The Long Patrol: World War II Novel Read Free Page A

sweat. Suddenly he heard a loud Siren. The Marines, who were three hundred yards up the beach scrambled and jumped into foxholes disappearing like mice when a hawk’s shadow passes over. O'Connor looked around, knowing the Siren meant air raid, but he had no idea where to go. They’d been so busy offloading supplies they hadn’t had time to dig their own holes.
    He grabbed his rifle, put his helmet on and dove to the only cover he could, the boxes they’d just off-loaded. A minute later the throaty sound of airplane engines starting up added to the Siren. He looked towards the sound and figured it must be Marine fighters from Henderson field scrambling to meet the threat. He hoped they’d get up in time and kick the crap out of whatever was coming.
    As he laid there he noticed the box he was lying next to was labeled ‘20mm ammunition’. He wondered what would happen if a bomb landed nearby. Would it explode the ammo and tear him to shreds? He didn’t want to find out. He grabbed his M1 and took off towards a thick grove of palms. He heard someone yelling for him to take cover. He thought, no shit . He was halfway to the palms when he heard the distinctive sound of incoming. He hadn’t heard the enemy bombers, but he sure heard their whistling ordnance.
    He wasn’t going to make it to the trees, he threw himself to the ground and quick crawled to a small depression. He felt, rather than heard the first bomb impact. His body quivered as the shock wave pulsed through him. It was followed by more bone jarring explosions. He dropped his rifle and pulled the edge of his helmet down tight around his ears. Time seemed to stand still as the bombs thumped and thundered. It was less than a minute, but it felt like an eternity.
    He heard the distant sound of airplane engines leaving the area. He looked in the direction he thought the bombs had hit. He was surprised to see smoke rising far from his position. He’d thought they were right on top of him, but they were three hundred yards away. He’d never been in any real danger. He went up on his elbows and wondered what it would be like when they were landing within yards, or feet, or inches.
    He started to get up, but Sgt. Carver yelled to stay down. The Siren was still wailing. He looked up at the sky, but couldn’t see anything through the palms. Soon the same whistling sound of impending doom. He went flat pulling his helmet down. This time the impacts were closer. His body shimmered and bounced on the fetid ground. He wondered if the dancing dirt beneath him would be the last thing he saw.
    This wave of bombs didn’t last as long, but they’d been close enough to knock palm fronds onto his bare back. He cringed every time thinking a tree would crush him if a bomb didn’t kill him first.
    This time when the bombs stopped the Siren’s wail also stopped. Is it hit or is the raid over ? O'Connor decided he’d stay down until given the all clear.
    He heard feet beside him, he turned his head and saw Carver’s size elevens. “It’s over, get your ass off the ground.”
    O'Connor sprang up with his rifle at the ready. He looked at Carver and nodded, “I’m okay.” He said it as if confirming it to himself.
    Sergeant Carver shouldered his rifle and slapped his back hard. “Course you’re okay, they weren’t aiming at you, they’re aiming at Henderson, dumb-ass.”
    Oconnor nodded still shaken up. “We gonna dig in now, Sarge? Feel like my ass is hanging in the wind.”
    “Yeah, it’s time to move up to our positions south of the field.” He pointed with his thumb where the smoke was rising.
    “We’re going closer to the field?” O'Connor looked like he’d eaten something rotten. Sergeant Carver scowled and walked away yelling for his soldiers to gather their shit and form up. O'Connor found his shirt covered with a fine layer of dirt and various unidentifiable bugs. He shook it out and put it on. It felt gritty and hard against his sweaty body. He found