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A-BOUT-FACE
You CAN Heal & Recover from the Demons of War
By Stephen Paul Campos AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2013Stephen Paul Campos
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4817-2347-3
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
RESPECT – ARETHA FRANKLIN
The Assignment Editor for a large newspaper was sitting behind his desk with a letter in his hand.
Across from him sat a reporter, named Jonathan. He had a notepad in his lap. His head was down and he was taking notes, as fast as he could.
The editor spoke, "Jonathan, I received a letter from the editor from our affiliate newspaper in Northern California. They want to do a story on their hometown war veteran. They didn't say much, except that three combat men were meeting to honor a vow "unto death" made after a firefight in 1968". Jonathan stands. The editor hands him a note.
The editor continued, "They're meeting together for the first time in forty years. Here's the phone number for one of the vets who lives in Baltimore. Find out why it's taken them so long to meet".
Jonathan takes the note and places it on his notepad and heads back to his seat. He takes out his notepad and places it out in front of him. Then he takes the note and dials. The telephone on the other side rings a few times and someone finally answers.
"Hello". "Hello, I'm calling for Stephen Campos, the Vietnam veteran. My name is Jonathan Miller. I'm from your home town newspaper.
"Yes, this is he", I answered.
"Mr. Campos. The newspaper would like to do a story on you and your two combat buddies.
I smiled and took a deep breath. Next, to my phone was a framed photograph on the table. It was a picture of three twenty year- old Army soldiers.
Jonathan spoke, "Mr. Campos, uh, Mr. Campos"?
Tears filled my eyes. "Yes". I said.
"I understand you haven't seen each other since you were together in combat".
"That's correct, I said.
"That was in 1968?
"Yes, that's correct".
"Well, we're going to run your story on the front page this coming Memorial Day. So, we need to meet, but first I want to ask you a few questions".
I was suddenly angry. "Questions"? "Look, I served in combat and risked my life. And then when I came home I was called a "baby killer and loser". We veterans were looked down upon like dirt and scum".
"That's why we're talking, Mr. Campos. America is ready to hear the rest of the story. We know now that you soldiers were mistreated and we want to make things right. I just need the truth".
"Okay, I understand. Excuse me for my anger. I guess I still have a lot of deep rooted feelings inside. Please, call me Stephen".
Jonathan starts to write, "Ah, Mr. Campos, I mean, Stephen, are you from an Army family?
"No, I said. But, I always played soldier when I was a kid".
* * *
It was 1958. I was 10-years-old. I was walking down the street near my grandfather's house by Baldwin Street and I had to take a leak. So, I looked around, nobody was watching. I dashed behind a home. You know, when you got to go, you got to go!
I had to pee so bad that I didn't realize what was before me. When I finally looked up my eyes widen. It was a bright forest, colorful with big trees. It looked like a jungle. I was amazed. Hurriedly, I tried to zip up my pants. Halfway, I gave up. I turned and started running back towards my grandparent's house. In the front yard all my cousins were playing. I turned the corner and jumped over the hedges onto the grass.
My whole family was there. We were celebrating Easter. All my aunts and uncles and cousins attended during the holidays. We always had a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. My grandmother always made sweet-tasty tamales and Pumpkin pie, yum!
I was so excited I had found my jungle, that I yelled, "Hey, you guys! You gotta see this! Come on". I waved my arm. "Follow me! And, I sprinted back down the street. I turned and yelled, "See what I've found".
Most of my cousins followed after me. "There was Ronnie, the oldest, then Wayne, Roger, my brother, Mike and Pat, Rennie and Joann, Chris and Jeff.
A few minutes later we reached the spot.
"Look, over there". I pointed
"It's amazing". "Wow", said Pat.
"Yah, double wow, said Mike. It's, it's a jungle".
Ronnie, 15, the oldest, took charge. 'This is a great place to play Army".
"Yah, I'll be the captain", said Chris.
"Well, I wanna be da captain, too", said Jeff.
"No, you can't" said Chris.
"Yes, I can", said Jeff,
"Shut it, all of you", said Ronnie. "I'm the oldest and I'm in charge. Get in single file from oldest to youngest. We're all going in, Army style".
Everyone took our places, as we slowly entered no man's land. We were all frightened. We walked a few hundred yards, past two signs that read, "No Trespassing" and "Keep Out".
Boy was I scared we might get caught and get put in jail.
"Keep on the alert men. Look out for signs of the enemy men and watch your step".
Wayne, who was the second oldest at 14 years old, said, "keep your weapons in a ready position, men".
Well, we didn't have any weapons. So, we pretended with our hands like they are holding rifles.
Roger, my brother, was in front of me. He turned and said, "You heard what he said, Butt Head, be on the alert. I don't want to be killed, because of you".
Ronnie, in the front, signaled with his hand in the air, "QUIET! We're deep in enemy territory. The enemy is all around us, so be quiet".
"I'm getting hungry, said Jeff. I want to go back".
A few minutes later Ronnie stopped." Let's go back to Grandpa's work shop and make some weapons and get some grub. Men, we can't fight on an empty stomach."
Personally, I think Ronnie was scared too. Relieved, we all turned around and headed back to grandpa's house.
Back at grandpa's we entered the garage where there was wood, nails and grandpas tools.
"I'll grab the grub", said Joann. She ran out of the garage and into the back door. Everyone else was busy making some kind of wooden gun, pistol, rifle or wooden block to use as a grenade.
Ronnie got finished with his rifle first and said. "Okay, men, five more minutes and we're heading out."
I hurried to find something that resembled a pistol or a rifle. I found a wooden stick. "That will have to do", I said to myself.
Just then, Joann runs inside holding a small paper bag. "I got the grub, let's go".
Ronnie heads out the garage and we all follow.
Hey, wait for me", Jeff starts to cry. "Wait"!
"Catch up, kid or you can't come with us" said Wayne.
"Okay", said, Jeff, "I'm coming, I'm coming". He ran to catch up.
One hour later we're all walking deeper and deeper into the jungle, we called it.
During our search for the enemy, Chris and Jeff were eating everything in the paper bag. Joann gave it to them to keep them quiet.
"Where's the grub, asked Wayne, I'm hungry".
Joann put her hand down the bag. "Ah, well, it's all gone", said Joann.
"What do you mean, gone, said Wayne? He was angry. "That's all the food we got"? Well, I'll take some water then".
"Ah, I didn't bring water, Wayne. All I got was a few pieces of candy, a pack of bubble gun and some graham crackers. Chris and Jeff ate it all".
A few minutes later, Ronnie dives for cover and yells. "Enemy fire! Bam, Bam, Ka-Bam! You're dead, Chris". You too Jeff, you're dead". The enemy killed you".
Chris, screams, grabs his chest, and falls to the ground. So, does Jeff, both casualties of war.
"Gather round them men. Wayne, you be the Chaplin. Say a few words for the dead, said Ronnie.
We all gathered around
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A-BOUT-FACE by Stephen Paul Campos. Copyright © 2013 by Stephen Paul Campos. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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