The
Bottom Line There is movement; the light from
the moon flashing from an object just inside the tree line The shadow slithers from the jungle,
inch-by-inch making it's way towards our position. A sad mistake, he has
been spotted, and yet he unknowingly approaches his doom. This night
holds nothing in store for this soul except swift and final departure.
Tonight he will not be victorious in his cause, tonight he will not
inflict death, tonight he will be the victim My instinct is vibrantly alive and
it tells me to wait, “Make no mistake Marine.” Inches sometimes take hours, death
takes but a second, we are taught a creed - one bullet, one kill... and
I fully intend to live up to that creed this night.It is time. My enemy
is approaching; silently, steadily. In his mind he is thinking he must
prepare to kill. He plans his attack, and he means to carry out his
mission. In his mind it is we who are the oppressors; we are number
10,000 GI; we are objects not seen as human. We have our own Government
saying we are wrong. We have Hanoi Jane, telling our enemy that I tighten the sling, and prop my arm
on the sand bag; my instinct has shut down the compassion factor and I
look down the cold steel barrel of my rifle. The rifle stock presses
against my cheek, my thumb just under my cheekbone. The safety is
flipped off and I have the enemy in mysights. My finger grows taught
upon the trigger; I squeeze slowly. My rifle and I are now one, we are
the master of this mans life, we own this situation and this situation
is critical. In seconds, another life will end, another bloodstain upon
the soil of this land and no one will care; but as life goes on this
life must end. It is after all, war. Sighting, squeezing, I hold my
breath; Goodnight Charley... My shoulder is jolted back, my thumb
digs into my cheekbone, a single shot explodes, and I remain in position
and re-sight my eye to the object. There is no question the target has been acquired. I have altered the
natural course of life in an un-natural way. There is no joy or celebration, no job
satisfaction; just duty to my country, I will obey my orders. My mission is to kill the enemy; I
have been faithful to my Corps and my country. I must live with my
decision. The bottom line is... I Must Live.
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