A Marine Called Jason
(Revised)
by: Peter

(© 2007-2015 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 97
At College 

How It Happened 

“You had no right to read my letters!” Devon yelled at his roommate.

“They were laying out, like an open invitation!” Chad Lueken yelled back.

“That gave you no right….!”

“You know what I think?” Chad interrupted him.  “I think you wanted me to find them and read them. I think this is your way of coming out, and this angry indignation is a bullshit cover.  Maybe you’re coming out because your boyfriend isn’t around and you want some of this,” he said, grabbing the front of his briefs.

“Get real!” Devon scoffed

“Fucking Theresa Knowles was just a big show, wasn’t it, to cover this up. You’re not even bi, you’re gay,” he said, grabbing the letters and shaking them in Devon’s face.

Devon grabbed the letters out of his hand.

Kyle tapped on the door then opened it.  “I heard yelling.  What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Just a little disagreement,” Devon said.

“What’s going on?” Kyle asked again, this time directing his question to Chad.

“Chad thought it was his privilege to read my letters,” Devon said.

“Your brother’s a fag.  Did you know that?”

Kyle saw the pained look on Devon’s face and it cut him like a knife.

“Let’s walk,” he said.  He looked at Chad.  “I want you gone when we get back.”

“This is my room, dude.”

Kyle grabbed him by his neck.  “Gone!  You got it? Gone for the night!  I’ll be using your bed tonight.”

“You can’t……”

Kyle tightened his grip till the boy began turning funny colors. “Gone, motherfucker!  Sleep in a goddamn dumpster!” he said in a dangerously calm tone. He let go and motioned for Devon.  Just before they left the room he turned back to Chad.  "One more thing, if I hear one word about this on campus, you are serious dead meat." 

Chad looked away.

“You fucked a girl, huh?” Kyle said as they walked across the lawn.

“Yeah.  Chad arranged it.”

“What was your point? What about Jake?”

“Nothing’s going to change how I feel about Jake.”

“Then why’re you doing this? Why’re you still trying to come across as bi, when you’re head over heels for Jake?”

“I thought it would just make life easier if I created a façade,” Devon said.

“You’re still putting way too much emphasis on labels, and worrying about what other people think,” Kyle said. “Why don’t you just be Devon.  Devon, who likes whatever kind of sex you like, and it don’t matter if it’s with a guy or a girl.  I’m straight, but I don’t turn down a good blowjob once in a while when it’s offered.”

“I just wish we were rooming together,” Devon said.

“We agreed we would live our own separate lives when we went to college.”

“Well, life’s sure as hell not going to be easier now,” Devon said.  “I’m dead meat. By the time Chad tells all of his friends…..”

“I’ll take care of Lueken,” Kyle cut in.

But it was too late.  By the next night, Devon was getting calls from guys on campus, not to mention those who dropped by his room.  He ignored them and put them off till he went to see his brother to tell him about it.

“You know I hate you taking care of me, Kyle, but this is gonna get out of hand real quick.  I need your help.”

“Go back to your room; I’ll be right there,” Kyle told him.

When Kyle went to Devon’s room he was laying on his bunk, on his stomach, his face to the wall.  He stepped in front of Chad who was sitting on his bed. 

“I'll deal with you later.  Right now, tell me the names. And room numbers,” Kyle demanded, standing squarely in front of Chad in a menacing stance.

“I didn't mean to say anything.  Seriously, it just came out. I told them not to say anything."

"Names.  Room numbers," Kyle said again.

“I don’t know all of their names,” Chad said.

“Then those you do know,” Kyle said.

"Actually, it’s just been….Brandon Shearer and….Godd, he's going to kill me."

"He won't have a chance," Kyle said.  "And who else?"

"Wardlaw Alexander,” Chad said.

“Wardlaw? What the fuck kind of name is that?”

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t make fun of his name. You should see this guy.  He’s got muscles in his shit,” Devon chimed in.

“We’ll see about that after I’ve kicked the shit out of him,” Kyle said.

Devon turned over and sat up.  “Kyle, I don’t want you getting hurt.  This isn’t your fight,” he said.

“The hell it isn’t. Your fight will always be my fight.  What’s this Wardlaw guy’s room number?”

