The entire squad had barely got back from breakfast when two MPs arrived. They escort Sgt. Collins away without any explanation. Sgt. Collins only had time to make eye contact with Mick and told him, “You’re in charge.”
Mick had been a sergeant for another squad for only a short time before ending up in the stockade. He knew his first order of business was to keep C4 busy. If he didn’t, they would turn into a bunch of old ladies creating rumors about what happened to their sergeant and what would happen to them.
Mick set out assigning different cleaning duties around the hooch. This lasted until noon mess.
Upon their return, they all gathered in the rear of the hooch. Where a makeshift table and chairs were set up as a place where the guys could hang out.
Dave lit a joint and took a hit before passing it on to Sparky.
Sparky took a hit, then released the smoke out slowly. He asked Mick, “Do you think they are going to let the Sarge remain our team leader?” Before passing the joint to Mick.
“I don’t know.” Mick didn’t take a hit; he just passed it on to Shadow.
Shadow asked, “What did he do so wrong that prompted the brass to send the MPs?”
Ruben took the joint and said, “Could it be how the Sarge disrespected that lieutenant at the mess hall?”
“If it was so, he would have been in the stockade before we were sent out on our last mission.” Mick stated.
Shadow reached over and took the joint from Ruben. “I think it was because you guys forced me to help you steal the Colonel’s jeeps?” Shadow took a second hit before giving it to Pham.
“You stole a Colonel’s jeep?” Pham exclaimed.
“We didn’t steal them. The Sarge just interpreted when the Colonel said, ‘Use available resources.’” Mick said.
Dave took the joint. “Okay, Mick, you’ve seen more action than any of us. What do you think they are going to do to Sarge?”
“The Army likes to give risky assignments to those who accomplish more than assigned.” Sgt. Psycho said, standing in the rear door of the hooch.
The Sergeant’s words caused Dave to drop the joint. He scrambled to pick it up.
“What happened?” asked several of the team members in a choir like fashion.
“We were afraid they threw you in the stockade.” Mick said.
Psycho put his hands up. “Relax. I’m here and we have some Army business to prepare for. First, who here has gone through Ranger training, raise your hands?”
Mick and Sparky both proudly raised their hands.
“Are they splitting us up?” Ruben asked.
“C4 has been upgraded to a special operations squad while remaining part of Capt. Phillips’ logistics group.”
“Doesn’t the Bible say something about not being able to serve two masters?” Dave asked.
“Leave those details to me. Our little trip to the Ashou Valley and back impressed some higher-ups. If we play our cards right, we can pick and chose what mission to go on.”
“We passed some kind of test?” Sparky asked.
“We more than passed the test.” Psycho nodded with a large smile. “We will be doing more than long-range recon patrols.”
“What more are we going to be doing?” Sparky asked impatiently.
“That will come in time. For right now, I have even got a name change. You will no longer refer to me as Sgt. Collins. I have been given the codename of Sgt. Psycho. C4 now has the radio call sign of Psych Ward.”
“Sarge, you’re confusing us.” Mick said.
“As soldiers, we are taught not to understand the reason for our orders, but to follow them. I can assure you here and now; we are on our way to be one kick-ass squad that gets the job done without losing a man.”
The expression on everyone’s face looked similar to when they got off the bus at boot camp.
Ruben couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He looked at Dave. “Did you put some LSD in that pot?”
Dave shook his head no.
Sgt. Psycho continued with his address to C4. “I can tell you this much: our assignments will get less and less within the norm of the regular Army. When that time comes, I want each and every one of us to be ready for whatever is given to us. Now pass me that joint. I need to take a hit.”
All of C4 stared in disbelief as their leader took a long, slow drag on the joint. At the same time they had trouble taking in the words they had just heard come out of his mouth.
Mick didn’t speak. He waited for Psycho to pass what remained of the joint to Dave before he asked, “What kind of assignments?”
“I’ll let you know when I get them.” Psycho continued. “Who has gone through Advance Combat training?”
Mick and Sparky raised their hands.
Looking at Mick and Sparky. “I need the two of you to put together a practice course that includes obstacles and a firing range as soon as possible. This squad needs to be working as one as soon as possible.”
Mick’s face got even more contorted. “Even the Mac V guys don’t have their own training course.”
“A good number of those guys get killed off during each mission. That’s not going to happen to us.”
“That is why we are going to prepare ourselves so not one of us leaves here in a body bag. I need you and Sparky to plan out a training course similar to what you went through stateside. Make it with three live-fire stations and have at least a couple of miles between each firing range. Make each station different enough so that when we do get an assignment, we can handle whatever they throw at us.”
“Where is this training ground going to be?”
“I think it will need to be built outside the base parameter. Have it include some jungle in one station, a rice paddy at another, and find us a deserted village another time. Have us go between each and shoot from different positions.”
“That’s a pretty tall order, Sarge,” Mick said.
“Since you and Sparky are our most experienced soldiers, it makes since the two of you know what is needed in an excellent training course.”
“Does that mean I can blow things up for practice?” Sparky asked.
“Yes, you can blow things up. You can put together a list of explosives for you to carry with you. Work with Mick on putting together a list of weapons and ammo that will make C4 the most efficient. Give that list to Dave. He will be in charge of our supplies. And Dave, if you have any trouble getting anything, let me know.”
Sgt. Psycho turned to walk back into the hooch.
“What should the rest of us be doing?” Ruben shouted.
“You can help the rest of your teammates with whatever they need. If nothing else, clean your weapons and gear.”
Sgt. Psycho left C4 inspired and at a loss as to what their future would look like.
