Free Coastal Event Memories by A. G. Kimbrough

birds will take about 45 minutes to get there from where we are now. “
     
    “We'll try to make them hold up near Twin Bridges on Highway 50.  You will probably loose our signal when we drop down to land. Just stand by for more updates.” 
     
    The Osprey landed at the Best Buy Trading Post, and in a meeting with Rebecca, Tiny, and Zeke; they developed a plan of action.
     
    That afternoon, they dropped a team of snipers and a former seal, who rigged a series of C-4 charges that covered the highway just east of Twin Bridges with boulders and debris. The Osprey then flew on to Minden to refuel and update the team on the ground.
     
    Their plans called for the Marines to follow the convoy and be in a position to block an escape from the ambush at Twin Bridges. Tiny Landon had boarded the Osprey, and would act as a guide, since he was familiar with Highway 50 and knew where to set up the retreat blockade.
     
    When they described the plan to Gunny Larson, Rose McAllen and about half the other women, refused to stay in Minden. She insisted that the women had just as big a stake in the battle outcome as anyone. She then reminded them that they would still be outnumbered, and the more guns firing the greater their chances of success.
     
    In the end, Gunny and Tiny agreed, and Walter relented to the change in plans. The children, with the remaining women, and all the supplies, stayed in Minden. Tiny, Gunny, and Rose in a lead pickup, with a load of mortars and ammo, led the Marine convoy toward Highway 50. They drove through the night, making slow progress over the debris-strewn roads.
     
    The DHS convoy had camped for the night just west of Phillips, on Highway 50. Kemp insisted on an early start, impatient at the delays necessary to clear the roadways. An armored combat vehicle led the procession, followed by the two bulldozer hauling flatbeds, and then the rest of the convoy. Two scouts on dirt bikes ran about a mile ahead.
     
    The scouts reported the rock slide at Twin Bridges and the convoy pulled up to it and stopped. The bulldozers were unloaded and started to work.
     
    When the Chicago launched the Tomahawks, Walter issued a radio command to the ground forces. From mountaintop hides on both sides of highway 50, snipers took careful aim, and killed both bulldozer operators within 5 seconds of each other. Other snipers, many firing deer rifles, cut down anyone not buttoned up in armored vehicles.
     
    The guns on the convoy responded immediately, with continuous streams of fire that shredded the vegetation on the ridges, without much effect. The vehicles in the rear of the convoy started to turn around. Walter was tracking the battle progress and relayed an order that started the Marine force dropping mortar shells among them. The mortar barrage kept the vehicles from retreating, but the counter fire started taking a toll.
     
    Tiny was hit by shrapnel in the thigh, and would have bled out had Rose not provided immediate action. Even though he was hurting, his face turned beet red when Rose pulled down his pants and drawers to apply a pressure bandage. She took a look at his obvious embarrassment and said, “I’m not seeing anything I haven’t seen lots of times before. Although you are very well equipped. It would have been a shame if that shrapnel had hit a little higher. I’m looking forward to knowing you a lot better when you get healed up.”
     
    Tiny could not think of anything to reply.
     
    One of the armored combat vehicles managed to turn around and was threatening to break through the Marine defenses.
     
    Walter had been watching the radar display, waiting for the first Tomahawk to show up, His joy at seeing the first one was terminated when it crashed into a mountaintop before it could lock on to the illumination signal. All would be lost if they could not stop the armored combat vehicle assault.
     
    Two minutes later, the second Tomahawk appeared. Walter had shifted the illuminator to the rear of