Poetry Project
Poetry Video
Final Poem
13 Ways of Seeing “Her”
Brenden Wedertz
She is like an erupting volcano, devastating all, raining down burning ash, oozing red hot pain, not leaving a soul unharmed.
She is a destructive comet, crashing into our idea of world peace, and obliterating it.
She is like extinction, killing off happiness
She is poverty, sadness, suffering and the continuous search for more when there is never enough.
She is like time, endless, with every tick of her clock another life seized.
She is a hurricane, crashing down with melancholy and disaster, counting the lives she hauls in with her treacherous tides.
She is like a rushing river of sorrow we can’t dam.
She is a tornado of depression and grief.
She is as pointless as a broken pencil.
She is a forest fire, burning the world with woe and devouring everything with its relentless flames.
She is like a cancerous tumor, continuously spreading, reaching every limb of the world.
She is climbing an endless mountain of despair and agony but you will never reach the end.
War is like the rotten ailment we confront without a vaccine, forever lasting and slaying.
Brenden Wedertz
She is like an erupting volcano, devastating all, raining down burning ash, oozing red hot pain, not leaving a soul unharmed.
She is a destructive comet, crashing into our idea of world peace, and obliterating it.
She is like extinction, killing off happiness
She is poverty, sadness, suffering and the continuous search for more when there is never enough.
She is like time, endless, with every tick of her clock another life seized.
She is a hurricane, crashing down with melancholy and disaster, counting the lives she hauls in with her treacherous tides.
She is like a rushing river of sorrow we can’t dam.
She is a tornado of depression and grief.
She is as pointless as a broken pencil.
She is a forest fire, burning the world with woe and devouring everything with its relentless flames.
She is like a cancerous tumor, continuously spreading, reaching every limb of the world.
She is climbing an endless mountain of despair and agony but you will never reach the end.
War is like the rotten ailment we confront without a vaccine, forever lasting and slaying.
Poetry Painting
Growth as a Poet Reflection
I have grown as a poet throughout the poetry unit in a couple of huge ways. To start, I learned how to deliver my poem in a more sophisticated way, mostly by using more powerful words but some of my lines were even changed because I felt like I could create a better experience for the reader. For example, this was my first draft “ She is like cancer” compared to my final draft “She is like a cancerous tumor, continuously spreading, reaching every limb of the world.” Obviously me expanding on my idea and choosing more powerful words helped a lot. Without receiving this critique I don’t think that I would have had as much of a fun time with poetry. I was able to make my poem more sophisticated by delivering the message that I was thinking and not leaving my poem open up to so many different interpretations. The never really changed in my poem. I really liked the idea that I had about creating a mystery and turn in my poem and I felt like it was really solid. Instead, I tried to elaborate on and clarify the perspective and message of my poem. I tried to bring sensory really feel how I feel about war. For example in my first draft I wrote “She is a forest fire of woe consuming all”, and in final draft I wrote “She is a forest fire, burning the world with woe and devouring everything with its relentless flames.” Even though they are pretty similar I still know how much powerful and sophisticated the final draft line is.
Throughout making my poem, one change I made was rewriting and changing lines in my poem to either relate more to the reader, change the sense the reader was receiving, or to deliver the same message just in a different way. For example one line that I totally changed between drafts was “She is like a nuclear bomb, exploding chaos.” I changed that line a couple of different times but I ended the change with this line “She is like extinction, killing off happiness.” I think that this change really does help make my poem more sophisticated and it overall it is a better simile. First it fits in with my poem because it delivers my perspective on how war is ending happiness similar to how dieses lead to extinction, however is also is a more abnormal comparison, unlike a nuclear bomb, which was first introduced during war. This line doesn't really change the emotional tone of my poem, however it just offers another, new, abnormal comparison on my perspective of war. I hope that the reader/listener sees my connection on how war consumes happiness and if we continue to fight terrible wars, our idea of happiness will be forever gone.
Although I was still basically delivering the same message, the next most important part of my poem writing process was choosing better word choice. I don’t think that you can really have a strong and sophisticated poem if your language isn’t strong and sophisticated. In my poem the mood is pretty dark and the overall topic isn't a happy one, so I had a lot of trouble coming up with ways to tell how war is bad but by repeating the words I had already used. One line that I really changed my language was “War is like a sickness we can’t cure”. This line was later changed to “War is like the rotten ailment we confront without a vaccine, forever lasting and slaying.” I think that this changes impacts the emotional and intellectual message and tone of my poem in the same way. This line really makes the reader/listener think of how war really is like a sickness that we can’t fight. Also, because of the stronger words I use it makes it sound more powerful, and delivers more of a punch. This change helps my poem not sound so weak and stupid as harsh as that is. This change makes the poem feel like it from an author whose job depends on the poems he writes not just a highschool student writing real poetry for the first time. In conclusion, this change helps my poem sound more professional and more developed.