"Look, we've already agreed, your brother and I are going to change roommates," Chad began as a last ditch effort.

"That's highly unlikely any time soon.  Room number," Kyle said again.

“Twenty-two,” Chad said. When Kyle started to leave Chad got up from his bed, a leering grin on his face, almost evil.

“I don’t need any help,” Kyle said.He didn't understand the grin.

“No, I wanta see this.  If you do kick the shit out of Alexander, I wanta be there to see it.  Or the other way around," he added.

Kyle understood.  Chad was hoping to see him get the shit kicked out of him.

“You know what?  I want you out of my sight,” Kyle said, his voice dripping with venom. “In fact, when I come over to see my brother from now on, when you see me walk in the door, I want you out the door.”

“Kyle, I wish you wouldn’t do this,” Devon said.

“You know I have to,” Kyle said.

At room twenty-two, Kyle tapped on the door. A young-looking, blondish boy answered the door.  He was in his shorts, revealing a good body, but not what Kyle was expecting in the way of Wardlaw who was supposed to have muscles in his shit.

“Are you Wardlaw Alexander?”

“No. He’s in the shower. Can I tell him who’s here?”

“No, don’t bother. I’ll just wait for him,” Kyle said, pushing into the room.  “You need to get dressed and leave.”

The guy reared back with a frown. “Excuse me? You’re in my room, dude.  I’m studying.”

“That’s right. I’m in your room and you're leaving.  Take your books and go to the lounge.”  When the boy hesitated, Kyle walked over and picked up the open book from his desk, slammed it shut and shoved it hard into the boy’s stomach.  “Do you wanta walk to the lounge or do you want me to haul your ass down there?”

“You know, you’re threatening me,” the boy said, taking the book.

“You’re catching on.  It remains only whether you take that threat seriously.”

“I should call the campus police,” the boy said as he was going toward the door.

“No, you shouldn’t,” Kyle said in a low, even tone as he whirled around.  “That would not be a good idea at all.”

The boy exited the room and vanished down the hallway.  By the time Kyle was turned around, Wardlaw Alexander was coming out of the bathroom. He blinked but showed no more surprise. The guy did have muscles in his shit.

“Hey, guy,” he said. Then noticing that his roommate was gone, he asked, “Where’s Cody?”

“He went to the lounge to study,” Kyle said.

 “Oh, then you’re not a friend of his.”

“No.”

“Then you would be a friend of…..?  That would help explain why you’re in our room.”

“I’m here to see you,” Kyle said.

“Oh. Well, you know my name, which leaves me at a disadvantage, because I don’t know yours.”

“Courter.  Kyle Courter. I wanta talk to you about Devon Seaborne.”

Wardlaw’s face lit up.  “Ah, yes, Devon.  Have a seat, I’ll get us a beer and we’ll talk about Devon.”  He got two beers out of the small refrigerator and handed one to Kyle.  “I’m finally gonna hook up with the little faggot.  Damn, he’s got a hot ass.  I can’t wait to fuck him.”  He groped his naked crotch.  “He’s gonna squeal like a pig when I shove this big tool up that tight little ass.”

“I don’t think so,” Kyle said as he tilted the beer to his lips.

Wardlaw laughed.  “Oh, you think not?  You think he can take this without even a whimper?” he said, pulling on his sizeable, rubbery cock.

“We won’t ever know, ‘cause you’re not gonna shove it up his tight little ass. And if you call him a faggot again, I’m gonna shove this beer bottle up your ass.”

“Hey, wait a minute. What’re you here for, if it’s not….who the fuck are you anyway?”

“I told you, I’m Kyle Courter.  I’m Devon Seaborne’s brother.”

“Oh, Fuck! Fuck, I didn’t know….you've got different last names.” But then his smile widened. “But hey, that shouldn’t change anything, does it? You probably know all about him, being his brother. He wants it.  Hell, he’s been practically begging for it.”

“I somehow doubt that.  Look, I’m here to get one thing straight. When I said I’m Devon’s brother, I mean I’m his brother in the worst way.  Nobody fucks with him.  Nobody.  If you approach him in any way, or mention this to anybody, or if you ever call him a faggot or even hint to anybody that he is a faggot, I will break your bones.  If I don’t get the job done--you are a big guy--well, my father is a combat Marine and his father is a Navy SEAL.  I don’t have to tell you what deadly force they’re capable of. One word from me and either of them will drop you like a feather.  Do you get my point?”

