Tennessee looked up into the L-TвЂ™s eyes with an incredulous look upon his face. Other than giving us the location, he also mentioned there are only two guards covering the stash and they share a single AK between them. Alpha Company captured a Chieu Hoi a couple days ago who alleged that the VC have a large rice storage point and some bunkers here,вЂќ the lieutenant pointed to a position on the map, вЂњand higher-higher wants us toВ check it out. The lieutenant nods and pulled a neatly folded map from his pants side pocket and takes a seat beside the young smiling soldier on the moss covered log. Most guys here would trade their sisters for a can of peaches,вЂќ he raised the can toward the lieutenant in a toast and took another sip, smacking his lips loudly and smiling broadly at the officer. вЂњLooks like youвЂ™ve died and went to heaven the way youвЂ™re carrying on with those peaches,вЂќ the L-T chuckled. вЂњMorning, L-T!вЂќ He answered respectfully. Tennessee quickly scrutinized his face, looking for any telltale signs that he might be the bearer of bad news. вЂњMorning, Tennessee!вЂќ His voice was overly cheerful. He saw Tennessee glowing and grinned as he walked toward him. The platoon leader was making his way around the perimeter and briefing each team leader about the mission for the day. вЂњNah, man, but thanks for asking,вЂќ Tennessee closed his eyes, chewed slowly on a single wedge of fruit, savoring every second of this special treat. The metal was still hot and heвЂ™d tried hard to avoid burning his lips on the rim. The man next to him raised his canteen cup, blew into it a few times and took a nervous first sip. Before the top was fully disengaged, he stopped, folded the lid back and sipped at the sweet nectar inside. He took the treasure and sat back down on the fuzzy green covered log, rocking a small opener around the top of the can. вЂњIt ainвЂ™t nuthin like this back home in Tennessee вЂ“ only a dead person can put up with this kind of shit every night!вЂќ The blond soldier stated then rifled through his rucksack, pulling out a can of peaches that heвЂ™d been saving for a bit.

вЂњBoy, I thought you southern boys were used to shit like this,вЂќ his neighbor crowed. вЂњThem critters kept me awake for hours last night,вЂќ the blond soldier complained, вЂњbetween them mosquitos buzzing in my ears and feeling things crawling over me, there was no way my brain was going to let me get some sleep.вЂќ Tennessee whined, squeezed a small amount of toothpaste onto his index finger and used it like a toothbrush on his teeth, gums and tongue, spitting out the white foam residue onto the ground next to his lean to. Staring at the flames of the burning stove can sometimes mesmerize a person enough to put them in a hypnotic trance. A scent of hot cocoa permeates from his canteen cup as it simmers on the top of a converted C-Ration can / stove a heat tab burning inside the small stove glows steel blue in color, as the fire grows, fingers of yellow and red flame dart upward, lapping against the bottom of the metal cup вЂ“ some are attracted to the large triangle shaped air holes punched into the sides of the can and flicker through вЂ“ like the tongue of a snake, in an attempt to escape from their raging prison. вЂњWhat are you griping about now, Tennessee?вЂќ Asks another soldier, who sits on the top of his steelВ pot at the next position. вЂњDamn varmintsвЂќ he grumbles, draping his wet blanket over a couple tree branches to dry then started on a regiment of short stretching exercises. Assorted birds and insects thrive in this environment, and as if on cue, begin chattering, clicking and singing вЂ“ ready to get on with their day. The sun works its way through the damp and chilly early morning mistВ which clings tightly to everything in the jungle. Satisfied with the task, he mutters to himself, вЂњ One hundred sixty-eight days to go вЂ“ more than half-way there.вЂќ

Comfortable with the results of his inspection, the soldier sits on a nearby log, powders his feet and inserts them into his damp boots, making sure to tuck his fatigue pants into the tops before tying the laces вЂ“ a preventive measure to keep leeches and ticks from crawling up the legs. He looks over the rest of his body, pats down his pockets and scrutinizes his boots for additional creatures that might be hiding there. He scratched vigorously at a multitude of mosquito bites and then brushed off several biting red ants that had found their way inside. A husky, blonde haired soldier rises from his air mattress, quickly shedding his nightly cocoon, a damp, green camouflaged poncho liner, from around his body.

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