Dream of Glory
November 11, 2020 at 10:50 am 44 comments
For Friday Fictioneers 100-Word Challenge: 13 November 2020
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| Photo Credit: Dale Rogerson |
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Connor was young and restless. Enlisting in the Army opened the door for his dream of glory. After boot camp, he went to fight in the Vietnam war. From the start, he was fearless. His courage was a cup full to the brim.
But as the dark realities of the conflict sank in and finding himself engaged in one ferocious battle after another, his cup started to empty until there was nothing much left to keep his fighting spirit alive.
Sweating profusely and summoning his last ounce of courage, he shot himself in the foot for a one-way ticket home.
Entry filed under: Blogroll, Daily Post, friday fictioneers. Tags: 100-word challenge, fiction, war.
1.
ceayr | November 11, 2020 at 11:22 am
Sad story, Plaridel
2.
plaridel | November 11, 2020 at 12:32 pm
ceayr:
anyway you look at it, it is indeed.
3.
Dora | November 11, 2020 at 11:48 am
This reminded me of Stephen Crane’s “Red Badge of Courage.” Well-told, Plaridel.
4.
plaridel | November 11, 2020 at 12:31 pm
dora:
it’s very kind of you. thank you.
5.
Iain Kelly | November 11, 2020 at 12:03 pm
Smart move. Better that than dead in a ditch somewhere far from home.
6.
plaridel | November 11, 2020 at 12:31 pm
iain:
you’re absolutely right.
7.
neilmacdon | November 11, 2020 at 12:39 pm
And there was fragging too
8.
plaridel | November 13, 2020 at 8:39 am
neil:
fragging? just learned a new word. thank you.
9.
Susan A Eames | November 11, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Oh, what a last line! Totally unexpected. Thanks for surprising me.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
10.
plaridel | November 13, 2020 at 8:39 am
susan:
thank you for the generous comment. much appreciated.
11.
draliman | November 12, 2020 at 10:58 pm
War will never live up to youngsters’ romanticised ideas of glory and medals.
12.
plaridel | November 13, 2020 at 8:39 am
draliman:
i totally agree.
13.
Keith's Ramblings | November 13, 2020 at 4:03 am
Desperate situations call for desperate measures. An excellent take plaridel.
14.
plaridel | November 13, 2020 at 8:38 am
keith:
under the circumstances, he did what he had to do.
15.
rochellewisoff | November 13, 2020 at 6:06 am
Dear Plaridel,
Poor guy. I can’t imagine, but I understand. Very well written, sir.
Shalom,
Rochelle
16.
plaridel | November 13, 2020 at 8:38 am
rochelle:
coming from you, i take it as a great compliment. thank you.
17.
granonine | November 13, 2020 at 11:56 am
It’s my understanding that this scenario played out many times over the years of that endless war. Can’t say I blame him.
18.
plaridel | November 14, 2020 at 9:01 am
linda:
it was an unjust war to begin with.
19.
msjadeli | November 13, 2020 at 2:35 pm
I don’t blame him. Hoping he works through his trauma when he gets home. War is ugly business.
20.
plaridel | November 14, 2020 at 9:01 am
msjadeli:
he thought that his life was worth saving. he better prove it the rest of his days.
21.
Brenda's Thoughts | November 13, 2020 at 6:33 pm
Very sad for the young man, both to be there and to be forced to make such a horrible choice. Excellent writing!
22.
plaridel | November 14, 2020 at 9:00 am
brenda:
if anything, he realized the futility of it all before it was too late.
23.
Na'ama Yehuda | November 13, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Oy. War is terrible. Any way you look at it. And the price people pay, in every way possible, is terrible. Nicely done!
24.
plaridel | November 14, 2020 at 9:00 am
na’ama:
i appreciate your comment very much. thank you.
25.
Tannille | November 13, 2020 at 7:37 pm
One person can only take so much. The breaking point. At least he didn’t kill himself.
26.
plaridel | November 14, 2020 at 9:00 am
tannille:
it’s an irony that he’d be welcome home as a hero.
27.
James McEwan | November 13, 2020 at 10:36 pm
War is never like the films, it wears you down into an empty shell. Drastic action!
28.
plaridel | November 14, 2020 at 8:59 am
james:
war is hell. it’ll always be.
29.
Dale | November 14, 2020 at 7:30 am
Well done, Plaridel. There is no glory in war and not all return and those who return have pains far beyond a shot in the foot.
30.
plaridel | November 14, 2020 at 8:59 am
dale:
well said.
31.
Dale | November 14, 2020 at 10:30 am
🙂
You said it first.
32.
plaridel | November 16, 2020 at 9:26 am
dale:
🙂
33.
liz young | November 14, 2020 at 8:01 am
A sad end to a brave life.
34.
plaridel | November 14, 2020 at 8:59 am
liz:
unfortunately, it looks that way.
35.
michaelwynnauthor | November 15, 2020 at 7:50 am
When reality strikes it can be fierce, cruel and drive us to all sorts. Well told Plaridel.
36.
plaridel | November 16, 2020 at 9:26 am
mick:
true that!
37.
Inside the Mind of Isadora | November 15, 2020 at 12:29 pm
YIKES … I guess he wanted to be out of the service.
He must have been desperate or the ravages of war were causing him great despair. Powerful story, Plaridel.
Be Safe … Isadora 😎
38.
plaridel | November 16, 2020 at 9:25 am
isadora:
he lost his will to fight.
39.
J.A. Prentice | November 15, 2020 at 4:08 pm
War is hell, as they say. Powerful story.
40.
plaridel | November 16, 2020 at 9:25 am
josuah:
thank you for reading as usual. much appreciated.
41.
pennygadd51 | November 16, 2020 at 6:46 am
I wonder how many men he killed before he realised the futility of war? I wonder how he’ll be able to live with his conscience? He will have caused as much agony as he suffered.
42.
plaridel | November 16, 2020 at 9:25 am
penny:
it could make him realize later he’s better dead than alive.
43.
pennygadd51 | November 16, 2020 at 9:53 am
Which would be the last and greatest mistake, and dreadfully sad. Alive, he has at least the opportunity to make some sort of amends in the way he lives his life.
44.
plaridel | November 18, 2020 at 1:18 pm
penny:
hopefully, he’ll be able to pick up the pieces and move on.