Lastly the most important and time consuming change in my poem was expanding on my metaphors and similes. This was the hardest part of poetry for me, was really finishing the thought that I had developed on my paper of what I think war is, and pursuing that thought to the end. For example “She is time endless” this is just the start of a thought but when I finished it later in my last draft which was “She is like time, endless, with every tick of her clock another life seized.” it was a lot more powerful and even felt better saying. Another important change in my poem was between “She is like cancer” and “She is like a cancerous tumor, continuously spreading, reaching every limb of the world.” This was another line that I was a lot more proud to say not only because it was powerful, but also because it was an idea that I pursued and followed to the end. This big change really helped because it actually gave life to my intellectual and emotional message. I wrote my poem in a mystery and so until the end there wasn’t really an emotional feeling that the reader developed, it is hard to feel something that you aren’t sure what it is. However, these stronger and deeper comparisons still offered life to my weak emotional message. It helped my intellectual message develop too because instead of the reader just trying interpret what I was writing about in these very open ended lines, it changed when my comparisons where more specific sophisticated. It lead them down the path of just a few things that “she” might be instead of a lot of things that “she” could be. This was probably the most important change and I think that it helps the most too. It forms my poem to be a sophisticated mystery and I think that is pretty cool about my poem.
Throughout making my poem, one change I made was rewriting and changing lines in my poem to either relate more to the reader, change the sense the reader was receiving, or to deliver the same message just in a different way. For example one line that I totally changed between drafts was “She is like a nuclear bomb, exploding chaos.” I changed that line a couple of different times but I ended the change with this line “She is like extinction, killing off happiness.” I think that this change really does help make my poem more sophisticated and it overall it is a better simile. First it fits in with my poem because it delivers my perspective on how war is ending happiness similar to how dieses lead to extinction, however is also is a more abnormal comparison, unlike a nuclear bomb, which was first introduced during war. This line doesn't really change the emotional tone of my poem, however it just offers another, new, abnormal comparison on my perspective of war. I hope that the reader/listener sees my connection on how war consumes happiness and if we continue to fight terrible wars, our idea of happiness will be forever gone.
Although I was still basically delivering the same message, the next most important part of my poem writing process was choosing better word choice. I don’t think that you can really have a strong and sophisticated poem if your language isn’t strong and sophisticated. In my poem the mood is pretty dark and the overall topic isn't a happy one, so I had a lot of trouble coming up with ways to tell how war is bad but by repeating the words I had already used. One line that I really changed my language was “War is like a sickness we can’t cure”. This line was later changed to “War is like the rotten ailment we confront without a vaccine, forever lasting and slaying.” I think that this changes impacts the emotional and intellectual message and tone of my poem in the same way. This line really makes the reader/listener think of how war really is like a sickness that we can’t fight. Also, because of the stronger words I use it makes it sound more powerful, and delivers more of a punch. This change helps my poem not sound so weak and stupid as harsh as that is. This change makes the poem feel like it from an author whose job depends on the poems he writes not just a highschool student writing real poetry for the first time. In conclusion, this change helps my poem sound more professional and more developed.
Lastly the most important and time consuming change in my poem was expanding on my metaphors and similes. This was the hardest part of poetry for me, was really finishing the thought that I had developed on my paper of what I think war is, and pursuing that thought to the end. For example “She is time endless” this is just the start of a thought but when I finished it later in my last draft which was “She is like time, endless, with every tick of her clock another life seized.” it was a lot more powerful and even felt better saying. Another important change in my poem was between “She is like cancer” and “She is like a cancerous tumor, continuously spreading, reaching every limb of the world.” This was another line that I was a lot more proud to say not only because it was powerful, but also because it was an idea that I pursued and followed to the end. This big change really helped because it actually gave life to my intellectual and emotional message. I wrote my poem in a mystery and so until the end there wasn’t really an emotional feeling that the reader developed, it is hard to feel something that you aren’t sure what it is. However, these stronger and deeper comparisons still offered life to my weak emotional message. It helped my intellectual message develop too because instead of the reader just trying interpret what I was writing about in these very open ended lines, it changed when my comparisons where more specific sophisticated. It lead them down the path of just a few things that “she” might be instead of a lot of things that “she” could be. This was probably the most important change and I think that it helps the most too. It forms my poem to be a sophisticated mystery and I think that is pretty cool about my poem.
OP-Ed Project
Political Cartoon
Brenden Wedertz
Dirty Money With Clean Potential
Imagine that you living in Chihuahua, Mexico, the city that has recorded the most drug violence. You are unemployed and your family is surviving on the little money left in your bank account. You didn’t go to college, companies aren’t looking for more employees, and your credit doesn’t offer you a load.. You don’t have enough money to last for the next month. Without any other options, you decide to get involved with the local cartel because it is the only to provide for yourself and your family. Although this was just a scenario, this is an unfortunate situation that more and more people are being trapped in to.
