The Charlatan- 1

The Charlatan
Chapter I

This story I heard from a conversation between 2 combat veterans, 1 from Vietnam War
The other one from Iraq war. There they were, sitting behind me on a V.A. shuttle bus,
Traveling from the Mall to the Hospital. These two guy were completely immerse sharing
Their war stories, telling to each other about that strange sensation when somebody is
Shooting at you and vice versa. Me, well, I never been in combat, a veteran with no experience,
Or so they say, yep keep in mind that I’m just the listener. Their war stories were getting
Pretty, pretty hot by now, it was like watching a war movie, front row. I heard about ambushes
From the Iraqis insurgents, ambushes from the Vietcong, booby traps all over the rice paddies,
Roadside bombs or IED’s on the streets of Bagdad, shooting camels here, shooting water buffalos
There. You name it, I was at the edge of having a combat flashback, but I couldn’t get one because
I never been in combat, I forgot about that detail. Well let’s go back to our warriors and their
Stories. Seems to me that all this war talking was turning into a contest, yes a combat challenge,
Between these 2 veterans. It was like, who put up a stronger firefight, whose warriors were
The bravest, the gallant one, the unique soldiers, the ones who fought with great bravery for
Our glorious country. For me if you want to hear my opinion, I have them even, a draw, both
Veterans after all I heard they fought gallantly, very brave of them. I’m considering commending
Both men for The Medal of Honor, but this is totally out of my hands, believe me. For some
Reason the man from Nam thought that he was losing this war of words, so the vet from jungle green
Asked the vet from desert sand, do you have war secrets? Dragon skin, the warrior from desert sand
Was taken by surprised and said, war secrets? What do you mean by war secrets?