Chereads / Life of a Soldier: A Vietnam War Story / Chapter 14 - Chapter 14, Inner Animal

Chapter 14 - Chapter 14, Inner Animal

I remember sticking my bayonet into the chest of a NVA Soldier, he stared at me widen eyed before he passed from this world.

My chest felt tight almost to the point I had a hard time breathing like I was ready to pass out from lack of air. Then I begin use my nose to breath more clearly taking a big gulf of air before I settled down.

Gillian was barking orders at other soldiers, Scully tossed a grenade while Marshall talked into the radio before turning to Sarge.

"Sarge! Our tanks occupied by another Tank battalion we're on our own for time being" Marshall said which angered Gillian.

I fired my rifle dropping another NVA, "Corporal I want you to support the School and have them pull out! We'll be needing a foothold" I saluted as I ran back to the school with bullets buzzing past me.

I tripped a hole causing me to drop my rifle, I manage to bull my foot out but most my boot as I kept running leaving my boot and rifle behind. Once I got the school there were more wounded, Paul was firing out the window while Kyle was wrapping the arm of a wounded Soldier.

"Sarge says we need to pull out! Anyone who can grab a rifle follow me the wound go to the back and regroup with the 7th Unit" I said then had Paul, Kyle and any good Soldiers follow me up the stairs.

Bucky fired out of a window as I order Paul to use one of the windows. Paul ran over set up his machine gun and continue to fire, I ran back down stairs pulling out my revolver and I searched for a new weapon.

Outside more NVA appeared as some of them were approaching the school, I pulled a grenade and tossed it out causing the group to flee.

One of them climbed through the window as I fired my revolver killing him instantly. I grabbed his rifle an AK-47, alot of nations are using these.

I collected any clips he had on his body before wielding the AK and fire out side taking down a few NVA.

The AK felt different in my hands it even felt a bit heavier but it doesn't matter I need to keep doing what I'm doing, I set up a claymore mine near the door and went up the stairs where I even set up a trip wire with a grenade.

I ran back to Paul, Bucky and Kyle.

Taking out some binoculars as I saw more NVA tanks rolling in but I noticed something one the hatch was open with a guy standing out.

He wasn't Vietnamese he had blue eyes and dark hair, he looked more European "Bucky you see the leading tank?" I asked.

"Yeah I do" He says, I grabbed a LAW and had him follow me to the roof where I pointed "The leader isn't Vietnamese plus he might be important think you can tag him?" I asked.

Bucky aimed through his scope and adjusted it before taking a shot. I watched through my binoculars as the man's chest burst as his uniform went red.

He went limp and fell forward slamming into the tank, I took the opportunity and fired the LAW destroying a tank next to it. This forced the other Tanks to stop and tank shots at us, Bucky and I ran back down the stairs where Paul was still firing.

"Come on we need to pull back now!" I ordered as we all ran down another flight of stairs we stopped hearing two explosions in the school.

I begin laughing like a mad man "Those stupid bastards" I said running I'm sure my team was wondering what I meant by that, we kept running til we came across hotel inside were a couple of Marines.

We set up a defense using any weapon we could grab even if it's enemy weapon. Outside NVA were shouting while firing into the hotel, flipped a couch using it for cover as he fired his sniper.

Kyle was hunched down covering his ears while Paul was trying to unjam his weapon. I fired the AK spraying bullets at any NVA who dared to enter the hotel.

Then flames start shooting into the windows, the enemy had some kind of flamethrower attachment to their rifle I don't know how they did it but it'll have to be answered later.

One C.O. was shouting "Fall back! all units fall back to city hall!" I was still firing my rifle as Kyle tried to grab me but I shouted "Just go! go go! leave me any weapon I can use!"

Paul grabbed ahold of Kyle "Come on he'll survive!" Paul said as he, Bucky and Kyle along with anyone else left me behind.

I looked back firing my rifle dropping another NVA before changing mags then fire again. I had to make it look like the hotel was still fill with troops.

I ran to the next window picking up a BAR firing out forcing another group of NVA to cover.

I kept no track of time or how many bullets I'm spending, to be honest I don't feel like I'm in control anymore.

Running to another room where a long China Lake Grenade Launcher awaited for me, I picked it up and fired at a cluster.

Their bodies flew as dirt and other debris flew around, I aimed and fired off another round which hit some kind of tank, it looked different from a tank it didn't have a barrel of a tank nor treads it was more like truck like our APC, a BTR I believe it was called.

The grenade I fired rocked it forcing it to stop, I may have done something to stop it. My eyes widen as a RPG was aimed at me forcing me to duck the room shook and glass went everywhere.

My ears were ringing I sat up holding my head which felt moist, I looked at my hand which was red I was bleeding. My hear regain again as I heard NVA running in searching rooms.

I sat up nearly stumbling as I grabbed a pump action shotgun, I gritted my teeth and walked to the door and waited.

The first NVA walked in which from his perspective the last thing he saw was my shotgun. I fired and he fell backwards, I stormed out firing again at two other NVA who were in the room.

I stumbled against the wall then I begin to pour water on my head from my canteen then I took a huge gulf of air. I snapped behind me firing into a NVA who tried sneaking on me then I ran out of the hallway.

I grabbed grenade from a already dead Marine, I tossed it out listening to a few scared NVA before it went off. I fired one last round before the shotgun was empty, grabbing another weapon.

Picking up an M16, I fired off an entire clip into a charging NVA then I felt arms wrap around my neck I swung the person around til he landed on his back.

I raise my rifle and slam the butt stock onto his face repeatedly til I saw nothing but a red mess. I proceeded to swing the rifle like a club cracking another into the jaw.

As far as I knew I was surrounded but I didn't care I didn't feel fear I felt a intense rush drawing my revolver i fired at any NVA who came at me.

My vision was darkening then I started screaming.

I heard someone calling my name and when I vision came back, I was staring at my unit all of them.

Scully, Paul, Marshall, Kyle, Bucky and Gilligan along with reinforcements. They stared at me widen eye like their staring at the Devil himself.

"Dear God..." Bucky said, I looked around I was surrounded by dead NVA each one had gunshot wounds and some where beaten.

I noticed in my hands I was clenching my revolver firmly and I had a entrenching tool in the other dripping red with some chucks on it.

I was breathing heavily and my body was trembling and my skin felt hot like I was about to burst into flames.

"Get him out of here!" Gillian ordered as Paul and Bucky took me out of the hotel, we eventually retook the city back.

Their still counting bodies of our fallen along with bodies of the KIA NVA, alot of troops were staring at me like I was some kind of beast.

So a name was being passed around I went from being called Mickey Mouse from my time in Boot Camp, now some of my fellow troops are calling me The Beast of Nam or Helltrooper.