“Yeah. Yeah, okay.  I don't wanta fuck with the Marines or the SEALs,” he said, with a fearful look, his hands out in a helpless gesture.  “I was just going to have some fun, thought he wanted it, but I’ll back off. Not another word, I promise.”

“Good. Thanks.”

“Thanks?” he asked with a bewildered look.

“Yeah, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to tangle with you.”

The big stud broke out laughing. “Hey, fucker, you’re okay,” he said, offering his hand for a high five. He lowered it when Kyle didn’t high five him.  “Hey, it’s good you look after your brother like that. I respect that.”

“What’s Brandon Shearer’s room number?” Alexander hesitated. "Don’t fuck around with me," Kyle warned.

“He’s in room 34, second floor.”

Kyle walked out without another word. He bounded upstairs and strode down the hall to number 34.  Nobody came to the door when he knocked.  He knocked again.

“I’m busy!”

Kyle knocked again. Then again, a little harder. Suddenly the door opened and there stood a tall, lean youth with a towel around his waist.  There was a noticeable bulge under the towel.  Kyle saw a girl on the bed with a sheet pulled up over her.

“Dammit, are you deaf? I said I’m busy.”

“Not anymore,” Kyle said as he barged in.  He looked at the girl.  “I see he’s worked you in between his boyfriends.”

“Hey, who the fuck are you? What are you saying?” the boy yelled.

Kyle pointed to the girl.  “Miss, if you can’t stand the sight of blood, you’d better get dressed and leave.”

“Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing? Why’d you say that to her?”

Kyle waited till the girl got dressed and scurried out, then he closed the door. “I’m Devon Seaborne’s brother. I’ll tell you like I told your buddy, Wardlaw.  Nobody fucks with Devon.  Nobody.  If you hassle him again or if you ever call him a faggot or even hint to anybody that he is a faggot, I will tear your face off with my bare hands.”

“Okay, I don’t want any trouble, but fuck, why’d you have to say that to the girl?”

“She didn’t know you like guys?” Kyle said.

“Fuck, man, you’ve ruined my reputation.”

“Just with the ladies, maybe. You oughta be real popular with the boys,” Kyle said dryly.

He left and headed back to Devon’s dorm.

“It’s over,” Kyle declared.

“What happened?”

“Nothing to speak of,” Kyle replied.  He turned to Chad. “And as for you, prick, I want you to stay out of my brother’s sex life.  He doesn’t need you to find him a piece of ass or a blowjob or any other kind of sex he decides he wants.  Do we understand each other.”

“All right. I didn’t mean to interfere.”

“Well, don’t,” Kyle said.  “If he has even one complaint about you, it’s gonna be you who gets his ass reamed, and in case my brother hasn’t told you, I’m packing ten inches hard.  It’s gonna hurt.”

Chad held up his hands defensively.  “Fuck, man, I’m out of it.  I’ll still even try to get reassigned to another room.”

“You don’t have to. I’d rather see you scramble to leave when I show up.” He walked over and gave Devon a hug.  “See you, Bro.”

“Damn, your brother is a crazy man,” he heard Chad say as he was closing the door. 

How It Happened

The boys were home for a visit. They were relaxing on the porch, drinking beer.  They were home for Devon to announce that he was leaving college and going into the Marines. 

 “Come on, Bro, we gotta talk,” Kyle said as he downed his beer and stood up.

 Devon followed suit and went with him back to the woods

 “We need to get the foot bridge built before I leave, like we promised,” Devon said in a casual tone.

 “Let’s talk about you leaving,” said Kyle.

 “Okay.”

 “Why’re you doing this?” Kyle asked.

 “I can’t handle it at school anymore.”

 “And you think it’ll be any easier in the Marines? You’re jumping from the frying pan into the fire.”

 “Yes, but it’ll be new surroundings.  I’ll have a chance at a fresh start where nobody knows me.”

 “What happened at school? I thought I took care of it with that Wardlaw guy and Brandon what’s-his-name.  Fuck, what a pussy name. If he’s tried anything else……”

 “He hasn’t,” Devon cut in.  “You don’t know the half of it.”

