I owed this to my nation, wife and her majesty to defeat the antagonist and bring peace and prosperity to the local Afghans. I continued to endure the radiant glow of the fiery ball in the sky which had become a constant battle of oppression and was making this seemingly impossible task al the lot harder. I kept sweating like a pig as we climbed up on to the roof top, which from here gave us an unprecedented view of the surrounding areas. The bullets kept on coming in and they almost hit my head but I managed to dodge them with lighting reflexes. The speed and velocity of the bullets was tremendous as I struggled to maintain the ability to counter attack it was all hands on deck.
The compound became a graveyard as the fatalities continued to rise, all around me my mates were dying; I became helpless and started to wonder if God would ever be on my side. I then looked up towards the heavens above and said to God “Dear God if you hear me grant me victory today AMEN”. We were coming under siege this was becoming futile and added to the hostilities and created tension as Sgt. Paul Cauldridge condemned my worst nightmare that we might not get out of here alive. Over an hour passed and I remained the only one left in the platoon I thought it was time to run back to base but I wasn’t going to give up that easily.
I was becoming exhausted, thirsty and worst of all sick. I stopped fire and hid behind the entrance to the rooftop and lay there for 5 minutes. I could hear no sign of the enemy and looked above at the damage and devastation caused to a peace loving farming community. My heart sank and I wept for the villagers and what had become of their crops, their livelihoods destroyed. I optimised the Taliban and their sick manipulative scheme it made my stomach churn as to how anybody could be so sick.
I trudged back to base not knowing what tomorrow would bring and as to the extent of how lucky I am to escape with my life. I punched the air and shouted “Damn!!!”
I believed that my fellow soldier’s deaths should be avenged. I caught a glimpse from the corner of my eye and could see the sinewy figure of two men in the distance. I ran after them like a lion pouncing on it’s pray. As I reached within fifty feet of them and I realised that there was the Taliban leader Abdul Majad and Osama bin Laden. They ran for their lives, as they were defenceless and I pounced on them. For over 1500 meters of scorching desert I sprinted after them; seeking to avenge the deaths of my fellow men.
They stumbled to the ground as they saw my Ak-47, they feared for their lives and were in a frantic but yet anxious situation they didn’t know what was coming next. I mustered every ounce of strength left within my body and shot both of them in the head. I didn’t feel like a hero. Far from the reality of my actions. I collapsed to the ground and there I lay failing to comprehend what I’d just done. My nation rejoiced after hearing news of my actions. It’s a difficult decision to take someone’s life. This is the story of my struggle a 22 year old man who had evolved from a shy young boy into a hero who would be remembered forever.
