The Story of Walter and Vanessa

By Tyrone Vincent Banks

A combat-tested Marine experiences a life-changing event amidst the chaos of battle in Iraq. Based partially on real life experiences and fully on the healing that the Word of God can provide.  Romance, action, spirituality and Faith work hand in hand to assist Gunnery Sgt. Walter Mack complete his most important mission.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Nov 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9783739690223

Book preview

Tyrone Vincent Banks

The Story of Walter and Vanessa

I dedicate this story to the men and women of the United States Military. May God bless you and your families.

BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

81371 Munich

The Story of Walter and Vanessa © 2006 Tyrone V. Banks

The Story of Walter and Vanessa © 2006 Tyrone V. Banks

Come on boys! Do you want to live forever?

The deafening sound of explosions and gunfire filled the air as the elite team of Marines traveled through Iraq after days of heavy bombing and artillery fire. These sounds were of no concern to the Gunnery Sergeant leading his team towards their objective. In the orchestra of combat, he was a conductor. He dominated the battlefield with his own weapon and the weapons of others that he directed to the appropriate targets.

Gunnery Sergeant Walter Mack considered himself to be a Marine’s Marine. Fearless, tireless and a walking library of military tactics and procedures – his platoon was the first to arrive in Iraq to liberate the people and probably the last to leave. He had an outstanding service record and was the recipient of enough pins and medals to cover two uniforms or more.

Many of the Marines that he took under his wings were sickened by the bloodshed and carnage that they were involved in on a daily basis, but Gunny Mack as he was called, considered it all in a day’s work. He had a sixth sense for detecting attacks from all directions. At times, when things were quiet, he would fire a random shot in any direction. This discharge of his weapon would oftentimes be followed by an enemy soldier tumbling out of or down from the burnt out village ravaged by the combat.

He was skilled in improvising plans that the lieutenants assigned to lead his platoon did not learn in OCS. The officers trusted him and his Marines revered him. He was a tenacious fighter and a very careful one. He would never lead his Marines into an ambush that his men weren’t prepared to defend themselves against. The U.S. Forces dominated the battlefield and Gunny Mack was certain that this would be an in and out operation.

After an unknown amount of days and nights of fighting and sometimes even resting, they reached Baghdad. They entered a large palace under tight security. This palace was the former home of the President of Iraq who was currently on the run after speaking fierce words to the United States War Machine. A soldier reclined behind the ruins of a desk damaged by looting as the conflict unfolded with his weapon on this lap and his hat pulled over his eyes. Once the men stood before his desk, he recognized their leader and saluted him.

Mack, party of forty-two!

Gunny Mack! We’ve been expecting you!

Gunny returned the salute.

Good morning Captain!

We hit a little traffic jam and were delayed! Is our room ready?

"Take your pick! We’ve got hot chow, coffee, showers – and if you hurry, there might even be a