Once inside the main entrance Goldie said I hate to leave these bodies out here to the elements. Mac said well once the troops arrive they are sure to use this old guard shack. We can put them inside where they are sure to find them. The men proceeded to carry the rangers in and placed them upon the desks and tables inside. Once finished Goldie said secure the doors to keep the wild animals away and lets be on our way. He contacted Tim and asked his status and was told the last lookouts had been dropped off and he would be at the turnoff in about ten minutes. Goldie acknowledged and said we will meet you in ten. They met at the place agreed and drove back to the camp without incident. Goldie told Tim you go on home to the wife and family and contact your team leaders make sure they are ready to move out when the time comes. Then he turned to the men and said lets turn in for the night tomorrow could be a long day.
Morning found the men seated around a fire having coffee and breakfast rations. Goldie told the operator try to reach Richard so we can bring him up to date. Richard came over the radio and asked how did it go and Goldie advised him they saw no sign of anyone and that the rangers had been placed where they would be found quickly. He advised our spotters are in place well positioned to observe the armies arrival. Richard said well done now to bring you up to date on our plans. Our contacts tell us the northeast and central Ohio militia units are planning a harassment strategy all along the route the troops are said to be coming on. They will be setting up small squads in a number of locations to ambush and destroy as many troop carriers and supply trucks as possible. Our goal is to make them pay as dearly as possible and disrupt their moral before they get to your sector. What’s left of their moral will be further weakened when they arrive and see their rangers. We will weaken them as much as possible before they get to your location.
Mac asked him are there operations underway in other places across the country and Richard said yes but nothing of the scope your sector has seen in the past weeks or what is underway now. They seem to believe Ohio’s central location is a crossroad and intend to beat us here hoping that will prevent widespread resistance. They have their presence in all the major cities but mainly headquarters staff with security. They have commands and united nations advisors with state police agencies and national guard and reserve units as well as some active duty units and have them do most of their dirty work. But if they succeed in securing this state they will no doubt move larger numbers of united nations troops in all across the land. Goldie said then we must stop them here and force them to show their hand.
Mac said will you keep us advised of the harassment efforts and also of the route they are moving on as they approach our area? Richard said yes we will keep you up to date on those activities and of their estimated arrival in your zone. Goldie said good we are alerting our people in all counties to be prepared to move out and we will be ready to meet them when the time is right. Richard said the captain and his men are also ready to move in when you give the word so stay in touch. Goldie said until later my friend. Mac turned to the others and said well now we wait. Mac said he would contact James and Joshua and make sure their men were ready. After talking to them Mac said the boys are in good spirits and their men are all ready to go when called. He told the men lets break out some rations and relax while we can.
As the men sat talking Mac said if the feds get harassed enough they may not arrive here by the time expected tomorrow. One of the men said well lets hope they stay after them all the way. Goldie said if they lose a lot of men and equipment they may have to call in aircraft to bring in supplies and carry away their dead. Mac said you’re right we will have to watch for that and we could set up some long range mortar teams in position to hit them if once they are on the ground. Yes and some surface to air missiles in case they have chopper protection with them. Mac said we have a good supply of both on hand and James has several veterans who served in heavy weapons divisions in his area. I will contact him and have him get those men ready.
Later in the day Richard called to say he had an army reserve medical unit out of Indiana whose commander has his men prepared to join with us in this coming battle and also we have been advised by the commanders of an infantry company and an army transportation company from southern Ohio that they are ready to join with us as well. He added, I have furnished them with maps of your immediate sector so they will be familiar with the area if we call them in to service. Now he said, I am told that an army light infantry brigade, about three thousand men in all, are preparing to move out of ft. Knox heading your way. That will give them a total force of half a division in your sector once all are in place.
This is shaping up to be a major effort on their part. It will be a real test of our ability to meet them. The future of our country may well depend on our winning this battle decisively enough to convince others we can win this fight. Richard said I agree, that is why myself, the Captain, and several officers with field command experience would like to meet with you today as early as possible. Goldie said when can we expect you? Richard said we will be on our way momentarily and see you within the hour at your location. Goldie said we will wait your arrival. Mac said dam it’s shaping up to be a real skirmish top. Just then the government radio station commentator broke into the ongoing program to announce that it is reported government forces on a routine training mission have been attacked by rebels. Reportedly terrorists attacked a government military convoy at several locations in eastern Pennsylvania from ambush. No report of casualties have been given.
