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The storm got to us sooner than expected. By early afternoon we had hurricane force winds hitting us. We’d taken all of the tents down by late morning knowing they’d never survive this storm. Everybody would have to be crammed into the buildings available in the village. My entire team was housed in Carlos’s small house. Everyone in the village opened their homes up to house those who came to fight.
The Padre at the church had hundreds of men staying with him. Stores and shops opened their doors as did the few small warehouses. We had 2,000 men to put up until the storm passed.
Once the weather was bad enough to block the view of those in the fort I had the men around the clearing slip back to town to get indoors where it was safest. By three o’clock the power was out from downed lines. The storm seemed to be a fast mover and stronger then the category two, hurricane the National Weather Service had been predicting,
“This reminds me of the storm we sat out at Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippine Islands that time,” the chief reminisced.
“That wasn’t a hurricane chief that was a typhoon,” Sam reminded the group. “A hurricane goes counter clockwise and a typhoon goes clockwise.”
“Either way, it’s just a big gust of wind with a little rain added in,” Patch pointed out to the group.
“A little rain, after that storm in the Philippines you could have paddled a canoe right off the base and into Olongapo,” Sam reminded them.
“Hell, during the monsoon season you could do that just about any time you wanted to,” Dave scoffed, “that was nothing.”
“Well how about that time we hit that big storm in the Sea of Japan. That was a typhoon too but we were taking 35 foot waves. Hell we bounced around on that tin can like a bobber with a fish on it,” Scott mentioned to them.
“Yeah LT, what the hell was a Seal Team doing on a damn destroyer anyway?” Brian asked.
I had been deep in my own thoughts and hadn’t been listening. “Sorry guys I wasn’t paying attention did you say something?”
“The question was why were we stationed on that destroyer that time in a typhoon?”
“Just following orders like always I guess,” I said not very interested in talking.
“Do you remember how sick Bill got bouncing around on that itty bitty ship?” Sam grinned. “He turned greener than that forest out there,” Sam said pointing out the window.
Bill agreed with them. “That storm just about turned my innards inside out.”
“The Sea Eagle is smaller than that Destroyer was Bill. How’d you like to be on it right now?” Scott asked.
“I think that I’d like it just fine. Right about now they’re probably pulling into Montego Bay.”
“I think I’d like that better than being here with you guys too,” Dave admitted to the team.
“What and not get this walk down memory lane that we’re on,” the chief teased.
The wind suddenly died down outside. We walked out to see what had happened and realized we were in the eye of the storm.
“Whoa, would you look at that LT. I heard about the eye of the storm but never thought I’d actually see one,” Bill said in awe.
“This isn’t good, this isn’t good at all,” I said as I ran for my satellite phone.
“What are you all hepped up about LT?” Doc asked me. “This is only the intermission we have more of the storm still to come.”
“We were counting on the storm keeping the occupants of the fortress trapped until after it ended. With the eye of the storm passing directly overhead they’ll get into the forest now and might be on the edge of the village before Brady can get here.”
I called my brother Chris and waited for him to pick-up the phone. “Rick what can I do for you? Are you riding the storm out okay?” I heard thru the static of the storm.
“The eye of the storm is right over us. The troops inside the fortress are going to use this opportunity to get into the forest. Keep an eye on the storm as soon as you’re able to get here get in the air. We’re going to need you bad.”
“I’ll get over to the operations center and monitor the storm Rick. We’ll be in the air just as fast as humanly possible,” Chris promised me.
“Thanks Chris, We’re keeping everyone inside the village. Anyone you see east of the village limits is to be considered the enemy. Eliminate anyone you see outside the village limits,” I instructed him.
“Don’t worry we’ll be there when you need us Rick,” Chris promised me once more.
“How is Juan holding up Chris? Is he settling down any?” I asked out of concern.
“Karen took Juan to your house and let him pick out his own bedroom. She’s going to stay behind when we come back on station. She doesn’t want to bring Juan back into that situation again.”
I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. “That was the best thing she could have done for him Chris. Today is the start of his healing process. The sooner he can have normalcy the better off he’s going to be.”
“I think you’re right. You’re starting to get hard to hear. The storm must be moving back in. I better let you go and get over to operations and monitor what’s happening over there.”
“Alright Chris, we’ll see you soon. The way it’s looking you’d better figure on this being a night mission.”