<<Pick a character (anyone but Saunders). He can be in any setting you want. He can be DOING anything you
want. He can be WEARING anything you want (oops, went a little far there,
but he CAN!). BUT, he thinks Saunders is dead. It's up to you why he thinks this,
or you don't even have to say. But that's what he's dealing with. Lots of angst. Or not, as you see fit. Ready,
set.......GO! DII>>
Dog Tags
by
Ranger
Doc sat back on his heels, rocking slightly back and forth. His hand shook as his fingers ran smoothly over the
tags. Lieutenant Hanley stood next to the medic his hand reaching for the tags. Doc couldn’t release them.
He couldn’t believe he was holding the Sergeant’s dog tags. He never thought it would actually happen.
"Doc." the Lieutenant softly called out. Putting an arm on Doc’s shoulder Hanley quietly lifted the tags out of
the medic’s hand. He turned and somberly walked to the command post.
The squad or what was left of it sat fitfully by the fire. Too tired to eat. Too exhausted to talk and emotionally
spent on the days events. Several minutes passed and Caje called out gloomily, "Doc, coffee’s ready.
Doc just shook his head and continued to rock on his heels. Closing his eyes he thought back to the start of the
day.....
The squad had trudged several miles through open fields lined with hedgerows in the hottest part of the day.
Water had been scarce and the squad found themselves sharing and rationing what little they had left. Sweat
beaded down dirty hot necks. The darker khakis inviting the sun into drenching the men. Sleep-deprived, hot
and sweaty the cranky squad moved forward through the raspy tall golden grasses waving in the hot breezes.
The ordeal of the patrol was taking its toll. Hanley and Saunders had exchanged words on which was the best
route. Kirby had been non stop complaining about his feet. Billy and Littlejohn had had a spat and weren’t
talking to each other at all. The new recruit had done the wrong thing on point and took Caje’s angered
assault at point blank range.
To Doc it seemed this was going to be an ill-fated trip. How prophetic, he thought now.
He had tried to keep the peace. But his efforts proved futile. He fell back into step following behind everyone in
the squad but for Sergeant Saunders who was pulling up the rear guard.
Suddenly without warning and without detection from any members of the squad, bullets were flying. Caught
out in the open just shy of the next hedgerow the squad fought for their lives. Doc saw Kirby trip in a hole and
roll down the incline towards the cover. Caje was sharpshooting with his Garand killing what Germans errantly
showed themselves.
Doc witnessed Lieutenant Hanley grab Billy by the shoulder and drag him to the hedgerow. He was just about to
grab his medic’s pouch and bolt through the remaining field to assist when he heard the shot and the thud.
Turning behind him he saw Saunders sprawled in the blood strewn grass. He had crawled over to check his
wounds. The Medic gasped as he approached close and saw the extent of Saunders wounds.
Quickly and efficiently he had begun his work. He looked back over his shoulder to see if someone was taking
care of Billy. He could see Littlejohn working on him. He just hoped he didn’t call over for help as Saunders
chest wound was bad. The Sergeant’s khaki shirt was drenched in blood and the stain was moving further
outward of the wound.
The shoulder wound was more minor in importance but had to have the bleeding be stemmed there too. Quickly
he wrapped a bandage around the lesser of the wounds. He then had put all his attention to stopping the bleeding
chest wound. He shook his head and turned to call to the Lieutenant. Hanley was waving and yelling at him to
move out. Doc kept shaking his head and yelling no. He knew he couldn’t move the Sergeant til he stabilized
him. Yet, he didn’t want to chance leaving him there in the open field.
Doc could still hear the sounds of the firefight. He only had about twenty yards to the cover of the hedgerow.
He calculated body weight, running time and how many bullets would he be able to miss if he picked up
Saunders and ran with him now. He put another bandage on the wound. Clearly at this rate he would be out of
bandages.
Lieutenant Hanley had shouted very loud and clear that Doc was to abandon Saunders and head out with the
squad in retreat. Doc shook his head again and in his stubbornness just missed taking a bullet himself. With one
last look at the still unconscious Sergeant, Doc had sprung to his feet and zig-zagged to the wooded shelter.
Taking one last look back towards Saunders both he and the Lieutenant reluctantly abandoned their maimed
Sergeant. ....
Deep in thought, Doc had not heard Littlejohn approach. "Doc, here have some coffee." The tall private pulled
up on the dusty earth and sat cross legged next to the Medic. Unspoken silence and then, "Doc, you did
everything you could. If you had gathered Sarge in your hands to take back to cover why you’d both be
dead now."
"He’s dead, Littlejohn. And I killed him. Sure enough did. I didn’t do my job. I abandoned him when he
needed me the most." Doc said slamming his fist into the ground.
"You can’t think like that, Doc. It’s a war going on out there. You know that." Littlejohn tried to change
the subject. "Billy is going to be fine. They’re going to release him in a few hours. Kirby too."
Glumly Doc said, "yea just to be shot at tomorrow."
Littlejohn saw this conversation was going nowhere and got up to rejoin the squad at the fire.
