Max on Guard Duty, Sir

Around the world the United States government relies on the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces to keep the country safe from all dangers. During the period of the Vietnam War, in many parts of the world the U.S. Marines were spread thin as their brigades, companies and platoons fought in that difficult war.

During this period of time the Commandant of the Marine Corps asked people from other services to step up and fill the gaps left in the understaffed guard positions when possible.

Max was then in the U.S. Navy doing other things. He volunteered and stepped forward to help. The Navy sent him to a small isolated base in North Africa that bordered a desert. This was just fine with Max who took a ferry once and got sea sick. He liked ships when they were tied to the dock. The desert was just fine.

The Marines got a good chuckle when Max volunteered. They liked Max but he didn't exactly look like a fighter. The Marine Commander checked Max's record and discovered that he may not look like it, but he was somewhat expert with firearms. Max got the duty.

The job wasn't really all that difficult. The assignment was to take the Marine position at a guard shack that was the only entry into an area where a cluster of buildings full of people worked twenty-four, seven to protect the fleet.

In the field outside this compound, Marine Guards with dogs would be roaming perhaps on the outer perimeter, perhaps a quarter to a half mile away. No one told Max exactly.

On his first night assignment Max was so proud of himself. He wore his Navy dress uniform with freshly shined shoes. It was very exciting. He carried an M14, which was the standard issue for this position.

As the people who worked in the building arrived, Max made sure they had proper credentials and then let them in. For the next eight hours no one was to be allowed in the gate. When the last person went through the secure doors of the facility, Max was all alone.

There was a moon that night and Max was sure the Marines were patrolling the fields keeping anyone who stumbled into the security zone away from his post.

It was a beautiful night. Every fifteen minutes or so, Max would march around the compound checking every inch of the fence to make sure no one did get past the Marines. He was so proud. He was protecting his friends and everyone in the building.

Max was so excited about the trust that had been placed in his hands that he never felt tired for a minute. He checked the gate after each round to make sure no one had tampered with the lock.

When the morning sun rose he was almost disappointed to see the bus come up the dusty road to the compound. He knew his Marine Guard replacement would be on it. He unlocked the gate and checked in the replacement and assisted with the check of the next shift of workers in the buildings.

On the second evening Max showed up for duty with the evening bus. He hadn't rested much. It was a lot of fun being a replacement guard. He looked forward to another brilliant evening.

He followed the prescribed procedure and replaced the guard on duty. He was now responsible again for everyone's safety.

The first evening had lulled him into complacency, with the bright moonlight and uneventful nature.

This night was a little different. No sooner than the last worker had gone into the building than he noticed that the moon was a little dimmer. Not a lot, just a little.

There was a small breeze blowing. With the warm breeze a thin mist began developing in the air. Each time Max patrolled the compound he noticed that the mist was getting thicker. By four in the morning the moon had disappeared.

The boundary lights in the compound shown dimly on the thin fog. By five in the morning Max could no longer see the chain link in the fence that protected the compound. This night wasn't as much fun.

Sometime, just before sunrise, Max heard the sound no guard likes to hear. Something was rustling the fence. Max walked quickly to the area of the noise.

Pointing his gun in the direction of the noise, Max ordered "Who goes there?"

No response. Max could not see the fence as the mist was too thick.

He stepped a little closer. "Who goes there?" He demanded an answer once more.

Max was running out of options. He was alone out there and had no idea where the Marine Guards were. He was going to have to shoot whoever was trying to breach the fence.

Max put his gun in position. It was his duty to protect those inside. He stepped a few inches closer so that he wouldn't miss.

"Mooo!" The mist parted slightly to reveal two huge blue eyes.

Max let out a sigh of relief. A cow had eluded the marine guards and was eating grass against the side of the fence.

Max had saved the base from a cow!

For his brave action Max got a very nice thank you letter from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Somehow he knew where Max was.

The cow got to continue grazing, off the protected area, of course.

Max was pleased to have been able to help the Marines out, but decided after that night that he would rather be the guarded than the guard.

Max writes about greenways, rare diseases, timely topics, places to eat, travel and other issues of interest. He encourages you to add your comments.

Link one is to where the U.S. Military serves.

Link two and three are to a desert location the Navy uses.