SHOWNDOWN! The "Old Sergeant" Series

http://steven.newton1.home.att.net/ ^ | 2004 | Steven J. Newton

[Steve Newton]

Showdown The Old Sergeant Series By Steve Newton (51) Dedicated to Diana (Just for fun and my friends at the Free Republic)

The whole platoon was on patrol in the slums of Baghdad and they were very wary. Their sister platoon had lost two men in this neighborhood and the old sergeant was not going to allow that performance to be repeated.

[Steve Newton]

Showdown The Old Sergeant Series By Steve Newton (51) Dedicated to Diana

The whole platoon was on patrol in the slums of Baghdad and they were very wary. Their sister platoon had lost two men in this neighborhood and the old sergeant was not going to allow that performance to be repeated.

The platoon was divided into three squads and as usual the goon squad or 1st squad was in the lead. Those guys just plain didn’t know any better the sergeant smiled to himself. As they were coming into a large open air market area one of the first squad ran up to the sergeant and asked him to come forward. “You got to see this sarge. You ain’t gonna believe it.” “Yeah? The sergeant replied. I believe in you guys which just goes to show you how old and gullible I’m getting.” But he followed the soldier to the front.

“Well, he thought. I was sure I had seen everything but now I know better” There in the middle of the street was a terrorist but not your usual terrorist. This man was carrying a white flag and, well, he was a cowboy. The terrorist was dressed all in black from his black cowboy boots to his black hat. A mean looking revolver hung on his left leg and was tied with a leather strap. He stood there in the street watching as the sergeant came up and consulted with the 1st squad leader.

“Sarge, you ain’t gonna believe this.” “Yeah, yeah, I know. Report,” the sergeant said. Well, this uh, person, came out of that building carrying a white flag. At first we thought he wanted to surrender but he speaks pretty good English. He wants to, uh. Well, he’s calling you out” “Excuse me,” the old sergeant said. “I’m not kidding sergeant. He said that he could take the “world” famous sergeant on all by himself. If, uh, you had the balls.” The old sergeant looked at his squad leader like he had lost his mind. “You mean to tell me he wants a personal gunfight!” “That’s what he says sarge. And from the looks of him I would say he’s more than serious.”

“You want us to shoot him sergeant?” One of the men said. “No. Stand your ground. Lets see what the rag head, uh, the cowboy wants.” The old sergeant crossed the distance between the 1st squad and stood within a few feet of the cowboy. “Ok, John Wayne. I’m here. What have you got on your mind?” “Are you the old sergeant that everyone speaks of? The one that kills my Muslim brothers and defiles Allah?” The terrorist asked.

“Yep, that would be me. What about it?” “I have come to kill you. Man to man like in your movies.” “Well, the old sergeant said. I think that’s about right. You have been watching way too many American movies.” “Ha, the terrorist said. You are afraid, as I knew you would be. Man to man you are no match for us. If you will not fight then I will shoot you like a dog in the middle of the street.” “You are without honor,” the terrorist said.

The old sergeants eyes blazed for a moment then a small smile crossed his lips. Motioning his men to keep back the sergeant dropped his rifle in the sand. He removed his body armor and all other non-essential equipment. When he was done all he carried was his colt .45 in his holster.

“Sarge, what are you doing? You know he has to be good or he would never have challenged you.” One of his men shouted. “Yeah, I know.” The sergeant said. “But lets see just how good he is.” The terrorist just smiled and moved off about 25 yards. The terrorist turned around and placed his hand next to his weapon in a deadly “ready” stance. The old sergeant just folded his arms across his massive chest and stared into the terrorist eyes. “Are you ready swine, or are you committing suicide? The terrorist asked. “Just make your play rag head.” The old sergeant said.

In the next instant there were two simultaneous explosions of gunfire faster than the eye could see. And in that instant the terrorist lay dead in the sand, a bullet hole directly between his eyes. The old sergeant still had his .45 in his hand and smoke was billowing out the end. He slowly holstered his colt and walked over to the dead terrorist. He removed his weapon from his hand and placed it into his belt. Spoils of war.

As his men ran into the street the 1st squad leader came up and said, “Sarge I don’t believe it. You shot that rag head from 25 yards so fast I didn’t even see you move. And you shot him right between the eyes. I have never seen anything like that in my life.” “Yeah, well move out. The shows over” The old sergeant said. “We got a patrol to finish.”

The old sergeant never told anyone that he had been aiming for the rag heads heart. And he never told anyone that a round had passed right through the fleshy part of his left arm. Why muddy up the waters with facts, he thought?

Steve Newton

NEWTON’S BEST OF THE BEST MILITARY SITE HOME OF THE “OLD SERGEANT SERIES” AND “PATTON SPEAKS” http://steven.newton1.home.att.net/

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The “Old Sergeant” Series is copyright protected but may be used if the contents are not changed and the Web Site remains listed. The Old Sergeant is fictional and is used to illustrate a point or make a statement. ANY resemblance to a person living or dead is coincidental and unintentional.