Free the Last Run (1987) by Leonard B Scott

thinking of her, but he couldn't bring himself to write a single line. Finally, about a month ago, her letters stopped coming. He shut his eyes to stop the emotions that made his knees feel weak. He missed the tall, raven-haired woman who had made him feel so good, and he missed the old team he loved. Of Team 2-2, three had been wounded in Cambodia, and two had rotated home. That left him, the last original member.
    He opened his eyes and took a deep breath for strength. When he'd been moved to Matt's team three months ago, he had found a new home, and Russian, Rose, and Matt had taken the place of the others, but his old friends would always have a special place in his heart.
    Thumper tossed Wade's bags onto a pallet and returned to the tent. He quickly stuffed his belongings into two duffel bags and began to walk back to the airfield. Sergeant Gino saw him and yelled for him to come to the TOC.
    Thumper cussed under his breath and walked toward the sergeant, who still sat on his folding chair directing the load-out.
    Rose lay back on his rucksack behind a tent, hiding from the watchful eye of Gino. He had just dozed off when a powerful, hairy arm clamped around his neck and jerked him up. Russian pushed him away, causing him to fall over his rucksack. Rose rolled to the ground and sprang to his feet to meet his attacker.
    "You do not follow my orders," Russian growled. "You make me a fool."
    Rose immediately lowered his fists and began backing away from the approaching huge soldier.
    "No man, I was just . . . No, Russian, shit, man, back off. I ... I ..." He spun around and ran screaming, "Thumper!" . . . Thum-per!"
    Thumper stood up at the sound of the bloodcurdling scream and smiled as Rose ran straight for him. Russian, followed by his dog, chased Rose at a slow lope.
    Rose skidded to a halt behind Thumper and Gino, and pointed excitedly toward the advancing bull.
    "He . . . he's gonna kill me!"
    Thumper sat back down and shook his head. "I told you he was pissed."
    Russian halted a few paces in front of Thumper and glared at Rose.
    "I teach the crazy one a lesson."
    Thumper sighed. "Carl, I understand how you feel, but we'd just be another man short. Besides, Sergeant Gino here needs a detail man to load out equipment."
    Rose whined, "Aw, shit, Thump."
    Thumper ignored the remark. "Why don't you and Bitch go on down to the airfield," he said to Russian. "We'll be in An Khe in a little while, and we'll get to chose our bunks while lover- boy is still working. He won't be in until this evening."
    Russian grunted and lowered his eyes to Thumper. "He will not work. He just talk."
    Gino stood up, offended. "The hell he will! I'll make him sweat!"
    Satisfied, Russian threw one last cutting stare at Rose, then went to the tent to collect his equipment.
    Rose fell to his knees with a pained expression. "Damn, Thump, you can't do this to me, man."
    "You're staying, or I'll let Russian have you."
    "Shit, man, you messin' with me and . . . and I got a slight problem."
    Thumper's eyebrows raised slowly. "Yeah?"
    "Well, I tried to piss awhile ago and ..."
    Thumper shook his head with a sigh. "You'd better get to the medics before they pack up their penicillin. What happened to the stateside rubber?"
    "Aw, man, she wanted me now, you know what I mean?"
    Thumper, trying to contain his laughter, gave an exaggerated nod and pointed to the medics' tent. "Move out and get your shot. You got work to do!"
    Rose got up, mumbling. "I swear, man, you try to help a buddy, and he done gets hos-tile. You try to be nice to a lady, and she gives you the clap. This world is fucked up, man."
    Bien Hoa Air Force Base 433rd Wing Hospital
    Sergeant Matt Wade had arrived that afternoon at Bien Hoa, wearing a sling. He had his X rays taken, but there were no flights scheduled back to Phan Thiet until the following morning, so he was ordered to a convalescent ward to wait.
    As soon as he saw the ward he knew he wasn't going to like it. A short staff