Letters from Vietnam [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 11

Tuesday, April 15, 1975

            It had been nearly two weeks since Jason hadbeen brought to the hospital. He watched from his bed as soldiers came and went. After a few days, it was the norm. They would be wheeled in on stretchers and then some would leave.

            Today, everything felt different. More men were being brought in. More than the usual amount.

            “Hey Gladys,” Jason called out to the nurse that had given him the paper and envelope just weeks ago. “Why are so many guys coming in?”

            She smiled. “Didn’t you hear? I’m sure you would’ve, that’s all the guys around here could talk about.”

            “Hear what exactly?”

            “You’re going home.”

            Jason sank back on his cot, he laughed because he didn’t know how he should react. “Wow,” he shook his head. “I’ll be damned.”

            “I’m happy for you boys.” She said with a genuine smile on her face. “But please take it easy.”

            “I will. Don’t worry.” Jason sat up as Gladys walked off to tend to more soldiers that were being brought in. Although Jason was amongst the many of soldiers that were getting ready to go home, he still couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt in his stomach. He came here with Chris. The plan was to come together and leave together.

            “Jason, hey man.”

            He turned in the direction of the voice to see that it was Jeremy.

            “Hey, I didn’t see you being wheeled in.” Jason said, swinging his legs over the side of his cot so he could face him.

            Jeremy laughed a little. Jason took in his appearance. He looked like hell. He was covered in black dirt and his uniform was stained with blood.

            “You okay?” Jason asked.

            “Not really,” he said running a hand through his hair. As the strands were brushed back, they flicked dirt up into the air when they popped back to their original position. “After you and the others got lifted out of the jungle, we were supposed to get reinforcements.”

            “You make it sound like they didn’t come.”

            Jeremy nodded. “They didn’t.” He shook his head. “We got ambushed.”

            Jason’s heart panged in his chest. “Is everyone okay?” He asked even though he was scared of Jeremy’s answer.

            “Chris,” he sighed. “He got hit pretty bad.”

            Jason got to his feet even though the doctor told him to stay in his cot. “Is he here?”

            “I don’t think you – ”

            “Is he here?” He repeated.

            Jeremy nodded his head. “He’s in the last cot on the right.”

                Jason walked as fast as his body would let him. As he walked by he looked at all the soldiers. He closed his eyes and prayed that Chris wasn’t as bad as the rest of them. When he reached the very last bed, he felt his stomach churn. “Chris?”

            “Jason,” His voice was hoarse and barely rose above a whisper.

            Jason knelt by Chris’ bedside because there was no chair. “Yeah buddy, it’s me.”

            A small smile crossed Chris’ lips before he started coughing. Jason saw the bandages around his torso and leg. He choked up a bit, but coughed to cover it up.

            “Looks like we’re going home.”

            Jason chuckled a bit as tears ran down his cheeks. “Yeah, it looks that way doesn’t it?”

            “Looks like,” he stopped and started coughing uncontrollably. Jason felt more tears form, getting ready to fall. “Looks like we kept our promises.”

            Jason couldn’t help but cry at this point. He didn’t care if the other guys saw him because he knew they all wanted to do the same. “Yeah, man. We’re going home.” His voice cracked as he grabbed Chris’ hand. He barely could hold a firm grip, which made everything more real. Reality hit Jason and it hit him hard. Chris may not even make it home.

            “Not even a war could tear us apart man,” Chris’ voice was getting quieter with every word he spoke. “We’re batman and robin.”

            He smiled, wiping away his own tears. “Until the very end.”

            “Amen, brother.” Chris spoke softly. Chris’ breathing shallowed considerably and pretty soon his steady breaths were turning into gasps. Jason held Chris’ hand, wishing he could take the pain away from his friend, but he knew Chris was slowly getting close to the end.

Jason started praying the Our Father. He never was the religious type, but Chris was.

Our Father, Who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

            He started to recite the last line when Chris suddenly stopped gasping for air. Tears rolled down Jason’s cheeks as he finished the prayer.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

            Jason reached up to take the dog tags from his neck when he heard a nurse protest.

            “Sir, you can’t take those. We send those home to the family.”

            Jason enclosed his hands around the piece of metal. “I am his family.”

            The nurse didn’t say another word; instead, she nodded and walked away. While he walked back to his cot, he placed the dog tags around his neck along with his.

            “I’m sorry, Jason.” Jeremy said placing a hand on Jason’s shoulder.

            “Me too.”

            Jason sat back down on his cot as he watched some nurses cover Chris’ body with a sheet before taking the body away. “I’m sorry buddy.” He whispered to himself. “I’m so sorry."