John Dennehy - Jurassic War

I seem to be holding up, so you don’t have to worry. Moving fast and not making mistakes keeps me out of the line of fire. I’m in good shape and can shoot a rifle just fine. I don’t expect to get recycled. The book learning is fairly easy for me, too. Lack of sleep might be the hardest part. All part of training us for the fatigue and stress of protracted combat.

My thoughts are with you often and I know when this is through and the war is over, we can have the greatest life together, for us and our kids. As harsh as this place can be, they have an “Esprit de Corps”, an intangible spirit that lifts men up for the good of the group, and we have “Semper Fidelis” which means always faithful. So, I guess I have learned more about loyalty than I ever would have imagined. I will always be faithful to you.

Please don’t be sad about my being gone. This will end soon enough, and I’ll see you when I’m home on leave. We’ll win this war. Then we’ll get an apartment together and eventually a house and kids. You’re the one for me. And you’re the biggest thing in my life.

An encouraging letter came through with updates from home and support for Recruit Randall Dawson to graduate with his platoon. Postmarked from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Dear Randell,

I just got another letter from you and it sure made my day. I keep reading it over and over. It makes me happier and happier. All I can think about is how much I love you. You mean the world to me and you don’t have to worry about my breaking up with you during training, like some of the letters the other fellas get down there. I’ll wait as long as it takes for us to be together. One day this war will be over.

I have been very busy with school and working at my afternoon job selling bonds at the bank. Also, I have used the time while you’ve been away to get some organizing done around the house and to help my parents. They have been supportive about what you’re doing. Seems like everyone at school knows that you’ve gone off to the Marines. Everyone wishes you well, especially my family. I’ve spoken to your mother and it has been great, because we both have you in common. She was glad to hear from you and knows that you don’t have much free time to write. I am happy to fill her in. Someday she’ll be my mother-in-law.

One thing I really want to give you is a good life. We share the same goals and will make a fine couple. You mean soo much to me.

The first thing that I want to do when I see you is give you a great big hug and not let go for a while. Whenever I start to feel sad or lonely, I just read your letters and look at your pictures and it makes me happy.

I know that you’re doing this not only for yourself, but for both of us. And for your family and our country.

P.S.: I was glad to hear that you’re doing well. And I’m glad that you’re determined to stick with it and give it all you’ve got. I know that you would never give up and I love and respect all your determination.

Randell stored all her letters in a safe place in his footlocker, which was kept padlocked shut at all times. He planned to cherish them forever. He wrote to her again further through training to update her on some favorable developments. Postmarked from Savana, Georgia.

Mary,

In the last few days, I’ve gotten a lot of mail from you. I am holding up much better now. Today we did PT all day long. We did circuit weight training, the obstacle course, a 5-mile run, and pushups till we dropped. This evening, my Senior DI came up to me and told me to put my utilities on. Then he asked for another volunteer, saying the he needed a motivated recruit. Another kid stood up and was told to get dressed like me.

We all marched out to the obstacle course to compete against other platoons in our series. The kid went first, and I was the anchor. The first group merely had to run through the course and touch the ropes. The second recruits through had to climb the ropes to the top. Easy to do when you’re fresh, but everyone was ragged from an exhausting day.

I waited and each first round of the other platoons tagged their anchor. My guy didn’t show. I waited and waited. He eventually came around with a busted thumb. So, I took off on the course, and when I came over the high wall, about halfway through, I noticed the others had already reached the ropes and had started to climb. I felt defeated and didn’t think there was a chance. I admit that I slowed down, thinking I couldn’t win.

My drill instructors screamed at me to never give up. Keep on fighting. I picked up speed and forged ahead. I reached the ropes quickly. I started to climb. Partway up, a guy slid down, giving up. This encouraged me. I climbed harder and faster. Another one dropped off. But I grew tired and stalled. My arms burning, lost in a death grip, I heard my Senior DI yelling. He was saying that I was the only one left. I looked around. Nobody was on the ropes but me. I strained and struggled to keep going up the rope. All I had to do now was reach the crossbeam and touch it. It was a race against myself at this point. And I didn’t plan to lose it. So, I kept going, inch by inch, everybody watching, intense. When I reached the top, I paused. And then I slowly slapped my hand on the beam for dramatic sake. My drill instructors were screaming with joy. The platoon went into a frenzy, cheering.

Later that night, my Senior DI told the platoon that I had perseverance. He said it was the hallmark of a great warrior. Not strength or speed, but the ability to persevere in horrible conditions against the odds.

We won the PT flag. Now, when we march, I carry the flag at the front of the platoon. Things are really going well and I’m fitting in with the guys. Feeling respected. Over halfway through and I can’t wait to see you. You shouldn’t be sad at my being gone. We’re coming down the home stretch. It is hard training here and I haven’t had the time to write as much as I’d like. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you or that my hopes for our future have changed.

You are all that I think about. My guiding light. I’ve gone to church a few Sundays here and there and pray that we can end this war and be together. Your letters make me happy and give me encouragement to press onward.

Tanaka watched the soldiers on bicycles race down the desolate lane, as the troop transport barreled along at speed with headlights shining on the closest infantrymen.

Soldiers had rifles slung over their backs and would take a moment to move into action before they could fend off an American attack. Tanaka didn’t like the minor level of preparedness the Imperial Japanese Army had utilized on the atoll. Movement from the roadside disrupted his thoughts.

A stout creature bolted from the jungle and collided with a soldier on a bicycle.

The bike fell over and the private toppled to the ground, as the beast chomped madly at the soldier’s side with ferocious teeth. Horns protruded from above its eyes like a bull, and the creature stood about eight meters, resembling a Carnotaurus , which Tanaka had studied in grade school. It likely weighed over a ton and a half.

Wails of pain and fright echoed over the rumbling truck engine. The driver braked hard and swerved to the left in an attempt to avoid the creature. Tanaka braced for an impact, placing his hands on the dashboard.

The dinosaur spurred into a frenzy. It chomped at the exposed flesh on the soldier’s neck, tearing meat and feasting upon the raw corpse.

Wheeling to the side, the right front of the truck collided with the beast, and a large tire crushed the fallen soldier’s chest. The truck lurched to a stop, thrusting the occupants forward and back. Tanaka flew into the windshield, cracking the glass into a spiderweb, then he jostled back into the seat, landing askew with his rifle dropping to the floorboards.