CHAPTER 23
17 AUGUST 1970
Cherry had changed, had been changing. He had begun changing long before but now the alteration accelerated. He had changed from play-soldier to trainee, then from state-side soldier to REMF soldier and then to cherry soldier. They were changes which happened to him, not changes of him, changes which occurred because the army had moved him. Those changes were not great. On 17 August he changed greatly, he changed to just plain soldier.
“We’re startin back,” Cherry radioed Quiet Rover. It was not yet first light. “We’re on our way back,” he lied.
“Ah, roger that Two Two,” El Paso replied. At the CP El Paso was on radio watch again. He rolled and woke Brooks. “Ambush team comin back in.”
“Uh! What time is it?”
“Oh five-four-eight,” El Paso said.
First light w
