Alone in the Valley by Kenneth Waymon Baker

Author:Kenneth Waymon Baker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2014-05-30T21:53:49+00:00

XX

Wilson walked into the platoon tent leading two new troopers.

“I been pickin’ cherries,” he grinned.

“Are they ours?” asked Rose.

“Yep. The first sergeant just gave ‘em to me,” replied Wilson. “Can I keep ‘em?”

Rose jumped to his feet, “Great! Welcome to second squad.” He offered his hand, “I’m Bill Rose.”

“Sonny Morgan,” said the first of the cherries, a five foot eight inch Japanese-American from Burbank, California.

“I’m Terrel McGee,” said the other as he shook Rose’s hand. McGee was a tall, lean black from Louisville, Kentucky. Like Morgan, McGee was eighteen years old.

Rose pointed to Daniel, “That’s Perdue.”

“Hi there,” said Daniel.

Rose continued, “That’s Terwilliger over there.”

Benny looked up for the first time when he heard his name. “Howdy, fellers.”

“You’ve already met Wilson,” Rose concluded

“Can I keep ‘em, Sarge?” joked Wilson. “Please?”

“We’re glad to get you guys,” said the squad leader. “We were starting to run out of people.” He pointed to Perez’ bunk, “You can take this bunk, Morgan.” He pointed to Minnifield’s cot, “And you can have that one, McGee.”

“I didn’t want th’ fuckers, no way,” said Wilson as he sat on his bunk. “They’re too fuckin’ clean.”

Rose laughed, “In a week they’ll be as dirty as you are.”

“Dirtier,” said Wilson smugly. “I’m goin’ on R&R tomorrow.”

“Really?” asked Rose.

“Sure as shit,” grinned Wilson.

“That’s terrific!” Rose said. “Where?”

“Bangkok, wherever that is.”

“Thailand,” Daniel said from the edge of the conversation.

“I don’t give a fuck where it is, as long as they got pretty women.”

“You’re leaving tomorrow?” asked Rose.

“First fuckin’ thing in the morning.”

Rose turned his attention to the new squad members, “Where are you guys from?”

“Kentucky,” answered McGee.

“Southern California,” said Morgan.

Benny interrupted, “He looks like a VC to me.”

“I don’t have a prayer,” Morgan said, collapsing on his new bunk. “My own squad thinks I’m the enemy.”

Daniel tried not to laugh.

“Don’t pay any attention to Benny,” Rose said. “He’s just kidding. Aren’t you, Benny?”

“Fuck no,” insisted Benny. “He does look like a VC.”

Morgan cringed, “I think I’ll cry.”

“Don’t worry, Morgan,” consoled Rose. “Benny’s just giving you a hard time because you’re a cherry.”

Morgan turned to Benny, “My mother is from Japan, but I swear I never left California ‘til I joined the army.”

Benny just looked at him.

“I’m as American as you are,” pleaded Morgan. “Really. Elvis Presley? Sandy Koufax?” He paused, expecting some sign of acceptance from Benny. When it did not come, he added, “Johnny Cash?”

“I guess you’re okay,” Benny conceded.

Daniel offered advice, “Just be damn sure you stay in uniform.”

“Thank you, I will,” said Morgan.

The possibility of being mistaken for a Vietnamese had not occurred to Sonny Morgan until Benny mentioned it. His life in and around Los Angeles was almost totally free of bigotry. He was accepted as just another one of the boys, and his expertise on a surfboard made him very popular with the women; he had two different girlfriends back at home, one a blonde and the other a redhead. He now faced a new situation. In addition to the normal dangers associated with the infantry, he ran the added risk of his own men mistaking him for the enemy.

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