The Storm

work. He recognized me as the team leader and congratulated me for my efforts and duties for the previous months. I was glad that part was behind us and waited for the bulk of the info that we were about to receive. The Major began, 'Gentlemen, you are about to receive one of the toughest assignments that has ever been dished out to any one group in this man’s military.'" "The Major then lifted off one of the sheets, revealing a large map. 'VIETNAM, gentlemen. THAT is your destination! NORTH VIETNAM! The enemy's home. You will be taking the fight to the enemy. You will live, breathe, eat, sleep, and piss Vietnam. You will poop like the Vietcong, you will eat like the Vietcong, and you will drink like the Vietcong, and will camp like the Vietcong. And when they attempt to track you with their dogs, they will only smell Vietcong, because whatever comes out of your bodies will smell like the Vietcong! You will not leave behind ONE THING that looks, tastes, or smells American. I do not want them to smell Americans, capture Americans, imprison Americans, torture Americans, or interrogate Americans, because YOUWERE NOT THERE! You are invisible. Ghosts! You will strike and disappear like a vapor, and when the Vietcong lay down their heads at night, they will think about you and WORRY that these jungle ghosts will take them in their beds and spirit them away to the netherworld. They will fear about not ever seeing home again because of you.'" "'Now, gentlemen,' he continued, 'consider this: you are not there to pursue Vietcong regulars. You have bigger fish to fry, and fry fish you will. Big fish! You will slip past the regulars, and you will evade the regulars, unless they stand in your way

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