Mexico’s economy is in a terrible state, their economy is awful, and there are not a lot of ways for Mexico to pull it’s economy out of the hole it has dug for itself. Its no secret that Mexican cartels commit crimes, however some crimes are worse that others. There have been over six major cartels in Mexico’s history, and at least four major cartels are still operating. The cartels formed because of the lack of structure in Mexico and because of their terrible economy. Cartels started doing small crimes, but now operate globally and reach all corners of the world.
Although drug trafficking has been around for several decades, these cartels have become more powerful since the 1980’s, when more powerful cartels were introduced into Mexico. These cartels lead to the creation of other cartels inside and outside of Mexico, effecting the whole world. As the world becomes more globalized, cartels become more connected, with that connection, cartels are now able to export drugs all over the world. Although trafficking drugs is highly illegal, these powerful cartels are fixing Mexico’s broken economy.
The first major cartel to come out of Mexico was the Guadalajara Cartel in 1980. This cartel started by smuggling small amounts of marijuana and opium, and they controlled all illegal drug trafficking from Mexico into the United States. This was the first cartel to combine its drug smuggling operation with Colombian cartels. This was essential to Pablo Escobar’s smuggling operation from Colombia, as both of their cartels worked to traffick cocaine into the United States. In addition, this cartel was decentralized so the
operation would be less likely to brought down in one investigation.(Seelke)
The reason that cartels thrived and helped Mexico’s is because of how profitable they have become. In the article, “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs” the author states “Economists estimate that the industry brings in between U$25 billion and U$50 billion every year. In 2009, Mexico probably made more money in the drug trade than it did in its single largest export industry: oil.” (Gray) If Mexican cartel’s profits were that high in 2009, image how much more profitable these cartels have been because of the increase in drug demand over the last 6 years.
Even though cartels bring in dirty money, a lot of the money gets cycled back into Mexico’s economy. The article “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs”, the author describes “Certain legal industries would be hit harder. Luxury goods, for example, have thrived in Mexico due to the lavish tastes of drug dealers, smugglers, and organizers.” (Gray) The major cartels, traffick an abundance of drugs, Mexico is the number one supplier of Marijuana and Methamphetamine to the United States. (Drug Trafficking Violence in Mexico: Implications for the United States) The larger cartels are making a lot of money, with more money,they have more profit that they can spend on legitimate companies.
Mexican cartels may be pulling in dirty money, but these cartels are profiting in such high numbers that it almost justifies the drug smuggling. The cartels are bringing in enough money and if it is used right, it can change Mexico’s future. In the article, “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs”, the author echos “Mexican journalist Carlos Loret de Mola claims that cartels make three times as many profits as Mexico’s 500 largest companies combined.”(Grey) Imagine what change could come with more money than the biggest 500 companies combined.
It is important to understand that some businesses and communities are almost dependent on the cartels profits. In the article, “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs”, the author clarifies “According to Ms. Rios: drug traffic cash flows are in fact helping some Mexican communities to somehow alleviate a grinding stage of poverty and underdevelopment. In fact, for almost all drug-producing communities, the drug traffic industry seems to be the only source of income.” (Grey) If communities are relying on the drug money for their legitimate business, than I wonder if these communities will be able to grow and flourish if the cartels were non-existent.
After researching the drug trafficking that happens in Mexico, it is evident that Mexico depends on this illegal operation. In the article, “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs”, the author explains “One study, noted by Global Envision, reported that “the loss of the drug business would shrink Mexico’s economy by 63 percent.” (Grey) Drug smuggling is more than half of Mexico’s economy, if we used the money towards a better, less criminalized Mexico, than I think that we could begin to pull Mexico out of the terrible state its currently in.
Even though drug trafficking helps Mexico’s economy, it doesn’t justify the crimes they commit. It is necessary for Mexico to have a stable economy for Mexico to be successful in the globalized world, but trafficking drugs isn’t the way to achieve a better economy. Mexico’s economy is important, but shouldn’t be growing of the rest of the world suffering. Legalizing marijuana would undercut the cartels, and they wouldn't make near as much money as they do now. That wouldn’t change the fact that Mexico would be exporting drugs, it would just make the operation of exporting marijuana legal and bring more legitimate income for Mexico’s economy.
Work Cited
Arsenault, Chris. "Mexican Official: CIA 'manages' Drug Trade." - Al Jazeera English. N.p., 24 July 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/07/2012721152715628181.html
Drug Trafficking Violence in Mexico: Implications for the United States (2010) (testimony of Kevin L. Perkins and Anthony P. Placido). Feb 10 2015. http://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/drug-trafficking-violence-in-mexico-implications-for-the-united-states
Collin, Grey. "The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs." The Stanford Progressive. N.p., May 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.
http://web.stanford.edu/group/progressive/cgi-bin/?p=521
United States. Cong. Congressional Research Service. By Clare R. Seelke. 112 Cong. Cong. Rept. 32724. N.p., 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2015.
