}
https://images.app.goo.gl/s4VyFnrt1fpT3TQN7
The drive from Fairfax to Houston gave the young couple a chance to catch up, Jill talking away about the latest news at home. Her BMW pulled the small U-Haul trailer effortlessly. Ray had used his housing allowance to rent a small furnished apartment so they had left many of their belongings in the care of Ray’s family. They would buy essentials there, pots and pans, dishes, silverware, etc. to be shipped back to Virginia after the 15 week corpsman school when Jill would return to Fairfax and Ray’s family. After corpsman training Ray would head for Indiana for scout/sniper school for three months before final deployment to Iraq.
Jill's chatter was followed by long stretches of comfortable silence during which she would snuggle as close to Ray as her condition and the confinement of the seatbelt would allow. Just being together was bliss, they had been married for a little over a year but had spent very little time as a couple. After sniper school Ray would be gone for at least a year on deployment, they both wanted to make the most out of their time together. They had just over a week to get to Houston and get settled in, plenty of time to stop for the night to make the trip easier for Jill.
Along the way she agonized over whether or not to tell Ray about what had happened with Leo. Finally she summoned up the courage. It wasn’t Ray she feared but what he might do to Leo. Things were going well and they couldn’t afford for Ray to get into trouble should Ray decide to turn around. Ray had always been level-headed, not prone to violent outbursts. She decided to take the chance when they were in Louisiana, far enough from Fairfax that he wouldn’t turn around.
“Ray, there’s something I need to tell you,” she began. She then blurted out the whole story watching his face for a reaction.
“What about your father?” he asked. “Wouldn’t he help?”
“He took Leo’s side,” she told him. “Your mom and dad were wonderful Ray, they stuck by me through the whole thing.”
Ray looked at her with a grim smile. “If only I had been there…” he said.
“Please,” she said, her eyes pleading. “Let’s just forget this, please, it’s all over and everything turned out ok. I just didn’t want to keep it from you, we should never keep secrets from each other.”
“You’re right,” Ray smiled, squeezing her hand gently. “Thank you for telling me.” He leaned over, kissing her on the forehead. “Just do me a favor when you get home -- stay away from Leo.”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “The judge put a restraining order on him. He can’t come within 500 feet of me without going to jail.”
They settled in for the last leg of the journey, Jill feeling much more relaxed having told Ray about her encounter. They would arrive in Houston just after noon and after Ray unloaded the trailer, they would return it and go shopping for essentials. Even with frequent stops they had made the trip with 4 days to spare, 4 days they would spend preparing for the blessed event that was just over a week away. The apartment was small but had a large bedroom that would easily accommodate a crib and bassinet. Dennis had generously agreed to fly to Houston and drive Jill and the baby back to Virginia when the time came.
In the meantime, Angela would fly to Houston just before the baby was due in case Ray was in school when the baby came -- everything was planned out with military precision. Ray’s school days were 12 hours long, so the likelihood that he would be gone when the baby came was 50/50.
The couple spent many of the hours before school opened deciding on a name. If it was a girl, her name would be Jennifer. Jill wanted to name a boy after Ray’s dad, Chet.
“His name is Chester,” Ray protested. “Nobody names their kids Chester nowadays.”
“Well, I like it,” she said. “Chester Merrill the 2nd. It has a noble ring to it.”
“We could name him Leo,” Ray joked, “or Bob after your dad.”
One look from Jill told him both of these were out. “Not funny,” she said, almost laughing.
They finally agreed on Sean -- Sean Chester Merrill. And a boy it was. Sean Chester Merrill came into the world at 11:17 in the morning while Ray was at school. He raced to the hospital directly from school, driven by a fellow classmate Ray had made friends with. After buying roses at the hospital gift shop, he burst into the room to see his wife and son, a healthy 9 pound 8 ounce baby boy. Jill looked up at him, both exhausted and beautiful at the same time.
“He looks just like you,” she smiled. It was true, Sean Chester Merrill had a shock of black hair and big blue eyes. He looked up from his mother’s arms and smiled at his father.
Tears came to Ray’s eyes. “Can I hold him?” He asked. He gingerly picked up the baby boy staring down at him in amazement. “He looks like my dad,” Ray smiled.
“Heaven forbid,” Angela said, smiling, having just come back from the cafeteria. “We need to go home and let Jill rest. I’ll come pick them up in the morning.”
“Go ahead Mom,” Ray said. “I’ll catch up in the lobby. I just want to say good night.” When his mother had left Ray knelt beside the bed. “You did wonderful, he’s beautiful and so are you,” Ray kissed her hand.
“You’re lucky you weren’t here,” Jill said grinning. “I’d have torn your eyes out.”
