Gang Slayer

With A Bullet Burning Through His Torso Dan Drops, his knees hit the ground with such a force it rattles his teeth. He reaches a hand to his open bleeding wound. He felt the shot pierce his shoulder and explode out of his chest… Shot in the back! Lifting his one functioning arm –to protect his face from slamming as he collapses the rest of the way to the ground, rolling over… he gargles a breath through his own blood. At this moment, Dan knows he’s critically wounded. What a stupid mistake, took it for granted. This moment is filled with the thoughts of what brought him here. It’s amazing the speed at which the brain can comprehend a lifetime. Closing his eyes in this second, he flashes back to that fateful morning, when he heard his name being called. The soldiers are playing basketball on their makeshift court when he hears, “Dan, Dan Googen!” Leaving the game, running over Dan asks the Sarg, “Sir. What is it?” “You’re going back to the States.” “Sir… Say that again.” “Get your things together. The orders just came in.” “But Sir, it makes no sense… I’m in command of the up coming raid. Why would they be calling me back now?” “The orders didn’t say.” “I have two months remaining on my tour. I need to continue my work here in Kandahar.” “If you have a problem with it, call General Harper. His name is on the paperwork.” “Sir… Do you have his number handy?” The Sarg takes out his cell, dials and hands the phone over to Dan, answering, “Hello, Sir. This is Dan Googen.” “What can I do for you?” “Sir. I was wondering if you could tell me why I’m being called back to the states.” The General answers, “I see you received my orders. I can’t tell you what’s going on over the phone.” “We’re in the middle of a mission. I feel it would be dangerous for my men if I left. Sir… I’m asking you to reconsider.” “There’s nothing to consider… You have to come back immediately.” “What about the mission?” “I’m in command of the mission Lieutenant… I know how important it is. There’s nothing more to discuss, do I make myself clear?” “Yes Sir, I understand.” Dan hangs up the phone and gives it back to the Sarg. Tim comes over asking, “I can see something’s going on Dan… What is it?” “I’m ordered stateside.” “What? Did they say why?” “No. From what I understand, I have to leave today. A jeep pulls up with the driver yelling, “I’m looking for Googen.” Dan says to Tim, “You’ve got to be kidding me. I just found out I have to leave… this can’t be for me.” Dan walks over limping slightly and Tim says, “I see your hip’s bothering you today.” “Sometimes it does and others times it’s fine. I never know when this old injury is going to come back to haunt me.” Dan at the jeep says, “I’m Googen.” “We have to go. You have a plane to catch and from what I understand, I’m to put the pedal to the metal.” “Give me a minute, I’m going to need to get ready. I was playing ball and need a shower.” “There is no time… your flight’s on the tarmac. We have to leave right away.” “I have to get my personal belongings, I’m not leaving without them.” Running to the barracks, Dan retrieves a few drawings, photos, his father’s dog tags and his pet dogs collar with the bell on it. “Outside, the Sarg says, “When you get back to the States, call and let us know what’s going on.” “I will Sir, as soon as I hear something.” The jeep pulls away extremely fast, driving a few miles, when over the radio they hear, “Do you have Googen?” The private takes the microphone saying, “Yes, he’s with me.” “What’s your location?” “We just left the camp, we’re three miles south on the main road.” “Stay put. Pull off to the shoulder so we can spot you. We have a chopper on the way.” Only a few minutes pass when a helicopter is seen coming in their direction and lands. Dan runs from the jeep, having to shield his eyes from the sand blowing off the turning blades. He climbs on board, before the pilot lifts the aircraft from the ground… Dan asks the private in the back, “Do you know what’s going on?” “No Sir. We had a call come through about five minutes ago. We were told to come grab you.” Dan watches through the choppers’ window, lifting higher into the air, with him wondering what could be so urgent. ___ Since he was a child, Dan had a Hero, his father. Jake Googen died when he was fourteen years old. It’s a day he never forgot and is the foremost reason for him joining the service. He was at home with his mother, when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, they were met by uniformed men handing over a letter. She takes it, –placing a hand to the doorframe… catching her balance, trying to hold back the tears. She sits on the sofa while reading from the letter, “On September 5th,” these words didn’t register, only, “Died and Hero” stood out to Dan. He wouldn’t know for years, how his father died and what made him a hero. He had only one focus... that was to serve his country, to be as proud as his dad was. Jake Googen always told him, “The lessons the service gave, made him the man he is today.” Through the years, –there were lectures on how the military builds character. Recalling what was learned in these flashes throughout his life, Dan spends time thinking of his deceased dad. The pilot of the helicopter asks, “Sir… You don’t know why you’re being rushed to the airport?” “No, nothing. I’m heading back to the states, but I don’t know why.” The question from the pilot brought Dan back from the thoughts of his father. He looks out the choppers window at the mountains as they fly over Afghanistan.