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32724.pdf
Dirty Money With Clean Potential
Imagine that you living in Chihuahua, Mexico, the city that has recorded the most drug violence. You are unemployed and your family is surviving on the little money left in your bank account. You didn’t go to college, companies aren’t looking for more employees, and your credit doesn’t offer you a load.. You don’t have enough money to last for the next month. Without any other options, you decide to get involved with the local cartel because it is the only to provide for yourself and your family. Although this was just a scenario, this is an unfortunate situation that more and more people are being trapped in to.
Mexico’s economy is in a terrible state, their economy is awful, and there are not a lot of ways for Mexico to pull it’s economy out of the hole it has dug for itself. Its no secret that Mexican cartels commit crimes, however some crimes are worse that others. There have been over six major cartels in Mexico’s history, and at least four major cartels are still operating. The cartels formed because of the lack of structure in Mexico and because of their terrible economy. Cartels started doing small crimes, but now operate globally and reach all corners of the world.
Although drug trafficking has been around for several decades, these cartels have become more powerful since the 1980’s, when more powerful cartels were introduced into Mexico. These cartels lead to the creation of other cartels inside and outside of Mexico, effecting the whole world. As the world becomes more globalized, cartels become more connected, with that connection, cartels are now able to export drugs all over the world. Although trafficking drugs is highly illegal, these powerful cartels are fixing Mexico’s broken economy.
The first major cartel to come out of Mexico was the Guadalajara Cartel in 1980. This cartel started by smuggling small amounts of marijuana and opium, and they controlled all illegal drug trafficking from Mexico into the United States. This was the first cartel to combine its drug smuggling operation with Colombian cartels. This was essential to Pablo Escobar’s smuggling operation from Colombia, as both of their cartels worked to traffick cocaine into the United States. In addition, this cartel was decentralized so the
operation would be less likely to brought down in one investigation.(Seelke)
The reason that cartels thrived and helped Mexico’s is because of how profitable they have become. In the article, “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs” the author states “Economists estimate that the industry brings in between U$25 billion and U$50 billion every year. In 2009, Mexico probably made more money in the drug trade than it did in its single largest export industry: oil.” (Gray) If Mexican cartel’s profits were that high in 2009, image how much more profitable these cartels have been because of the increase in drug demand over the last 6 years.
Even though cartels bring in dirty money, a lot of the money gets cycled back into Mexico’s economy. The article “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs”, the author describes “Certain legal industries would be hit harder. Luxury goods, for example, have thrived in Mexico due to the lavish tastes of drug dealers, smugglers, and organizers.” (Gray) The major cartels, traffick an abundance of drugs, Mexico is the number one supplier of Marijuana and Methamphetamine to the United States. (Drug Trafficking Violence in Mexico: Implications for the United States) The larger cartels are making a lot of money, with more money,they have more profit that they can spend on legitimate companies.
Mexican cartels may be pulling in dirty money, but these cartels are profiting in such high numbers that it almost justifies the drug smuggling. The cartels are bringing in enough money and if it is used right, it can change Mexico’s future. In the article, “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs”, the author echos “Mexican journalist Carlos Loret de Mola claims that cartels make three times as many profits as Mexico’s 500 largest companies combined.”(Grey) Imagine what change could come with more money than the biggest 500 companies combined.
It is important to understand that some businesses and communities are almost dependent on the cartels profits. In the article, “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs”, the author clarifies “According to Ms. Rios: drug traffic cash flows are in fact helping some Mexican communities to somehow alleviate a grinding stage of poverty and underdevelopment. In fact, for almost all drug-producing communities, the drug traffic industry seems to be the only source of income.” (Grey) If communities are relying on the drug money for their legitimate business, than I wonder if these communities will be able to grow and flourish if the cartels were non-existent.
After researching the drug trafficking that happens in Mexico, it is evident that Mexico depends on this illegal operation. In the article, “The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs”, the author explains “One study, noted by Global Envision, reported that “the loss of the drug business would shrink Mexico’s economy by 63 percent.” (Grey) Drug smuggling is more than half of Mexico’s economy, if we used the money towards a better, less criminalized Mexico, than I think that we could begin to pull Mexico out of the terrible state its currently in.
Even though drug trafficking helps Mexico’s economy, it doesn’t justify the crimes they commit. It is necessary for Mexico to have a stable economy for Mexico to be successful in the globalized world, but trafficking drugs isn’t the way to achieve a better economy. Mexico’s economy is important, but shouldn’t be growing of the rest of the world suffering. Legalizing marijuana would undercut the cartels, and they wouldn't make near as much money as they do now. That wouldn’t change the fact that Mexico would be exporting drugs, it would just make the operation of exporting marijuana legal and bring more legitimate income for Mexico’s economy.
