THE TOCABAGA CHRONICLES: (BOX SET - PART I - BOOKS #1-5)

by Thomas H. Ward

  The Rangers put up walls of sand bags near the tents, on both sides of the road, to create a “V” shaped defensive firing line. In addition, I noticed they were mounting Claymore mines on the inside and outside of the guard rails along the side of road.

  Internally a M18A1 Claymore mine contains C4 explosives and a layer of seven hundred 1⁄8-inch-diameter steel balls set into an epoxy resin. When it is detonated, the explosion drives the steel balls forward, out of the mine. The steel balls are projected in a 60-degree fan-shaped pattern that is 6.5 feet high and 55 yards wide at a range of 150 feet. A very effective killing weapon because one mine can kill or wound many men.

  Amy and Captain Riley went to talk to the Muslim women and give them ID tags, after they were checked for weapons in the privacy of a tent. Everyone was talking and seemed happy to be here except for the two women whose husbands were arrested. The other women seemed to be ignoring them, and they looked like they were in shock, they needed help.

  Amy and Captain Riley were moving them into their new homes. The wives of Abdullah and Abdul Hakeem moved into one house by themselves as they were terrorist suspects. The other six women moved into another house. They didn’t want to have the terrorist wives living with them. They were being shunned because of what their husbands did.

  Seeing Captain Sessions, I asked, “Is it okay if we take the men to see where their wives are living? You know just show them around a little so they don’t feel like prisoners.”

  ”Yes it’s okay but they can’t bring any guns into Camp Tocabaga and I would like you to be with them at all times. First, see Sergeant Smith and obtain DNA samples, pictures, and fingerprints so we can get the security checks started. Actually, they can come in anytime they like as long as you or one of your people are with them at all times until they receive their clearance.”

  “Okay, Captain. Thank you, that will make them feel a lot better knowing their wives have good living accommodations.”

  “Jack, we will post a security guard outside their house 24-7 just in case some of them want to roam around at night. We are also going to question and interrogate Abdullah and Abdul Hakeem. We need to find out more information.”

  “Sounds like a good idea to me, it’s also for their safety. Captain, interrogate the hell out of them.”

  “Yes, it is for everyone’s safety. Are you going to take care of the body?”

  “Yes, I have to talk to Aamir and Rahim about that, so see you later.”

  Now we had to deal with body of Abdul Aalee. Aamir advised it was ok to bury him at sea. He and some of his men wrapped the body in plain white cloth and placed it in a body bag with bricks to help it sink. Loading the body on a boat, Rahim went with Rick and Chris to say the proper prayers when they lowered the body into the deep dark water. I would have just fed him to the sharks.

  It was getting late; dusk was coming. Ron and I took Aamir, Rahim, and the other four men inside the Camp to visit their wives and see their living conditions. They were pleased to see that all was okay and we returned to the tents.

  Arriving at the tents, Colonel Turner and Captain Sessions were standing there with 12 Rangers.

  Sessions said, “Everyone pay attention, we have lined the road with Claymore mines along the guard rails, which will be activated when we see the enemy coming. They operate on motion sensors. So no one should go down the road after the mines are hot or activated, otherwise you will be blown to shit. If you do not understand this say so now. If you hear a Claymore blow that means the enemy is here, so be alert.”

  All was quiet, no one replied.

  “In addition I will have 12 Rangers here on THE FRONT LINE with Aamir and his men. My Rangers will be located on the other side of the road, in a so-called machine gun nest. If al-Qaida attacks we are ready. If anyone has any questions speak up now.”

  Aamir said,”Are you going to give us guns to use? We only have two hand guns.”

  “Of course, Sergeant Kelly will pass out a new rifle to each of you and 500 rounds of ammunition tomorrow. Does everyone know how to use a M 4 or AR 15?”

  Rahim was the only one to reply. “No I never shot a gun before. I do not like guns because I do not like killing people.”

  Sergeant Kelly said, “Okay, then you can be an ammunition runner and re-loader for your group.”

  “What is that job?”

  “It is simple you just run back to the bridge and carry ammo back as it is needed to your guys. Don’t let them run out of ammo.”

  “Okay, I will do my best for the group.”

  Sessions said,”If nothing else, carry on and get ready. Your tents are all set up to use.”

  Tommy, Ron, Jim Bo, and I walked back to the bridge with Sessions and Turner.

  Turner commented, ”These guys don’t know shit, so keep your eye on them, Jack, or they could all get killed when the bullets start to fly.”

  I said,”Let’s go get a shot and a beer. I need it bad.”

  Arriving at the bar no one was there, Tony was on guard duty so we just helped ourselves to the booze.

  I commented, “My neck still hurts from that little bastard choking me today. So this shot of JD may help me relax. I think I’ll have a double.”

  We all raised our shot glasses and Colonel Turner said,”To Freedom and the Constitution.”

  We all repeated the toast together and clinked glasses . . . we felt like a band of brothers. Actually, we have all wanted to even the score with al-Qaida. It is one battle we are looking forward too.

