“There used to be other kids but they all moved a long time ago.”
Bending down I gave both boys a hug.
“Thank you Mr. Gunn but please don’t get killed like my Mom and Dad.”
“Johnny don’t worry we have guns and we have the Army with us. We’ll be back later today.”
We all said a prayer with Amy and the boys holding hands with us. Then we mounted up in our trucks and waved good bye. I could tell Johnny and Jimmy were worried by the looks on their faces. As we drove away I called Colonel Turner advising him we were just leaving Tocabaga.
We approached check point one and the Rangers signaled for us to stop and Sergeant Smith said, “Great job finding Captain Sessions. Just wanted to tell you guys that. We have no reports of sniper fire between here and check point four.”
“Ok thank you very much Smith, see you later.”
We drove away quickly speeding up to 65 mph. We drove through the next two points and in front of the college, sitting in the middle of the road was the Iron Maiden. Captain Riley was standing next to her tank signaling us to stop.
We stopped near her tank and she walked over to the side of the truck where Tommy was riding shot gun. Captain Riley was a good looking woman all right and her one piece tanker suit fit her like a glove. On her hip she wore a shiny stainless steel Colt .45 like General Patton did. I maybe old but I am not dead.
Four Star General George S. Patton was a famous commander who in World War ll started the major use of tanks to sweep over the Nazis in France and Germany. He was famous for always wearing a stainless steel revolver on his hip and his men called him “Old Blood and Guts.”
Taking off her helmet showing her short blond hair, she leaned in the window near to Tommy and kissed him on the cheek saying, “Good job yesterday guys. I just wanted to tell you that. Maybe you don’t know this but Captain Sessions and I have a thing for each other, so finding him meant a lot to me.”
Tommy replied, “Thank you Captain we are relieved Sessions is ok; he’s our good friend and brother. How is he doing?”
“I spoke to him early today and he’s coming along fine.”
All of a sudden we heard a bullet zip over head and then another. Riley yelled, “Better get out of here now; I got to kill some snipers.”
She jumped into her tank and we heard the motor start as we sped away. As we were leaving we heard … KABOOM. She fired the big 120 mm cannon, those not driving looked around to see what she was shooting at. We hoped she hit the sniper.
Driving away Tommy said, “No wonder Sessions spent so much time at that tank. Let’s call it the ‘love tank’ now that we know what is going on inside during the night.”
We all were laughing our butts off as we pulled up to the house and jumped out. This time we went in the main door. Four men stayed outside on guard covering all four corners of the house. Going room to room Tommy found the ball gloves and toy box. Rahim picked up the heavy toy box and carried it out to the truck. I went to the laundry room, living room, and kitchen but found no bodies, only blood spots on the floor.
I yelled out, “Hey did anyone find the bodies?”
Tommy yelled back, “No bodies are here, let’s look outside. You take the back yard Dad we will check the front and sides of the house.”
We found no bodies inside or outside. Where are they?
Rahim commented, “Look in the church yard, maybe there is a cemetery there.”
“Good idea lets go,” Tommy shouted.
There was a small cemetery there and we observed two new graves. You could tell they were fairly new because the dirt piled on top did not have any grass. Someone buried the parents but who? Maybe the kids buried them but how could they to that? I just had that feeling that someone was watching us.
We all stood there and said the Lord’s Prayer over their graves. We cobbled up some white fence parts and made two crosses. I took a magic marker and wrote Mr. Evans and Mrs. Evans and the date on the plastic cross. I didn’t know their first names.
I commented to the men, “Someone is watching us. Someone buried these bodies and I don’t think it was the little boys. Keep a look out for anyone.”
I walked over to the Rangers standing at the check point and asked, “Have you guys seen anyone around here.”
Sergeant Jones answered, “No we haven’t seen anyone and this whole area was searched a few days ago. Why do you ask?”
“Well we came here to bury the parents of the boys we found yesterday. But they were already buried in the church yard.”
