SALUTE by Maya H Bechi

Author:Maya H Bechi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robson and Puritan

Monday

The “smell of dawn rising” was how Lawrence liked to think of his mornings on base. He could distinguish the scent of salt water in the air as he took the last lap of his pre-dawn, six-mile run. Today, the air was cold and crisp at Fort Monmouth. With his miles complete, he took his time getting showered and dressed. If there was anything he brought with him to the military, it would be his attention to detail and his sharp way of dressing. Every part of his standard issue uniform was intact. He was like his mother in this way: never a pin out of place. This commitment to excellence began to easily trickle over into his life as the Parts Personnel on the base. He had rotated through multiple work assignments over the years. First physical training instructor, tent pitching, camp sanitation, then repairing and extending roads. No matter where he was assigned, he worked his ass off. Or, as they said at home, “as if working for the Lord.” Similarly, as his peers teased, “like ol’ John Henry.” Either way, Lawrence was known to start a task and then relentlessly hammer away at it with all his might, with his will power going beyond his own physical limitations. Right now, his personal focus was to get assigned to cryptography. Lawrence was ready to specialize, and he already had his hands on the instruction manuals. He studied for hours every night to ensure he’d be ready when the opportunity presented itself. Just as he was headed out the door, he spotted another parts employee from his team, Chad. He knew each of his team mates well. He had a conviction that if you were going to potentially go to battle with someone, it is necessary to know them as well as you can. Chad immediately saluted.

“At ease,” Lawrence directed.

“Hey, did you hear? We have the largest units of enlisted because of voluntary sign ups. More than drafted ones,” Chad said, his tone proud.

“That’s right. Men do what they need to do for this country. If we want change, we got to be willing to work for it. Are you a draftee or volunteer?” Lawrence inquired.

“I volunteered, man.”

Lawrence laughed. “I know, I just have to check periodically to see if your story changes. So, why does it sound like there is more you gotta say?”

“Well, rumor has it that some transfers may start happening. And those transfers might be over to Fort Bragg.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Oh yeah?”

“You know what’s waiting for us over there at Bragg don’t cha?” Chad asked. “They have all the special ops. They are the 911 for the President himself!”

“Hell yes!” Lawrence said. “Thanks, man. I can feel it. My shot is coming.”

As Chad and Lawrence made their way down to the facilities building, they recognized the rest of the crew bounding up the stairs toward the front door to get started for the day.

Lawrence had just made it inside the building when the men began standing at attention.

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