Work Cited
Arsenault, Chris. "Mexican Official: CIA 'manages' Drug Trade." - Al Jazeera English. N.p., 24 July 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/07/2012721152715628181.html
Drug Trafficking Violence in Mexico: Implications for the United States (2010) (testimony of Kevin L. Perkins and Anthony P. Placido). Feb 10 2015. http://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/drug-trafficking-violence-in-mexico-implications-for-the-united-states
Collin, Grey. "The Hidden Cost of the War on Drugs." The Stanford Progressive. N.p., May 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.
http://web.stanford.edu/group/progressive/cgi-bin/?p=521
United States. Cong. Congressional Research Service. By Clare R. Seelke. 112 Cong. Cong. Rept. 32724. N.p., 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2015.
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32724.pdf
Project Reflection
- For this project we were given a list of topics related to globalization, and then were assigned to write an Op-Ed and create a political cartoon about our chosen topic. I choose to write about the drug trafficking that occurs between Mexico and the United States, and how the effects Mexico’s economy. The Op-Ed couldn’t be more than 1000 words but had to be more than 750 words. This was actually pretty challenging not to go over 1000 words because of all the information I wanted to include after all my research. Both the political cartoon and Op-Ed went through a ton of critique, both from peers and from our teacher. In the end, we turned in our highly refined Op-Ed and political cartoon.
- This was my first time writing an Op-Ed, and also it was my first time creating a political cartoon, so I have taken away a lot from this project. I learned how to write a proper Op-Ed, and also I learned how to create a political cartoon. Each one of these has a couple things that I had trouble with when learning. The Op-Ed was difficult because it was different, for example all of my writing had to be concise so I would have the correct number of words. The cartoon was difficult because I had trouble using the techniques in my cartoon, that made my cartoon a lot more confusing. After this project, I learned that globalization is going to happen to everyone and there isn’t anything we can do to stop it. Globalization will offer us a new world with mixed and forgotten cultures, for better or for worse.
- I think that I have grown most as a cartoonist in through this project. The first cartoon that we created I had a lot of trouble with. I had a lot of trouble communicating my ideas through images. The first political cartoon I created wasn’t even a political cartoon, it was just a drawing with a fact. Now, however I can use the techniques I learned to communicate my ideas more clearly. The most effective technique I learned and effectively used was irony. The title of my cartoon was Doctor of the Year: Mexican Drug Cartels. This title was ironic because obviously drug cartels aren’t doctors, but I compared how the profits of drug trafficking fix Mexico’s economy, to how a doctor helps a patient. Another political cartoon technique that helped me clearly express my ideas were adding labels to my drawing. Without the “Dr. Mexican Drug Cartel” and “Mexico’s economy” I think that my cartoon wouldn’t make any sense.
- This was my first time writing an Op-Ed, like I said before, it was difficult but believe that I benefited it from it a lot. First, I learned how to make my writing more concise and to the point. This was different from past papers, because I am used to trying to write as much as I can and relay all of the information I gathered. During this project I really learned how to get the most of the research I do. I am going to try and make my writing more concise in biology this year and chemistry next year when I am writing lab reports.
Vietnam Project
Artist Statement
For my 10th grade art piece, I decided to do my art piece about Woodstock 1969. The reason that I chose Woodstock 1969, was because this concert was especially important. Woodstock 1969 was important for a lot of reasons, but one thing that was really important was when Jimi Hendrix played the Star Spangled Banner on his electric guitar. The reason that this was so important was because that was the first time that someone ever played America’s National Anthem that way. The reason that there are flowers, marijuana leaves, LSD, and Music notes are because those all at Woodstock, and those are some of the things that I think about when I imagine Woodstock. Another thing I decided to do was to change the colors from red white and blue to purple and yellow. I chose these colors because I thought those were some good “hippie” colors to choose.
WW2 Story
Sainte Mere Eglise
Once, twice, and so on. As my jump approaches, I fold the letter that keeps me alive. It still smells of her, as if she was standing next to me reading the letter to me. The thought of her with me brings me comfort. I feel for my favorite picture, a picture of us. It’s in my pocket folded, just as the letter. I pull it up and out of my pocket. Studying the picture as if I will never see it again. Even though this picture was taken last year, I look different. My eyes are still brown, but they look more empty than before. My hair, buzz cut, and very dark brown. I look older than I am, at 24 I look 29. I still stand tall, 6 foot on the mark. I feel older too, the war changed me.
“John, what are you doing?! You’re next!”
I snap back to reality. I’m standing when I should be falling, realizing my problem, I turn and sprint into the dark sky until I am not longer running, but falling.
Just before it feels as if the wind rips my face off, I am able to tug my parachute cord and in a second it opens. As we float down, tensions rise. I continue to think of our mission objectives, to protect the far right flank of the invasion in the Cotentin peninsula, and to capture Ste. Mere-Eglise from the Germans. I am able to replay this in my head about 5 times before I am close enough to release myself from the parachute. I hit the ground with my feet and take for any cover like a runner on third heading home. I am able to hide behind an abandoned farmhouse. I halt to the sound of voices, and as they approach, I sink into the shadows.
