Prescott's Promise by Tracey K.

~Preface~

The IED went off in front of Prescott’s Humvee throwing the vehicle before them in the air tumbling end over end before landing on its top and catching fire when an RPG hit it blowing what was left of the vehicle up. Screams could be heard but nothing could be done as the rest of his crew was looking for cover before the same thing happened to them, damn insurgents. “Get behind the boulders and flank each other, take out any that are in your line of sight.” The Gunny called in air support that was two minutes out they had to hang on until then, “The cavalry is coming boys, hang on til they get here!” “Yes, Gunny!” Prichert was on the right down low on the scope; Shue was keeping Battle calm and quiet; Cobb was on point on the right and Prescott was scanning from under Cobb. Shots came and were returned in quick succession taking out five of the insurgents attacking them. Gunny counted fifteen more it was going to be a long two minutes. Another volley came in catching Battle in the hindquarter where he turned to bite at the sting and received another shot which took out one of his eyes knocking him out. Shue went to cover his dog and was shot in the back right above his Kevlar. “God Dammit Shue!” Prescott drug them both back under cover trying to help Shue but it was too late he was already dead with the aorta sliced by the bullet, he bled out. Battle was whining, he was still alive but for how long Prescott did not know. Cobb took out six more insurgents and out came another RPG, Prichert took him out right as he pulled the trigger, and the weapon went off target above them hitting the hill showering the men with rocks and dust. He heard incoming choppers, the Cobra Gunships were coming, “Cavalry is here, head’s down!” he yelled as his remaining men hit the dirt and he lit the red smoke letting their saviors know just where the good guys were pinned down. The first pass was rockets and gunfire from the birds, the second pass was fire and brimstone charring anything else left standing. Two minutes later they landed as Prescott gathered dogtags of his fallen comrads for his report. Anderson and Decker never made it out of the vehicle their bodies burned. Charred remains were left which would be bagged it was not a sight that any family member should witness but was burned in his mind. Baker and Sparks made it out but were injured and shot before they could get to cover, they were also bagged. Shue’s body was already bagged, and the medic was trying to help Battle as best as he could. The bullet was through and through on the hindquarter so, it was wrapped with a pressure bandage on site. His eye was another matter, the bullet grazed right across his cornea plowing a groove right in it middle ruining his vision in a second. Cobb and Prichert retrieved all serviceable gear and headed to the first bird as Prescott helped carry Battle to the second chopper, he had an IV in that the medic was carrying but the dog was too hurt to bite at it. The dead were loaded onto the other chopper and back to the fob they flew.