The Patriot (17 page)

As daybreak came Goldie contacted His sons and Tim and told them Brian and his people have the base under control and are taking care of their stragglers coming in. Take your men and start from your positions and make a sweep of the area from here to the base. Collect all the dropped weapons and any of their dead you find and take them with you to the base where Brian and his people are. We are with Tim and his men and are starting our sweep towards the base, we will meet you there. By mid morning they had finished their sweep of the area and all were assembled at the base. The commander of the federal unit looked grim as he saw the thousands of bodies of his dead being secured inside a warehouse building and the hundreds of his wounded being cared for by his medical personnel. Goldie and Mac walked over to the commander and asked him, was your traitorous work worth the lives it has cost you? The commander was silent numb from the results of the battle.

Goldie told Brian take this commander and whats left of his staff and all his people inside the warehouse where they can be secured with less manpower and identified. Have the commander inventory his dead and wounded and those that survived and give me an accounting of their numbers. The commander turned and walked towards the warehouse with his head down. What was left of his force were told to get to their feet and follow their commander into the warehouse. Goldie told Mac, Tim, and his sons, assemble your men in front of the building I need to speak with them. Goldie stood before the troops for a moment. His voice was strong but reserved as he told them, you have the right to take pride in what you have accomplished this day. You have my thanks and all America owes you their thanks this day. You have served faithfully against great odds and prevailed. Our losses have been minimal for which we are thankful, but sadly now we must take them home and help their families thru this time of hardship.

He said Tim you and Joshua and James contact your transportation and arrange to have them meet us at the main gate. While we wait for them lets see if the commander can account for his people. They walked into the building where they found the commander seated with the remainder of his staff at a makeshift table made from some left over construction materials. Brian handed Goldie some organizational roster forms. The brigade had left Pennsylvania with a force of fifty two hundred combat troops with a support group of six hundred men. A total force of fifty eight hundred men. They had lost seventy three men along the way. Goldie ordered the commander, account for your men? In a trembling voice the commander advised. Of the Fifty seven hundred and twenty seven who made it to the base a total of four thousand seven hundred and ninety three men lie dead. Surviving was eight hundred and eight men consisting of the support force of six hundred men with eight of the command staff and two hundred of their combat forces. Goldie said all of your people have been accounted for and the commander replied they have been.

He told the colonel I see two officers in foreign uniforms seated with your command staff, what country are they from. The colonel replied those two are from Germany. Mac asked how many united nations personnel were with you altogether and where were they all from. The colonel answered there were fifty united nations personnel with us altogether. Goldie asked Brian does that agree with your count and Brian replied yes we counted forty eight foreign bodies plus the two seated over there. Goldie said how dare you bring foreign troops onto our land and turn them loose on American citizens? He grabbed the colonel and yanked him to his feet then told him I should shoot you here and now for your traitorous action. But that would be too easy an out for you. You will be sent back to your unit to tell your bosses how you failed your mission. You can face the families of those you lost and account for your failure.

He looked at Brian and said have your men bring those foreign officers here. The men brought the two Germans and stood them before Goldie. Goldie yelled at them, stand at attention. He reached over and ripped the officers insignia from their uniforms threw them on the ground and stepped on them. Would you build your extermination camps here like your hero Hitler did in Europe? Maybe we will dig a ditch out here and bury you alive on top of your dead brothers like your daddies did to the innocent women and children they betrayed. He kicked them both in their asses then told Brian get them out of my sight I am sorely tempted to make them pay dearly for their treacherous trespassing on our land.

He asked the commander when did your men last have rations and was told just before arriving at the base. Goldie told Brian to select a mess detail from their numbers and a guard detail to accompany them. Take them to their supply trucks and have them get what they need to set up a field mess in the building and prepare food for their men. After the detail had moved out Goldie told the others lets close and secure all doors to this building and post security outside. Once that was done he told the others sadly we now must make plans for those we lost.

He asked Tim how many losses did you have? Tim answered, we lost thirty two with another twenty seven wounded, none seriously. Goldie looked to his sons and asked what were your losses? James said we lost twenty one and have thirty six wounded but all will make it. Joshua said we lost seventeen and have forty one wounded but all should make it. Goldie said with a soft but steady voice, that’s seventy patriots who gave their all and one hundred four wounded that we might have freedom. We must never forget their sacrifice.

