by Cliff Deane
Ben now commanded a one-hundred-man Services Company, primarily responsible for the acquisition of food, fuel, equipment replacements, and recruitment.
He commented to his First Sergeant that, at least, even a thin layer of snow would cover this damnable ice, and provide a bit better traction.
There had been no significant wrecks, but the M-88 Recovery Vehicle stayed very busy.
On 4 October, the first snow of the season fell, like a ton of bricks; all twenty-four inches of it. The convoy was brought to a halt for a week before the M-88 was able to add snowplow removal to its resume. The M-88 proved to be a Godsend in so many ways; now the snow removal task consisted of the displacement of all but about one and one-half inches of the white stuff to provide a bit of traction over the ice just below.
Levi and Gus were discussing their options; Gus thought that perhaps they should find a town which could supply appropriate shelter for the winter.
Levi said, “Gus, old buddy, let’s play the what if game; what if winter doesn’t end? What if our food supplies fail to last? If we stop for the winter, that is most likely where we will die.”
Gus immediately knew that Levi’s’ argument was solid, and continuing was the best option, considering the limited information available to them. He agreed with Levi to keep the convoy moving west.
The weather cleared, but the temperatures continued to fall for the next ten days. Fortunately, the layer of snow did help with the convoy’s traction, allowing a pace of roughly twelve miles per day.
Echo Company
12 October
Hwy 190 West
Goodbee
“Cap’n,” said the Scout to Captain, Randall Scott, “they look and sound like Americans, but their uniforms sure ain’t.”
Scott said, “Thank you, Corporal,” before turning to his First Sergeant
“Top, do you have any suggestions?”
First Sergeant Ryan Camp said, “Well, sir, I think we should try to find a way to communicate with them before we do anything rash; ‘sides, you may have noticed that they outgun us by just a bit. Why, they’d go through us like crap through a goose.
Tell me, Cap’n, what do you think of sending out a volunteer, in civvies, to wave to them. Maybe they’ll stop to say hello, and we can figger out who they are?”
“Or maybe they shoot first; so, let me see, Top, are you volunteering?” said a smiling Captain Scott.
The Company First Sergeant thought about it for a moment, before saying, “Yes, sir, I’m willing to take that chance.”
Scott thanked his First Sergeant, but said, “No, Top, you are way too valuable to the Company, but if you think it really is a good idea, then find us a volunteer.”
The Scout said, “Sir, I have a feeling these folks are not gonna shoot first, so, yes, sir, I volunteer.”
Captain Scott turned to his Scout and said, “Corporal Spencer, you also are an important part of this company; are you sure you want to do this?”
“Oh, hell no, sir, I ain’t sure at all, but somebody’s got to do it, and I don’t really think we can last much longer without joinin’ up with another outfit. I must admit, though, that uniform thing does concern me, but, what the hell, I’ll do it.”
The First Sergeant looked at his lead scout and told him to go ahead and get changed into civvies and to hop to it.”
Spencer actually managed a smile and said, “On the way, Top; may I be excused Cap’n?”
“Go ahead, Corporal Spencer, and good luck,” said Captain Scott.
Echo Company had started out as a Training Cadre in one of the Infantry Training Battalions at Fort Polk that had decided to stick together following the break-up of the U.S. Army, the previous year.
In a company meeting, two days before the Army sent everyone home, the personnel of Echo Company met in an abandoned Holiday Express Conference Room. They agreed to remain together as a unit, only losing two members, a Supply Clerk, and a cook who were both married and decided to go ahead and try to drift home. The remaining men, all twenty-six members of the Cadre were determined to rearm and find a flock to protect.
Uniforms and other appropriate gear were smuggled to the Holiday Inn and secured by four Drill Sergeants.
The First Sergeant and Supply Sergeant managed to retain duplicate keys to the Supply Room, Armory, and the Motor Pool. The following day, group members managed to gain access to individual ammunition bunkers at the Ammo Dump. Echo Company’s numbers increased by eight Ammo Handlers and their NCOs.