 “What happened then?”

 “It’s my fault.  I have to deal with it the best way I know how.”

 “What happened?” Kyle asked again.

 “You dealt with Wardlaw and Brandon but word was already out. I was a target for too many other guys,” Devon said.

 “What guys?”

 “Just guys. I don’t know their names.  It was just sex, there was no reason to get acquainted with any of them.”

 “Where?” Kyle asked. “I mean, where’d all of this happen?”

 “They came looking for me. I submitted at first, the first few times, and it wasn’t so bad. Then things started getting out of hand. Word was getting around. There were non-students showing up at my room. Guys from in town. And with them it didn’t matter if I was willing or not.”

 “What do you mean?  Did you get hurt?”

 “No, not really.”

 “You’re lying.  The bastards!  I’ll kill them.”

 “You don’t know who they are, Kyle.  I don’t know who they are.”

 “You would recognize them. It’s a small town, we’ll go look for them.”

 “No, I wouldn’t.”

 “Why didn’t you tell me it was getting bad?”

 “I appreciate what you did for me, Kyle, but you can’t take on the world, Kyle.  You can’t fight all my battles for me.”

 “You didn’t tell me what happened that made you decide leave school.  The real reason.”

 “I got ganged a couple of times. It was as much my fault, they assumed I liked it. And I guess I did, in a way.”

 “So, why are you leaving school over it?”

 “I knew it was out of control when I suddenly realized that my name was out there.  It came to a head when three guys showed up. Chad was there. They wouldn’t let him leave. They started in on me, roughing me up. I told them I would do whatever they wanted, but they just liked being rough.”

 When he paused Kyle pressed him.  “You always stop just short of telling me what happened, dammit.”

“They fucked me. They double fucked me. For two hours, over and over again.”

“What about Chad.  He didn’t try to stop it?  Or did he join in?”

"He tried to stop them but they turned on him. They tied him up and gagged him and made him sit and watch.  They said if he tried anything they would do him next.  Chad is straight, that scared the hell out of him.”

“They raped you,” Kyle said.  “You should have told me. You should’ve told somebody, like the campus police.” 

“I didn’t want it to get out.  With the reputation I had, it would’ve been made out to be my fault. They would’ve said I brought it on myself, letting them into my room.”

“Nobody invites that kind of treatment,” Kyle said.

“It wasn’t rape. It was rough sex, forced, but I….I couldn’t help it, Kyle….shit, I got a hardon from it.  Hell, I got off.  That scared me, what I was turning into. Can we just not talk about it?”

"Okay, but why the Marines?  You could transfer to another school.”

“No, I have to find another path altogether. I thought of Dad and Jason, and what they did and went through and gave up.  And you.”

“What about me? I wasn’t a Marine or a SEAL.”

“But you’re so macho, you always came to my rescue. I never came to yours.”

“You didn’t have to, I never got into the fixes that you did,” Kyle said.

“And part of the reason is, Jake joined.”

“Oh, so that’s what this is all about.”

“Partly. I have to find out if I’m made of the same stuff.”

“Well, if you are, the Marines will bring that out.”

“Or if I’m not,” Devon said.

“You are. I hate this, Devon. But I’m proud of you.  Damned proud.”

“It’s like I have to prove to myself that I’m worthy of Jake,” he said.

“Don’t ever let Jake hear you say that,” Kyle said.

“Well, now I have to talk to Dad and Jason and see how they handled it in the military.”

“Well, here’s your chance,” Kyle said, nodding toward the house. Jason and Brad were walking toward the woods. 

We approached the boys while they just stood looking at us.

“You look like two boys who just got caught doing something they shouldn’t have been doing,” I said.

“We were just talking about building the foot bridge,” Devon said.  It sounded lame.

Jason looked at Kyle. “Brad said you seemed rather tight lipped about something.”

Kyle gave his brother an expectant look.  “Are you going to tell them, or am I?”

“I joined the Marines,” Devon said.

I was taken aback. Jason was visibly shaken.

“Dammit, Son! You should've talked to me first," he said.

"I'm old enough to make that decision on my own," Devon said.

Jason sighed, tight lipped.  "Do you know where you're going to be stationed?" he asked.

