Chapter+1


 * Three Soldiers**


 * My name is Joe Hernandez, me and my buddies Efrain Sergio found an apartment right after we got out of college. I still remember the beautiful balcony… my buddies and I would sit there and just look at everything around us. There were days when we would stay up late and watch movies (mostly action movies because Efrain would always have nightmares after a horror movie). One night while we were watching a football game Sergio came in and he asked me, “Hey Joe have you seen the news?” I replied “Nah! I’m tired of seeing the same old weird things everyday, it’s always either about a celebrity who was put in jail or another panda who had a baby at the zoo!” We laughed for about ten minutes straight and Sergio smacked me in the head. He said, “No dude its nothing about any dumb thing going on”. I gave him a funny look and he sat next to me and he said “No for real, haven’t you heard?”. “About what?”, I asked. “The war in Iraq is getting worse and worse they’re sending more and more troops.” he replied. “Well then why don’t we join!” said Efrain. The three of us looked at each other.. we stayed quiet.. then all of the sudden we all said “Lets go!”. For the next few days we found more information about it, and the three of us joined, ready to fight for our country.. or at least that’s what we thought we were doing… A week later we were sent off on our way to Iraq, eager, but also a little nervous.

We got there and right away we began to organize what we were going to do and what places we were going to go. For the first days some soldiers were nice enough to give us a little info on what exactly was going on so we wouldn’t be surprised. “The three of you are so brave, not a lot of men actually sign up for this”. I smiled and I felt a sense of pride inside me. So that night me and my buddies went into our base.. we tried to sleep but we couldn’t, the sounds of shootings and explosions were awfully loud. The next day was one of the worst because my buddies and I were separated into different groups and were given our missions. “ Buddies, be careful out there”, I told them as a tear slid down my cheek, “We might not be together but remember the two of you are in my heart”, Efrain gave me a really tight hug and so did Sergio. “You will be in our hearts too” they said. I watched them walk away into their groups. The next few weeks were horrible, I saw so many soldiers on the ground… the dirt beginning to turn a reddish color from all the blood that was being spilled… The weeks, months, went by so slowly , I thought the war was never going to end.. there were nights when I just thought about giving up.. I was losing hope that things were going to get better. My thoughts changed the next morning as I walked into a dirt road.. in the distance I saw two men walking towards me but I couldn’t really make out their faces until they started running towards me.. it was Sergio and Efrain. “Hey!! I haven’t seen you in years!!!” I shouted with joy. “I know!!” Sergio said. “Things are so bad.. man I’ve seen so many dead .. its awful..” he said with a sad expression. “Yea.. but even though we are surrounded by death we have to survive and go on”, I said. Efrain smiled at me and said, “Yea, you are right”. They both had to go back to their base so again we said goodbye, “Take care man!!” they shouted as they walked away. “You too!!” I replied. That night the bombings got worse… the scent of burning bodies almost caused me to pass out. It was a cold rainy night and I could hardly see as I was followed by my companions through the forest. All of the sudden, we heard loud explosions near us so we started to run “Everyone!!! Get ready for attack!!” I shouted. We all started shooting at the hidden men that were setting off the bombs. The shooting went on for about half an hour.. I started seeing more and more bodies on the ground.

There was another loud explosion near by and I heard a loud familiar voice that called my name “Jooooooeeee!!!!!”. I quickly ran to it even though it was so hard to see. I desperately looked around and there he was… Sergio was lying next to a tree covered in blood. I quickly went to his aid “Where were you hit?!” I asked. “I don’t know man.. everything hurts so bad…”,he said in a slow soft voice. Just as I was about to lift him up he whispered “Don’t worry about me… I’m going to be okay..” I held him in my arms .. “I have to get you to safety”, I said. “No, you have to keep going, I know you will survive”, he whispered. Tears slid down my cheeks as he took his last breaths… “You are a brother to me... I…..I…” his voice faded as he passed away in my arms. I cried and cried… The next day my world came crashing down … a soldier came in to my tent to tell me the bad news.. “Your friend Efrain has passed away… I’m so sorry”, he said. I broke down I couldn’t believe god had just taken away my 2 best friends.. … “Are you sure of this?”, I asked desperately. “We would never make a mistake with that Sir..”. I cried myself to sleep for days.. I had to make sure the got home for their families to see one last time. One morning I woke up really thirsty and there was no water to be found so I grabbed the keys for the truck and I decided to find some water myself…as I started the car.. I saw my whole life flash before my eyes.. then everything went black…**
 * By: Sandra Garcia**

Works Cited:"Letters Home from Iraq", Ap USA today research, Ron Coddington http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/letters_iraq/flash.htm