It was decided that their newly formed Echo Company would dedicate itself to finding a community willing to gain safety and security, by having these soldiers provide protection against marauders.
There was no intention to form their own kingdom; these were Sheep Dogs in search of a flock to protect. Their goal was to make their living by doing what they had been trained to do.
Once the disbandment became official, and Fort Polk became a Ghost Fort, Echo Company immediately established Security Teams to keep out looters. The irony of keeping other looters out was not lost on Echo Company professionals. They justified their actions with altruistic notions of purpose, duty, honor, and such because this harsh new world presented harsh new realities; realities that centered on the survival of not only themselves but for those needing their protective services.
Things had initially gone precisely as planned. Their services were in high demand as it seemed that way too many villains had survived civilization’s demise. Echo came to terms with a farming community roughly one hundred miles east of Fort Polk. The soldiers of Echo were able to fend off roaming bands of cutthroats for nearly eight months, until a Mercenary Mechanized Battalion forced Echo and the civilian community to go into hiding, once the Mercs had demonstrated their willingness to kill anyone who opposed them.
After the survivors vacated their homes, the Mercs took every crumb of food, fuel, and anything else they desired, to include what they called “Comfort Girls.”
Echo began to fight a Guerilla War against the invaders, but was, for the most part, ineffective as the Mercs quickly moved on to find their next site to plunder.
The farming community was unable to recover as the survivors scattered north for better farming land, and to put distance between themselves and any major Highway.
Echo now found themselves out of work, and with few prospects. For the last seven months, they had learned to raise their own food and fortunately, many cows were roaming the land, and the hunting was excellent. Their first crops were in, and fresh meat was readily available. The downside was that they did not have enough farm raised food to last the winter.
First Contact
12 October 1530
Hwy 190 West
The Road
Corporal Spencer, now dressed in his farmer duds, paced along the Highway toward the Convoy Scouts. When he first eyeballed the scouting party as they approached, he thought; What the hell was I thinkin’ to volunteer for this job. Please God, let them be good people.
Spencer shouted a greeting and waved in as friendly a manner as he could manage.
When the Convoy Scouts saw Spencer, all but two immediately dismounted and took flanking positions, one scout dismounted and cautiously approached the Echo Soldier. He slowly made his way to Spencer while the remaining mounted trooper began calling his command to alert the convoy.
Spencer quickly raised his hands and shouted, “Hey, y'all, I’m unarmed and friendly. He also noted the flankers move past him in search of an ambush; though he did miss the two flankers who dropped out of the advance to cover their potential enemy.
At about one hundred feet between Spencer and the Mounted Scout, Spencer was ordered to lay flat on the highway with all four limbs outstretched. He quickly complied.
The Mounted Scout waited until the flankers cleared the surrounding area and formed up behind Spencer. One Scout, detailed to hold the horses brought them up for the flankers to remount.
Sergeant Primm then dis
mounted and walked up to Spencer and searched him for any weapons. After finding Spencer to be unarmed, Primm ordered him to his feet.
Spencer asked the Sergeant if they were going to shoot him.
“Why would we do that?” asked Sergeant Primm, we were just being careful. Do you live around here?”
“Yes, Sergeant,” said Spencer, “me and a few others are workin’ a piece of ground, but hell, it’s just subsistence farmin’. We ain’t even got enough to make it through the winter. Why Sergeant, I reckon we’ll be on a straight-line meat diet until the spring berries come into season.
Who are all y’all?”
Primm didn’t answer the question, instead, saying, “Okay, enough with the dumb ole Suthun Country Boy bullshit. You’re military. Shall we begin again?”
Spencer thought about denying that he was military and showing a big friendly smile, said, “Laid it on a bit too thick, did I?”
“Yeah, just a bit, now, what’s your name, and how much of what you just told me was the truth. Oh, and are you still a part of a military unit?”
