Military Narrative

It’s June 5, 1944, the day before D-day. The 101st Airborne Division led by their vigorous lieutenant Alex Hodulik is deployed behind enemy lines and they are known as paratroopers. The soldiers mission was to anchor the corps southern flank and to destroy the 2nd defense of the German forces on the hazardous beach. The day before the mission was a go, I lieutenant Alex Hodulik, was informed by my commanding officer that we have a few replacements for those who have fallen in our division. Little did I know, my little brother had volunteered for the paratroopers. “The replacements just showed up,” yells sergeant Ryan, “there's my little brother.” I immediately ran to him and asked, “Why the hell did you join the paratroopers? You had

Flexibility in modern combat is a must. Today’s force faces a unique mission set that can, and usually does change on the fly. In the events described below, I will discuss a combat patrol in Eastern Afghanistan that will be with me forever, and lessons that I subsequently learned.

We also took this time to study and go over the things we had been introduced to during that day and in the previous days. The day ended at 2200 with lights out although most days I was exhausted and asleep by 2100. They taught us many different parade skills. We learned the proper ways to stand when in the positions of attention and parade rest; the proper way to march in sync with all the others in the formation. How to properly do left and right facing movements while standing and in formation or marching. We were given the knowledge and the discipline of how to keep our personal equipment clean and in good working order, as well as the proper way to disassemble, clean, and reassemble our weapon to keep us mission ready. The Drill Instructor insured that each day we made it through at least one muddy area. This was to give us the chance to work on our skills in cleaning. How to shine boots with a pristine luster. We also had to keep our personal space in an inspection ready presentable order. The showers and common areas had to be cleaned daily and the floors had to be shined every

Parker and I walked into the training area. I had changed into my mission outfit. The mechanical door opened and we walked into the training area. The training area is a large and enclosed training ground. The training ground was a lot different from where the fleshies, which was what we called the recruits, had practiced for the past few months. The room looked like a cross between an arena and a laboratory or something. It was somehow dark with only a few lights on—mostly only on the part where the soldiers will sit and up on the balconies where several armed soldiers were posted.

August 5th, 2014 was a day full of excitement, fear and nervousness. That was the day that I left for basic training. I just graduated high school and had to leave everyone I knew for 7 months total. It felt as if I was starting over and I was. It’s tough to make new friends but I knew I’d meet new people and new friends. I needed them because they helped me through all obstacles that lied ahead.

When I arrived, I was briefed by my drill sergeant and was shown to my quarters. That's where I found my duties, or chores list and other jobs to do around the base. About 3 weeks in, a rumor was going around that the Japanese were going to attack. The CO, or commanding officer, dismissed it as lies and whoever spread it had to mop the floors. That made everyone else quiet. My buddy’s name was Florence, which I found odd. I was talking to Florence about who did it and he said it was Tom.

As I threw another branch on to the little fire I managed to get going I thought to myself “How have I managed to get myself into this mess.” The cold was sinking deep into my bones. I knew I should have kept going, but I just needed a moment to rest. I leaned my head back against the tree I rested on. As my eyes slowly closed i thought “I’m not going to make it.” There are men on all sides of me all heavily armored and armed, all are battered and tired.Snow and blood of the fallen soldiers cover the ground. A horn rings throughout the remains of the Black Army. It’s the signal. The enemy is closing in fast. All the men take their defensive positions as the Lion Army marches into view. The commander mounts his midnight black horse and says

At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base other pallbearers carried him off the aft ramp of the plane. With the greatest respect and dignity, they placed Shogun, in the hearse for the three-hour trip home.

Our plan was to walk the whole duration of the sun being up. We had a little less than an hour till it set.

A straight face, a camouflage shirt, and no tears were all muddled in me when driving to my war zone. There was no turning back. I was ready to accomplish a mission that many of my same age considered impossible.

“I’m trying Luke!” exclaimed James, “but, your hand’s too sweaty!” I was about to fall off, then James finally got a hold of my hand and pulled me up.

I woke up to the smell of rotting flesh and decaying corpse. I pushed myself up from the green moss. I turned to look back at the scene I was once in. There were two lankard soldiers they looked like they were in their older thirties. Both had gunshots to their chest and slashes at their necks a traditional death mark of the rebels. I laughed to myself as I thought of the pathetic ambush they tried to pull on me. It was about 1:00 am when I went to hunt some deer for preparation of my promotion to 2nd in command. Before I could even get into the forest of Glade two of the soldiers came up to me and tried to fight me. I took them both out within a minute with my small pistol and knife. "Damn" I thought I still need to find a deer. I picked up

It started out as yet another wet and sloppy day in the camp with nothing to do. I sat in my bunk listening to my buddies talk amongst themselves about the crappy weather and the war. They chatted about the normal things; all of them wanting to finally get home and be dry, but all of them knowing that it would not happen any time soon. As I sat there in my hard cot, my mind drifted off to the fond memories of home in Iowa. I remember my sister and my two brothers and recall the great times we had together. I can still picture the looks on the faces of my family as I left them that day and also the face of my dear wife, Chris. Oh, how I miss them all so much and I know that I have to make it back to them. I also think about my job back at home at the truck and trailer repair shop and the

It was a rainy morning in mid-October. My mortar platoon was able to do a week’s worth of dismounted patrols tasked with clearing compounds of interest of IED factories, weapons caches, and drug stockpiles (mainly marijuana). The patrol from the previous day ended with an hour’s worth of small arms and several IEDs. I knew that today would most likely be the same. At around 0600 we mounted in our MRAPs and Strykers and also picked up the Sappers and EOD. Before leaving FOB Zangabad we linked up with the ANA that we were doing a joint patrol with and then left our start point. We drove north on RTE Quebec and made a right onto RTE Hyena near checkpoint 17, which was an ANA checkpoint. My convoy continued down the road for another 500 meters

No going back now. I think to myself. It’s the year 3012 and I’m a cadet in the military. You see, my parents died in a plane crash about three years ago. I was living with my brother. Until he died a couple months ago. Everyone here knows about my brother. He died saving a town full of people. Ever since then, I’ve been living in his apartment by myself. I needed somewhere to go. It was getting lonely at the apartment. So I came here.