"Germany.  I guess I'll be facing down the Russians," Devon said, trying to make light of it.

"Not just that.  Germany is a jumping off point to every other trouble spot in Europe and beyond.  There's shit brewing in the Middle East, if they can't keep a lid on it, guess who they’ll send in to clean up the mess.”

“Oh, Vietnam was a picnic,” Devon scoffed.

“Yeah, listen to who’s talking,” Kyle said. 

“I didn’t have any choice,” Jason said.

“You enlisted,” Devon reminded him.

“So did you, Dad,” Kyle reminded me.  “Twice.”

“They would’ve gotten me eventually,” Jason said.

 “And you both extended how many times?” Devon said.

“It was different,” I said.

“It’s always different from one generation to the next. And if one generation listened to the other, we wouldn’t have a country,” said Kyle.

“Just wish me luck, and be proud of me, Dad.” Devon said.

“How can I not be proud of you, Son?  Hell yes I’m proud of you,” Jason said.

“I could really use some advice,” Devon said.

“Anything I can help with.”

 “How did you guys handle it….you know….your close  relationship?”

 We looked at each other. I don’t think we’d ever thought about it before.

“How did we handle it?” I said to Jason.

“Be cautious,” Jason said. “Keep your guard up. Be careful who you trust. Choose your friends carefully.  That’s about the best advice I can give you. It won’t be like on campus. The guys around you in the military won't be tolerant, even if they want to be.”

I caught Kyle’s side glance at Devon and it made me wonder even more what was behind his decision to join the Marines.

“Was there a lot of sex that went on over there?” Devon asked.

“Yes. But it was a different atmosphere.  Guys just didn’t give a fuck. About anything.”

“It was do it before you die,” I said.  Then I opened up and told them about me and Sophomore, and Brant in sniper school, and Sgt. Blackburn.

“You never told me about Sophomore and Blackburn,” Jason said with a scowling smile.

“He probably never had a chance. When you guys were together he probably had his mouth full,” Devon joked.

His remark was totally out of left field and it took us all a second to catch it.

“Devon!” Kyle exclaimed.

“You little prick,” Jason said, laughing, as he lunged at Devon. Devon took off running and Jason ran after him.He caught him at the edge of the creek and they tumbled over the bank. 

“He’s gonna drown him,” Kyle said, laughing. But his laughter waned when he saw my face and his smile disappeared.

“You’re not telling me everything,” I said.  “What’s really behind his decision to join the Marines?”

“Trouble at school.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“I really don’t want to go into it, Dad, without Devon’s permission. He wouldn’t want me to.”

“Trouble at school.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“I really don’t want to go into it, Dad, without Devon’s permission. He wouldn’t want me to. “Let’s just leave it the way it is; he wants Jason to be proud.” 

At Devon’s request, Kyle drove him to catch the bus for Parris Island.  He asked Jason and I not to come along.  Jason got pretty emotional as we stood on the porch and watched them drive off.

“I just hope he doesn’t turn into me,” he said quietly.

“He will,” I said.  “Would that be so bad?”

“He never mentioned going to sniper school. I don’t care if he becomes a Marine and goes Airborne. I just don’t want him to be a sniper.  It’s too damned personal. I don’t want him to carry the images all through life that I have.” He looked at me and he was teared up. “I still have the image, plain as day, of a gaping mouth, laughing, then I hear a shot and his head is gone.”

“You were doing your job,” I said.

“I know.  He’s too damned young.”

“Oh….I see.  How old do you have to be?”

“You had those hits, same as me; how have you dealt with it?” he asked.

I shrugged.  “Not as many as you. I think you were better at it than I was.” I laughed softly, watching the boys drive off.  “Funny how eighteen is too young when we’re our age, but it wasn’t too young when we were eighteen.”

The thing that really surprised me about Devon joining the Marines was that Jason started going to church.

Although they were few and far between, we thoroughly enjoyed Devon’s letters home and Jason surmised that things hadn’t changed all that much since we were in the service. He was very candid in his letters to Jason but our letters back to him couldn’t be in the same tone. 