“Okay, but first, how did you know I was military?”
“Easy,” said Sergeant Primm, most civilians would have called me sir, instead of sergeant. It just came too natural to you to call me sergeant. Now, please answer my questions.”
“Well, dang, you got me there; okay, my name is Corporal Jim Spencer, 138-21-2180. I’m sorry, Sergeant Primm, but that’s all you get from me until I know a bit more about you.”
Primm laughed and said, “Fair enough, Corporal, let’s get you back to our HQ where you’ll learn all about us; but, can you, at least, tell me if there’s going to be trouble from your outfit?”
“Now, you know that’s against the old rules. Then again, those rules don’t mean much now, do they? Oh, what the hell; no trouble ahead, we’re looking for friends, not a fight.”
Primm smiled and said, “I wish we could say that, but we are looking for a fight up ahead a ways. Come on, let’s get you back to the Head Shed.”
“Sounds fine,” said Spencer, “but what kind of uniform is that you’re wearing?”
“Oh, like you, we are all Red, White, and Blue, through and through, but I’ll let Colonel Murtaugh tell you all about these fancy duds. You’ll like what he has to say because it is a great story.”
Back at the halted Convoy, Levi decided to call it a day. He told Gus to tell the Sergeant Major to get the camp set up for the night.
The radio communication had peaked his interest. He couldn’t actually put his finger on it, but something told him, this contact might be significant.
Corporal Spencer
12 October 1530
Hwy 190 West
The Road
Corporal Jim Spencer was introduced to Colonel Gus Murtaugh, who offered his hand and a seat.
“Well, Corporal,” said Gus, “how would you like to proceed where sharing information is concerned?”
“All right, sir, I guess the first thing would be for you to tell me a bit about your outfit’s uniforms, and what you want from around here?”
Gus smiled and said, “Jim, may I call you Jim?”
“Oh, sure sir, but most people just call me Spence, if it’s all the same to you.”
“Fair enough, Spence,” said a smiling Gus, “here goes. When everything fell apart, our Commander General Levi Levins met with the Camp Commander at the Marine Base at Camp Lejeune, General Chalmers. Chalmers didn’t want us running around in Marine uniforms, so he gave us about sixty-thousand Iraqi uniforms. General Levins was happy to have them, and now we just wouldn’t feel right in any other uni.”
“Wow,” exclaimed Corporal Spencer, “what a stroke of luck for you, huh? Please, sir, were you military before everything went dark?”
“I was the G-3 of Camp Lejeune, a few of us were Marines, but the rest were then just a small militia that the Marine’s thought was doing an excellent service to their local community.
We became the military arm of a new nation, the Republic of America. We had a great start in North Carolina, but a massive hurricane wiped us out. Since we did not wish to be so vulnerable, we picked up the few pieces we could find and told North Carolina what Davy Crockett said to the Kentucky State Legislature when he lost his reelection bid, “You can all go to hell, I’m goin’ to Texas.”
In a nutshell, that’s our story, with one exception; we are after a Mercenary Armored Battalion. We plan to wipe them from the face of the Earth. Their trail of murder, theft, rape, and tears will come to an end, just as soon as we can catch up to them.”
Corporal Spencer looked at Gus and said, “My Captain will like that; those murdering bastards came through here some months back. They killed a bunch of folks and stole every bite of food they could get. Our little farming community never was able to recover.
Colonel, I hope you understand that I’m just a Corporal, and don’t have a lot of authority concerning what I can tell you about my outfit.
Would you be interested in coming back to our Company Area to meet Cap’n Scott? I promise that if you mean us no harm, we feel the same.”
“All right, son,” said Gus, “but, of course, I will bring a small Security Team, and that is not negotiable.”
“Colonel, that sounds reasonable to me, but I’ll have to clear the way first. Would you like to go tomorrow around noon? Y’all can talk over a meal.”
