Warren rose before five AM, dressed quickly and forced down a tasteless breakfast before he met his reporter friend in the lobby. Ralph Jones had arranged for transportation and they were hurried out of Baghdad to Camp Victory where they found Major Lees and their Humvee convoy waiting for them. The lead vehicle, radioed for clearance as the three-Humvee patrol drove out of Camp Victory into the countryside.
The heavily-armored vehicles hadn‟t cooled down much during the night. The sun was already up and the temperature climbed rapidly to over a hundred. Since the feeble air conditioner was on the fritz, under body armor and helmets, everyone was soaked within the first hour of a three-hour drive.
While they drove, one of the soldiers, a corporal, rambled on about how you couldn‟t trust native Muslims. They were a bad and ungrateful mob who were laughing up their sleeves at the attempts of the U.S. to bring peace to the region.
“We gotta throw out the Geneva Convention. This war can‟t be won as long as we play by some artificial rules written for civilized people.” His rant concerned a couple of soldiers who had disappeared. “The reality is, our two American Soldiers will be found dead and mutilated in about two weeks...sounds ugly, but some people need a dose of reality. We‟re back in Vietnam and the light at the end of the tunnel is gonna turn out out to be the glow from a lit fuse. We‟re fighting under the Marquis of Queensberry Rules while the jihad soldiers are using The Mohammed of Mecca Rules. By grabbing Sadism Hussein, we‟ve only made it easier for them to reek their mayhem on their fellow Muslims. Hussein was the only one who could keep the Iraqi bastards in check.”
Warren listened, fascinated, and noted the other soldiers in their Humvee were nodding in agreement. His reporter friend was in another vehicle, but Warren remembered some of the dinner conversation the night before had touched on things the corporal was bitching about.
“I thought history was to teach us how to protect ourselves.” The corporal continued. “Guess we didn‟t learn anything from Vietnam. This is the same deal.
These Sunnis and even the Christian Iraqis would just as soon stab us in the back as look at us. And when they are smiling and friendly...Look out!”
When they arrived at their destination, Mahdudiya, they were stopped by what they assumed was a friendly Iraqi patrol. Their group got out of the Humvees to stretch their legs and hopefully find some respite from the heat inside the vehicles. The corporal grabbed Warren‟s arm and led him behind the group to a nearby building.
“Sorry, man, I just don‟t trust any of „em.” he growled, leading the puzzled scientist farther away from their group and the Iraqi patrol. “They look too friendly!”
Almost before he got the words out of his mouth there was a barrage of gunfire behind them. The corporal pushed Warren aside and rushed up an alley and down the street, his assault rifle at the ready. Warren followed at a safe distance and saw the corporal crouch behind one of the Iraqi vehicles and open fire. The Iraqis had already managed to shoot most of the American soldiers. Most, faced with what they thought was a friendly force, had foolishly left their arms in their vehicles. Some of the enemy where killed by the Americans, while the rest of the enemy where gunned down by the corporal. Even when a couple of Iraqis indicated they wanted to surrender, they were shot down by the battle crazed soldier .
The firing from both sides ended as soon as it had begun. Looking forward, the corporal inched his way into the battle zone. Finally he signaled for Warren to follow.
“It‟s over...they‟re all...oh God! They‟re all dead!” He sobbed, leaning down to check his own lieutenant who had been in one of the other Humvees. Warren hurried into the area. Breathing heavily, he groaned in sympathy as he viewed the wholesale slaughter.
Grudgingly he took out his camera and taking a deep breath, began snapping pictures of the carnage. The corporal frowned at his actions, but went on with his inspection of the bodies. Suddenly, Warren came upon the corpse of Ralph Jones, the war correspondent. War shows no favorites and his friend was dead. Choking, he said to himself. Ralph, I‟m so sorry...but I‟ll get your story for you. As he‟d seen Ralph take notes, he did the same, getting the count of dead and a description of the horror.
The corporal had disappeared and Warren found him calling headquarters on one of the vehicle radios. The soldier struggled to keep the emotion out of his voice as he reported what had happened and asked for assistance.
While they waited for the helicopters to arrive, Warren wrote out his story: This morning at 10:15am in Iraq, a coalition force team of ten soldiers (twelve Americans and an Iraqi army interpreter), were attacked near Mahmudiya. As a result of this attack, Both U.S. and Sunni forces suffered heavy loses. Among the dead was war corespondent Ralph Jones. Only Corporal Johnny Michael's and a U.S. civilian observer escaped with their lives.
The attack, one of the worst against American ground forces since a US-backed security crackdown began in Baghdad three months ago, took place near the same area where two US soldiers were abducted by Al Qaeda insurgents last year before their mutilated bodies were found.
Residents in Mahmudiya, an area of orchards and palm groves that is a bastion of Sunni Arab militants including Al Qaeda, said gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms had formed the check point the night before. Denying any involvement, the natives, fearing for their own lives, did not warn the American soldiers.”
Warren read his story to the corporal, who made few corrections but criticized the last paragraph.
“I wouldn‟t give the goddamn civilians a word of praise. I‟ll bet they were part of this...this mass murder”, He finished, his voice filled with hate.
Just then, the helicopters arrived with medics and doctors. They found there was nothing they could do but load the dead U.S. soldiers and the reporter into the helicopters and Humvees. The doctor in charge spoke to the native villagers and convinced them it was their duty to dispose of the enemy corpses.
The officer in charge assigned driving duties to several of the helicopter passengers and asked Warren to go back to Camp Victory with the corporal. With that the helicopters roared away and loaded with cadavers, the Humvees did the same. Warren sat in the passenger seat of the vehicle driven by the corporal and kept an eye on his companion. The back seats contained four of the dead U.S. soldiers. Trying to ignore the bodies laid out behind them, they drove in stunned silence. As upset as he was, he could see the corporal was even more distraught. Taking a small packet from his back pack, Warren offered the young soldier what looked like a stick of chewing gum. At first the driver refused it.
