He looked at Brian and said have your men bring those foreign officers here. The men brought the two Germans and stood them before Goldie. Goldie yelled at them, stand at attention. He reached over and ripped the officers insignia from their uniforms threw them on the ground and stepped on them. Would you build your extermination camps here like your hero Hitler did in Europe? Maybe we will dig a ditch out here and bury you alive on top of your dead brothers like your daddies did to the innocent women and children they betrayed. He kicked them both in their asses then told Brian get them out of my sight I am sorely tempted to make them pay dearly for their treacherous trespassing on our land.
He asked the commander when did your men last have rations and was told just before arriving at the base. Goldie told Brian to select a mess detail from their numbers and a guard detail to accompany them. Take them to their supply trucks and have them get what they need to set up a field mess in the building and prepare food for their men. After the detail had moved out Goldie told the others lets close and secure all doors to this building and post security outside. Once that was done he told the others sadly we now must make plans for those we lost.
He asked Tim how many losses did you have? Tim answered, we lost thirty two with another twenty seven wounded, none seriously. Goldie looked to his sons and asked what were your losses? James said we lost twenty one and have thirty six wounded but all will make it. Joshua said we lost seventeen and have forty one wounded but all should make it. Goldie said with a soft but steady voice, that’s seventy patriots who gave their all and one hundred four wounded that we might have freedom. We must never forget their sacrifice.
Then he said to them, call your transportation leaders have all your drivers report to the main gate parking area to take you and your people home. Please tell the families of those who were lost I grieve with them and wish I could be with them all during this time of loss. Please advise me of the family plans for burial of their loved ones. Now you guys go and get your men ready to go home Mac and I will remain with Brian and his men until final disposition is made with the federal troops. I will keep you advised of any change in status here. As Tim and the boys walked to meet with their units Mac turned to Goldie and said victory isn’t always easy Top, but you can be proud of our people, they understand liberty comes with a price sometimes. Goldie replied so it has been from the founding of our republic.
The detail had completed their work and rations were ready for the prisoners. Goldie said Mac lets accompany the detail inside to see that all goes well. Inside the prisoners were given their rations and told to assist their wounded. They had prepared more than enough for all so Goldie and the guard detail also ate a good warm meal apart from the prisoners. It was a quiet and somber time for all. Afterwards Tim came inside and said our transportation is here and the dead and wounded are being prepared for the ride home. Goldie said Mac and I will come to see you off. Goldie and Mac walked to the men assembled waiting to board the vehicles for the ride home. As they approached the troops, some fifteen thousand in all, rose as one to hold their hats high and greet them with a loud chorus of cheers. The drivers mostly old men, farmers and such, added their voices to those of the troops. For a moment he stood silent before the men then said your courage is immeasurable and you met your responsibilities well. I ask you to continue your service while home by supporting those families whose loved ones were lost. Give them our love and let them know our hearts are with them now and forever. Now go spend time with your loved ones and remember those who were lost.
He and Mac stayed and watched as the vehicles came and went until the last of the men had left for their homes then turned and walked back to join Brian and his people. Once inside Brian told them the commander wants to know if he can contact their parent unit. Goldie said bring him and his second in command and we will discuss it with him. The colonel and a major came walking over to them and was told to take a seat at the table. He asked the colonel have you not notified your command that you were engaged in a firefight? The colonel replied yes he had advised his command of the engagement but had not contacted them again since. So they are unaware of your units failed mission? The colonel replied I advised we were attacked and that our forces were advancing towards your positions. Mac asked the major was there any other contact made? The major replied no there has been no contact since.
While Mac had been questioning the major Goldie had written a short message down. He handed it to the colonel and said read it out loud. The colonel read, Our mission has failed. I led my men into an ambush which ended with four thousand seven hundred ninety three of my men and forty eight united nations troops dead. Myself and those that survived are being held prisoners. You will be advised of the place and terms for our release at a later date. Any act of aggression towards our captors will result in the deaths of all those being held prisoner, end of message. Goldie told Brian bring his radio transmitter here.
Once the radio was located and operational Goldie pointed his m16 at the colonel and said contact your headquarters and identify yourself to them. Once that is done you are to read this message word for word. I caution you, add one word to this message and it will be the last word you ever say, understood. The colonel shakily replied yes understood. Now Goldie said contact your command. The colonel raised his command on the radio, once done he identified himself, read the message exactly as written then stopped. Goldie reached for the radio and interrupted the questions of the person on the other end. You have your instructions, follow them and your men will be spared then He broke the connection.