Dear Dad,

We are told to write home that we are healthy and being treated well. For me that is true.  Healthy doesn’t begin to describe it. The food is good and we get all we want to eat. Most would not consider us being treated well, of course, but as you and Brad know, this is not summer camp. We are being trained to kill and blow things up.  I like it.  This was the right decision for me. You might as well give away my civilian clothes; I’ve put on twenty-two solid pounds and they’re not going to fit. Maybe Kyle can wear them. (I’m smiling).  One thing for certain, Kyle won’t be fighting my fights anymore. (I’m smiling again). 

I am handling the “situation” that I was worried about very well.  The eye candy is incredible and it’s everywhere but we are kept so damned busy that there is no time to think about it. There are brief moments of raging hormones, like when we get in from a long day of grueling training and I’ve had a shower and the testosterone is still pumping, when I want to grab the first naked Marine that comes by and fuck his brains out, but when my head hits the pillow, I’m out like a light. 

I got teamed up with a great combat buddy.  His name is Regis Tower Franklin, III.  He gets a lot of guff over his name. At mail call the mail clerk yells out his full name, loud and clear.  He is real eye candy but I don’t let that get in the way. He also left college to join the Marines. He is from a wealthy family and they had a cow. He is the first in his family to be in the military as far back as he can trace.  You’d think they would be proud of him. We sometimes go running in the evening after chow. He inspired me (challenged me) to do it after I commented how ripped he is. I’m not there yet but I will be by the time I come home on leave. I’ll try to send pictures first so you won’t be so shocked.

That’s it for now. Love you both.

Devon 

“Funny, he conks out when his head hits the pillow but he still goes running on his own time,” Jason remarked.

We didn’t get pictures of Devon till he was close to graduating from jump school. I thought he was waiting to show himself in the best light. We finally got pictures of him and a new buddy at jump school, named Mitch Carson, as well as pictures of his combat buddy from basic, Regis Tower Franklin, III.

“Damn,” I gasped when I saw the first picture Jason handed me which was of Regis.  “If Devon looks anything like that!”

“He does,” Jason said, handing me a picture of Devon. He was standing beside his bunk in his shorts with a towel slung over one shoulder.

“Holy shit, Jason, he’s tight as a drum.”

“One thing for damn sure, he won’t need Kyle to fight his fights anymore,” Jason said.

“I doubt he’s going to be in many fights, built like that. I can’t believe the transformation.”

Jason smiled.  “You don’t remember how the Marines transformed you in basic?”

“I never looked like that,” I said.

He handed me another picture of his buddy at jump school. He was coming out of an outdoor shower, dripping wet, with a towel around his waist.

“I wonder how he’s been handling the situation and his hormones at jump school,” I said.

“I’m sure he’ll tell us when he gets home, if there’s anything to tell.”

We all went to Devon’s graduation from jump school at Fort Benning, including Jake who managed to get a three-day pass. It would be the first time any of us, including Devon, would see Jake since he’d joined the Marines.  We were met by an escort, a young but very tough looking corporal that looked like his uniform had been poured over him.

“Are you Devon Seaborne’s family?”

“Yes,” Jason replied.

“I’m Corporal Bennett, and I am at your disposal for the next twenty-four hours. If there is anything you need, just let me know.  There is a Marine waiting to join you; PFC Jake Studt.”

“Yes, we were expecting to hook up with him,” I said.

“Right over there,” the corporal said, nodding off to the left.

There stood Jake in full dress uniform, grinning from ear to ear. We welcomed him with open arms but there was little time for getting caught up.

“Is one of you Kyle Courter?” the corporal asked.

 “I am,” Kyle answered.

 He took out a small case and opened it.  “These are your brother’s wings.  He wants you to pin them on him.”

 Kyle looked at Jake. 

 Jake nodded and smiled.  “That’s the way it ought to be,” he said.

 The corporal explained that the graduating class would be arriving in a C-130 and be dropped over the parade field.

 “He’s jumping out of an airplane?” Kyle asked.

 “That’s what we’re all about here,” the corporal said.

 “That little showoff,” Kyle muttered.

  “He’s not showing off, sir. It’s his job,” the corporal said.

 The graduation ceremony made everyone pump up with pride. The monstrous C-130 roared into view, and over the parade grounds it opened up and men started jumping out. They descended gracefully to the ground.

“Under normal combat condition they would be doing this with rifles and full packs,” Bennett explained.