  Sessions said, “I got to go check on how the interrogation is going.”

  Turner replied, “I got to report to the General, stay alert.”

  We shook hands, and they left the bar. I had another round of drinks and went home for dinner, which was well deserved since we had nothing to eat all day. I was bushed, smelled from sweating all day, and needed a hose shower.

  I had no sooner cleaned up and ate my dinner when I received a call on my Army cell phone from Captain Sessions. It was 10pm.

  “Jack, listen up, the two terrorists talked and told us everything they knew, we think. Also we received finger print analysis back on Aamir and his group along with photo identification analysis. NSA phone checks also came in. Guess what we found out?”

  “Captain, I have no idea, but nothing would surprise me.”

  “We found out all of them are al-Qaida members except for Rahim. He is the only one that has no record.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Yes, I double checked finger prints, phone logs, face recognition methods, and all of them show up multiple times as al-Qaida related. There is no mistake.”

  “How did you make Abdullah and Abdul Hakeem talk?”

  “We used a little pig’s blood and a knife.”

  “You don’t have any pig blood.”

  “We used chicken blood and told them it was pig blood and they were going to drink it. Then we sharpened a knife and told them we would cut off their most important body part so they couldn’t use it in the next world. That scared the shit out of them. Of course we weren’t going to do anything to them.”

  “What about the women are they in al-Qaida?”

  “Sorry to say, it’s the same for the women. The NSA has phone records of communications to al Qaida, except for Rahim’s wife. She has no record. I don’t know what to do with them other than keep them under guard. The Colonel is talking to General Harper about the situation. I have notified my front line to keep a close watch on Aamir. It’s a good thing we didn’t give them any guns yet.

  “I also ordered the Claymore mines to be activated now so if any of them try to sneak down the road they will set off the Claymore mines. We will arrest Aamir and the whole group at 0800 hours tomorrow.

  “One more thing, our drones have seen hundreds of men going into the four condo buildings over the last 24 hours which means they are using that as a staging area. Tomorrow we will have Iron Maiden blow up those buildings in a preemptive strike. Mee
t me at the bridge at 0700 hours. Tell your men to be on high alert and inform them of the situation.

  “At 0730, you tell Rahim that his wife wants to see him and take him up the bridge, and then my men will disarm Aamir and his men hopefully without a shot.

  “The plan is our Armor vehicles will open fire at 0745 hours. My hope is that Aamir and his group will be distracted by this while my Rangers seek up behind them. My Rangers will be pretending to watch the fireworks. It will be noisy and smoky when the big guns start to fire, at 0800 hours the guns stop and my Rangers will make their move.”

  “Yes Sir, Captain, thank you for the update see you at 7am.”

  Putting down the phone I told my whole family (Tommy, Ron, Jim Bo, Amy, Tonya, and Hemmi) what Sessions had reported to me. They could not believe it either, we just sat there for a few minutes, and no one knew what to say.

  Tommy said in a loud voice,”Damn, what a bunch of liars! See I told you Dad I didn’t trust Aamir.”

  I thought what a big pile of shit this turned out to be. Tommy was right I should have gone with my gut instincts about Aamir. What are we going to do with the six little kids after everyone is arrested or killed? Rahim and his wife are in great danger and they don’t know it. I won’t be able to sleep tonight thinking about what could happen tomorrow.

  MAY 13, 2025

  All of us that were not on guard duty were at the bridge at 7am, which means 32 men all armed to the teeth plus 75 Rangers. Everyone knew the plan.

  I grabbed two cups of coffee and walked up to Rahim handing him one and said, “Good Morning.”

  The others looked at me and said nothing, they were drinking some kind of tea. Looking at my watch it was 0740 hours.

  Rahim said,”Good Morning, Jack, thanks for the coffee.”

  “Rahim your wife wants to see you. She thinks your little girl is sick. Come on I will take you to her.”

  The others looked at us as we walked away and Rahim told them,”I will be back soon. I need to check on my little girl.”

  As we reached the top of the bridge it was 0745 and the Iron Maiden let loose with its 120mm cannon . . . KABOOM . . . scaring the shit out of Aamir and his men. I stood there with Rahim; he looked shocked and dropped his cup of coffee. KABOOM . . . KABOOM . . . KABOOM . . . the Iron Maiden was firing like crazy.

  Every time it fired, everyone jumped, as it was loud as hell. A shock wave or pressure wave blew over everyone, knocking off my hat off. You had to cover your ears for fear your eardrums would be blown out. When the Abrams fired it shook the whole ground around you, and the big tank seemed to jump in the air with sand and dust blowing making a big cloud.

  Looking down the road you could see the smoke and dust rising in the air from the buildings. Now the Predator and Gun Smoke started to fire their 25mm Bushmaster chain guns.

  Bushmaster chain guns fire a 25mm round which is about 1 inch in diameter at a rate of 200 to 500 rounds per minute. It has an effective range of 1.5 miles.