Take them and put them with the others I can’t stand the smell of a cowardly traitor. He said Mac have some men remove this radio transmitter from the building and secure it in our vehicle, we may have use for it later. Then he turned to Brian and said have your men check their trucks to see if there are rations or supplies we can use then secure all their weapons and supplies in one of the other buildings for the time being. After that is done there will be no reason for all your men to remain. We need only to keep enough manpower to secure these prisoners and the area. Call for transportation and let all but a thousand of your people go home to their families. Brian called his command leaders together and advised them of the jobs to be finished and said lets get the work done while I get transportation here to take the men home.
Goldie said Mac, call our old squad together while I try to contact Richard. Mac said they are never very far from us. He waved at the men and called them together. The captain answered the radio call and said Richard is here too how does it look on your end. Goldie advised him of the status of things and of the message sent to the federal command in Pennsylvania. He advised we have sent most of our people home with those we lost. Richard asked what were your casualties and the losses of the federal force. When Goldie advised him of the more than four thousand dead federal troops and the forty eight dead united nations officers the captain said well they learned a costly lesson today. They lost over two thousand here and we have a thousand prisoners as well. Richard said some of their trucks and transports are operational what do you think about bringing them all to your location and held for release there. Goldie said good a place as any and we can control access here. Richard advised we are in the process of cleaning up and will be on our way within the hour.
Boy I could go for a Pepsi right about now Goldie said. Mac said just happen to have one in my pack then handed him the can of soda. Mac laughed and said Goldie all you ever needed to keep you going was a Pepsi and a smoke. Goldie said I always knew Grace was home waiting to answer all my dreams, now all that has changed but I still have the boys. They all sat down under a large maple tree and relaxed and discussed the results of the operation. One of the men said sometimes plans work out sometimes they don’t, but this time everything went exactly as we had hoped. Another said our losses were nothing compared to theirs, yet to our families who lost a loved one their lives have been changed forever. Another said he couldn’t help but wonder
how many lives will be changed before this time of trial will end. Goldie said let us hope the one who controls all things will shorten these days.
An hour or more passed when Mac said sounds like traffic coming. One of the sentries called in to say we have company coming, looks like it is the boys from over Indiana way. Mac said send them on in we will pick them up here. Richard and the captain along with Wallace and Scott were in the lead vehicle as they approached the warehouse area. Goldie and his men met them as they dismounted their vehicle. All shook hands and congratulated one another on the success of their operations. Wallace asked where do you want the bodies put? Mac said the dead go into the red building with the others, the prisoners go into the green building on the left. Wallace told his men where to put the bodies then said take a detail for security but have the prisoners carry their dead and wounded into the buildings.
While that was being done Goldie and Mac took Richard and the others into the building where the bodies were being safeguarded then on to the other building where the prisoners were secured. Richard said we have a real problem on our hands. There’s seven thousand bodies in there and another thousand prisoners many of whom are wounded. Mac said maybe we should just get their vehicles running, load them all up, and let them head back home on their own. Wallace said that may not be a bad idea, especially if their wounded are able to travel. Richard said a better idea might be to load them up and show them the way to Wright Patterson then let those people get them home. Goldie said that might work, we could tell our people here to allow them safe passage to the base. The others agreed the shorter trip was the most workable solution.
Richard said well we know we had enough vehicles to bring our prisoners here, so lets have the men determine if there are sufficient vehicles to carry the rest. Mac said we had our mortars and rockets hit their fuel tankers and supply trucks to initiate our assault. Some of their personnel carriers may have sustained damage but most should be useable because we quickly lifted the heavy fire and harassed them with small arms in order to draw them after us. Richard said your plan worked and your men carried it out to perfection. Brian said my people can determine how many vehicles can be used and we will get right to it. Within a few minutes brain returned to say nearly all the troop carriers were serviceable and one fuel tanker did notepad so all their vehicles can be refueled and ready to move. My people are refueling them now and will assemble them in front of the warehouses when finished.
Richard said we will have the prisoners load all the weapons we took onto trucks so you can take them back for some who may need them. Wallace said always have need for weapons. Mac said we have about four hours till dark, how long will the trip take. Goldie said only an hour if all goes well. Wallace said then we may as well get this job underway. The first of the vehicles had refueled and were moving into position in front of the warehouses. Goldie said Mac have your squad assist Brian and use the prisoners to load their dead first then those incapable of helping themselves and the walking wounded. The process went smoothly as the trucks were readied and within an hour all the prisoners from both operations had been put aboard a vehicle.
The Commander of the Pennsylvania brigade was brought before them. He was advised of their destination and approximate travel time then put aboard a vehicle. Brian said He would have four of his men escort them to the gates if need be. Wallace said more than they would have done for us but still a good idea. Mac said off with them then. One by one the vehicles moved out until all had cleared the base and were out of sight. Richard turned to the group and said we lost several men this time but all agreed it could have been far worse. Our intelligence has been reliable and our suppliers have never let us down. We will win this struggle he said, I can feel the tide turning in our favor.
