. Big Red maintained a two-vehicle distance behind Indy and Buck.

A few miles away from base camp, the road would narrow for a few hundred yards. On one side of the thin path was a sparse rocky terrain. On the other side, there was a steep ridge with a rocky floor at the bottom. It was at this point, on this trip, the Humvee driven by Buck ran over an improvised explosive device, commonly known as an IED. The vastness of the explosion ripped through the front side of the Humvee jolting it to a stop as the engine burst into flames.

Both Indy and Buck were thrust forward. Buck’s head slammed into the steering wheel, immediately rendering him unconscious as blood dripped down his face. Indy was only slightly dazed as his head also hit the dashboard. He too had blood trickling down from his forehead and temple. He could hear gunfire coming from outside as well as the bullets riddling the exterior of the Humvee.

With the intensity of the flames and smoke increasing, Indy realized he had to get Buck and himself out of the vehicle quickly. Buck’s face was covered in blood as he lay unconscious against the steering wheel. Indy stretched out to wrap his arms around him. But as Indy leaned over, his dog tags got caught on a small rod sticking out from the dashboard. When he pulled away trying to get loose, his dog tags were ripped from around his neck and fell to the floor, unnoticed.

With his grip firmly around Buck, he reached back to kick open the passenger side door. After a few tries, the door finally popped open. Indy struggled as he attempted to pull Buck free from his seat. The jolt from the explosion had partly caved in the front side of the Humvee slightly shrinking the space of the interior around the driver’s seat. Finally, after much effort, with the intensity of the flames increasing, Indy was able to get Buck out of the vehicle. He gently laid Buck on the ground as he glanced around the area. The smoke was so thick Indy could not see Big Red or anyone else as the gunfire continued.

After having dragged Buck a few yards away from the burning vehicle, Indy came to a stop at the edge of the ridge. Before he could even catch his breath, the Humvee suddenly erupted into thunderous flames. Indy attempted to shield Buck from the spray of debris triggered by the blast, however the explosion caused him to fall backwards tumbling down the semi steep hillside. Near the very bottom of the hill was a small ledge. When he came to the ledge, Indy rolled off slamming his head into a boulder just opposite of the ledge. Once again, being knocked into a daze, Indy’s body rolled backwards coming to rest just underneath a small outcropping and out of sight of the people at the top of the hill. Moments later he passed out.

Back at the top of the ridge, three Apache helicopters were now flying overhead spraying bullets into the rocky terrain. The assailants immediately scattered into the hills as a squadron of reinforcements were rapidly approaching from the rear. As the smoke was starting to clear and a perimeter established, Big Red spotted the unconscious Buck laying on his back. Not seeing any sign of Indy, he rushed over to him. As he knelt beside Buck, Big Red continued searching the area for Indy.

Indy, he called out, Indy, where are you?

Hannity and Teddy had now joined Big Red and were calling for Indy as well.

There was still no answer. Big Red then heard the voice of a medic coming up behind him, You need to move soldier so I can help your friend.

Big Red rose to his feet and stepped aside. Once more, searching the area, he and the others continued calling out, Indy, where are you? Come on Indy, please answer! Where are you?

The trio walked to the edge of the ridge and looked to the bottom. Anxiously scanning the terrain, they saw nothing. They had no idea Indy had slipped underneath the ledge and out of sight.

Big Red called out again, Indy, Indy, can you hear me? Indy?

Still, with no answer, Hannity and Teddy spread out on either side of the narrow road and continued calling for their missing companion. At the same time, Big Red turned and headed in the direction of the still smoldering burned-out Humvee. Big Red slowly poked his head inside the vehicle. Still no Indy. He then started sifting through the debris of the scorched interior. And there, on what was left of the floor, he spotted a shiny object. He leaned over to pick it up.

Hannity and Teddy had now made their way back to the medic still nursing the unconscious Buck. From over his right shoulder, Teddy saw Big Red walking toward them.

Did you find any sign of Indy? asked Teddy.

With a hopeless expression, Big Red slowly opened the palm of his hand. He let go of the shining object he had scooped up from the floor of the Humvee. As he held onto one end of a chain, there, swinging from the other end of that same chain, was Indy’s dog tags.

The medic, displaying his own dejected expression asserted, Sorry soldier. But we have to get this man back to base.

Big Red nodded in agreement. He and the rest of the crew then loaded up the other Humvee. Just before getting in the vehicle himself, Big Red looked out at the vast region and called out one more time, Indy, where are you?

Still, no one answered. And so, he climbed into his Humvee and headed back to the base.

Hours later, after Big Red and the others left the area, still laying at the bottom of the steep hill, Indy opened his blurry eyes. With his head throbbing, he saw the shadow of someone standing over him. Unable to focus, the world again went black.

CHAPTER 1

Army-Navy Game

The sky above Indy was clear and full of sunshine on a beautiful California afternoon. The temperature, in the low 70’s, enhanced a near perfect day to play football. And on this near perfect day, a crowd of 85,673 spectators were enjoying the thrill of a near perfect football game. Navy, in the deep blue and old gold helmets were facing their archrivals, Army, wearing their gray black and gold helmets in the annual Army-Navy matchup. And for the first time since 1983, this annual event was being played in the highly cherished Rose Bowl arena in Pasadena, California. And what was once a Navy twenty-four-point half time deficit had diminished to just a three-point game. The Navy Cadets had put a charge of excitement into the roaring crowd as they fought their way into an unlikely comeback.

The game was now in its final seconds, and soon all would know who would have the bragging rights as this year’s victors. A glimmer of bright sunshine glistened in Indy’s green eyes as he felt the powerful thrust of the football being pushed into his cupped hands. His heart pounded as he moved away from the clash of brawn and muscle that battled in combat just in front of him. Then, with perfectly timed precision, as he twisted around, Indy placed the ball into the awaiting burly arms of his fullback. He turned back around to watch as the powerful warrior, Michael Ross, surged swiftly towards the trenches feverishly scrambling for the small ray of light that had momentarily broken through the mass of bodies battling ahead.

Indy watched the swarm of dark helmets and gold covered arms deliver punishing blows to the already battered body of the ball carrier. The roar from the crowd hummed in his ears as he watched with great anticipation while his teammate struggled for that one extra yard. Indy’s eyes danced from side to side attempting to discern the white jersey of his fullback from the dark gray black and gold colors of his opponents.

Finally, the whistle blew, sounding the end of the play. Quickly, Indy rushed towards the official asking for the time to be stopped. The clock was instantly stilled by the waving arms of the referee. Indy then glanced up to the scoreboard and slightly grimaced at the few remaining seconds. The roar of the crowd had now faded as the pile of massive bodies separated. The powerful fullback was the last to