Log Day

The Grunt’s Xmas

Maybe every four days in the Bush

Maybe not.

Monsoon guaranteed not.

Last event-so long ago

Pack extra of what’s important

Food, smokes, book, candy, instant coffee, Swiss Miss

You will consume it

The fog might clear

The rain may stop

Maybe

A halt from seeking and being sought

A bald spot on the hill

A meadow on the edge of the plain

If it can take one, it will do

A casual perimeter

Security looking more in than out

Anticipation

Hunger

Radio operators seriously engaged

NCO’s shouting clearing instructions.

Bare chests, swinging machetes

Det cord and C4 on the bigger stuff

No more than three feet up for the remains

Fire in the Hole!

Inbound.?Pop smoke!

Mellow Yellow

Roger

Scrambling bodies, anxiously following the speck in the distance

Bringing the world

And other stuff of our world

Pop Smoke Inbound!

Goofy Grape

Roger

Now, a stall, drop and shut down.

Waxed fuselage, starched fatigues, enameled flight helmets

The Lifers to see the troops and lift morale

Right

A power stall and 180 pedal turn

A wave of air blowing dirt, greens and an evaporative effect

All eyes on the bird and its contents

A hasty kick by door gunners drops the C rat boxes.

Running troops to off load the other contents

Rotors turning

Now our loads

Mail!

The good, bad and ugly

Letters and packages-the main event

Dear John or SWAK?

The faces tell the tale

Avoid the obvious

Sharing Mom’s or the wife’s package

Kool Aid packets and Slim Jim’s

Xmas comes early

So does the Grinch

Faces instantly reflect the impact

Agony and isolation

Exultation and gratitude

It all depends

Ten days in transit

Things change…..or don’t

Instant emotional responses for back haul

Regrets in time….or not

Isolation and loneliness shroud the crowd

Smiles and sorrows

It’s all in the red mail bag

Three KIA’s wrapped in ponchos

Boots and heads exposed

Their gear and weapons tossed on top

A quick full power vertical lift and turn

Gone

Troops move to the shady green in hopes of avoiding a morale boosting visit

They do bring the A ration-whatever it might be as to add to their creds

1Sgt directs the mermite crew to grab and set up off to the edge of the clearing

Troops coalesce in anticipation

Pork steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, if fortunate

Warm Coke or beer, if fortunate

Packaged bologna and cheese sandwiches, if not

Chemical composition ice cream

Sundry packs.?One per platoon. Two if lucky.

PSG takes his choice.

Save the Pall Malls for the Old Man.

PSG takes requests for the contents.

C Rat division.??

One case per troop authorized.

A four day plan

Impossible to pack and hump a case.

Studied selection process.

All the fruit, rolls, sundry packs

Main events, less so.

Ham & Limas-burn pile

Franks & Beans-winners

It’s a matter of choice

Remains go to the perimeter burn pile

The world every four days

Ruck up. Move out.

Burning daylight

Lost in thought

The future is now

No big deal

Wait until next time

Life in the bush on log day

The cycle of life