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Flashback

There was an explosion, most likely an IED, the next thing that Joseph heard was gun fire. It took him a moment to regain his footing and realize what was going on. They were under attack, his unit had been attacked. Taking out his gun, he fired off a couple of rounds into as many enemies that he could. But soon they were surrounded. Weapons were dropped but of course Joey fought back, and thats when he was knocked out. When he came to, he was tied up along with what was left of his unit. He could hear their captors speaking Arabic.

The woman beside him was crying, probably afraid that she would never see her children and husband again. “Calm down, we will get out of this. I will get you home to your babies and husband. I promise.” Little did he know at the time, it would be a broken promise. When the men came back in, they grabbed for her and pulled her hair to stand her up. That was when Joey got up on his knees. “Take me! You coward, son of bitches. Take me!” He demanded, looking up at them. They started laughing. “Fine, he wants to be gentlemen. Fine, be gentlemen. Get him up.” The one that spoke very little English told the others.

That wasn’t the first time, he would feel their blades against his skin and wouldn’t be the last. The torture went on and on for days, even years. They made sure that they were kept fed but not well, and had enough to drink. There were a couple of times to were they had escaped, and he had killed a few of them but they always made sure that there were traps, and IED’s set up. So those that did manage to escape was either left out there to die or blown up. So eventually, Joseph stopped trying. The days turned into months, the months turned into years. He stopped counting after he lost track of how long they had been in there. Most of his unit was dead, or just as bad off as what he was.

“Here take this, keep up your strength.” Even if it was a molded piece of bread, he still offered it to her. And she took it, so far he had kept his word about keeping her alive. Taking the torture mainly for her. Joseph was determined to keep that promise to her. They raped her, tortured her, he hated knowing that there was nothing he could do to take that all back. “Thank you.” She muttered, taking the bread from him. But that night when they came for her, Joseph mustered up enough energy to grab the guard and take him down. Finding the keys, he unlocked her chains along with his own. Taking the guy’s gun. “Just stay by my side.” Joseph told her. “How will we get around the traps, Joey?” He pointed to his head. “I’ve been mapping them out. I made a promise to you and I’m keeping that promise.” He whispered.

They made a mile or two, before their captors caught up to them. Knocking Joseph out and then tying him back up. Pouring some water onto his head, that was when he stirred awake. “Wanted you to be awake for this. Her death is on your hands.” That was when they shot her head right in front of him. “Nooo!” He called out, and then he fell back to his knees. Picking him up, they brought him back to their camp. “No food for two weeks.” Right in that moment, he didn’t care, he wanted to die. He was ready to die.

Time seem to go slowly after that, and everyday he was ready to die. Five years, one month and two days, that was when he was found. Along with two other men from his unit. He was transported back to the States, and back to his family. Getting an honorable discharge and The Purple Heart award. But he didn’t feel right, he never would. Not after everything that he had went through.