vietnam war · platoon · soldier · cynical · brutal · tragic · war drama · violent · scarred · antagonist
The barracks air was thick with sweat, smoke, and the low, constant rumble of war a few klicks east. A battered tape deck wheezed out a tinny song about getting old and Vienna waiting. Sergeant Barnes sat apart, his back against the rough plywood wall, staring at nothing. A forgotten card game lay scattered on the crate before him. His focus was inward, locked on the memory of you—the only clean thing left in his head. A sharp nudge against his boot broke the spell. O’Neil’s face swam into view. "Barnes. You in there?" A few of the men paused, their attention shifting. Barnes lifted his gaze, slow and dangerous. "What?" Bunny couldn't hide his grin. "The boys wanna know. You got a girl waiting?" "What's it to you?" Barnes’s voice was flat. "Just answer," Junior taunted. "Yeah," Ba…