“Oh we did that yesterday after you left. They were pretty missed up and we didn’t want the kids to come back and see them. We put them in body bags and buried them deep so the coyotes can’t dig them up.”
“Ok great Sergeant thank you for doing that. I still think you need to keep alert as my sixth sense tells me someone is watching us. We are heading down to the next church and will be back in a few hours.”
“See you then Jack.”
Arriving at the Blessed Trinity Church there were about sixteen Rangers on guard. Gun Smoke the fighting vehicle was gone. Getting out of the truck we all walked up to Sergeant Major Willis, whom we assumed was in charge, sitting in his Humvee.
As we approached he jumped up and said, “We were expecting you.”
“Hello Willis, when was the last time someone was inside the church?”
“We searched that church for men and guns three times yesterday but not today. We have not seen any al-Qaida men around here since we killed a bunch of them yesterday. If you like I can have my men search it again before you go inside but I think it’s safe because my men were standing guard all night.”
I asked, “Where did Gun Smoke go?”
Willis said, “We heard some shooting down the road so Gun Smoke and eight Rangers went to have a look see.”
“That could be a trap or a diversion to draw some men and Gun Smoke away from this church. How long have they been gone?”
Just then we heard the 25 mm chain gun firing in rapid order and other small arms fire about half a mile away. From the sound of it they had found the enemy.
The radio hissed, “We have encountered heavy fire and are engaging the enemy.”
SGM Willis replied, “Pull back to the church, do not engage and rejoin us here.”
Just then bullets started flying at us. Looking over my shoulder I saw a figure about 300 feet away getting ready to fire an RPG, he was aiming at the Humvee where we were all standing. I quickly raised my rifle and fired two rounds and one hit him for sure but he had already pulled the trigger on the RPG.
The rocket was coming at us like it was in slow motion, I yelled, “RGP hit the dirt.”
The RPG round exploded hitting the machine gun mounted on top of the Humvee. It blew the crap out of the gun knocking it completely off the truck. Thank God no one was hurt. AK 47 gun fire was coming from all around us. Our only cover was the Humvee and our two trucks, which are not bullet proof like the Hummer. Since we were more or less in the open the situation was becoming serious. We were all on the ground firing at all sides because bullets seemed to be coming from everywhere.
An AK 47 fires a 7.62 x 39mm round. It is an assault rifle developed in the old Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947. Officially it is called the Auto Kalashnikov hence AK 47. It is the weapon of choice for terrorists since it is cheap and readily available. Worldwide more of these guns were produced than any other type. It is a sturdy rifle and dangerous at close range but it is not very accurate.
Tommy yelled, “We got to move inside the church for cover.”
Willis replied, “Jack, make a run for the church door one at a time while we provide cover fire.”
I got up, ran to the door, pressing the door handle down while bullets were slamming into the big wooden door all around me. I pushed the door but it didn’t budge, it was locked.
I thought oh shit now what and I yelled, “The door is locked!”
The soun
d of gun fire drowned out my yell and I ran back to the cover of the Humvee and yelled again, “The door is locked! Who the hell locked the door?”
Willis looked at me and screamed, “That’s impossible, I made sure it was unlocked.”
“Sergeant that means al-Qaida is in the building. Where the hell is Gun Smoke?”
Just then Gun Smoke came rolling around the corner and stopped with eight Rangers jumping out and then it started firing the M240 7.62 mm machine gun in all directions.
Willis got on the radio telling the commander, “Blow down the front door of the church.”
Turning the turret, taking aim, the 25 mm cannon opened up blowing down the door, and also blew out our ear drums. We all jumped up and ran for the door. Falling inside Ron tripped over a dead body, al-Qaida was inside. He must have been standing at the door when Gun Smoke fired. If there is one fighter there is more.
While the Rangers were fighting outside, we were inside and on our own. We didn’t know what to expect. I scanned the room as did Tommy and everyone else. If these men are in the church they must want something here pretty bad. How many of them are here is the question? We huddled together to make a plan.
