Memories by Dominic Perucca

The dense jungle was pitch black. The soldiers could not see 10 feet in front of them. They were scouts for their platoon. They were chosen because the last scouting party was slaughtered the night before. They were ambushed while they were sleeping. Their job as to sit in the jungle and signal a flare if Viet Cong came to attack their camp. None of the soldiers knew for sure if they would survive the night.
     The night was silent only the sound of breathing could be faintly heard. The only reason they were able to stay awake was their adrenaline rush caused by the paranoia. Then suddenly SNAP a twig broke. BANG BANG BANG BANG CLICK the soldiers opened fire in the direction of the noise. Then silence. Shortly later SNAP another twig broke. BANG BANG BANG again they opened fire towards the noise. They heard a whimper then silence. "Good it was only an animal thought it might have been the VC (Viet Cong) " said a soldier, "Scared the shit out of me." through out the night they heard twigs and branches brake and would open fire toward the noise. For the next few hours they shot at every noise they heard, never knowing if they shot an animal, person, or nothing at all.
     Then all of a sudden all at once they branches and leaves started to move in on the soldiers. The VC was all around them. Camouflaged with twigs, branches and leaves all around their bodies they were able to slowly move toward the group of soldiers. Only taking minimal casualties while the paranoid soldiers shot at every noise they heard. "OH FUCK it's the VC open fire!" yelled the squads leader. Too late they didn't stand a chance. The soldiers where slaughtered ruthlessly. One soldier played dead and watched his brothers run through with knives and shot dead right in front of him. They only satisfaction for the soldiers was they were able to kill some VC before they died.
     "Wake up wake up honey" was faintly heard by the soldier playing dead. The soldier suddenly jumped awake and rolled out of bed and looked around. "OH shit what the fuck oh wait I'm in bed it was all a dream" the soldier said dazedly. "its ok honey it was a dream the war is over now come back to bed."