Ours was not the only operations going on this day. Other sectors had major operations ongoing as well and most reports have been favorable. Scott agreed and added we will have a better report of all operations once we return and get first hand reports. Richard agreed and said we will keep you advised of any activity approaching your sector until then you and the men go home and get the rest you have earned. Should you need anything, food rations, medical, or other contact me. Goldie assured him they were well supplied for the moment.
After the convoy had moved off and Richard and his men had departed Goldie told Brian your men deserve a rest. Take them home to their families we will contact you if something comes up. Brian said our transportation is here we will load the men up and head down the road. They watched as Brian and his troops pulled out of the base area then Mac turned to Goldie and said our drivers are here lets clear this place. He told their radio man contact Tim and the boys and advise things are complete here and we are on our way to the base.
Once they were back at camp the men all went to the falls and washed up in the clear running water and changed into clean uniforms, washed their others and hung them in the trees to dry. As the men started back up the trail to camp Goldie walked over to his wife and sons gravesite. He knelt for a moment and spoke her name then stood for a moment in silence. Mac took his arm and together they walked back to the campsite.
The men sat together and enjoyed a can of soda and some snacks from their rations. The state controlled radio commentator was reporting that terrorists have attacked government forces. Thousands of military men have been killed and wholesale destruction of government vehicles and facilities have been reported. The commentator said the worst attacks on government forces occurred in southwest Ohio where it is reported that as many as ten thousand soldiers, including scores of united nations troops, were murdered in two violent unprovoked ambushes. It is reported that also in Ohio two army ranger units were ambushed and all members of those units were murdered by terrorists. Goldie said well men we gave them something to think about now lets turn in and get some rest.
The following morning Goldie awoke to find his tent well warmed by the sun. He dressed then went out to Mac and the others all seated by a fire eating some hot scrambled eggs and sausage from their rations. Man he said that smells good why didn’t you wake me. One of the men answered you were sleeping so sound we figured you needed the rest but we saved some for you. Mac handed Goldie a tray with a large helping of eggs and sausage and said dig in top. He said we talked to Tim and the boys they are on their way here. Richard called just to check in see how we were, said let you rest he will call back later.
Some time later Tim came into camp followed by James, Joshua, and Brian. All were in good spirits under the circumstances. Tim said we have met with the families of those we lost this week and the families have decided to have all those whom we lost buried at one central location. A farmer who owns land adjacent to the highland county cemetery has donated a parcel of land adjoining that cemetery and the families have all agreed they want their loved ones to be buried there. Additional space will be furnished so that family members also will be able to rest near their loved ones. There will be one memorial service held at the burial grounds with several ministers and friends paying tribute to those we lost. This is Monday the service and burial will begin at eleven o’clock Wednesday morning. Goldie said I’m so glad they have made these arrangements as it was he didn’t know how he could pay his respects to all the families. Now we will be able to be there as all are laid to rest.
That afternoon Richard called and Goldie advised him of funeral plans for their casualties. After their talk Goldie turned to the others and told them Richard said he would like to be here tomorrow but they are holding services for those he lost in their operation. But Goldie said Richard also said some important meetings of Washington dignitaries are being reported. He said they don’t know the whole story yet but it sounds like some major decisions are about to be made. He said they are waiting for additional information and would contact us when more is known. Goldie said for now we can relax and prepare for tomorrow. He said I see no reason for it to look like an armed camp and the others agreed. Goldie told Tim and the o
thers you guys all go home to your families and get them ready for tomorrow, we will see you at the cemetery.
The next morning as they prepared to leave for the funeral services Mac said some of the men are staying behind to look after the camp and supplies. Goldie said good lets be on our way. The drive was a short trip and soon they arrived at the cemetery to find several thousand people there to offer support to the families. The gravesites had been prepared in seven rows ten in each row with spaces in between for future family use. After a while one of the ministers attending called for a moment of silence followed by a prayer for the families of the departed. A resident who was previously the leader of the local American legion chapter stood to read the names of the departed. When his reading was completed he said the families have asked that the one who leads the fight for liberty be the one to honor those who gave their all.
Goldie stood silently for a moment then in a voice filled with emotion and strength he said, no words can describe the honor our fallen comrades deserve. They were men of courage who dedicated their lives to the cause of liberty. To the families of those who have given their all I can promise you they will not have died in vain. We will win this fight and our children will again be free. My friends I too have known the sorrow of losing my loved ones. I promise you the weight of the pain and sorrow you feel will be lightened and replaced with memories of the love and friendship you shared. With the help of our Lord these days of sadness will be shortened. My friends I will leave you now for this is a time for family and close friends to spend time together and say goodbye to those they love. My sons and Tim will remain to help you in any way they can. Goldie turned to Mac and said let us go now and leave the families share their sorrow.
The Patriot Page 15
