Challenge the Death Angel

At Kadena Air Force Base on Okinawa, Angus and sixty-two other young Marines stand at the tail of the huge airplane, a Hercules, that will take them on the last leg of their journey to Southeast Asia. The flight has been held up for about twenty minutes for a late arrival. When the man finally shows up, Angus is startled by his appearance. He's wearing faded, frayed fatigues, carrying an old green canvas bag in one hand, and a long, leather case in the other. He wears a strip of camouflaged cloth tied around his head, and pulled down level with the top of his eyebrows. His hair is long, almost reaching his shoulders. While Angus stands there gawking, all the young Marines walk up the ramp past him. Before Angus realizes it, he is standing there alone, the last passenger to climb aboard. There were a few vacant seats left, but he decides to sit next to this late arriver. It might prove to be interesting. Next stop, Viet-Nam.