A Hero’s homecoming!

I’ve awaited a long time for this homecoming, being deployed overseas for the last eight months. My kit was packed, just waiting on the word to go. I re-read the letter that had arrived several months ago. The pages were worn, some torn and stuck together with clear tape. Dirty fingerprints covered the letter, imprinting on the pages. I actually kissed and folded it carefully and stuck it in my shirt pocket.

A noise alerted me to the Sargent entering the tent. After saluting, I was told to stand at ease. By the look on his face, I knew what was coming. “I’m sorry son, all leave has been cancelled, until this last mission has been deployed.” My heart had literally shattered, touching the letter, I apologised for this delay.

The helo was ready for takeoff as I scrambled on board It only took 15 mins to arrive outside the bombed town, that had been taken over by insurgents. We scaled down the hanging ropes to the uneven ground. On soldier was hit. I dragged him behind a crumbled stone wall. Blood was dripping slowly, as slow as his breath was fading. Guns were still alive, pounding thru barriers, unchallenged. I kneel beside this un-named soldier I barely knew and waited for his soul, drifting away, to gain freedom.

Confusion rains down around us, as bullets seek any moving object or body. Standing, a pair of eyes look into mine. We stare for a moment, frozen in time, two, who are enemies. Only one will live to walk away and go on killing.

I walk away from those dead eyes and saw bodies of blood. Women, children, there is no discrimination in war. I’ve had enough of killing, watching our brothers and sisters fall. Home is where I belong, home is where I want to be. Thru a world of noise, silence reins supreme. My soul is tired and worn.

A hand amidst the dead rises and i caught a glimpse of a grenade. Screaming out a warning, I tumbled not gracefully to the side behind a crumbled wall. We lost another brother. My eyes follow each soldier, my men, my armour. We carry each other thru Hells gates, fighting for the cause of freedom. As one, we pool together our strength, eyes moving continuously looking out. Some carry sorrow upon their shoulders, some determination.

Tired and dusty, feeling drained, we gather to catch a ride with a different Helo and learnt later that the first one took a hit. A missile slammed into the Helo bring it down and all aboard were lost. We landed amidst a heavy dust storm that seemed to target our skin thru our clothing, rubbing roughly and grit clinging to our teeth, even thru closed mouths.

I pulled the tent flap back, patting my shirt pocket to make sure the Letter was safe. Noticing a slip on my kit bag, I was overjoyed to read the permission note. A plane was leaving at 18.00 hrs and found the time to be 17.15 hrs. Thank God my kit was packed, and picked it up to run to catch the plane with only minutes to spare. I knew I was being paranoid but once more I patted my pocket, reassured it was still in its place. The plane took off as scheduled and I sat back, my mind a whirl of crazy thoughts. Looking out the port window, the stars seemed extra bright tonight and the moonbeams reflected off the wings of the plane, bouncing about in playful light.

After eighteen hours in the air, we landed safely and men started to gather their gear, talking excitedly about their loved ones waiting for the chance to be loved again. I’d been gone for so long that I was almost in denial. As we all disembarked, I saw many of my fellow soldiers, being gathered up into loving arms and children shy of their fathers.

I slung my kit bag over my shoulder, walking slowly, hope still alive. Someone barrelled thru the men and women, pushing them aside and threw her arms around me. The letter crackled between our chests reminding me of the hope that came with the letter all those months ago. Forget me, she did not, her eyes are loving, reflecting my own love. This is the homecoming I was hoping for. I’m home where I belong.