Doc fell back into his trance thinking back to an hour ago when second squad had come back in. They had
immediately sought out the Lieutenant to make their report. He had sent them out in the same area to retrieve
Sergeant Saunders. What they brought back was a Tommygun, camouflaged helmet and the Sergeant’s dog
tags.
The news only dampened the spirit of the squad further. The bickering had died away but now the gloominess
had darkened and haunted their faces. Gaunt stares looked back at those soldiers who came by to give their
condolences to the squad upon hearing of Saunders’ demise.....
With a thundering roar a jeep pulled up to the aid tent. Two aid men got out and lifted a stretcher off the jeep
and hurried into the aid station. Billy came running out of the station to the saddened group sitting by the fire. "Itâ
€™s him. It’s the Sarge. He’s alive. Just barely but he’s alive." Billy continued his mad rush to tell
the Lieutenant.
Doc was up on his feet and made the dash to the aid station way ahead of the rest of the squad. Being a Medic
he was let in to see the Sarge. The rest of the squad was kept at bay by a Nurse. "No one comes in til the
Doctor fully checks him out." Their feathers a bit ruffled, the squad anxiously sat just outside the tent flap. Even
Hanley was asked to wait out with the troops.
Saunders was taken into surgery right away. It was an hour or two long hot wait before Doc emerged from the
tent with a smile on his face for the first time since the start of their last patrol. With a sigh of relief he made the
announcement that Saunders would make it.
The next day the squad was gathered around the bedside of a groggy Saunders. A million questions being asked
of him. "What happened to you? Who helped you? How did you make it back? How do you feel?"
Doc said, "whoa, take it easy on the Sarge."
Saunders just raised his hand slightly and said, "it’s okay Doc. The Germans came up to me and figured I
was dead and left me. Guess they were in a hurry as they left everything else too."
"I don’t remember everything clearly but some French teenager found me. He got his mother to come help. I
guess they took the dog tags off so they wouldn’t be caught harboring an American. They scrounged up
some French clothing in exchange for the uniform." The Sergeant said.
Lieutenant Hanley grinned, "that’s all that second squad found. The helmet, Tommygun and tags. Sure glad
you made it back Sergeant."
"Glad to be back," Saunders sleepily said. "Doc. Thanks."
"Why you thanking me? I left you there." The Medic said remorsefully.
"It’s because of you that I’m alive. The mother said I could have bled to death if someone hadn’t
stuffed those bandages on the chest wound so carefully. I know it was you. I know you had to get out of there
for you and the squads safety." Saunders studied the medic carefully. "It’s true Doc. Thanks."
Lieutenant Hanley stood and said, "time to go. Saunders needs some rest. See you back on the line Sergeant."
END
want. He can be WEARING anything you want (oops, went a little far there,
but he CAN!). BUT, he thinks Saunders is dead. It's up to you why he thinks this,
or you don't even have to say. But that's what he's dealing with. Lots of angst. Or not, as you see fit. Ready,
set.......GO! DII>>
Dog Tags
by
Ranger
Doc sat back on his heels, rocking slightly back and forth. His hand shook as his fingers ran smoothly over the
tags. Lieutenant Hanley stood next to the medic his hand reaching for the tags. Doc couldn’t release them.
He couldn’t believe he was holding the Sergeant’s dog tags. He never thought it would actually happen.
"Doc." the Lieutenant softly called out. Putting an arm on Doc’s shoulder Hanley quietly lifted the tags out of
the medic’s hand. He turned and somberly walked to the command post.
The squad or what was left of it sat fitfully by the fire. Too tired to eat. Too exhausted to talk and emotionally
spent on the days events. Several minutes passed and Caje called out gloomily, "Doc, coffee’s ready.
Doc just shook his head and continued to rock on his heels. Closing his eyes he thought back to the start of the
day.....
The squad had trudged several miles through open fields lined with hedgerows in the hottest part of the day.
Water had been scarce and the squad found themselves sharing and rationing what little they had left. Sweat
beaded down dirty hot necks. The darker khakis inviting the sun into drenching the men. Sleep-deprived, hot
and sweaty the cranky squad moved forward through the raspy tall golden grasses waving in the hot breezes.
The ordeal of the patrol was taking its toll. Hanley and Saunders had exchanged words on which was the best
route. Kirby had been non stop complaining about his feet. Billy and Littlejohn had had a spat and weren’t
talking to each other at all. The new recruit had done the wrong thing on point and took Caje’s angered
assault at point blank range.
To Doc it seemed this was going to be an ill-fated trip. How prophetic, he thought now.
He had tried to keep the peace. But his efforts proved futile. He fell back into step following behind everyone in
the squad but for Sergeant Saunders who was pulling up the rear guard.
Suddenly without warning and without detection from any members of the squad, bullets were flying. Caught
out in the open just shy of the next hedgerow the squad fought for their lives. Doc saw Kirby trip in a hole and
roll down the incline towards the cover. Caje was sharpshooting with his Garand killing what Germans errantly
showed themselves.
Doc witnessed Lieutenant Hanley grab Billy by the shoulder and drag him to the hedgerow. He was just about to
grab his medic’s pouch and bolt through the remaining field to assist when he heard the shot and the thud.
