Free Issue In Doubt by David Sherman Page A

trees to join the command group.
    “Oh, shit!” Sergeant Martin shouted, hitting the dirt at the flash and the bang. A few meters to his left, third squad leader Sergeant Frederick W. Mausert also swore and hit the deck. So did the gun squad leader, Sergeant Matej Kocak.
    When a few seconds passed without another simulated artillery strike, or any word from the command group, the squad leaders pushed themselves up into crouches and dashed to where they believed the platoon command group was. They found the four Marines gently rocking on their backs in their frozen body armor. Using a few words to coordinate their actions, the two squad leaders checked the downed Marines and their comps.
    “Damn, damn, damn,” Martin swore under his breath. Then into the platoon net, “Where’s comm?”
    “I’m here,” Corporal John H. Pruitt said as he scrambled to the scene.
    “Get me company,” Martin told him.
    “Right.” Pruitt got on the net and contacted Captain Sitter. He gave the handset to Martin.
    “Six Actual, this is India-three-one,” Martin said in a voice steadier than he felt, “India-three-six, three-five, three-four, and three-two are all down.” India-three, third platoon, three-six, -five, -four, the ancient designations for the platoon commander, platoon sergeant, and right guide. Three-one, -two and -three, the designators for first, second, and third squad leaders.
    “All seniors in India-three are down except for three-one and three-three, is that right?” Sitter asked.
    “And guns. What do you want us to do with the casualties?”
    “I’ve got a GPS lock on your position. I’ll forward it to battalion, and they’ll pick them up. All right, three-one, you still have an objective to take. You’re now acting six. Three-three is now acting five. Assign the senior fire team leader in each squad to acting squad leader. You’ve got three minutes to reorganize and get moving again. India-six-actual out.”
    Martin returned the handset to Pruitt and looked at Mausert and Kocak. “It’s on us,” he said. “I’m acting six, and Fred’s five. We’ve got three minutes to reorganize the platoon and move out.”
    Mausert shook his head. “I always figured I’d make platoon sergeant some day. But, damn, I expected to have the rank when I did.”
    “You gonna give your squad to Phillips?” Martin asked.
    “Yeah,” Mausert answered. “He’s got seniority, and he’s pretty good.”
    “Do you have any problem with Glowin taking over second squad?”
    Mausert shook his head. “I think he can do it.”
    “Good. Let’s give them the news. I’m giving my squad to Adriance.” He turned to Pruitt. “Looks like we’ve got a new command group. You and me will be between first and second. Fred,” back to Mausert, “you’re between second and third. No sense in being where one round can get both of us. Matej, keep your guns where they are in the column.”
    “Sounds good to me,” Mausert said. Kocak nodded.
    “All right, time’s wasting. Let’s do it.”
    “What do you think the lieutenant wanted us for?” Mausert asked.
    Martin shook his head. “Maybe we’ll find out after this phase. Unless this was a set up.”
    “Could be,” Mausert agreed.
    “Let’s go.”
    The four headed back to the rest of the platoon and made the new assignments.
    “Mackie,” Martin said after making Adriance the acting squad leader, “this makes you acting fire team leader. Put one of your men up front, and move out.”
    “Aye aye,” Mackie replied. He turned to his two men. “Zion, take point. Me, then Orndoff.”
    “Why me?” Zion objected. “I already got killed once today.”
    “So did all of us,” Mackie snapped. “Move out. I’ll guide you.”
    Zion stepped out, and the rest of third platoon followed. As soon as the platoon was beyond the place where they’d stopped and lost the command group, an umpire appeared out of the shadows and unlocked the armor of the downed Marines.
    “Wait