Page 58 of Wait For Me

18

Landon

They waited in the well deck for three hours past 0500, shivering until they got the all clear to board the AAVs. Landon kicked Sgt. Sierra’s boot to wake him up as he buckled the inflatable life preserver around his waist and unrolled the rest to slide over his head.

“I’m coming,” Sgt. Sierra groaned and wiped the sleep from his eyes. He jumped up and started barking orders at the other thirteen bodies that were assigned to ride with them. GySgt. Fuimaono was the last person in, manning the turret hatch seat.

“You ready Marines?” He grunted over his shoulder as he settled in.

Landon pulled off his Kevlar helmet and placed it in his lap. “More than ready.”

Diesel fumes filled the darkness as the engine roared to life. The metal creak of the tracks on the ramp stopped abruptly when the vehicle drove into the water and Landon’s stomach dropped at the sudden dip when it sank beneath the surface of the ocean. Time stopped and everyone held their breath, clutching their Kevlars and hoping for the best as the AAV regained buoyancy and started rocking hard with the waves.

“Worst part’s over.” Sgt. Sierra laughed. But tension already started to build as their bodies pressed too closely together, bumping into each other with the movement of the vehicle and claustrophobia set in. The waves were relentless and Landon pressed his feet onto the floor as he clung to the bench seat beneath him.

“I’m going to be sick.” Cpl. Hemming gripped his Kevlar in his hands.

“No, man. Don’t do it!” all of them began to scream at once.

“You better not puke in my vehicle,” GySgt. Fuimaono turned in his seat, growling the order as Cpl. Hemming spewed liquid bile into his Kevlar. The hot scent of tobacco laced vomit mixed with the burning diesel fumes and choked out whatever breathable air that was left.

“I can taste it,” the crew chief gagged from his seat up front.

“Nobody else throw up.” Landon searched under the bench in the darkness for his day pack while everyone plugged their noses, trying not to gag.

“Why the hell did you put a dip in when you always get seasick?” Landon whispered to Cpl. Hemming as he felt for the right pocket of his med kit and pulled a Meclizine from the bag. “Swallow this and don’t throw it up.”

Weak sunlight filtered into the back of the vehicle as the crew chief and GySgt. Fuimaono cracked the hatches above them to let in some air.

“What’s it look like, Gunny?” Sgt. Sierra asked. The Marines in the back all craned their necks toward the light as if they could somehow see.

“There’s smoke from the east and more plumes from the mountains in the north,” GySgt. Fuimaono paused, scanning the horizon. “But it looks like Oceanside and the base are still standing. There’s no structural damage as far as I can see.”

The troops cheered and clapped each other on the back. Landon breathed a sigh of relief as he rubbed his hands over his face. Tessa was smart. She’d have brought the kids to base if there were fires near their house. They’re okay.

“Uh, guys,” Cpl. Hemming said breathlessly as he dropped his vomit filled Kevlar onto the floor of the AAV and lifted his feet onto the bench. “Why is there water in here?”

Landon’s eyes shot open. An inch of sea water pooled around his boots, mixing with the contents of Hemming’s stomach as it sloshed around the metal floor. He put his hand in it and felt the current as it continued to rise.

“Gunny!” Landon shouted. “There’s water in here!” The rear crew man’s eyes opened wide in the semi darkness as he knelt to check.

GySgt. Fuimaono dropped down from the turret hatch, took one look at the floor, and spun around to face the driver. “Break formation! Gun it now. Go. Go. Go.”

The AAV lurched forward at full speed, taking the contents of two more Marine’s stomachs with it as the vehicle forced its way through the waves.

“Don’t you stop!” Spit flew from GySgt. Fuimaono’s lips as he screamed and turned back to the troops. “Drop your gear. Get it all off now!”

Landon unclipped his flak jacket. Swear words and gear flew around the back of the vehicle as the water continued to rise up to their ankles.

“Why isn’t the bilge pump working, Doc?” Cpl. Hemming gripped Landon’s arm. His flak jacket was still on and he sat there in shock.

“Do I look like a mechanic?” Landon grabbed him by the shoulders and shouted in his face. “Get your gear off so you don’t sink.”

Sgt. Sierra and Landon reached out, checking to make sure the troops had their life preservers in place as GySgt. Fuimaono continued his turbulent rant, “Go. Go. Go. Go.”

Landon pressed his foot down. His whole body tensed as he willed the creaking machine to move faster.

The water rose midway up their calves, soaking into their boots. Landon called out what they already knew, “It’s getting too deep, Gunny.”

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