We'd been on mounted patrol for 4 hours, heading back to base. The four marines in the Humvee were Sgt. Pete Johnson (me), Lance Cpl. Jim Rodriguez, PFC Ron Damon, and manning the mounted 30 cal. Cpl. Dan Adams.
I had just told Dan, "you better get your ass a little lower, there are hostiles in this area." He replied, "who gives a fuck, let'em shoot me."
There was the sound of a 30-cal. sniper's rifle. They say you never hear the one that gets you. Three of us heard it; Cpl. Adams didn't. There was a hole just below his right eye, and the only thing that kept the back of his head from being splattered all over the place was his helmet. PFC Damon jumped on the 30 and returned fire, as we got the hell out of there.
Rodriguez yelled, "What the hell was he doing, making himself such a target." "The poor bastard's been acting strange for a couple of weeks. Just seemed, he didn't give a shit anymore."
That evening, our guys, and everyone else that knew Dan, were grieving together, when Capt. Paterson, company commander came in. After everyone had come to attention, and told to stand at ease, he looked at me. "Pete, I've been collecting Cpl. Adams things to send to his wife. You, and the rest of the platoon, and anyone else that wants to, need to read these. He tossed two letters on the closest bunk, and walked out the door.
I picked up the first letter, and could tell from the return address, it was from Dan Adam's wife. I glanced through it quickly, then shaking my head read it aloud.
++++++++++
Dear Dan,
I am so sorry to tell you this, but I have met someone else, and am filing for divorce. I hope you understand; this loneliness while you're away for so long, is just too much for me. Please be safe.
Pam.
++++++++++
I put the letter back in its envelope, then opened the second one, apparently sent by someone else, a few days after the first one.
Glancing through it, before reading it aloud, I had to just stand there, and try to calm myself, before I was ready to speak.
++++++++++
Hey Dan,
What do they call you guys, Jarheads? You and I didn't get along too well when you were here. I always wanted to kick your ass, and in a sense, finally did. I've been fucking your, soon to be, ex-wife for a couple of months now. I want to tell you, that's some fine pussy. She's also becoming a first-class cock sucker.
She tells me all the time that my cock is bigger, and I know how to use it so much better, than the pencil dick she's divorcing.
As soon as she's divorced, we plan on getting married. I'll send you an invitation. Maybe you'll be back by then. If not, I'm sure you'll send a present.
Ben
++++++++++
Everyone in unison said "what a shithead, or some other words meaning the same thing.
We could kind of accept the letter from the wife, "what a bitch." If she had to, she had to. But the one from this guy Ben, was totally unacceptable.
I got together with the other three guys that were with Dan when he got it. We are all from the same area, all Marine reservists from the same unit, called to active duty.
We had three months to go before being rotated back home. We swore, when we got home, to do something for Dan, something to make this right. That letter caused Dan's death. He was distraught from the first letter from his wife, then the letter from this Ben guy right after that. He was so distressed he didn't even consider protecting himself.
The letter from Dan's wife at least had a purpose. The second one was just evil.
None of us were really close friends before we were called to active duty. We knew each other through our routine reserve training, and yearly two weeks field training; but other than that, we all led our own separate lives. A year of active duty, being together when being routinely shot at, brought us a lot closer.
I agreed to spearhead the effort, to right this wrong. I didn't know what I was going to do, but Lance Corporal Rodriguez and PFC Ron Damon said to let them know when they were needed. Even several of the other guys from the unit asked to be included if necessary.
I'm Sgt. Pete Johnson. When I'm not on active duty, I am Pete Johnson, citizen, age 27, single, graduate of Indiana University, and manager of one of my father's chain of tire stores. I have a great mom, dad, an older sister, who will take over operation of the chain when Dad retires, and a younger brother, also an employee of the company.
Finally, we were shipped home. If there was anyone disappointed in going home, I hadn't met 'em.
I was met at the airport by my father, mother, sister, brother, various uncles, aunts, cousins, etc., which was the start of a party lasting well into the next morning. I took a week off and just got reacquainted with civilian life, and spent time with friends.
I kept the two letters. I told Capt. Paterson I was keeping them, and he just raised his hand as if dismissing me. He wasn't going to say it was ok or not. He knew I had a use for them, one he didn't want to officially know about. I showed my dad the letters and explained the circumstances, and that I was going to start back to work, but may need time off occasionally. Dad was in the Marine Corps during Viet Nam; so, he knew how attached you get to your buddies.