“Continue to look for any living troops, we need to all be together if we want to live.” Said an unknown figure.
I hear that the soldiers are american and I emerge out of the shadows, I am able to see 2 paratroopers and a Commander. They walked in a line towards the farmhouse the commander leading.
“ Hey, I am Commander Will Morgan of the US 82nd Airborne Division and you are?”
“My name is John Reynolds of the US 82nd Airborne Division” I reply with a salute.
I instantly see a wave of relief overcome him.
Commander Morgan introduces himself, and the two other soldiers he was with. James Wayne, looked 19 at 24, stood 6 foot 1 with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, he face may have been a little dirty, but under the dirt was a face that seemed as if nothing had ever harmed it, not even a single pimple. Last was Peter Edwards, he wasn't as lucky as James, he was 21 but looked 27, he stood at 6 foot 2 inches with a scar under his left eye.
Commander Morgan begins to tell me how he ended up here and what we will be doing next.
“I landed about .2 miles from here. I picked up James and Peter on my walk over here. I was ordered to look for any soldiers that could help, and the group that I get together will be rendezvousing with the other soldiers soon, we must get going.” Commander Morgan explained.
The four of us begin walking down the road leading away from the farmhouse. I never had really realized how heavy my gear was, until now, feeling it bounce up and down at each step, but I know I must push on.
As we walk Commander Morgan tells me some of the problems we have faced during our attack. He explained to me that a farmhouse caught on fire during the time of parachuting, and because the fire illuminated the sky, Germans were able to see our paratroopers and because they were then see, the Germans picked off our troops one by one, and the troops that were seen and not killed were usually put into concentration camps. This did not make our mission any easier.
We walked in silence. Pit after pat, the only noise were our feet on the gravel road. The silence was unbearable. I pulled out a cigarette and put it to my lips, like I always do when I'm uncomfortable. With one puff I felt better, with two I no longer feel uncomfortable, three puffs I taste nothing else, and by the end of it, I want another. It’s an addiction, I need to stop I say to myself, but I know I never will. I toss the end of the cigarette in the dirt. Now I see James and Peter pulling out their cigarettes. The smell of mine must have gotten to them.
We continued to walk in silence, long after the aroma of the cigarettes was clear out of my mind.
I look up to see Will raising his hand, pointing out across a grassy field.
“This way” Says Commander Morgan.
We don’t question him.
We begin walking across the grassy field, again, just a pit and a pat. 20 steps into the field and I already need a cigarette. I don’t hesitate. Within 5 steps, I have another one in my mouth. I light the match and touch it to my cigarette. Again I taste the familiar smoke, and I feel my lungs tighten as I inhale and loosen as I exhale. Once I finish this cig, I flicked it down and make sure to stomp it out, we wouldn’t want another barn like incident like the one before. I feel the me pushing the rest of the cigarette into the the ground, and I hear the crunch of the tobacco too.
We near the end of the field where we hear a huge group walking. This was the group we were supposed to meet up with. The commander of 3rd Battalion Lt. Col. Ed Krause, was in command of about 180 men. He informed us how we were just under .3 miles of village.
We then trotted through a forest, and with each step, our lives became more and more precious. I reach in my pocket feel for the note. It’s still with me, she is still with me. I turn looking for anyone I know. Peter is closest.
“Do you have anyone home?” I ask Peter.
“No, that’s why I enlisted in the war. Do you have anyone?”
“Yes, I have my wife.” I respond.
“Oh, well you better make it back to her then.”
“yeah.” I said not even knowing how to respond to that.
I pulled out another one of my cigarettes. Anytime I feel uncomfortable I need one. I spark the match, puff and feel relief instantly. I puff on it before we stop and listen to Col. Ed Krause.
“OK, we will now depart and surround the village. Then we will attack the village all at once. We only have once chance for this to work, this is it.”
We spread out, creeping around through the surrounding woods. I break twigs under my feet as the tensions rise with each step.
From the woods, I have a pretty good view of the town. I am able to see, what I think is the Sainte-Mère-Église Church. It is dark, but I am able to make out the church’s, stained glass. This makes me feel as if God is watching over me and my fellow comrades, as if he is on our side. Going into battle that’s exactly how you want to feel.
After a twig cracks under my foot, I look up, and right, at a noise I heard coming from the shadows of the village. I pull my up my Tommy gun, ready for anything.
I hear Germans, but not from where I am, just a little up ahead. I’m not sure where they are. I try to signal to my comrades ahead to stop, but they can't hear me.
“hey stop” I say under my breath, but it was too loud.
My comrades turn around but the Germans turn around to, and are now visible to everyone.The Germans spin around, searching for the American, for me.
