Thomas leaned into the rails of the troop transport, and slowly gazed to the clear blue skies lined with clouds, then back to the smoking island they called Tarawa a few miles away.
'Any second now'
Thomas had been waiting for nearly an hour since they had called for all men to assemble on the deck. The bombardments had just stopped about half an hour ago.
"Thomas! You ready to kick some Jap's ass? I sure as hell am. What about you Frank? You ready?"
It was David, a close friend. They had met in boot camp, where they then met Frank. They had all enlisted shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
"Yeah, I am," Frank responded," just make sure you stay in a different Higgins boat than me".
Both Thomas and David both chuckled before they were abruptly interrupted.
"ATTEN-TION!!!!"
It was Colonel Sanders, the highest ranking officer on board, besides maybe the ship's captain next to him.
"You will all be boarding shortly, get ready. Remember, this will be the first blow we give them Japs Since Pearl Harbor. Make it hurt!!"
We all cheered until a little after he left.
[David] "Ohhhhhh man. I cant wait!!"
Thomas also thought he should join in the pre battle shouts.
"FREEEEEEDDDDDOOOOOM!!!"
[Frank] "Oi Japs, you rea-!"
A short, loud whistle cut Frank off before he could finish.
[Lieutenant ??] "STEP UPPP!!!!"
It was their lieutenant, Lt. Micheal.
Thomas and his friends stepped up to the rope netting. Then, a long whistle, commanding them to get in.
Frank and David climbed down the rope netting, into the Landing Craft. Thomas followed after, but he jumped right when the boat shook from the waves, which caused him to fall.
Everyone laughed at Thomas' mishap.
"Oh no you don't Mr. Unlucky, you stay over there," Frank jokingly said while pointing away from them. Thomas could also hear another jokingly ask if it was his first time. Meanwhile, Thomas could do nothing but chuckle along side them.
All of a sudden there was a loud roar as the Higgins Boat's engines came to life.
The LC Operator yelled over the engines "This is your captain speaking, and we're just about to head out. I hope you enjoy your vacation stay on this one way trip to the island of your dreams. Please wait, and I'll give you a cruise around it first. Note there are some pests on the island, but they'll be pretty easy to get rid of."
There were a few nervous chuckles and smiles, but the men's faces slowly turned serious. The invasion was about to begin.