“Better take it, Johnny. It‟ll help. This isn‟t ordinary gum. It‟s an invention of mine and it should bring you back to reality from all the distress you must feel.”
“I‟m fine...fine! I can cope with it!“
“You only think you can. I‟ve studied how the mind works. It can only take so much.
I can‟t have you cracking up on me. Bet you‟ve tried pot. Well this is even better, My own new and improved THC formula,” he grinned, trying to lighten the grim atmosphere in the Humvee,
“It‟ll relax you and give you some perspective on these horrors.
“All right Doc. I could use a doubie right now.”
The driver‟s hands were occupied with operating the vehicle, so Warren unwrapped the gum and holding it by the paper passed it to the driver. The corporal chewed for a few minutes and commented: “Well it does taste good. What‟s it made of?”
“Secret formula,” Warren smiled. “A gum base with sweeteners and powered by my own synthetic and safe THC . It‟s kinda like smoking pot, but lasts longer.”
Suddenly the driver sighed and took a deep breath.
“Thanks Doc! he smiled, and for the first time since Warren had met him seemed to be able to contain himself. “Say, this stuff is okay!” The aged look the corporal carried before disappeared and was replaced by the twenty year old. Pulling himself together, he sat up straight as he drove confidently back to camp.
****
Back at Camp Victory, Corporal Michael's turned his Humvee in at the motor pool and the two reported to Major Lees The corporal related his side of the story. Warren assumed he‟d be released to return to the hotel and turn in his story to the news team.
The major had other ideas. It looked like the corporal might be in trouble. It seems the rescue medical doctor had spoken to the native village elders and they‟d given a different slant to the Corporal‟s account. Since Warren was the only non-Muslim witness to the killings, the major wanted him to attend the hearing the next day. As Warren and Corporal Michael's left the headquarters tent, the corporal gave Warren a look of despair. Remembering how the soldier had shot down the two Sunnis who tried to surrender, Warren knew where the trouble lay. He gave the corporal a look of understanding and handed him the remainder of the PAX gum. Not wanting to be overheard, he hoped his gesture indicated he was on the corporal‟s side, and all would be well.
He turned in the story to the media staff at the hotel and spent some time with them... mourning the loss of their comrade, Ralph Jones. He had small snack before retiring. He barely slept that night. Tossing and turning he was buffeted he by the horrors he‟d witnessed during the last few days, and his apprehensive about the military hearing the next day. Up at dawn, he showered and shaved to make himself presentable for Corporal Michael‟s hearing. He took a taxi out to Camp Victory and arrived at the tribunal at eight. Inside a large tent he found the court already assembled. Seated at a long table were five officers who looked like they meant business. Nearby was Major Lees, the pilot from the helicopter rescue crew, a medical officer and a very discouraged looking Corporal Michael's. Behind him a couple of Mbps stood guard. As he entered and took a seat in back, Michael's gave him a sad smile and held up the empty PAX gum wrapper. Though he was chewing the leftover gum, it had apparently lost it‟s effectiveness. It crossed Warren‟s mind he‟d need to give the formula a boost.
The colonel, acting as judge, wrapped his gavel and the proceedings began. The whole courts-martial atmosphere worried Warren. He knew what he was going to say.
He just hoped it would be enough to get the corporal off the hook. The accused was being tried for excessive violence against the enemy, an disregard for the Geneva Convention. Major Lees was called first and confirmed Corporal Michael's was an excellent soldier and a fine squad leader. He was up for sergeant any day now. The Major was followed by the helicopter pilot who told his side of the story and mentioned that the Sunnis couldn‟t be trusted to honor the Geneva Code. They had slaughtered the Humvee patrol brutally and without mercy. Next the medical officer who had been helicopter to the scene was called. He agreed with what the pilot had said, but added the coup de gras. The medical man had spoken to the village elders and they claimed two of the Sunnis had signaled to surrender, but the Corporal had blatantly shot them down. With that, Corporal Michael's bent his head in his hands.
Finally it was Warren‟s turn and he nervously took the stand to give his testimony.
“Gentlemen, I‟m here to state the Corporal Michael's is innocent and deserves a medal for his bravery. I was right behind him as he exchanged fire with the murderous enemy. The two Sunni‟s in question saw me. The corporal was down behind one of their trucks, and I was the only one visible. Foolishly I was standing in their line of fire and they took careful aim at me. I ducked down, just as Corporal Michael's shot them, saving my life. You must find Corporal Michael's innocent.
The colonel nodded gratefully to the young scientist.
“Thank you Dr. Peace. Your testimony has been most helpful.”
As Warren stepped down, the colonel turned to Corporal Michael's.
“Corporal, is there anything you wish to add to the testimony.”
“No, sir, that‟s the way it went. Just like he said.” Michael's responded.
“Very well. If you‟ll give us a few moments.” After a brief exchange with his fellow officers, he turned back to the others.
“In view of the positive testimony, I hope what I say will go no further than this tent.
There is strong suspicion these days, though civilian Muslims may support what we are trying to do here, there are also many who can‟t to be trusted to tell the truth, We exonerate Corporal Michael's with our thanks and best wishes.
There was a gasp of relief from the corporal and the MPs both gave h im pats on the back. Michael's commanding officer shook hands with the relieved soldier as he made his way to Warren‟s side. The corporal didn‟t say word, but as they shook hands, Warren saw tears of gratitude in the young soldiers eyes.