Mac said it sounds like the guys there are getting into this as promised. Yea one of the men said, lets hope they keep it up as they move thru West Virginia, and into eastern Ohio. Goldie said if they are hit often enough they may not get here until later than we expected, and may not be in as good a shape either. We better contact our lookouts at the base and bring them up to date on how this is shaping up. One of the men said good as done top then picked up his radio and went to work. In a few minutes he returned and said all have been contacted and told of the changes in expected arrival time. They will stay in place and watch and contact us with any arrivals. They are in good shape with three days rations. Goldie told the men with the troops coming out of Kentucky we may have to consider two operations at the same time rather than wait till they’re all here together. But we will wait until Richard gets here to talk it over with them. Also we need to get Tim and my sons here they need to be here to hear what Richard has for us. Mac went over and told the base operator to contact them.
A few moments later he returned to say Tim, James, and Joshua are on their way in. Some thirty minutes later Tim arrived followed a few minutes later by James and Joshua. A short time later Richard and the others pulled into the campsite. Goldie and Mac met them and together they walked back to the main tent where Richard introduced the others to Goldie, Mac, and the boys. Then he said this is retired army colonels walker and Wallace and major Scott Winfield and former marine captains Ralph, glen, and Maxwell. He added, all of these men served either with the army or marine special forces. The men shook hands around then all sat down by the fire. Richard asked where do we stand today. Goldie said we left the ranger bodies where they will be seen and we have lookouts positioned around the old base waiting for the force from Pennsylvania to get here. He added we have fifteen thousand members alerted all of whom are ready to move out on a moments notice. We have long range mortar squads ready to move in position around the base as well as surface to air teams ready if the feds move in chopper support at the base.
Wallace said sounds like you have no lack of manpower. Do you have combat experienced leaders? Goldie replied nearly all the men in this three county area have military experience as enlisted personnel, but I admit we do not have many who were senior grade and only a few who were career officers. I do have several men like my friend Mac here who had experience in Korea or Vietnam. My friend Tim leads the men from one county and my sons each lead the other two counties. They all have served one enlistment and t
he men have confidence in them all. Wilson said without question they have or you would not have had the successes you have had. Do they have others ready and capable to take over if conditions require it? Mac answered all three counties have been organized into companies with commanders, platoon leaders, and squad leaders just like real time. The commanders all take their orders from Goldie or in his absence from me.
Wilson told Goldie we wanted to meet with you to see how you have organized this community and achieved the successes you have. Goldie advised them there is no magic to it, it is a matter of having someone they trust and have confidence in to lead them. Every town, every county has someone the people rely on. Get those persons to lead and the others will follow. Above all they must believe they will be furnished the supplies and equipment needed to resist. Knowing they are not alone in this fight is the best moral builder there is. Above all you must find local leaders the people know and trust. Someone who has the guts to take the first step, even if alone, let others see him take that step and they will follow. Goldie reminded the colonels how useless it was to go into a foreign country like Viet Nam and get the loyalty of those villagers. The leaders must come from within.
He asked what have you heard regarding the troops moving in from Kentucky? Richard said we are told they will be traveling by motorized convoy. Their departure time has not been confirmed, our contacts believe they will wait until the main force from Pennsylvania is here in place then join them. He asked have you decided on a plan of action yet? Goldie replied we have a tentative plan worked out. He said there is a county road that runs parallel to the base on the west and most of that is bordered by wooded areas. Also highways run along the east and south sides of the base with scattered woods. I’m thinking Tim can hide several thousand men along the west side with James positioning several thousand of his men along the east side. Mac and I will go with Joshua and his men from the south. First we will have our mortar and rockets hit them hard for a period of time and follow up with our fifty calibers until they come after us. If we are successful in getting them to mount an all out effort we hope to draw them into the middle after us then let Tim and James close in from their flanks.
I think we can do them some real damage with as minimum a risk to our people as possible. We know the area, they don’t. We can run for miles keeping the pressure on them from all sides. When and if we disengage our transportation will be available to us when needed. Scott asked how many men do you plan to use. Goldie said five thousand each on the west, east, and south with another ten thousand in reserve waiting to move in if needed. Mac said we also have a number of automatic weapons mounted on off road four wheelers in reserve that can strike fast from any direction. Mac said we also have one radio communications squad ready to offer them safety if they surrender and as we draw back in the middle we will drop leaflets offering the same. Richard said well it looks like you have a well thought out plan of operation. Scott and the others agreed all bases are covered.
