Parker Montour
Blood and grime coated every inch of their bodies. Not one article of clothing was left unscathed. Shirts and pants were torn from terrain, just barely covering skin. Their jackets were beyond use. The worn material was no longer holding in heat, but soldiers continued to wear the rugged coats. Having stayed in the same clothes for months, articles such as jackets, were held on to like security blankets. Familiarity brought comfort to the men. The material on their feet could no longer be called socks. The originally white fabric had become a dark muddy brown. Most men had lost their socks within the first month; Having them repeatedly soaked and rubbing against skin was not enjoyable. Though the soles were worn thin, the boots given to us were still wearable. The laces had been knotted to keep from the hassle of tying. We had lost the majority of our munitions; the supplies had been weeded out by month one. Though the travel was lighter once we wore through, this had not been a good thing. Each man knew the lighter the bag, the shorter the life expectancy. You could only use what you could carry. Some soldiers took turns carrying large supply bags or held gear for others. Most were not that kind. We had gone through hell and the only thing left to do was keep going and hope the next day would bring something better. The hard reality of war had hardened most men beyond simple kindness. The manners drilled into our brains since birth had been lost around the time we lost our first set of fingernails. Most men followed the “every man for himself” mindset. As soldiers, we were taught team work and to leave no man behind. We followed this with our every breath. Until it came to your life versus another. Unlike what the novels will tell you, people tend not to sacrifice themselves to save others; Self preservation is key. Any man who claims not to fear death speaks lies. There is a difference between accepting your death and fearing it.
(Excerpt from the beginning of a war novel I am currently working on)