I whip my gun to my chest raising it to them, I pull the trigger.
Bang Bang Bang Bang
With four shouts the three germans were down.
Bang Bang
With two shots from the shadows, I am down.
Peter runs to my aid as my other comrades take down the monsters in the shadows.
I hear gunshots, but the pain is unbearable.
My leg aches instantly. I crumble to the ground, holding my right leg and hip gasping for breath. I feel cold, colder than I was before, and already, the blood has seeped through my forest green coat and pants, forming two brown blotches, one on my coat and the other on my pants.
Peter unfastens my belt, loosening my pants, allowing him to get a glance at my wound. As blood pours out of me like a fountain, I see a medic running coming back for us, for me.
“What happened here?” The medic asked Peter.
“The Nazis got him, right in the thigh.”
“He clipped your femoral artery. There is nothing I can do, you are going to bleed out.”
“Peter, tell my wife I love her.” I say pulling out the picture and the letter.
“If it is the last thing I do, I promise you I will tell her.” Peter says.
I may not have known Peter for very long, but I can tell he is an honest man, and I do believe that he will deliver the message for me.
Taking one last look at the picture, I realize that there was a bullet hole in the photograph, right where my face used to be. The bullet not only erased me from the future, but also, my past.
“Give these to her too please.” I say to him as I hold the photograph and letter.
“I will, I swear.” Peter responds. With tears in his eyes.
With that promise I knew it was over. Laying down, I roll over from my back, to my left side, from there I am able to position myself against a tree, now I am sitting up.
I wrap my fingers over the cold metal of my pistol. I slowly put it in my mouth, thinking about dying brings tears to my eyes. This isn’t the way I wanted to go, but it looks there is no way else. I feel like have failed my wife and my country.
“One more thing” I say.
“Yes, anything.” Peter responds.
“Tell her I’m sorry.” I say with tears in my eyes and pull the trigger.
Once, twice, and so on. As my jump approaches, I fold the letter that keeps me alive. It still smells of her, as if she was standing next to me reading the letter to me. The thought of her with me brings me comfort. I feel for my favorite picture, a picture of us. It’s in my pocket folded, just as the letter. I pull it up and out of my pocket. Studying the picture as if I will never see it again. Even though this picture was taken last year, I look different. My eyes are still brown, but they look more empty than before. My hair, buzz cut, and very dark brown. I look older than I am, at 24 I look 29. I still stand tall, 6 foot on the mark. I feel older too, the war changed me.
“John, what are you doing?! You’re next!”
I snap back to reality. I’m standing when I should be falling, realizing my problem, I turn and sprint into the dark sky until I am not longer running, but falling.
Just before it feels as if the wind rips my face off, I am able to tug my parachute cord and in a second it opens. As we float down, tensions rise. I continue to think of our mission objectives, to protect the far right flank of the invasion in the Cotentin peninsula, and to capture Ste. Mere-Eglise from the Germans. I am able to replay this in my head about 5 times before I am close enough to release myself from the parachute. I hit the ground with my feet and take for any cover like a runner on third heading home. I am able to hide behind an abandoned farmhouse. I halt to the sound of voices, and as they approach, I sink into the shadows.
“Continue to look for any living troops, we need to all be together if we want to live.” Said an unknown figure.
I hear that the soldiers are american and I emerge out of the shadows, I am able to see 2 paratroopers and a Commander. They walked in a line towards the farmhouse the commander leading.
“ Hey, I am Commander Will Morgan of the US 82nd Airborne Division and you are?”
“My name is John Reynolds of the US 82nd Airborne Division” I reply with a salute.
I instantly see a wave of relief overcome him.
Commander Morgan introduces himself, and the two other soldiers he was with. James Wayne, looked 19 at 24, stood 6 foot 1 with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, he face may have been a little dirty, but under the dirt was a face that seemed as if nothing had ever harmed it, not even a single pimple. Last was Peter Edwards, he wasn't as lucky as James, he was 21 but looked 27, he stood at 6 foot 2 inches with a scar under his left eye.
Commander Morgan begins to tell me how he ended up here and what we will be doing next.
“I landed about .2 miles from here. I picked up James and Peter on my walk over here. I was ordered to look for any soldiers that could help, and the group that I get together will be rendezvousing with the other soldiers soon, we must get going.” Commander Morgan explained.
The four of us begin walking down the road leading away from the farmhouse. I never had really realized how heavy my gear was, until now, feeling it bounce up and down at each step, but I know I must push on.
As we walk Commander Morgan tells me some of the problems we have faced during our attack. He explained to me that a farmhouse caught on fire during the time of parachuting, and because the fire illuminated the sky, Germans were able to see our paratroopers and because they were then see, the Germans picked off our troops one by one, and the troops that were seen and not killed were usually put into concentration camps. This did not make our mission any easier.
