America's last angel

A Story by Uzu Franklyn

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. - Albert Einstein

August 31st 1945

Dear Sophia, It has been six years since i last saw you and the kids. I know how much you pray for my safety and I pray God also keeps you safe. Tomorrow is the day I and all the soldiers gather together at the stakeout to plan our last set of battle strategies. I know it has been pain to you since i left but i promise to make it back home to you and the kids happily.

Your loving husband Franklyn.

September 1st 1945

Dear Sophia, Today is the day and honestly, i am actually nervous. It is only by the grace of God i have been able to survive this far. In the past six years since the war began, over 35 million people have died and i always wonder, "What if I am next". I urge you to keep praying for me and always have faith in God. Like i said, i promise to try my best to survive during this cold war so that I would be able to see my family again. And even if I do not return, always remember that I with you in your heart.

Your loving husband Franklyn.

Sergeant I called, " where should we place the land mines" . "Place them on the shores of pearl harbour the other side of O'ahu island he said". It was getting dark and the only sources of light we had were the moon and the touches we made from the small logs of wood we found on the island. But that did not affect us. The sergeant made sure everyone of us was at our assigned spots getting ready for an attack. Alas!, i heard a loud boom. And when i peeped, i found out one of the opposition soldiers had already fallen for the trap. Immediately that happened, all the opposing soldiers began running to the shore and one by one, each of them got 'scared for life' by the land mines we had planted earlier while others lost their lives. By the time majority of the land mines had exploded, i noticed many of the opposing soldiers were already drawing near to us. So, i began screaming "seek cover". As i shouted, i felt something sharp hit my left arm. It was a bullet. I did not want to scream so that i would not attract any attention to myself but what can i say the pain was too much.

Every step i took was like a journey to the top of a hill. My arms became numb, I could not feel my legs. I had lost so much blood. Luckily for me, there was a cave a few meters from where i was so, i used all my will power to get to the shelter. Immediately i got there, i took of my shirt, applied pressure on the bullet spot and i tried making an incision so that i could easily remove the bullet. As i groaned, i heard a foot step and i tried crawling so that i could hide. But my blood trail was a quick give away so, the person saw me.

The person was a seventeen year old kid named Yoshi. He was Japanese. he was tall, had blonde short hair which were already full of twigs due to the stealth movements he had been doing. At first when he saw me, I actually thought it was time for me to die so, I began reminiscing about my wife and children. As i did that, a tear drop flowed down my cheek but, to my greatest surprise he said "Can i help you sir". When he asked that question, I tried my best to make sure I was not hallucinating from the excess loss of blood. He was an opposition soldier who worked for the Japanese side. Out of desperation, I asked him why he wants to help me. What he told me was very sad. He told me his name was Okutushi Yoshi, he was seventeen years old. When he was thirteen years old, he was deployed by the Japanese military to help fight in the world war two. During this time, his father was a soldier in the same war and his mother was a nurse. During the pearl harbour attack of 7th December 1941, a missile dropped on a tent where his parents where. The impact was so much that not even a fragment of their bones where found. When he found out, he felt so alone but, he had to take responsibility because his parents had just had a child and they did not want the military to find out so, they hid the child with him and he raised him up as a father would raise a son. But this happened during the war so, it was not very safe and wise of him.

When he was done with his story, I realised how much pain a person who had lost his entire family would feel. After a while he began crying and I knew i just had to do something. So, I reassured him by telling him all would be alright. After that, he made me promise that just in case he does not leave the war alive, I should take care of his little brother and i made that promise. I also made him promise the same for me.

After a few hours in the cave, we began hearing the footsteps of people who where approaching the cave. So, both of us crouched and we slowly crawled outside. They were right behind us. The German soldiers. Without hesitation, we knew we had to run so we did. we ran so fast that it looked as if we ''were faster than our shadows''. They chased and chased but they could not catch up to us. The moment we saw they were tired, Yoshi who was a professional sniper quickly took his rifle and aimed for the seven German soldiers. In less than twenty seconds, he had already killed all seven of them each with a head shot. At this point, it was a battle of survival not more a battle of world domination.

When we were tired of running, we hid in another cave and planned that when it was dawn we moved. Yoshi and I, took turns in sleeping so that we would be able to know if other opposition soldiers were coming. At this point, we could not trust any soldier even if they belong to our side. All we had were ourselves.

Dawn came and it was time for us to continue our journey. We continued and kept on moving. Until we got to a stop. It was at that stop all hell became loose. All the soldiers from the various nations who were involved in the war were pointing their rifles at each other. Waiting for the commands of their commanders, they all began filling their rifles and immediately their rifles where filled, the commanders shouted "attack''.

16:40 pm September 2nd 1945

The war had come to an end. Majority of the soldiers got themselves killed in the cross fire and the way wars are was that the country with the most soldiers standing wins the war. USA won the war. We all were happy until i heard a "boom!". When i looked back i saw Yoshi lying lifeless on the floor he had been shot by a Soviet union soldier who was struggling for his life. After he shot Yoshi, he died. I began shedding tears. I even shed more tears when i realised Yoshi had taken a bullet for me. I became confused and due to that, i was caught up with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and then i fainted. I can't really remember what happened after that but i remembered what his last words were. He said " Take care of Osoyunchi".