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Finally they arrive at a loading dock area, and the Colonel lights a cigarette, offers the pack to the young Specialist next to him who declines with a mumbled no thanks. The Dock has two machine gun emplacements and looks out on a parking lot turned into a vehicle depot for the roving patrols the Battalion can still muster, there is too much ground to cover with concentrated troop deployments so choppers and vehicles fill what gaps they can.

“Where is Sgt Anderson now?”

“I don’t know sir, he told me to wait for reassignment, said he was gonna get payback, and was heading to the helipad.”

“I see, Stay here son.”

O’Malley waved to a young second Lieutenant who was running the depot and spoke to him for several seconds. The Lieutenant rushed off shouting orders, and the troops in the area, began loading a humvee with spare gas tanks, mre’s and ammo. O’Malley watched for several minutes pointed to two soldiers near by and told them to grab there gear and get in the humvee. He finished his smoke and walled back to Kennedy.

‘Son, I’m giving you a direct order to take command of that humvee and those men. I want you to reconnoiter from Scranton down to Wilmington Delaware; you will engage the enemy only when engaged. This is a sneak and peek mission, do not go Rambo on me, Spec Kennedy. Stay in touch via radio every 2 hours.”

O’Malley took a note book from his pocket and wrote down a quick message, and handed it to Kennedy. “In case you get stopped by any military roadblocks”

Kennedy stared for as moment, “why me sir?”

“Why not? Now carry on and good luck, the 10th is counting on you”

The two men saluted and separated, one to go home, one to continue the fight until he had no breath to give, but he had hope, because of Wilmington! Wilmington led to the sea. A march to the sea and salvation for as many as he could save.