Only one thing bothered him more than stupid wet behind the ears points.
That was this, riding on the arse of M-48 tanks, chewing fumes, and being thrown around like a rag doll as he bounced across the god forsaken countryside called ‘Nam.
It was a sure fire way to attract unwanted attention. Sgt Ash was a professional, he avoided attention at all times.

Now it’s a given that points, those inexperienced Lt’s get you killed too. But tanks were immutable, sometimes he could talk an LT out of a really stupid idea. Usually not, but you had a chance.

As he revelled in his misery that was when the shots started coming in.

Sparking, clanging bullets ricochet off the Patton’s armor. Men ducked, others, the replacements. The FNG’s. They cower. Ash sighed. At least Lt Reagin had been in country long enough to not get us killed today. But these Fricken new guys, were another story.

He couldn’t fault them. But he knew from Korea, there ain’t nowhere to hide in the back of a tank.
He spat chew, “listen up” he said as the roar of engines and whistle of bullets were singing by, ” we dismount here, it’s another fine day in the Corps, now get your asses down and move to those paddies on the double, oh and FNG’s leap and stay clear of the damn tracks of the tank!”

The regulars, the crew, the vets roared with laughter. The sprang down to the soft dirt, rolling, tumbling, clear. The bullets lessened, but still disconcertingly enough the sound changed to muddy thwacks as the men raced head long to the stinking rice paddies, diving for cover. The volume of fire was more than he had expected.

Then, it started to rain.
Another glorious day in the Corps indeed thought Ash.