The Fallen Soldier

this story was inspired by the movie we were soldiers

Hello my name is Lieutenant Allison, I am part of the United States Marines. this is the story of a tragic event .

March 7th,1962, vietnam... i walked up to my sergeant, i had just got off the radio with headquarters. I saluted the sergeant and looked him straight in his eyes and told him " i have news from headquarters and it's not good sir."

sergeant looked at me and finally said " And what might that be lieutenant?" I looked at him and said " We have 3 choppers down, 242 gound men dead enemies are getting closer to base and we have lost all airsupport." the sergeant looked down at the ground and then looked back up at mes sighed and then said " Well damn, aren't we just fucked and by our own country at that. Without airsupport, the ememy will have the advantage, and with  ground men down and no way to get more we will have to be more careful than usual, tell all soldiers if they see any guns or ammo take them because with airsupport gone there is no telling when we be able to get more. tell them if they see anyone that is not united states military to shot them, no questions asked. understood?" I said "yes sir!" then he dismissed me. 

on my way back to the barracks i saw a flash then heard a bang. it was a bomb about 48 yards away from me. i heard screaming and crying. i smelled burning flesh. i thought to myself " man this war is getting worse and worse by the day. if we lose anymore soldiers we won't stand a chance. we have lost 16 platoons in less than a week, we've lost 242 ground soldiers in less than a month. its rediculous, children are losing mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters."

Private first class Allan Mckenzie ran for cover behind a rock. i knew this man because we shared a foxhole, i have to say in this war this man was my best friend.PFC Mckenzie has 2 beautiful daughters one is 2 1/2 and the other is 12. He receives letters and pictures from them and is wife every maildrop. The sadest thing about the whole situation is that Mckenzie is only 22 years old. so young but yet he fights. He's brave not knowing if he will live to see dawn break the horizon the next day.

i ran over to where Mckenzie was, when i got close enough to see him face i noticed the blood. there was blood everywhere, he had been shot in the neck and was bleeding to death. All i could think was " no... not him.. his children need him..They need their father." when i snapped back to reality i yelled "medic!" when the medic got over to him, he immediately started applying pressure to Mckenzies wound. Mckenzie reach inside this shirt and pulled out his extra dog tag placed it in my hand and through fighting the blood in his throat and mouth he forced himself to say " Gve.....this to..... my oldest..........daughter.........Annabelle." then his breathing stopped and the medic said " He didn't make it.

Another fallen soldier, father, brother, and husband.   

Reviews

[zainul]

Very vivid and eloquent presentation :)

[Silas]

Speechless...

[Alexis Markum]

thank you silas this piece was inspired by a really great yet sad movie that I had watched about a month ago called "we were soldiers" PFC McKenzie was based off of a character in the movie that I had honestly got really attached to

[Silas]

Hm. Very interesting.

[chaotic katie]

so much emotion in this piece. You get intoduced to a character (or introduce a character yourself) and feel a connection with them, as if you have known them all your life. Nice job.

[DeletedAccount156]

Well well well Alexis Markum! And here I thought you despised the Army!!!! I certainly would have never thought you out of all people would write something like this! But I am impressed! A few grammar issues but nothing too serious. I can tell you one thing...the only person in your life that would have ever inspired this poem is Michael! So how is he? Still at draft? Hope all goes well for You, ELENA, and Joshua (Josh)

[Alexis Markum]

yes ash micheal did kind of inspire this but mainly it was the movie we were soldiers. it is a great movie and very tragic

[DeletedAccount156]

I'll see about watching it. You said it was called "We Were Soldiers"???? and Yeah I kinda figured Micheal helped inspire it! :) great read Alexis!

[Alexis Markum]

its a great movie but be warned you will cry and its on netflix. and yea i got to thinking about the movie and once you watch the movie you will understand where i got allan mckenzie's character from. and thank you for the review i figured you would like it :)

[DeletedAccount156]

yeah I'ma go see about renting it on Netflix since we have it! And yeah I LOVED IT!!!! Your an amazing writer never forget that Elena!!! And yeah I'll see about watching it then comparing it to your works. So how is Josh doing?

[Alexis Markum]

ok

[Alexis Markum]

josh is doing fine a little irratated with my father but doing fine

[DeletedAccount156]

yeah but if ANYONE is around your father I believe they're going to be irritated! whats your dad doing now that has josh so un easy?

[Alexis Markum]

everything just being himself and not wanting to get off the computer and help around the house
read moreeverything just being himself and not wanting to get off the computer and help around the house

[DeletedAccount156]

that kind of figures that your dad would do that. I feel so bad for you and Josh having to do everything yourselves. But you know how I look at it? Your be great on your own because you/josh do all of the errands, cooking, cleaning, etc. And more importantly your be a wonderful mother and josh will be a(n) outstanding father. You grew up with so many responsibilities and fight for the ones you love, and take on the world with nothing but blind faith! It's caused you to grow up strong and independent and into a beautiful young woman!

[Alexis Markum]

thank you ashley and the same goes for you

[DeletedAccount156]

your welcome Alexis but I don't know what your thanking me for because I'm not going to sit here and lie to you. I know you've been through a lot, and I'm not going to say their names....but we both know who has betrayed you and who you keep around just to have a group of friends.....I'm not going to lie to you. I love you as a friend and your one of the very selective few people I have ever met in my LIFE that I want to hang on to as a friend. Your one of them. You know the ppl we hang out with? There either w****s or complete FAKES!!! I'm sick of CCHS and all their bs and their lies, they're nothing but fake. Congrats on you getting out this December! You truly deserve it. And thank you Alexis and Elena! Just remember this much and think about it over the summer: Out of *EVERYONE* you hang out with at CCHS, are the people that stand by your side and love you for you? I mean they stand their and they care about your problems, they sit their and try to help you and comfort you not so they can see the drama first hand but because they care about you as a person. Just think about whose those people are, if anyone....

[Alexis Markum]

i will make sure to do that

[DeletedAccount156]

:) and when you make sure you keep them close to your heart

[Alexis Markum]

i will

[DeletedAccount156]

:) good and make sure josh is one of those people!!! LOL he's your ticket out of Tennessee! MAKE SURE YOU RAISE HELL WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH CANNON COUNTY!!! MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED ON THE ROADS!

[Alexis Markum]

lol i'm pretty sure it will be lol

[DeletedAccount156]

i hope so Alexis I"ll be on the side lines cheering you on!!!!!