"Yeah, my dad was Airborne," Kyle said, nodding to me.

The corporal looked at me. "Then I'm not telling you anything.”

“Not at all, Corporal, I’m sure things have changed,” I said.

“I’ll bet not all that much.  Would you like to go through the plane later?”

“Yes, we would like that.”

The men quickly pulled in and shed their parachutes and were ordered into ranks.  Everyone stood when the colors were marched onto the field and we all saluted except Kyle. There were introductions by the MC, their officers and then important visitors, then the commandant was introduced. 

“I don’t see him,” Kyle said

“Second row, third from the left,” Jake said.

Kyle found him.  “I am so fuckin’ proud of him.”

“Uhh….you’re among civilians, watch your language,” Jake whispered.

“Oh. Sorry.”

"That's all right, we speak the language," the corporal said quietly.

The commandant’s remarks were brief.  The MC asked those who were doing the pinning to do the honors.  The corporal nudged Kyle.  It was one of the proudest moment of my life to watch my son pin the Airborne wings on Jason’s son.  Jason put his arm across my shoulder.

“I guess we didn’t do so bad, did we?”

When the ceremony was over and the troops were dismissed we all went down to greet Devon and congratulate him. I asked him what his plans were.

“I’m free till 0600 hours on Monday,” he said.

I talked to the others, and as a show of appreciation for his attention to us, we invited Corporal Bennett to have dinner with us.  He said he would have to see about getting an overnight pass, but he was sure he could.  At his invitation, we ate lunch in the mess hall with the troops.

“I’m guessing you two are Vietnam. You probably didn’t have these accommodations when you were in,” Bennet said to Jason and me. 

We both laughed.  “No, it was more like a banquet out of a can,” I said.

Corporal Bennett was a good escort. He showed us around the base and took us to the plane but then stood back. “He can show you through,” he said motioning to Devon.

It had to have been the proudest moment of his life for Jason to be escorted through the plane by Devon.  I was bursting with pride myself.  So was Kyle, I could tell.  And Jake.

Devon showed us where he had trained but Corporal Bennett was instrumental in getting into places that Devon couldn’t have taken us.  We were heading off the base in the early evening when a bugle sounded in the distance. Jason was slowing down even before Corporal Bennett told him to.  Everybody piled out.

“What’s going on?” Kyle asked.

“They’re sounding retreat,” Devon said as he snapped to attention and brought his right arm up in a sharp salute.  We all did except Kyle.  It was another extremely proud moment.

Dinner conversation was mostly about the Marines and things military except when Bennett found out that Kyle was in college then he changed the subject to school and academics.

“Well, I guess I’m odd man out,” Kyle said.

“What’s that mean?” Jason asked.

“I’m surrounded by five Marines, all Airborne, and two of them are snipers.”

“Don’t get any ideas,” Devon said. “Four of us in the family is enough, we don’t need any more jarheads in the family.  Somebody’s gotta have the brains. You’re going back to college.” 

I was pleased and impressed that Devon had just included Jake in our family.  I held up my wine glass to Jake in salute. He picked up his glass but with a confused look.

“I think you just got adopted into the family,” I said.

“Oh.” He looked down, embarrassed.  “I thought that was probably a slip of the tongue,” he said.

“I don’t think so.  Was it?” I asked, looking at Devon.

“No,” he replied, looking at Jake.  “No, it wasn’t.” But nothing more was said in Corporal Bennett’s presence.

 I could see that Corporal Bennett and Kyle were getting along very well.  Kyle took me aside.

“Listen, I know you got two rooms, one for you and Jason, and one for us guys. Devon and Jake have been apart for over four months, they need to be alone.  Since Corporal Bennett has an overnight pass, I was thinking perhaps we could get a third room and invite him to stay over.  He's been awfully good about showing us around and all”

I smiled.  “That would be fine. I noticed that you and the corporal have hit it off,” I said with a smile.  “Do you want our adjoining room?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. Well, it could be, I don’t know, but I just wanta give Devon and Jake their own room.”

Corporal Bennett was more than fine with the idea.  In fact, he seemed visibly happy.  Kyle might have thought it was “nothing like that” but I had different ideas, and I was sure Bennett did too.

To be continued...  

Posted: 05/22/15 rp