Battle Rattle

Battle Rattle was slang for the 50 odd Lbs of gear we carried on our person in the field. I left the rating everyone though there are F bombs

Full Battle Rattle

Breathing diesel sand

 

Apply the pressure bandage

blood gushes through my hands

 

Rockets skip the concrete

Electo sparking heat

 

Take the dead away in taxis

blood trails up the street

 

Full Battle Rattle

Automatic roaring death

 

Feed the bullets

change the barrel

 

You got any

last regrets

 

Full Battle Rattle

Sniper searing kiss

 

Dark Knight and Avenger

Wrapped in shrouded bliss

 

Terrifying moments

Pinned into the ground

 

Where the f**k is he

Wait for the next round

 

Full Battle Rattle

Cobras fill the sky

 

Mini guns and rockets

Kiss your a*s goodbye

 

Breaking into houses

no one knows a thing

 

Hajji took 5 bullets

what was he doing

 

Full Battle Rattle

Ears buzzing for days

 

Adrenaline overload

Standing in a daze

 

  Load up on the 7

Getting the f**k out

 

     After handing Hajji

Another demoralizing rout

 

Full Battle Rattle

Just another day

 

We were Marines baby

We blew Hajji's away

 

Sounds to brutal

Automatic weapon buzz

 

Tell you this much baby

It's the best I ever was

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Much of the imagery is from a fire fight that turned into a pitched battle in an erea called Sofia, just east of Ramadi. We were ambushed in what had been a ritzy neigborhood for politically connected Sunni's when Saddam was in power. We were re enforced by a rapid deployment force and other squad that was near by.The fighting raged for a good two hours before two Cobra Helicopter gunships were called in and chewed Hajji to pieces. The reference to "Breaking into houses was us looking for insurgents. Hajji typically bailed in the middle of the fight to another erea, changed his cloths and just blended into the crowd but with two cobras menacing the sky he was trapped where ever he was hiding so he was easy pickings that day. One house we went into there was a kid, 16-17 years old cradling a dead Hajji in his arms that had taken several rounds. There wasn't to much blood which meant he bleed out before they got there. The kid was sobbing hysterically and crying out. We had to arrest him but he didn't want to let go of the dead one. It turned out to be his brother. War is fuck brutal man.

Reviews

[Crazy Cat Man]

u are awesome for being able to survive and tell us this story in poetry form. pretty amazing

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanx

[Michael G.]

As my friend Chris (another marine,btw) would say, "A story that needed telling." Both for the reader and the author.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanx

[Ruth]

I really am speechless from this...from the poem to your additional notes love...takes a lot to write like this, such brutal force in such events, something so abhorent to me has been captured here with different mindset, perspective...you have versed both sides of the emotion to such a monsterous event, wow!
I shall be thinking on this for a while xoxo

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanx

[Tai Ryens]

Vicious imagery, simplicity could be the most awe-striking characteristic of a poem. Well done.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanx Tia. You're allright

[GunMetal]

I thoroughly enjoyed this, everything from the description to the authors note, for the same reasons Heather Maria mentioned; We can't possibly know what it's like. I respect and deeply appreciate a writing like this. Keep it up.

[Baby Ricochet]

thanx man.

[Annabelle Lee]

my dad's a former marine. you captured both the darkness and the ego aabout them. HOO RA

[Baby Ricochet]

Once a Marine always a marine. Thanx

[Harley (arbiter)]

That was great! I loved it! The descriptions and all! That mustve been tense. I can't imagine actually going through that. You have my respect

[Baby Ricochet]

somthing like that. Thanx.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

Your writing is so wonderfully in my face. You take me there, every moment, every hour...powerful writing. You speak for many. Your style is exceptional.

[Baby Ricochet]

THanx

[Dean Kuch®]

You certainly described the emotions of battle, both prior to, during and after, to a tee! Fantastic depiction of the horrors war puts one in.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanx Marine. I said I wouldn't write anymore of theae then this one crept out. Ah what are ya gonno do. Just keep writing

[Baby Ricochet]

Man look at the typos

[Dean Kuch®]

Hah, I didn't even notice 'til you just pointed it out. What's that say about my writing prowess, lol?

[Patricia B. Hepler]

Best description of "War is Hell" that I've read. The smell of diesel, sounds of bullets, the feel of fear is real, whilst reading this work. ~ pat

[Baby Ricochet]

THanx