The following day, we were all lined up at the parade ground ready for the vigorous exercise. A young man was standing before me, shoulders broad as a tress trunk with full afro, heavy cheek and bulging muscles. I admired his body and the aura surrounding him, he had a juggernaut personality that could intimidate others, he remind me or should I say looked like someone I knew years back in my prime.
"Hey old man", the young man called my attention.
"Good morning lad", I acknowledge his greetings.
"The name is Bush", The Young man introduced himself.
"Ah...nice one, Morris here", i smiled.
"Nice meeting you sir Morris", Bush took a slight bow with a smile before facing front the moment an officer called our attention to the front.
"Hello boys, this is the beginning of your journey to the army. Here in the army, we eat stones not bread, we chew sand not grains, we don't walk but we March, we don't give in to the luxury of sleep, we trained hard and tough till we feel we are strong enough to survive out there. We don't sleep in homes but in trenches, mosquitoes are our companions, the cold weather our sun, the rain our shower, the sun our heater, our riffles are our wives and our magazines are our kids. Before I continue, let me introduce myself. I am lieutenant Barry", Lieutenant Barry took a pause to access our faces before proceeding with his speech.
"Today, we'll complete your screening and fitness and commence training for you folks. For the main time, conduct yourselves well for the colonel would be here soon to give you his welcoming speech", Lieutenant Barry concluded and marched away to another par of the parade ground giving floor to the colonel who appeared almost immediately as though was planning on catching the lieutenant red handed giving speech to the draftees.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I am colonel Lewis and I want to to inform you all that you've got lots of works on your hands to do boys, you will be having six months training here in the United States, two months training in France and one bloody month in a quite sector at the front before you'll be transferred to the Frontline. The war had been going on since but we are no longer folding our hands, as such...our involvement to protect civilians and democracy starts now. Many of you shall go, but only few shall make it back home. Many of you shall be fighters, some shall be medics and others work as cooks and so on and so forth. You all shall be trained on how to work together and win this war", colonel Lewis took a pause and survey everyone before proceeding.
"Next after now, you all shall be marched to your designated training quarters and training shall begin. Sorry to inform you all gentlemen, that you people were ready before the camp", colonel Lewis concluded and left the parade ground with his ADC following behind.
"That said, go back to your individual bunks, check on it and you'll all see your training unit cards on it. Take some minutes eat and rest. The moment you hear the trumpet, then March to your various units", A young sergeant instructed as we all dismissed from the parade ground.
* * *
"Seems like I'll be working with the technician Ms", I announced to Ike who smiled at me.
"At least that saves it, you are one of those technical boys now old man", Ike grinned as he put on his trainers.
"And you boy?", I asked him.
"Just the working bit", Ike answered.
"Working boy?", I asked with a confused look.
"Would be serving with the infantry, the front fighters", Ike explained with a smiled as he lied down on his bunk.
"I see, a Frontline combat soldier", i sank down slowly on my bunk while facing up.
"We heard the war is ragging fiercely in Europe and both sides are suffering huge casualties especially France and Britain", A familiar voice informed us while I turned to see the owner of the voice.
"Oh Bush, how did you get to Know that?", I asked Bush who smiled and brought out a pamphlet.
"It's sad really...one day, we might also end up as one of those men" Ike murmured while bush looked up.
"Oh pardon me Bush if I may...meet my grandson, Ike...and Ike, this is Bush", I introduced them while both men shook hands.
"Nice meeting you Ike", Bush grinned.
"The pleasure is all mine Bush", Ike grinned back.
"You know, I used to think it was all a fairy tale till now. I now believe everything they used to tell me back then when I was a kid, about the great Boris and his brother Morris who fought for our freedom years back", Bush began as he sat down on my bunk.
"Oh really?", Ike grinned more.
"Yes", Bush replied while smiling more.
"I am honoured to hear this lad", i smiled at Bush who bowed a bit.
"The honour I must say is from my end, I am honoured to meet a living legend. A veteran of the civil ear, who who is still ready to go into another war to save innocent people people from oppression gesticulated with his hands as he spoke.
"So where do you base?", Ike asked Bush who stared at him for some time before speaking.
"I grew up in Georgia, I am the last born of my parents. My grandpa was one of those who fought with your grandpa and Boris in the war, he died fighting", Bush answered soberly.
"What's the name of your grandpa?", I asked Bush who stared into space for sometime before answering.
"Like me...Bush, James Bush", Bush answered with a look of pride.
"James Bush from the McCummings plantation right?", I asked Bush to be sure.
"Yes, he is the one", Bush answered while I whistled.
"I know him very well, little wonder I felt you look and sound like someone I know very well. We both fought together during the revolution and the civil war, your grandpa was such a great and respected man. Very courageous and daring just like my brother, he fell at the battle of buffalo, when we were rounding up our campaign. Took a bullet for little Jimmy I think, he dive on the path of the bullet so that Jimmy would go home to his mother. Jimmy was the only son and child of mother, his mother was a widow and your grandpa promised to bring him back home safe", Bush moved a bit before speaking.
"My momma told me so, it's well. He made a good memory, I am proud to hear this from someone who was their when he died", Ike cough to remind us of his presence.
We were still discussing when the trumpet blast off signalling the start of training time. We all hurried out to our various units of training.