“Corporal, that sounds fine, but you realize that you will have to remain with us until tomorrow, right?”
A bit anxious now, Spence said, “Well, sir, I hadn’t thought about that. It will cause some concern, especially with our First Sergeant. If we could somehow get word to them that I’m okay, I don’t mind spending the night with y’all.”
Gus thought for a moment and came up with a plan. “Yes, Spence, I think I have an idea to work this out. Hang on for just a minute, please.”
“Sure, sir, take your time.”
Gus arose and opening the flap to his tent, directed one of the guards to summon Colonel Susan Levins, skosh.
The Guard left at a trot to the TOC to find General Levins.
General Levi Levins had been listening to the meeting between Gus and the Corporal. Gus invited him in to meet Spencer.
Gus was about to introduce General Levins to Corporal Spencer, who jumped to attention when he realized Levi had stars on his collar points.
“As you were, Corporal,” said Levi as he offered his hand in greeting.
“I hope you will forgive my eavesdropping on your conversation with Colonel Murtaugh.
Gus, I am interested in hearing your plan to salve everyone’s nerves concerning your scheduled meeting with this young man’s Commander.”
Colonel Susan Levins knocked on the plywood square just outside Gus’ tent flap.
Gus told her to enter and to take the last vacant seat.
Susan was introduced to Corporal Spencer, who did not fail to notice two details; Colonel Levins was gorgeous, and that her last name was Levins.
“So, Gus, how may the Air Wing of the ROA be of assistance to you?” asked Susan.
Gus thanked Susan for coming so quickly and said, “Susan, Corporal Spencer here, will be our guest for the night. He is, however, a bit concerned that his Commander and First Sergeant will be distraught if he is not returned to his unit, tonight.
Remaining here as our guest naturally presents a conundrum for us since we are not yet best buds. So, I thought that you might find a pilot to fly an unarmed Huey to Spencer’s Base Camp. Spence can then drop a note saying he is well. He will wave to his Commander. The note will inform them that we would like to schedule a meeting for noon tomorrow between Captain Scott, and myself.
Discussion?”
Levi liked the plan, but he asked if Spencer would be willing to disclose the location of his Base Camp.
“Genrul, since I guarantee that our boys know where you boys encamped, yeah, I can do that.”
Levi looked to Susan and asked, “
Who are the Duty Pilots?”
Susan smiled and said, “Lt. Levins, sir, and Lt. Simms.”
Levi’s face darkened for just a second before saying, “All right, tell ‘em to saddle up.”
“Yes, sir, we’ll be ready in twenty-five minutes,” said Susan as she rose to leave the meeting.
“Fine,” said Levi, “I want this thing wrapped up before dark.”
The Huey flew over Echo Company with Spencer leaning out of the door shouting that everything was fine and then dropped the message outlining the plan for tomorrow’s meet up.
Echo’s soldiers were dumbfounded to see a working helicopter, and instead of becoming alarmed, they waved at Spencer who was having a great time.
The note was delivered to Captain Scott who read it aloud to his First Sergeant. “Top, it appears we are going to have company for lunch. Please inform the cooks that I want filet mignon, potatoes, corn, and fresh bread. Damn, I’m glad we butchered those two cows, yesterday.”
“Yes, sir,” smiled the First Sergeant, we can make that happen. We ain’t got much, but what we do have is top drawer.”
Country Folks Can Survive
13 October 1130
Echo Company
Base Camp
Two Huey 1Js flew into an open area some one hundred yards from the farm buildings, followed by two Cobra Gunships that took up station just out of range of Echo’s weapons.
The first to dismount was Corporal Spencer, who waved and shouted that all was well. He was followed by a six-man Security Team, which took up positions adjacent to the second Huey. Colonel Gus Murtaugh and Sergeant Major Bradley Cobb exited the Huey and clearly demonstrated that they were unarmed as the three men walked toward the defensive perimeter of Echo Company.
