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Joseph E. Whimple

Ambush

Young Marine
debarks a C-130
in a foreign land

Heat...jungles
monsoons
language I cannot understand

Running across a rice paddy
motor rounds exploding
in a line behind me
walking towards me

Midnight
camouflage paint
covers face and hands
muscles stiff
from lack of movement
silence complete...total

Hours passed
voices heard
enemy is coming down
the trail

Raising my M-16
sweat runs down my face
stomach tightens in knots

I can see my enemy
sighting in
the ambush springs

Rifle fire...pistol fire
grenades explode
screams...crying...silence

Job complete
kill is made
body count taken

Young Marine
drinks a beer
smokes a joint
goes to sleep