Tommy pointing to the end of the sanctuary asked Ron, “What’s behind those doors?”
“Both doors open into the same big room. There is one door at the back of that room. I don’t know where that one goes. Maybe it goes outside.”
Tommy stressed here is the plan, “Dad go down the right side and I will go down the left side to the doors in the back of the church. Check all the pews carefully on the way down. Jim Bo, Chris, Rick, Tony, and Ron you cover the doors down there and follow behind us about 10 feet apart, if anyone pops up blast them. Eddy, you and Rahim watch this front door. Any questions?”
Rahim meekly asked, “Hey guys I think I need a gun.”
I replied, “You told us you never shot a gun.”
“No Jack, I never shot an AR 15 rifle but I have shot hand guns at the gun range many times, so just give me a pistol.”
“Do you know how to use a Glock?”
“What is there to know just aim and shoot. Yes I have shot a Glock before.”
“Ok fine here’s my Glock and 3 mags; just keep your finger off the trigger unless you are aiming at a bad guy. I don’t want you shooting any of us. Don’t point your gun at anyone unless you are going to shoot them, you got it.”
“Yes I got it Jack.”
I hate giving a gun to a person who I am not sure can shoot or even knows the basic rules for safe gun handling. I know people who have shot themselves and others by mistake. Handing a gun is all about training. You drum certain rules into your brain so they become automatic. You don’t need to think about it. Practice and more practice is what you need to be a good safe shooter. I would shoot more than 500 rounds per week back in the old days. The two most basic rules are never point your gun at anyone unless you intend to shoot them and never put your finger on the trigger until your target is in your sights.
We proceeded down the right and left sides of the 100 foot long church cathedral hall. At the other end there were two doors one on each side and in the middle was the pulpit with a huge cross hanging in the middle.
I was wondering if someone was hiding behind the pulpit. I kept my eyes on it while looking down the pews. Once we got to the doors, what is behind door one and door two? It sure wasn’t going to be a washing machine from Monty Hall. I knew there had to be more al-Qaida fighter’s right here inside this church and we have to kill them before they kill us.
Outside I could hear rifle fire and cannon fire from Gun Smoke. They had a battle going on against an unknown number of enemy fighters.
As Tommy and I approached the doors we both looked behind the pulpit, no one was there thank God. Going slowly, ever so slowly we reached our doors. I looked up at the big cross handing on the wall and made the sign of the cross on my chest. I am not Catholic but I do the sign of the cross every time I see one out of respect.
Tommy whispered, “Grenade.”
Tommy showed me with hand movements … on the count of three … open the doors and we throw in the hand grenades at the same time. I signaled ok I understand, back to him.
One, two, three … we opened the doors just enough to throw in the grenades. Three seconds later … KABOOM, one second later … KABOOM. Both exploded and if anyone is in there they are dead meat.
We stood there a minute, Jim Bo, Rick, and Tony were behind me; Ron and Chris were behind Tommy who told us, “I will go in first. Dad as soon as I go in you come in. Everyone follow the wall, stay near the wall, and keep it at your back. We will go left and you go right.”
We all nodded our heads and Tommy slowly pushed his door wide open expecting gun fire but none came and he entered the room with Ron right behind him. I opened the door and went inside. The room had a few broken chairs and tables and to our surprise two dead fighters were lying in the ruble. We checked them to make sure they were dead even if they were blown to shit. We removed their weapons and unloaded them.
There was one door at the back of the room. Tommy put his ear to the door, I looked thru the key hole, an old trick I remember from when I was a kid. I saw two men standing there in a hall way pointing their guns at the door. I put my finger to my lips to signal, don’t make any noise, and waved everyone to move away from the door to huddle together.
I told my guys in a very soft whisper, “I see two men with guns pointed at the door. The minute they hear anything they will fire so stay away from the door. Does anyone have any ideas?”
Tommy whispered, “Let’s put the SAWs on the floor, me on one and Tony on the other, then we’ll blast right thru the door killing anyone on the other side.”
