War!

By Nathan Bryson
December 16, 1942 Guadalcanal Island
Fire at will! I heard my commander rasp over the sounds of
the battle. Parts of bodies are flying everywhere. I am so dirty and
covered with blood my own mother wouldnt be able to recognize
me. Then, white, hot pain chorused through my body and
everything went black.
December 8, 1941 Detroit, Michigan
Ian, come listen to this! my mother yelled. I scurried
downstairs, raced past all the garland that was hung up in our
house and dashed into the kitchen. Just as I ran in, I heard the
words that shocked the country.

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a date which will live in

infamy-the United States of America was deliberately and
suddenly attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan,
President Roosevelt declared over the radio. He continued for a
couple more minutes, but I didnt really pay attention. I was still in
shock that the Japanese would attack us.
As soon as he was done, I went up to my bedroom to start
packing. After I was done, I came back into the kitchen with my
bag in tow. Just as I was about to walk out the door, my mom
asked where I was going. I told her I was going to become a
marine. She persisted in trying to get me to change my mind but
it was made up and I walked out the door. As I was walking to the
nearest recruiting office I started to wonder what the gist of the
war would be like.
December 15, 1941 San Diego, California

If you want to be a marine youre going to have to work for

it! The sergeant yelled. Today you will be issued your rifle, a .30
caliber M1 Garand. Fallout! As I ran back to my rack (a military
term for a bunk) I thought about getting my rifle. We have to be
at mess hall at 0630, or 6:30 am standard time. That gave me
fifteen minutes to wonder what brandishing a rifle would be like.
February 28, 1942 Java Island
Private First Class Ian Lion, said my sergeant.
Here, I replied. Finally, I breathed to myself. Five-hundred
marines, including myself and five-hundred army soldiers are the
US forces. We are being aided in our attack by the British, the
Dutch, and the Australians in our invasion of Japanese controlled
Java Island. As we climbed into the LCU (landing craft utility) and
started to sail toward shore the Japanese started firing at us. I
wanted to savor the moment, but I knew I couldnt because soon I
would be firing at them. The commander on Java was Hitoshi
Imamura, renowned Japanese general. His versatile troops often
won and consistently had minimal casualties. He had about thirty
five thousand troops while we had only thirty two thousand troop
in the combined Allied Forces. Despite the fact I knew there were
many seasoned generals monitoring the action, I knew this
wouldnt be easy. When we got about one hundred yards from the
shore I loaded my rifle. I knew I had eight shots before I had to
reload, so I decided to use my shots wisely and to only fire at
things I knew were Japanese soldiers.
When we hit the shore it felt like the world just blew up
around me. After about thirty seconds I heard that familiar ping of
the rifle being empty. I dropped to my chest and shoved the next
cartridge in. All over I saw friends fall either dead or severely
wounded. There was so much blood you could probably walk
across the whole beach without once touching the sand. After a
couple of hours I got a quick look at the town the Japanese were
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based in. It was very quaint, but also

looked very dilapidated. It
looked like the Japanese had blown it up before making it their
headquarters. Now that I think about it, they probably did. After
another few more hours of on and off fighting we were ordered
back to the ship. We soon found that there were only about one
hundred US soldiers left, the rest being dead or captured. We soon
retreated back to Australia, losing the Battle of Java.

June 15, 1942 Oakland, California

Fall in! I heard my commander yell. I took off from the
mess hall where I was eating my lunch to go to the meeting place.
When I got to the meeting place (it was the stump of an old tree) I
noticed the commander was already there. When everyone had
arrived he announced that we were not going to be needed for a
long time. That brought up a large cheer from the guys, thinking
about what had happened at Java, those few months ago.
September 4, 1942 Oakland, California
I wonder if Moms food is still the same, I thought to myself
as I boarded the train for Detroit. I hope so; I need a break from
the insipid food they give us, I added. After about five hours of
being on the train I arrived at Detroits Central Station. After a
short walk I arrived at my house. I soon found out that Moms
food was still amazing.
December 15, 1942 Guadalcanal Island
As we began the march to Henderson Field after being
deployed to Guadalcanal to aid the soldiers there, we knew there
would still be hurdles to leap. As we came within one hundred
miles of the airport we decided to settle down for the night. We
set up camp and soon fell asleep.
December 16, 1942 Guadalcanal Island
We awoke to the sounds of an ambush. I grabbed my rifle
and rushed out of my tent. I soon saw my commander and asked
him what was happening. He told me we were being attacked by
the Japanese. Soon after I heard him tell us to fire at will. The
Japanese are such a chronic pain, I thought to myself. That was
also the last thing I thought before white hot pain chorused
through my body and everything went black.
January 2, 1943 Detroit, Michigan
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Where am I? I asked to nobody in particular. Just then my

dad walked in and I asked him where I was.
Youre in your bed, he replied. Then it hit me. I had been
wounded and I had been discharged from the military. I then
asked where I had been wounded.
Well, a piece of shrapnel hit your leg, slicing it open. The
doctors were able to repair it by stitching it together, he told me.
Also, you arent in the military anymore so you get to stay here
for the rest of the war. Lastly, you were awarded the Purple
Heart.
What do you mean I was awarded a Purple Heart?
You earned it because you were wounded in battle. You
fought bravely and fiercely for your country.