Then he said to them, call your transportation leaders have all your drivers report to the main gate parking area to take you and your people home. Please tell the families of those who were lost I grieve with them and wish I could be with them all during this time of loss. Please advise me of the family plans for burial of their loved ones. Now you guys go and get your men ready to go home Mac and I will remain with Brian and his men until final disposition is made with the federal troops. I will keep you advised of any change in status here. As Tim and the boys walked to meet with their units Mac turned to Goldie and said victory isn’t always easy Top, but you can be proud of our people, they understand liberty comes with a price sometimes. Goldie replied so it has been from the founding of our republic.

The detail had completed their work and rations were ready for the prisoners. Goldie said Mac lets accompany the detail inside to see that all goes well. Inside the prisoners were given their rations and told to assist their wounded. They had prepared more than enough for all so Goldie and the guard detail also ate a good warm meal apart from the prisoners. It was a quiet and somber time for all. Afterwards Tim came inside and said our transportation is here and the dead and wounded are being prepared for the ride home. Goldie said Mac and I will come to see you off. Goldie and Mac walked to the men assembled waiting to board the vehicles for the ride home. As they approached the troops, some fifteen thousand in all, rose as one to hold their hats high and greet them with a loud chorus of cheers. The drivers mostly old men, farmers and such, added their voices to those of the troops. For a moment he stood silent before the men then said your courage is immeasurable and you met your responsibilities well. I ask you to continue your service while home by supporting those families whose loved ones were lost. Give them our love and let them know our hearts are with them now and forever. Now go spend time with your loved ones and remember those who were lost.

He and Mac stayed and watched as the vehicles came and went until the last of the men had left for their homes then turned and walked back to join Brian and his people. Once inside Brian told them the commander wants to know if he can contact their parent unit. Goldie said bring him and his second in command and we will discuss it with him. The colonel and a major came walking over to them and was told to take a seat at the table. He asked the colonel have you not notified your command that you were engaged in a firefight? The colonel replied yes he had advised his command of the engagement but had not contacted them again since. So they are unaware of your units failed mission? The colonel replied I advised we were attacked and that our forces were advancing towards your positions. Mac asked the major was there any other contact made? The major replied no there has been no contact since.

While Mac had been questioning the major Goldie had written a short message down. He handed it to the colonel and said read it out loud. The colonel read, Our mission has failed. I led my men into an ambush which ended with four thousand seven hundred ninety three of my men and forty eight united nations troops dead. Myself and those that survived are being held prisoners. You will be advised of the place and terms for our release at a later date. Any act of aggression towards our captors will result in the deaths of all those being held prisoner, end of message. Goldie told Brian bring his radio transmitter here.

Once the radio was located and operational Goldie pointed his m16 at the colonel and said contact your headquarters and identify yourself to them. Once that is done you are to read this message word for word. I caution you, add one word to this message and it will be the last word you ever say, understood. The colonel shakily replied yes understood. Now Goldie said contact your command. The colonel raised his command on the radio, once done he identified himself, read the message exactly as written then stopped. Goldie reached for the radio and interrupted the questions of the person on the other end. You have your instructions, follow them and your men will be spared then He broke the connection.

Take them and put them with the others I can’t stand the smell of a cowardly traitor. He said Mac have some men remove this radio transmitter from the building and secure it in our vehicle, we may have use for it later. Then he turned to Brian and said have your men check their trucks to see if there are rations or supplies we can use then secure all their weapons and supplies in one of the other buildings for the time being. After that is done there will be no reason for all your men to remain. We need only to keep enough manpower to secure these prisoners and the area. Call for transportation and let all but a thousand of your people go home to their families. Brian called his command leaders together and advised them of the jobs to be finished and said lets get the work done while I get transportation here to take the men home.