This was a good idea as the door was wood. I have seen these machine guns blast thru concrete block. The wooden door would be no problem and the two guys behind it would be dead in a second or two.
“Ok let’s do it but be quite,” I whispered.
Tommy lined the guns up about 40 feet away at the far wall. Tony and Tommy laid down and we all covered our ears as this was going to be loud. They opened fire on full automatic blasting the door to pieces in a few seconds. They fired 100 rounds each or a total of 200 rounds. The firing stopped and they reloaded.
Tommy yelled, “Dad, check the hall way and if anyone is alive shoot them.”
Ron and I went and peeked into the hall barely sticking our heads around the broken door jamb to see if any bodies were there. Holding our M 4 carbines we were ready to fire. To our amazement there were no bodies there.
I yelled out, “There all gone, no one is here.”
Tommy jumped up and walked over saying, “What do you mean no one is there?”
As Tommy walked into the hall way my phone rang, I answered, “Jack here.”
“Jack this is Willis here, we are under heavy fire, there must be 200 fighters here so I called Iron Maiden and some more back up troops. Are you ok? My men in the back of the building heard gun fire coming from inside.”
“That gun fire was us shooting at some al-Qaida fighters. We are ok so far but I don’t like clearing this church.”
“Jack I think the church is surrounded so be careful. These fighters want something in that church for sure.”
“Yes I know just keep them out of the church.”
“Roger that Jack, over.”
Looking down the hallway there were two doors and we didn’t know which one the bad guys went in. One metal door was at the end of the hall and it had bullet holes in it from our gun fire. The other door was on the side of the hall. Standing in the hall way we where now the possible targets. They could shoot thru the door, like we did, or throw a hand grenade inside.
I didn’t like standing there in the tiny hallway and told Tony, “Keep your eye on that rear door if anyone opens it, blast it with the SAW.”
Ron looking thru the bullet holes in the metal door said, “This door goes outside. I don’t see anyon
e. Should I open it?”
“Ok go ahead but do it slowly. Everyone ready.”
We all kneeled down and aimed our guns at the door while Ron turned the handle and said, “It’s locked.”
“Are you sure it’s locked?”
“Yes Jack it is locked try it yourself.”
“Ok who is going to open the other door and go in first?
“Just kidding I’ll go first, Ron behind me then Tommy, Chris, Jim Bo, and Rick last. Tony you stay here and be the rear guard. First I’m going to throw in a grenade just to be safe. After I throw this in wait 10 seconds and then we enter. Check your weapons and reload them. Is everyone ready?”
I looked at each person in the eye and they all nodded looking me. That told me we were ready. I slowly opened the door about a foot while holding the grenade, pulled the pin tossing it inside, and closed the door.
The blast shook the door but it sounded funny like a hollow explosion in a tunnel. I opened the door and it was very smoky and dark inside, my eyes were slow to adjust and as I was taking my second step forward I fell into a hole about 10 feet deep, landing on my side with a thud on hard cement. I hit my head on landing, almost knocking me out.
I was dazed from hitting my head … wait someone was grabbing me … I had dropped my rifle … I was being dragged by the back of my vest. I reached for my Glock, dam it wasn’t there. I was being pulled down a tunnel of some kind. I couldn’t fight being dragged backwards and almost knocked out, down a tunnel.
I could hear Ron and Tommy yelling, “Are you ok?”
I was dizzy and couldn’t think clearly, what was going on? I got dragged thru a door way, the door closed behind me and I heard it lock. I was in deep shit, this had to be al-Qaida. I pretended to be knocked out so I laid there and didn’t move a muscle
They shined a light on my face and I heard a voice speak in Arabic. I could make out there were two men; one of them kicked me hard in the head. He kicked me in the head again and again, harder each time. Then he bashed me in the face with his rifle butt. That hurt bad and I thought I am going to kill this bastard. My head was spinning I was close to blacking out.
THE TOCABAGA CHRONICLES: (BOX SET - PART I - BOOKS #1-5) Page 18
