JTF, Sons, Husbands,Fathers,Our brothers!

Kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka......boom!
He woke up disoriented briefly, grabbing his riffle and kitting up within one minute.
Kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka kaaka......boom!
This was getting closer,voices, biggle and whistles were being blown. The camp alarm has been triggered, the base is under attack.
His heart beat increased and cold sweat ran down his spine.

He only had this kind of feeling once, that day he ended up with a minor bullet wound on his left leg, just above the knee. Luckily, no bone or vein was ripped.
He hurriedly lifted his pillow and kissed his wife and children, a boy and two girls before slipping the picture into his pocket.
He said a silent prayer as he filed out with others, crouching in orderly and pre-rehearsed movements as they took there various positions.

The gun battle was getting intense, the armored vehicles were rolling out of the base, with troops following suit when the first rocket landed at the centre of the base, and all hell broke loose.
" Jesus!"
 " Allah wo yoooo!"
The worst part is that everything was happening too fast and in pitch darkness!
The enemy armored carrier with headlights were facing the base, heavy shelling and gunfire was being exchanged seriously, everyone was engaging everyone.

"How did they manage to get this close, almost over running the camp?"
He kept asking himself even as he was taking down those trying to climb over the fence and demarcation embankments. The camp averted a similar attack last week when he was sentry.
He remembers seeing that slight movement from the corner of his eyes,it was pitch dark.
Then he saw a figure trying to climb into the third armored tank parked close to where Officers were quartered, and from the other corner, he saw something like a torchlight flick once, then twice.

He shot spontaneously and good enough, he got the idiot!
 Then to his surprise, fire was opened from all around the whole camp with vehicle headlamps flooding the base, somehow, his spontaneity saved the day because if they had gained access to that tank, the possessor would have gunned down any Officer coming out from the quarters while the camp would have been run over in less than two hours.
They suffered heavy casualties, but repelled the attack, that was last week.

They felt it will take another two or three weeks before a repeat attack because that is usually their modes operandi, but no!
Let it not be that those on night sentry duty dozed or relaxed their vigilance. Last month, an Officer heard a rustle, whispered to his mate and flashed his light, only for his head to be blown off. Such is the tale, such is the war they are waging, such is the pain they face.

This is his fourth month here, he has two months to go, some guys left last two weeks and another set came in last week. Body counts are increasing, families are losing their heads, wives are turning widows at tender age.
He was still taking various combat positions, shooting and giving cover to his mates as they fight back to back in this humid, dry, dark and unfriendly environment.

A granade exploded close by, taking two Officers with it.
"That was close" he thought, everyone on this mission has had brush with death at one point or the other.
"Ratatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatataatatatatatatatatata!"
"Kaka kaka kaka kaka kaka........ratatatatatatatatatatatatatatatata!"
"Boom, boom, boom!" "Chiiiiiiiiiiiiikabooooom!"
Body counts kept increasing even as smoke and the smell of burning flesh pervaded the whole place.
They were gradually gaining the upper hand though with a heavy price, there will definitely be an inquisition when the whole base is secured.

That was when he felt it and the numbness that hit him after the pain.
He was scared to touch it, he knew something has gone badly wrong.
Then the blood, it started rushing like river Niger.
Immediately before he hit ground, his life started rewinding at a fast pace.
He immediately saw himself checking into the camp and being documented,
He saw himself six months ago in Italy, concluding his anti-terrorism course after spending the previous two months in Israel.
He saw himself holding his new baby eight months ago and telling his wife
"baby, all is well, God has started blessing us"
That was his last thoughts as he hit the ground, then......darkness.

*This series will chronicle the loses and pains of our gallant JTF operatives giving their lives in the fight against BH* these are true life stories of those who survived. May the souls of those who died in fighting for freedom of this nation and our right to live in peace rest perfectly in the bosom of The Lord.....Amen!