“I love you,” Ray replied. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“I love you too,” Jill reached for his hand, kissing it. “Now get out of here so I can come home in the morning.”
Ray kissed her lips and reluctantly left to join Angela in the lobby. Ray drove on the way to the small apartment. On the way, Angela reached out and took his hand. “I’m proud of you son, proud of the man you’ve become.” She began to weep openly.
“What’s wrong Mom,” Ray looked at her, concern in his eyes.
“I was just thinking about when you were that small,” she said. “Soon you’ll be going off to war and I don’t want to lose you. I worry about what will happen to Jill if you don’t come back -- she really loves you.”
“I’m coming back,” Ray said, taking her hand. “I have to, too many people are depending on me.” He smiled at his mother, “you and Dad raised me well, you can always be proud of that. I know that if something happens Jill and Sean will be ok with you.”
“Of course, Son,” Angela looked up into her son’s eyes. “Just promise me that you’ll come back.”
“That’s what they train us for,” Ray smiled at his mother. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
When Ray returned home from school the following evening, Jill and the baby were there waiting along with Angela.
“I’ll be flying home tomorrow, Ray,” his mother informed him. “You need to call your dad, he wants to talk with you.”
“Is something wrong?” Ray asked, concerned.
“No,” his mother smiled. “He just wants to tell you how proud and pleased he is -- we both are.”
It seemed like only a matter of days before Ray’s training was up and it was time for him to go to Indiana and Jill back home to Fairfax. Dennis had arrived, the U-Haul was packed once more. Ray was dropped at the airport in Houston and after many protracted goodbyes, Ray was off to Indiana, and Dennis, Jill and baby Sean were on the road for Virginia.
The hours in Indiana were long and grueling, but nothing like BUD/S. Ray was to become proficient with a number of weapons, among them the MK-14, the standard SEAL sniper weapon, the McMillan TAC-338, M-4, AK-47, and the Sig Sauer P-226 9mm and the MK-23 .45 caliber handgun. Ray enjoyed this part of the training, at last, it seemed, he was being trained for what he was supposed to be doing. The 3 months seemed to fly by and before he knew it he was on a plane to Baghdad.
IRAQ
Ray and the other 11 men in his unit were flown by Chinook to the forward base near Fallujah accompanied by two Blackhawks and two Cobra gunships. When they touched down they were met by a Commander wearing a SEAL trident who brought them to a briefing tent.
“Men, my name is Lt. Commander Mc Neely, he began, “you will be answering directly to me. I suggest that after getting billeted that you find some of the team guys that have been here for a while and learn the lay of the land. How many of you are scout/snipers?”
Ray and three other men raised their hand. “You men will come with me,” the Lt Cmdr said. “This is Master Chief Jackson,” he went on pointing to a large black man standing next to him. “The rest of you will go with him. Am I clear?”
“HooYah, Sir,” they shouted in unison.
“Dismissed,” Lt. Cmdr. Mc Neely said, turning to those that remained.
When the others had left McNeely addressed Ray and the others. “Our job here is to be out on the front lines to keep these other men alive. I’m not going to give you a pep talk about democracy and why we’re here, you’ll find that out on your own. Go get some chow and be back here at 1900 hours. Dismissed.”
“HooYah, Commander,” Ray and the others shouted.
The food wasn’t half bad Ray observed. After eating he walked to the rec tent looking around for anyone with an insignia like his own. He spotted a tallish fellow with a reddish blonde beard that told Ray he had been there awhile, wearing a Team 3 patch. Ray walked over and asked to sit.
“Ray Merrill,” he said holding out his hand.
“Chris Kyle,” the other said, taking his outstretched hand, “have a seat.”
“You been here long?” Ray asked.
“This is my second deployment,” Chris returned. “You one of the new guys that just came in?”
“Yeah,” Ray admitted. “What’s it like out there?”
“You scout/sniper?” Chris asked.
“Yeah,” Ray said. “My first deployment. I just got out of sniper training.”
“Married?” Chris asked him.
“Barely,” Ray laughed. “We got hitched just before I left for boot.”
“I know the feeling,” the other laughed. “I met mine in San Diego just after BUD/S.”
Ray liked him right away, there was something genuine about Chris.
“Let me tell you some things that will help you stay alive,” Chris said earnestly, looking Ray directly in the eyes. “Forget about what the recruiter told you. We’re not here fighting for democracy, these people don’t want democracy, they don’t even know what it is. They’ve lived like this for over a thousand years and they don’t want us here. Here, you fight for the guy next to you and for them.” Chris nodded in the direction of the Marines filling the rec tent.
“Thanks,” Ray said gratefully.
