The plane had been shot down on a routine flight not more than five miles inside the enemy line.
It had gone down in the thickest part of the jungle.
Our platoon of twenty men were sent out to find the down plane and any casualties, if any,
Before falling into enemy hands.
The lieutenant in charge had sent out four men to do reconnaissance and scout any danger that may lie in our path.

Lightning bolts illuminated against the night’s black skies.
The Japanese were experts at this sort of thing and knew the terrain.
The four soldiers had come across a foxhole of about seven soldiers who had been reported as missing in action.
An enemy artillery shell landed and exploded in tier foxhole.

Sarge collected all the dog tags off their bloody torn bodies and we all said a prayer.
It just seemed completely unreal seeing death this way for the first time for a young private.
When the platoon was all back together they moved slowly across the jungle floor.
The rain was steady coming down on the jungle covering our sounds walking.

After about four long hours we could see the burning flames from the pane in sight along with movement.
We all heard a voice snarled out of the darkness, “who goes there?”
The first few seconds were critical when our eyes met a dozen guns leveled right at us,
Ready to blast us all into eternity if we made one false move.

We finally completed our mission and found the plane and our men, but not a minute too soon.
The Japanese must have followed us right to them.
We were all under evasive action from the enemy, guns poured out a terrifying hail of fire.

Sarge was hit pretty badly…I yelled at him to tell me what to do…it’s gonna be bad, very tough
And Sarge we may even flub it up.
But I bet you Sarge we won’t so TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!
A few minutes later the hot splatter found him and packed him with death.
I had no idea whatsoever as to what I should do.

I had also been hit and in severe pain I angrily closed my mind to it!
I recognized my ambitions and pride for what they were but I had worked hard to become an American Soldier and nothing was going to stop me even if I have to crawl the jungle floor on my hands and knees.

The battle of the machine guns took us down like a dove shoot.
We will never survive it through the shell fire they were just more equipped than us.

The shrill of mens screams of pain on both sides seemed to creep into others veins and made one question one’s own sanity.
The rein water turned red and there were dead and maimed scattered all about.
All together we lost sixteen men, ten were wounded and three are missing in action, plus
The seven found dead in their foxhole.

These men and women of our Armed Forces are born with warrior blood running through their veins.
They have been chosen to see and do the unthinkable to protect our God, Family, Country and Flag.
You can hear the military saying, “I got your six.” Which means I got your back.
Now it’s time for us to have their six.
I know war is ugly, I ain’t said it ain’t.
This Memorial Day mark your calendars Monday May 29, 2023 at 1 pm let’s all say a prayer at the same time for all our military personnel who died in service for our country!
They must never be forgotten for their blood, sweat and the ultimate price of their lives!!