Page 47 of Semper Fi

“D o you think it’s true, Sarge?”

“What’s that, Gambler?” Cal led his squad down a ragged ridge as part of a bigger convoy as their company moved across the island. He leaped over a gap in the rocks at the bottom.

Still clearly delighted by his nickname, a flash of a smile brightened Tim’s face. He fell into step beside Cal as they neared a green farmer’s field. “About the fighting down south? The trouble the army’s having?”

“Yes.”

Gambler blinked. “Oh.”

“I know you new boys can’t believe it given how our company’s had pretty much a walk in the park the last month, but our luck’s going to run out.”

“Didn’t you hear it last night?” Sully asked.

“The thunder?”

“That wasn’t thunder.” Jim spoke quietly, his attention on a plow horse tethered to a low fence.

The horses they’d come across had all looked similar, more like overgrown ponies. Jim had an affinity for them, and Cal watched as he pulled out a lump of sugar from his rations.

“Here you go, boy.” Jim scratched the horse’s muzzle, murmuring to it .

A Marine called Husky passed by with his squad. “Gonna make your getaway, Johnny? Don’t think that beast’ll go fast enough.”

“Fast enough to outrun you, Husky,” Jim replied with a smile.

Cal joined him, patting the horse’s flank. “You know between the horses and the kids, you’re not going to have any rations left.”

“Like you’re one to talk. You gave away your last candy bar days ago.”

Cal shrugged. “Damn kids with their big eyes. We’re all going to be starving by the time this battle finally finds us.”

“Or we find it.”

“Either way.” Cal stepped away from the horse. “Let’s get moving. Have to keep up.”

After climbing another small ridge, they came across a group of Okinawans.

Of course the young men had been pressed into service, so the company had only encountered women, children, and old men.

The locals watched them silently. They were being put into internment camps, which Cal understood the need for.

Yet whenever he saw them, bedraggled and seemingly shocked and confused by the invasion, his stomach tightened.

A lieutenant called out, “Take ten!”

Sully and some of the men from other squads pulled out rations, and after a bit of hesitation the children gathered around. Cal walked to a small stone well, aware of the uneasy gaze of the women and old men. The water was cool, and he filled his canteen, breathing deeply.

Next to him, Jim dipped his canteen. “Nothing quite like the smell of pine.”

“God, I missed it. I was actually cold last night. Was confused for a minute by the unfamiliar sensation.”

Jim smiled softly and watched Sully and the others playing with the children, who laughed. “It’s strange, isn’t it? The only soldiers we’ve seen have been dead by the roadside. But there are civilians everywhere. Makes me think of…”

Cal screwed the lid back on his canteen. “What? ”

“Home. Of what it would be like if war came to Tivoli. To Clover Grove. If I was herded off my land and put in a camp.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way.” Now that he did, Cal felt decidedly uneasy. The idea of foreign troops marching up Fifth Avenue seemed impossible, but surely the people of Okinawa had never expected Americans on their doorstep.

“All this time we’ve been fighting the Japs, but it was so far away from Japan. Now that we’re getting close it just…it changes things.” Jim shook his head as if casting off the thought. “I guess they’re used to it over in Europe. Civilians everywhere there.”

Cal followed Jim’s gaze to a giggling little girl. “The kids must make you think of Sophie.”

Jim gulped from his canteen before wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “Yeah.” He seemed to want to say more, and after a few moments, he did. “Guadalcanal and Peleliu—they were like something out of a horror story. The heat and the bugs and the death. But this place…it’s a home.”

They stood in silence, watching the children until they moved out.

A day later, they were back in the thick of it.

Eyes wide, the replacements panted, cringing as rifles popped and the whine of incoming artillery reached their ears.

Cal thought grimly to himself that at least the new boys finally knew what real battle was like.

He scooted next to Gambler, who struggled with his mortar base. “You’re pushing too hard. Ease up.”

Shaking, Gambler nodded. “Yes, Sarge.” He ducked as another shell exploded nearby. “How long?”

Cal helped the ammo carrier, a trembling boy they called Winnie, with his load. “How long until what?”

Gambler swallowed hard. “Until it stops?”

“When we’re off the line, and not even then. Stay sharp. All of you. Just remember your training. Do your jobs and we’ll get out of here.” They all knew it was a lie, but he had to say it. He forced a smile. “Think of the stories you’ll have to tell your girls back home. ”

Crouching, he rejoined Jim and Sully. The shellacking from the Japanese continued, shells and artillery beating back the rifle squads that tried to push forward. With bullets tearing up the ground at his feet, a Marine carrying an injured man on his back came into sight on the field.