“You’ll be ok, Ray,” Chris said with a grin slapping Ray on the shoulder. “Just don’t forget why you’re here. “Those guys are just like us,” Chris said, gesturing toward the other men. “They’re married or have sweethearts that they want to go home to. Our job is to keep them alive so they can. Take off that wedding ring and stow it someplace safe. If you get captured the Haji’s will use it against you.”
Chris looked at his watch and said: “C’mon, it’s time to get our orders for tomorrow.”
On the way, Ray asked about Lt. Cmdr. Mc Neely.
“He’s the real thing,” Chris replied. “He cares about his men and that’s important. He’s been with the Teams for a while and had plenty of combat experience. He won’t send you anywhere he wouldn’t go himself.”
When they arrived at the tent, McNeely was already there. After a few minutes the group was assembled.
“Men,” he began, “we're going out tomorrow with the Marines so they can kick in a few doors and look for insurgents. We have some pretty good intel telling us where to look. Your job, as usual, is to keep them alive. I have some rooftops marked on the map that should provide you with some pretty good cover. We have four new men with no combat experience. I want some of you men to take them along as spotters until they learn the ropes. Are we clear?”
“HooYah,” the men replied in unison.
“Do I have volunteers, or do I have to assign them?” The Commander asked.
“I’ll take Merrill with me,” Chris spoke up.
A wave of relief flooded over Ray. After they were dismissed Ray expressed his appreciation.
“I’m not doing you any favors pal,” Chris laughed. “I’m not too popular with the Hajis. Get a good night’s rest and drink plenty of water -- it’s really important to stay hydrated. In the morning bring your M-4, both pistols, and your binocs.”
When they were situated on their rooftop the next morning Ray’s education began in earnest.
“You’ve never shot anybody, have you?” Chris asked.
“No, but I’ll be alright,” Ray replied.
“I know,” Chris said. “I wouldn’t have brought you if I had any doubts. This is a confusing place Ray, you’re going to have to learn to read people, by the way they look, the way they act. They hate us here, and sometimes the enemy will be a woman or even a kid. The most important thing is to stay focused. You have the difficult job, you have to spot down the street, watch out for the Marines and watch my six at the same time. I’m depending on you to keep me alive. We have good intel, but so do they. They know we’re here. Keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel.”
This was it, what all of the months of training was all about. The grim reality of the situation dawned on Ray and he vowed to himself not to fail. Meanwhile the Marines below were going door to door. Fallujah was supposed to be evacuated but there were still a few families that had refused to go. Ray focused on activity on the street, there was a woman and a boy about 275 years moving in the direction of the Marines.
“I’ve got a female and a young boy about 10 or so at 11 o’clock moving in our direction,” Ray reported.
Chris squinted the scope of his McMillan, “I’ve got them,” he said. “This is where you have to read them, watch for furtive movements, too much looking around and stuff like that. Can you see the woman’s hands?”
“It looks like she’s holding something but I can’t tell what it is,” Ray replied. “It’s a…” But Ray was too late, Chris had already seen the RPG the woman pulled from her garment and fired.
“No, no, don’t do it,” Ray heard Chris saying as he heard footsteps behind them. He turned quickly, raising his M-4 just in time to see two men, one with an AK-47 and the other with a large knife, emerge onto the roof. He dropped them both smoothly with 3-shot bursts and then heard Chris fire again followed by an explosion. The boy had been wired with a deadman switch and a suicide vest.
Chris looked over the side of the roof holding out his thumb and pinkie finger. Several Marines searched the stairwell leading to the roof for more insurgents. Chris turned to Ray putting his forehead up to Rays.
“You saved my life Brother,” he said. “Good job.”
“But you never moved,” Ray said, still shaking. “You took the shot.”
“I knew you had ‘em,” Chris said with a wink. “You got your first kill.”
That night Ray prayed, he was conflicted over the day’s events. He knew he had done the right thing but his upbringing had taught him it was wrong to take a life. This was the life he had chosen for himself. He was proud to serve his country and Chris’ words rang in his ears. “You’re fighting for the guy next to you, and to keep those other men alive.” There would be more similar days ahead, days in which his resolve would be tested over and over again. He fell into a troubled sleep.
Ray went out with Chris four more times after which Chris told him: “You’re ready, I’ve taught you all I can. Just remember what I said about reading people, that’s something you’ll have to learn for yourself. You’re a good man Ray, I’m proud to serve with you Brother. I told Cmdr. Mc Neely the same thing, you’ll be going out with your own spotter tomorrow. My deployment is almost up and I’ll be going home soon.”
“Are you coming back?” Ray asked.
“I don’t know,” Chris replied with a shrug. “That’s something I’ll have to talk over with my wife. After two deployments, I figure you’re pushing your luck, but who knows.”
About halfway through his deployment new orders came in, Ray’s unit was heading for Afghanistan.