Turning behind him he saw Saunders sprawled in the blood strewn grass. He had crawled over to check his
wounds. The Medic gasped as he approached close and saw the extent of Saunders wounds.
Quickly and efficiently he had begun his work. He looked back over his shoulder to see if someone was taking
care of Billy. He could see Littlejohn working on him. He just hoped he didn’t call over for help as Saunders
chest wound was bad. The Sergeant’s khaki shirt was drenched in blood and the stain was moving further
outward of the wound.
The shoulder wound was more minor in importance but had to have the bleeding be stemmed there too. Quickly
he wrapped a bandage around the lesser of the wounds. He then had put all his attention to stopping the bleeding
chest wound. He shook his head and turned to call to the Lieutenant. Hanley was waving and yelling at him to
move out. Doc kept shaking his head and yelling no. He knew he couldn’t move the Sergeant til he stabilized
him. Yet, he didn’t want to chance leaving him there in the open field.
Doc could still hear the sounds of the firefight. He only had about twenty yards to the cover of the hedgerow.
He calculated body weight, running time and how many bullets would he be able to miss if he picked up
Saunders and ran with him now. He put another bandage on the wound. Clearly at this rate he would be out of
bandages.
Lieutenant Hanley had shouted very loud and clear that Doc was to abandon Saunders and head out with the
squad in retreat. Doc shook his head again and in his stubbornness just missed taking a bullet himself. With one
last look at the still unconscious Sergeant, Doc had sprung to his feet and zig-zagged to the wooded shelter.
Taking one last look back towards Saunders both he and the Lieutenant reluctantly abandoned their maimed
Sergeant. ....
Deep in thought, Doc had not heard Littlejohn approach. "Doc, here have some coffee." The tall private pulled
up on the dusty earth and sat cross legged next to the Medic. Unspoken silence and then, "Doc, you did
everything you could. If you had gathered Sarge in your hands to take back to cover why you’d both be
dead now."
"He’s dead, Littlejohn. And I killed him. Sure enough did. I didn’t do my job. I abandoned him when he
needed me the most." Doc said slamming his fist into the ground.
"You can’t think like that, Doc. It’s a war going on out there. You know that." Littlejohn tried to change
the subject. "Billy is going to be fine. They’re going to release him in a few hours. Kirby too."
Glumly Doc said, "yea just to be shot at tomorrow."
Littlejohn saw this conversation was going nowhere and got up to rejoin the squad at the fire.
Doc fell back into his trance thinking back to an hour ago when second squad had come back in. They had
immediately sought out the Lieutenant to make their report. He had sent them out in the same area to retrieve
Sergeant Saunders. What they brought back was a Tommygun, camouflaged helmet and the Sergeant’s dog
tags.
The news only dampened the spirit of the squad further. The bickering had died away but now the gloominess
had darkened and haunted their faces. Gaunt stares looked back at those soldiers who came by to give their
condolences to the squad upon hearing of Saunders’ demise.....
With a thundering roar a jeep pulled up to the aid tent. Two aid men got out and lifted a stretcher off the jeep
and hurried into the aid station. Billy came running out of the station to the saddened group sitting by the fire. "Itâ
€™s him. It’s the Sarge. He’s alive. Just barely but he’s alive." Billy continued his mad rush to tell
the Lieutenant.
Doc was up on his feet and made the dash to the aid station way ahead of the rest of the squad. Being a Medic
he was let in to see the Sarge. The rest of the squad was kept at bay by a Nurse. "No one comes in til the
Doctor fully checks him out." Their feathers a bit ruffled, the squad anxiously sat just outside the tent flap. Even
Hanley was asked to wait out with the troops.
Saunders was taken into surgery right away. It was an hour or two long hot wait before Doc emerged from the
tent with a smile on his face for the first time since the start of their last patrol. With a sigh of relief he made the
announcement that Saunders would make it.
The next day the squad was gathered around the bedside of a groggy Saunders. A million questions being asked
of him. "What happened to you? Who helped you? How did you make it back? How do you feel?"
Doc said, "whoa, take it easy on the Sarge."
Saunders just raised his hand slightly and said, "it’s okay Doc. The Germans came up to me and figured I
was dead and left me. Guess they were in a hurry as they left everything else too."
"I don’t remember everything clearly but some French teenager found me. He got his mother to come help. I
guess they took the dog tags off so they wouldn’t be caught harboring an American. They scrounged up
some French clothing in exchange for the uniform." The Sergeant said.
Lieutenant Hanley grinned, "that’s all that second squad found. The helmet, Tommygun and tags. Sure glad
you made it back Sergeant."
"Glad to be back," Saunders sleepily said. "Doc. Thanks."
"Why you thanking me? I left you there." The Medic said remorsefully.
"It’s because of you that I’m alive. The mother said I could have bled to death if someone hadn’t
stuffed those bandages on the chest wound so carefully. I know it was you. I know you had to get out of there
for you and the squads safety." Saunders studied the medic carefully. "It’s true Doc. Thanks."
Lieutenant Hanley stood and said, "time to go. Saunders needs some rest. See you back on the line Sergeant."
END
