女兵劉回到傷兵連---難望的2007/01/03

When I was back to my unit at PTRP, Fort Jackson, SC, on 1/3/2007. I got the feeling that 很多事情都不大對頭。

首先，前一天晚上，由於害怕耽誤了飛機，我一宿沒敢合眼，嚴重缺乏睡眠。一月三日淩晨4點，我叫醒了熟睡中的丈夫，我們大概4：30 就出了門。我那天是穿ACU，現在US AMRY 官兵的正式軍服，佩戴 Black Beret，Summer Boots, 還有跟隨了我三個月的雙拐。After my husband took off, I felt extremely lonely. Although I was still at SFO airport, my heart had already been in the 軍營。我真不想回去！！

 

由於我是休一個月的 Con Leave， 我的腳傷還是挺嚴重的；別的 battle buddies 都是隻休 從 12、18 到1、2 的 聖誕假期，所以我不知道如何從 Columbia Airport get back to Fort Jackson. And I didn't have the free pass for the bus that the Army hired to accommodate all the soldiers.

I was holding two of my crutches in one hand, so the other spare hand could hold on to my luggage. It was a mess, and my beret was not in place, my hair must have sticked out of it, for I heard a loud shout from a black female Drill Sergeant yell, " SPC Liu, fix your hair now!!" in front of at least 300 squatted soldiers (we were ordered to keep the squating position in unison). And whick I did immediately. Right away, that shout put my body and mind and soul back to the Army.

 

All of a sudden, I saw a familiar face, Private A from PTRP, what an angel that God sent me at the right time! Private A, greeted me discreetly, and offered to carry my luggage, I was so grateful. Words could have failed to describe my feelings then. "A, where are your crutches? Did you leave for Con Leave with them?" "Oh, I left them at home, I am sure Major Waring will give me a new set." A 高興地答道。哎， 早知道，我也把拐杖丟在 Fremont 的家裏了。愚蠢！我心裏埋怨。

 

總算回到PTRP， 已經是夜裏12點了。在回營房前，我們50 幾個傷兵來不急寒暄，都被命令列隊靜候。不知等了多久，最後，兩位 Black female Drill Sergeants showed up, yelling, "Shake down! Shake down!" meaning every soldier would empty his or her luggage in one motion, and wait to be inspected individually. I totally hated it! But what can you do instead of obeying the command.

When it was my turn, she fumbled my stuff, "What is this, Liu?" I took a quick look, that was the 膏藥 that I bought at Ranch 99, for my ailing back and knees. They have all Chinese labels on, I guess that was why she asked. "Drill Sergeant, that is the medicated tape for my back, Drill Sergeant!" sounded off quickly. "That is contrabent, throw them in the trash, Liu!". "Right away, Drill Sergeant, right away!" I shouted. And did I was told to do.