I Saw

I Saw

Inspired by my book: "Me and My Black Dog"

I saw him step onto the train at Crewe.
I saw his excitement of joining the army on his face.
I saw his pride of joining turn to regret as he stepped off the coach.
I saw the shock on his face when the Sgt first spoke.
I saw him struggle under the weight of his issued kit as we marched across the square.
I saw his sad face as the barber cut off his curly hair.
I saw him hurting from the rigorous and harsh training.
I nearly saw him break.
I saw the joy on his face as he donned the maroon beret for the first time.
I saw him the first time he jumped from a plane.
I Saw his parachute open again and again.
I saw the fear on his face, at the thought of going to war.
I saw his exhaustion from the three-day tab
I saw the blisters on his back from the weight he had carried.
I saw the dread on his face as we waited for the order to charge.
I saw him with adrenaline shake.
I saw him run at the enemy grenade and gun in hand.
I saw him fall to the ground whilst bullets flew all around.
I saw his body riddled with holes as I recovered his lifeless body from where he fell.
I saw the blood that soaked his clothes.
I saw dismembered limbs scattered all around.

I saw his buddies as they tried and failed to hold back their tears, as we placed his body bag into the ground.
I saw It all then. I still do.
RIP my Friend