Just yesterday morning he had gotten out of his warm bed. He had kissed his wife goodbye and told her that he would be home around lunch time. He had explained to her that, because it was the Christmas season, he only had to work a half-day schedule until

Now, eighteen short hours later, he and one hundred and nineteen other paratroopers are packed like sardines in a military airplane bound for Panama. He has a parachute strapped on his back and is loaded down with so much equipment that he can hardly breath. This equipment, however, is different from what he has trained with over the last three years. This equipment is real. The bullets are real and so is the mission.

"I can't believe this is really happening" he whispers to himself, for about the millionth time. He doesn't have to worry about anybody hearing him, though, for the whine of the aircraft's engines has pushed each man on the airplane into his own mind. The men are squeezed so tightly together that there is no hope of movement. The only light in the aircraft comes from the soft red glow of the emergency lights overhead.

Rick has been sitting in the same position for over three ho

A sudden jerk of the plane as it hit an air pocket brought him back to the present.

Rick started to raise his hand. Then he put it back down. He wanted so much, so very much, to just go home. But then he realized that he had to go on this mission. As much as he wanted to just walk away, he knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he did. He couldn't let those men, who were counting on him, down. If they were going, he was going too.

It started off normal enough. He had gotten to his company and done the usual physical training. The rest of the morning, also, had gone as usual. At lunch time, however, things started to rapidly go crazy. He had returned from the chow hall expecting to be released for the rest of the day. Instead, he was hurried into the company breakroom, along with the rest of the artillery spotting teams, and told that they were being alerted for an emergency deployment. This was not an unusual occurrence. Many times in the past they had been alerted. This time, however, there was no misunderstanding the platoon sergeant when he asked if everyone had his will in order.

The order is given for the troops to stand up. Rick checks his equipment. He sets his eyes on the red light next to the door, knowing that when that light turns green there will be no turning back. Deep in his mind he hopes that it never turns green.

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Central America, International Airport, Danger Luck, Fort Bragg, Panama City, Luck Consistency, Rick Danger, Panama I'm, can't believe, can't believe happening, believe happening, unusual occurrence times, light green, roar wind, home lunch, times past, handle getting, occurrence times, occurrence times past, unusual occurrence,
Approximate Word count = 1776
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)