Just then the state radio commentator announced that gangs of terrorists are attacking troops traveling across west Virginia on a training mission. This after similar cowardly attacks on these same reservists occurred a number of times in Pennsylvania. These reservists have reportedly suffered casualties but no information has been given on the number of losses. Wilson said our partners are doing as promised. They are disrupting and harassing them and will weaken their effectiveness before they reach you here. Mac said lets hope the Kentuckians follow suit when the infantry gets on the move there. Wallace said that is the plan we will keep you posted on that effort as well. James got a call on his two way phone and after a moment said my wife and some friends want to know how many cheeseburgers and hot dogs we can use. Goldie said tell her there’s more than twenty of us here that’s too much out of her purse strings. James told her what Goldie said then laughed and said, she said to tell you a restaurant is fixing them and friends will be bringing them. Well tell her to bring it on in we can take care of it.
The men sat around discussing the way things were going and listening to the radio announcer lamenting the terrible actions of terrorists gangs until the girls showed up with the food. Some of the men helped the women carry the snacks over to where the group was sitting around the fire. Everyone dug into the sandwiches and hotdogs like it was a feast fit for kings laughing and generally having a good time kidding the women. Later Goldie and his daughter in law and the others walked over by the falls where his wife and Jeffrey were buried. James wife knelt down and broke into sobs and was almost overcome. Goldie knelt down with her for a moment then helped her to her feet and comforted her. She loved the falls and the pines and wildflowers child, She is in the comfort of our Lord. The other women took her arms and slowly they walked back to the rest of the group with James and Joshua and the old man following.
Richard said some of us will be given a heavy burden to carry but no more than we can bear and this time of testing will not last forever. Our faith in the Almighty and belief in liberty for all will win this struggle then we will celebrate the memories of those who were lost. The daughter looked at Mac and told him Pap and mom spoke many times of their friendship with you, take care of our pap for us in the days ahead. Mac said we were and are a team again and will not be parted. He will come home safely when this is over. James said my dear it is time now you girls must go home to the children. Richard and the others thanked them for the food and their support then they got into their van and drove away waving goodbye. Richard said Goldie you have things well planned out so if there is nothing you need we too must be going. Goldie said we could use about a half dozen or so night glasses if you have any. Wallace said we can fix you right up and walked over to their vehicle and proceeded to pull out a box. Here are a dozen he said. Goldie said this will do fine now we have enough to supply all our leaders and team chiefs. Richard said well lets be off, keep us posted as things developed and remember if it appears more men are going to be required we are a call and an hour away. The men gave their best wishes as they parted then Richard and the others drove away.
Lunch time had passed and as they sat discussing the coming battle Mac contacted their spotters and was advised there had been no sign of any movement at the base as yet. Goldie said when we decide the time is right we need to make certain we work together as planned so lets go over this again. He said James you and Joshua remember you will be holding the flank positions. There is a little over one mile between your positions. Tim and I will have his men spread out over a distance of about one half mile. That leaves about one half mile between each of the flank positions and Times men. We will engage the enemy and draw them out to meet us. If they only send out a company we will stand and fight them until they are forced to move all their troops into the fight. You on the flank hold your positions and take no actions to give yourselves away. Wait for orders from myself, Tim, or Mac as to when and where to attack. These decisions will depend on their reactions and how they attack our positions.
He told his sons and Tim, contact your company commanders and platoon leaders. Advise them to verify all their members are ready and that transportation has been worked out for mobilization sometime tomorrow. Tell them bring at least three days rations and all the ammo they can carry for this operation could last for several days. Tim, you and James and Joshua each take four of these glasses with you and give them to your company commanders. Now you guys go on home and get everything set to move out we will call you as soon as anything breaks. Tim and the boys stood up looked at the old man for a moment then said see later as they moved towards their vehicles.
After they left Mac said I have a good feeling about this top. Later as they sat resting the state radio spokesman came on saying it is reported that terrorists gangs are attacking government troops again near Cambridge Ohio. No confirmation of losses or damages have been given but reports are saying several vehicles have been destroyed along the routes thru Pennsylvania and west Virginia and in Ohio. Other report
s say several vehicles have left the convoy carrying the dead and injured to local medical facilities.
Goldie said that puts them about five hours or so away depending on how much more they may get slowed down. Mac said why don’t these dam reservists and active personnel realize they are on the side of evil and revolt. Well Goldie said I have asked myself that for a long time. People, soldiers or others, are taught to follow their leaders from the day they start to school, enter the service, or go to work in a factory. I used to believe our leaders have never studied world history but I have come to believe that is not the case. I think corrupt politicians studied history but only remember certain parts that would be profitable to them. History teaches that if you keep the people busy doing things they think are fun they won’t see what is really happening. For instance, for years their laws have been used by our educators to teach children that their ancestors were animals, that they are animals, while banning any mention or discussion of God or Biblical creation. Once they convinced two generations they were animals without moral responsibilities it was easy to erase moral behavior from our society.
The Patriot Page 13
