>Well today was the day, the hospital finally let you go.
>The three weeks passed extremely slowly but you learned a fair amount about the war as a whole
>NATO and PACT forces were basically at this point bogged down on all fronts
>There were constant commando raids across the Baltics, Norway, Denmark, Japan, and Alaska, and the parts of Russia those places are near
>The Soviet war machine had been halted some fifty kilometers west of Fulda in Central Germany
>In Bavaria the front lines went right through the cities of Nuremburg and Munich
>In the Northern parts of Germany a combined force of West German, Danish, and Commonwealth forces halted the Communist forces along a defensive line that ran from Kiel down to most of Hamburg
>Besides all this news, you hoped for one thing
>That the Army would send you home back to your family
>But, the Army felt you were physically fit, gave you a new kit and rifle, put you in a 6x6 full of other soldiers discharged from hospital and boots fresh from the states, and shipped you back towards your old unit
>The drive took longer than during peacetime because of the constant military roadblocks and the convoy trying to avoid bomb craters in the Autobahn
>Eventually you arrive at a patch of woods and told to disembark by an officer
>Tents and camouflaged vehicles were strewn about the woods with men milling about between then trying to get from what you presumed was some well needed rest and food
>You wonder around a bit, greeting some people from the unit you recognize, which have dwindled from the first week of the war
>Soon enough you find Lemar with a few soldiers you don't recognize in front of him
>"You know them new mags are dogshit private? They've messed with the spring and other parts to make em' cheaper and easier to produce" Lemar says to one of the men in front of you
>"These pre-war mags though, built to last man, never had a feeding issue during the whole four weeks of the war. Those mags you were issued, those will give you issues when you need it the most and will get you killed" he continues
>"Damn, really man?" the private says back
>"Damn right. Now, 'cause I'll feeling nice and I want to see you go back to your girlfriend or family in one piece, I'll trade you all my mags for all of yours. Save you the trouble" Lemar says as he starts pulling out the magazines from the pouches on his gear
>Some of the mags Lemar gave the poor private looked like something threw rocks at them for the last month or so, the rest were scratched to shit and in general looked like ass
"Are you trying to swindle this boot of his gear Lemar?" You finally say
>Lemar swivels around shock all on his face
>He looks you up and down multiple times
>"Well fuck me" Lemar mumbles in shock
>He suddenly jumps up and bear hugs you
>"Fuckin christ Anon, thought you were dead when I go you to the aid station. I gave that fuckin' commie who blasted you what's for man." He says
"Was hoping the army would send me home but they thought it was better to bring me back your way" you reply
>"Fuckin Army eh?" he replies
>"Listen up gents" Lemar says breaking half the hug and rotating around, presenting you to the men in front of him
>"This here is Private First Class Anon, baddest, most tough mother fucker in the US fuckin' Army" He says
>"The fucker here took five 5.45 rounds during the battle of the Main River, and now he's back to kick some more Ruskie ass" Lemar continues
"Gee why don't you stroke my dick more Private Lemar" you reply
>"Oh no, it's no longer PRIVATE lemar, the higher ups thought they should give me the rank of Corporal while you were gone" Lemar says
"Well congratulations Corporal, and I'm betting these boots are the ones you have to babysit?" you say
>"Yup" Lemar says, "Private James, Dante, and Franklin" he says going from left to right
>the three of them nod or give some basic greeting before Lemar takes you aside
>"Man you would not believe the shit they're issuing us and what we're going up against" Lemar says in a whisper as the two of you start walking away
>"The fuckin tracks we're rollin in man, you're not going to like it" he continues
"Don't tell me their sticking us in fuckin bathtubs again" you say
>Lemar simple nods in a direction slightly off to your left
>"See for yourself my man" he says
>You follow his gaze and at a cluster of four M113s
"Yo man, what happened to the fuckin Brads?" you ask
>"Three got destroyed by enemy fire and the last broke down so bad we had to give her up to the rear. Cav and Armored units are getting all the ones coming in from the states. The tank platoons don't look any better by the way" Lemar says
>You look around the woods until you see the spot where the armor attached to your company were sitting
>Besides the one Abrams, which by the amount of kill rings it has on the barrel it looks like it somehow survived through every engagement the units been in, you stand there looking at three M60a3s under camo netting
"Fuckin horseshit man, they expect us to fight fuckin' T-72s and T-80s with this shit?" you say, anger for the US army growing
>"We don't see that shit as much anymore man. The Ruskies are breaking open the warehouses like we are. Lot of T-64s man, many of the other Pact nations are throwing goddamn T-55s at us" Lemar replies