Goldie said Mac, call our old squad together while I try to contact Richard. Mac said they are never very far from us. He waved at the men and called them together. The captain answered the radio call and said Richard is here too how does it look on your end. Goldie advised him of the status of things and of the message sent to the federal command in Pennsylvania. He advised we have sent most of our people home with those we lost. Richard asked what were your casualties and the losses of the federal force. When Goldie advised him of the more than four thousand dead federal troops and the forty eight dead united nations officers the captain said well they learned a costly lesson today. They lost over two thousand here and we have a thousand prisoners as well. Richard said some of their trucks and transports are operational what do you think about bringing them all to your location and held for release there. Goldie said good a place as any and we can control access here. Richard advised we are in the process of cleaning up and will be on our way within the hour.

Boy I could go for a Pepsi right about now Goldie said. Mac said just happen to have one in my pack then handed him the can of soda. Mac laughed and said Goldie all you ever needed to keep you going was a Pepsi and a smoke. Goldie said I always knew Grace was home waiting to answer all my dreams, now all that has changed but I still have the boys. They all sat down under a large maple tree and relaxed and discussed the results of the operation. One of the men said sometimes plans work out sometimes they don’t, but this time everything went exactly as we had hoped. Another said our losses were nothing compared to theirs, yet to our families who lost a loved one their lives have been changed forever. Another said he couldn’t help but wonder how many lives will be changed before this time of trial will end. Goldie said let us hope the one who controls all things will shorten these days.

An hour or more passed when Mac said sounds like traffic coming. One of the sentries called in to say we have company coming, looks like it is the boys from over Indiana way. Mac said send them on in we will pick them up here. Richard and the captain along with Wallace and Scott were in the lead vehicle as they approached the warehouse area. Goldie and his men met them as they dismounted their vehicle. All shook hands and congratulated one another on the success of their operations. Wallace asked where do you want the bodies put? Mac said the dead go into the red building with the others, the prisoners go into the green building on the left. Wallace told his men where to put the bodies then said take a detail for security but have the prisoners carry their dead and wounded into the buildings.

While that was being done Goldie and Mac took Richard and the others into the building where the bodies were being safeguarded then on to the other building where the prisoners were secured. Richard said we have a real problem on our hands. There’s seven thousand bodies in there and another thousand prisoners many of whom are wounded. Mac said maybe we should just get their vehicles running, load them all up, and let them head back home on their own. Wallace said that may not be a bad idea, especially if their wounded are able to travel. Richard said a better idea might be to load them up and show them the way to Wright Patterson then let those people get them home. Goldie said that might work, we could tell our people here to allow them safe passage to the base. The others agreed the shorter trip was the most workable solution.

Richard said well we know we had enough vehicles to bring our prisoners here, so lets have the men determine if there are sufficient vehicles to carry the rest. Mac said we had our mortars and rockets hit their fuel tankers and supply trucks to initiate our assault. Some of their personnel carriers may have sustained damage but most should be useable because we quickly lifted the heavy fire and harassed them with small arms in order to draw them after us. Richard said your plan worked and your men carried it out to perfection. Brian said my people can determine how many vehicles can be used and we will get right to it. Within a few minutes brain returned to say nearly all the troop carriers were serviceable and one fuel tanker did notepad so all their vehicles can be refueled and ready to move. My people are refueling them now and will assemble them in front of the warehouses when finished.

Richard said we will have the prisoners load all the weapons we took onto trucks so you can take them back for some who may need them. Wallace said always have need for weapons. Mac said we have about four hours till dark, how long will the trip take. Goldie said only an hour if all goes well. Wallace said then we may as well get this job underway. The first of the vehicles had refueled and were moving into position in front of the warehouses. Goldie said Mac have your squad assist Brian and use the prisoners to load their dead first then those incapable of helping themselves and the walking wounded. The process went smoothly as the trucks were readied and within an hour all the prisoners from both operations had been put aboard a vehicle.

The Commander of the Pennsylvania brigade was brought before them. He was advised of their destination and approximate travel time then put aboard a vehicle. Brian said He would have four of his men escort them to the gates if need be. Wallace said more than they would have done for us but still a good idea. Mac said off with them then. One by one the vehicles moved out until all had cleared the base and were out of sight. Richard turned to the group and said we lost several men this time but all agreed it could have been far worse. Our intelligence has been reliable and our suppliers have never let us down. We will win this struggle he said, I can feel the tide turning in our favor.