MI - Taking Care of Business

Day 583, 00:50 • Published in USA USA • by Heather Fuchs


(read last week's "Moving into Position")

A burning South African sun is bright on my face as I make my way into camp early the next morning. "Tell us tell us!" two of my mates start loudly chanting with a huge grin on their face. Obviously they are referring to wherever their imaginations had me last night, but they'll not hear a word from me about what took place with my gracious hostess.




Fortunately before my lack of disclosure becomes an issue we hear the Lieutenants barking orders: "On the Bounce soldiers! In Formation!" Three huge blocks form on the open field almost instantly.. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie.. everyone is here. This is going to be a big one! And off we go....

..........

The silence always surprises me. It's like some General flipped a switch and it's all over. That "fog of war" they talk about is still thick on the battlefield. Sounds poetic but really it's just the blood and dirt and sweat an MI soldier calls his working environment. We lost some good soldiers on that field… I heard Bravo Two was down to 6 men, hard to think about that right now. I have work to do.

One of the basic tenets of the Mobile Infantry is that we Never Ever leave a soldier behind. Believe me that's lead to some daring rescues in the past. But today we won, we own this field. So with care and respect we can pick up our fallen brothers and sisters. With care and respect we can lift them high in our hearts and with our arms and carry them to the rendezvous point. With care and respect we can honor the sacrifice they made.

Pausing to catch our breath Lukas and I turn around and look at the crater. "Mercy Aaron, remember how tall that wall was when we got here?" I asked. I'd never met Private Aaron Lukas before this deployment since he's from Alpha Three. But it didn't take me long to figure out he was one of the good guys.. he would always have your back and you were happy to cover his. Aaron chuckled quickly and said "Hey when General Bastion says make a crater, MI makes a CRATER!"



The silence was broken by the WHOP WHOP WHOP of those huge turbines on the rendezvous ship. It was a jubilant crew that gathered around that circle. Slapping each other on the back, atta boys being tossed all around. We were proud and we had a right to be. This country had been invaded by those who wish to destroy freedom and democracy. Mobile Infantry had gotten the call to ship out, we moved into position, and we took care of business.

As the ship expertly lifted us all into the sky heading for home I studied the shoulder patch on the soldier sitting next to me. "Taking Care of Business" I thought to myself.. that's what Mobile Infantry does!


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Respectfully submitted
Major Dania
Mobile Infantry Press Officer

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

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