  I looked down at Aamir and his men they were holding their ears and looking down the road at the smoke and dust in the air. The rangers were now right behind them, within 15 feet. Suddenly the firing stopped and the Rangers yelled,”Freeze, drop your weapons and raise your hands.”

  Aamir didn’t even have a gun in his hand, and yelled, “What the hell are you doing?”

  Sergeant Kelly yelled,”You are all under arrest for terrorism and related acts.”

  Aamir and his bad boys darted for the blue Chevy just a few feet away. No one fired a shot at them as they could not get away. Jumping into the car they started to drive quickly down the road, we all just stood there watching, knowing the Claymore mines were going to kill them all. Aamir either forgot about the mines or thought they were not activated.

  The Chevy was few hundred feet away when the first two Claymore mines went off . . . BOOM . . . sending 1400 bullet like projectiles ripping through the Chevy. Glass and metal where flying off the car in small pieces. I knew they all had to be dead, but the car kept rolling even with flat tires and two more mines blew up, starting the car on fire. It was a burning wreck with black smoke billowing into the blue sky.

  I said out loud,”Peace be with you, Aamir.”

  Rahim looked at me said,”Yes, Peace be with you, Aamir. What just happen Jack?”

  I told Rahim,”Your kid is fine. I told you that to get you away from Aamir and the others. You are the only one who passed the security check. Aamir and the others all had records and didn’t pass the security check including their wives. They are all members of al-Qaida.”

  Rahim replied, “I never really knew that but I did have a feeling he did not like people who didn’t believe in Islam. I don’t know what to say. I don’t even know my own people.”

  “There is nothing to say my friend. Aamir killed himself. If he didn’t most likely he would have faced a firing squad for the crimes he committed. You don’t have anything to worry about; you and your wife have a security clearance. The problem we have now is what to do with their wives and kids.

  “Rahim, I can’t believe that Aamir would put his wife and kid in a dangerous situation. Did he really want his family here for protection? We will never know now I guess.”

  “Right, Jack, we will never know what Aamir or who Aamir really is.

  “Jack, I know these women. They are no threat. They would never attack or kill anyone. Yes, maybe they made phone calls for their husbands or did something for them but I really don’t think they would hurt any person. I will take them all under my wing and be responsible for them.

  “I have one idea and that is to take them to the Islamic Society in Tampa, if the Army will let them go. It is better they be with people with the same thinking. I have a friend who works there and if you give me back my phone I could call him. There are over 20 mosques in the Tampa area and they are well protected.”

  “Over twenty, I never knew there were so many. I think the Army will be happy to let them go as they don’t know what to do with women and children. The problem is how do we take them there? It’s over 40 miles away. Maybe Colonel Turner will let us use a chopper. I forgot we still have your phone.”

  “Ok, Rahim let’s talk to the Captain about this later. The Rangers are going to attack al-Qaida so let’s find out how we can help.”

  Colonel Turner ordered his men to mount up, which meant get ready to move out there were five Hummers and five big trucks. A total of 75 Rangers with two Bradleys, and the Iron Maiden headed down the road to the smoking condos. They were going to mop up or kill any al-Qaida still around or still alive. Ten Black Hawk helicopters flew overhead toward the destroyed condominiums.

  I asked Sessions,”What can we do to help?”

  Sessions told me,”Jack, stay alert here I don’t know when we will return. I am leaving 12 Rangers here on the front line. The mines are turned off now but Sergeant Kelly has the switch to activate them if necessary.”

  “Yes Sir, Captain, will do. Captain, before you go Rahim came up with an idea on what to do with the Muslim women and children. If we let them go, the Islamic Society in Tampa would take them in. Rahim has a friend living there and he would call him to confirm it. If you and the Colonel agree we would need a chopper to take them there.”

  “Jack, right now I can’t spare any choppers and don’t have time to discuss what will happen to the women. After this battle, I will make time to meet with you and Rahim to discuss the subject.”

  “Ok thank you, Captain, sorry about my bad timing. Good hunting, stay safe.”

  As the Captain jumped into his Hummer, I shook his hand. He didn’t say a word; he just looked at all of us standing there and then saluted us, telling his driver, “Let’s go.”

  Rick, Tommy, Eddie, Ron, Rahim, and I stood there and watched the convoy rumble down the road, driving around the still burning blue Chevy containing the charred bodies of Aamir and his cohorts. We were all worried about the Rangers and what would happen, how many would die or be wounded i
n the upcoming battle.

  I picked up my radio telling everyone,”Be on alert. The Rangers have gone to mop up what is left of al-Qaida.”

  About 20 minutes went by and we heard the Iron Maiden basting away again along with the rapid fire of the 25mm chain guns. We stood there looking down the road hoping and praying for our men. Men we have come to know as friends, good friends, men who think like we do, loyal to the US Constitution.

  I told Rahim,”Come on I will take you to your wife and kid. On the way we will stop at my house and pick up three security badges, you need to wear them at all times. Tommy and Ron, I will be back soon.”