We walked in silence. Pit after pat, the only noise were our feet on the gravel road. The silence was unbearable. I pulled out a cigarette and put it to my lips, like I always do when I'm uncomfortable. With one puff I felt better, with two I no longer feel uncomfortable, three puffs I taste nothing else, and by the end of it, I want another. It’s an addiction, I need to stop I say to myself, but I know I never will. I toss the end of the cigarette in the dirt. Now I see James and Peter pulling out their cigarettes. The smell of mine must have gotten to them.
We continued to walk in silence, long after the aroma of the cigarettes was clear out of my mind.
I look up to see Will raising his hand, pointing out across a grassy field.
“This way” Says Commander Morgan.
We don’t question him.
We begin walking across the grassy field, again, just a pit and a pat. 20 steps into the field and I already need a cigarette. I don’t hesitate. Within 5 steps, I have another one in my mouth. I light the match and touch it to my cigarette. Again I taste the familiar smoke, and I feel my lungs tighten as I inhale and loosen as I exhale. Once I finish this cig, I flicked it down and make sure to stomp it out, we wouldn’t want another barn like incident like the one before. I feel the me pushing the rest of the cigarette into the the ground, and I hear the crunch of the tobacco too.
We near the end of the field where we hear a huge group walking. This was the group we were supposed to meet up with. The commander of 3rd Battalion Lt. Col. Ed Krause, was in command of about 180 men. He informed us how we were just under .3 miles of village.
We then trotted through a forest, and with each step, our lives became more and more precious. I reach in my pocket feel for the note. It’s still with me, she is still with me. I turn looking for anyone I know. Peter is closest.
“Do you have anyone home?” I ask Peter.
“No, that’s why I enlisted in the war. Do you have anyone?”
“Yes, I have my wife.” I respond.
“Oh, well you better make it back to her then.”
“yeah.” I said not even knowing how to respond to that.
I pulled out another one of my cigarettes. Anytime I feel uncomfortable I need one. I spark the match, puff and feel relief instantly. I puff on it before we stop and listen to Col. Ed Krause.
“OK, we will now depart and surround the village. Then we will attack the village all at once. We only have once chance for this to work, this is it.”
We spread out, creeping around through the surrounding woods. I break twigs under my feet as the tensions rise with each step.
From the woods, I have a pretty good view of the town. I am able to see, what I think is the Sainte-Mère-Église Church. It is dark, but I am able to make out the church’s, stained glass. This makes me feel as if God is watching over me and my fellow comrades, as if he is on our side. Going into battle that’s exactly how you want to feel.
After a twig cracks under my foot, I look up, and right, at a noise I heard coming from the shadows of the village. I pull my up my Tommy gun, ready for anything.
I hear Germans, but not from where I am, just a little up ahead. I’m not sure where they are. I try to signal to my comrades ahead to stop, but they can't hear me.
“hey stop” I say under my breath, but it was too loud.
My comrades turn around but the Germans turn around to, and are now visible to everyone.The Germans spin around, searching for the American, for me.
I whip my gun to my chest raising it to them, I pull the trigger.
Bang Bang Bang Bang
With four shouts the three germans were down.
Bang Bang
With two shots from the shadows, I am down.
Peter runs to my aid as my other comrades take down the monsters in the shadows.
I hear gunshots, but the pain is unbearable.
My leg aches instantly. I crumble to the ground, holding my right leg and hip gasping for breath. I feel cold, colder than I was before, and already, the blood has seeped through my forest green coat and pants, forming two brown blotches, one on my coat and the other on my pants.
Peter unfastens my belt, loosening my pants, allowing him to get a glance at my wound. As blood pours out of me like a fountain, I see a medic running coming back for us, for me.
“What happened here?” The medic asked Peter.
“The Nazis got him, right in the thigh.”
“He clipped your femoral artery. There is nothing I can do, you are going to bleed out.”
“Peter, tell my wife I love her.” I say pulling out the picture and the letter.
“If it is the last thing I do, I promise you I will tell her.” Peter says.
I may not have known Peter for very long, but I can tell he is an honest man, and I do believe that he will deliver the message for me.
Taking one last look at the picture, I realize that there was a bullet hole in the photograph, right where my face used to be. The bullet not only erased me from the future, but also, my past.
“Give these to her too please.” I say to him as I hold the photograph and letter.
“I will, I swear.” Peter responds. With tears in his eyes.
With that promise I knew it was over. Laying down, I roll over from my back, to my left side, from there I am able to position myself against a tree, now I am sitting up.
I wrap my fingers over the cold metal of my pistol. I slowly put it in my mouth, thinking about dying brings tears to my eyes. This isn’t the way I wanted to go, but it looks there is no way else. I feel like have failed my wife and my country.
“One more thing” I say.
“Yes, anything.” Peter responds.
“Tell her I’m sorry.” I say with tears in my eyes and pull the trigger.