“Can we send up a smokescreen?” Sully asked.

Jim shook his head. “We’re too close to our troops.”

“Come on, come on,” Cal muttered, eyes glued to the staggering man.

One of the replacements cried out, “Jesus, can’t they let the injured go through? Ain’t there rules about that?”

“The Japs don’t follow any rules except their own, and their number one rule is to kill us at all costs,” Cal answered.

Struggling with the weight of his injured comrade, the Marine pushed on.

A burst of machine gun fire peppered the air, and he toppled to the ground.

Cal’s breath lodged in his throat as he willed the fallen man back to his feet.

Then in a blur, Jim was gone, racing out from behind the relative safety of their foxhole before Cal could even blink.

Swearing, Cal grabbed his rifle and went up on his knees, targeting the Jap machine gunners. There was a flicker of movement, and he fired, taking the gunner down. Another appeared, and Cal got him in his sights.

Dragging the two fallen men across the field, Jim struggled back.

The Japs’ attention was now on Cal, and he flattened as they returned fire. But he refused to retreat into his foxhole and shot repeatedly as Jim and now Sully and a few others rescued the downed men, finally able to haul them to safety.

A cheer rose up from the other Marines, and Cal shimmied back, pushing with his elbows.

Saliva filled his mouth as nausea reared up, thinking of how easy it would have been for Jim to be cut down.

Cal squeezed his eyes shut and fought to breathe.

When Jim slid into the foxhole beside him, Cal raised his head.

Some men would be proud as peacocks after such heroics. But Jim’s gaze was on the enemy’s position, and he acted as if he’d only left to relieve himself, and that nothing unusual whatsoever had happened.

Cal’s voice was hoarse. “Are they going to make it?”

“Don’t know. Pray to God they will.”

Cal gripped the front of Jim’s jacket. “You ever pull a stunt like that again, and I’ll kill you myself.”

Blinking, Jim stared. “If it was me out there injured, I’d want the help. Wouldn’t you?”

“Christ, of course. That doesn’t mean you go barreling into enemy fire. You can’t risk yourself like that!” He leaned close to Jim, tightening his fingers in the neck of Jim’s jacket. “Not you.”

Jim frowned. “I’m no better than anyone else out here. Besides, it was your sharpshooting that saved the day. You were just as much at risk.”

“That’s not the point!” He gave Jim a shake. “Just be careful.”

Jim’s expression softened. “Is that an order?”

Cal huffed out a laugh as he let go. “Yes, it’s a goddamned order.”

Another round of shells screamed toward them as Sully dove back into the hole, and they ducked their heads, helmets clanging together as another wave began.

1948

“For goodness’ sake, Cal. It’s one evening. Surely you can carve some time in your busy schedule to celebrate your parents’ anniversary. Your father and I want you to be there.”

Cal wedged the phone between his ear and shoulder and lit a cigarette as he sat back on the couch. The late-afternoon sunlight dappled the walls of his apartment. “Did Dad say that?”

His mother huffed. “Of course he wants you there. You’re his only son, and this is an important event. Thirty-five years together is nothing to sneeze at. Everyone will be there. I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time.”

“I’m sure. ”

“Darling, would you please cease with the cynicism? I realize you and your father are not on the best terms at the moment.”

“What did the old man have to say about that?”

“He told me you quit.” She sighed. “With no notice, I might add.”

He blew out a stream of smoke. “I had another commitment.”

“Your friend with the little…what is it? A farm?” She pronounced the last word as if it had stuck to the bottom of her suede peep toe pumps.

Cal wondered whether Victoria Cunningham, née Withrow, had ever stepped foot on a farm.

“Apple orchard.”

“Yes, well. It sounds charming. But really, you can postpone whatever it is you’re doing by a few days and come to the party this weekend.

You cannot expect your sister and Charles to do all the work representing the next generation of the Cunninghams. Besides, I haven’t seen you since my charity ball in the summer, when you graced us with your presence for barely more than half an hour.

Your sister has taken on the planning of this party, and your support would mean the world to her. ”

“I’m sure Laura will survive just fine without me. As will you.”

There was a long pause, and then his mother’s voice softened. “I do miss you, Cal. I hope you know that.”

Resignation washed over him. “All right. I’ll be there.”

“Excellent. Kiss, kiss.”