I couldn't fall asleep that first night. 

The first of many sleepless nights.

I was terrified that the North Vietnamese or the Viet-Cong would invade the camp while we were asleep. I laid awake and listened to the sounds of the Vietnamese night. I wanted to be ready in case of an attack. When i was sure the others were asleep I extracted my notebook from my pack along with a pencil. I wrote about my fear and concerns. I took several intervals to listen for strange sounds in the night. 

Luckily the sounds were nothing. Only the movement of my bunk mates. 

I was satisfied with my bunk mates. Micheal seemed to know what he was doing. I trusted him. He could help me figure out my feelings on this war I believe. His friend, Peter I think, wasn't too keen on me. Maybe because I enlisted. He must have been a hippy back home. 

I pitied David. He really didn't want to be here. No one does, but out of everyone here, he deserved this the least. He wasn't even American! I made it my priority to protect him, get him home. I would have to befriend him and get him to trust me. But I wasn't going to let America destroy his life.

I wrote of all these things in my notebook, but I couldn't focus! I was too frightened! So I slipped down from my bunk and out of the tent. I hugged my jacket to me in the cold. I jogged towards the latrine watching the darkness and hoping nobody was there. 

I reached the latrine without seeing anyone. I sat in the putrid room as long as I could stand. I don't know why I chose to stay there, but I walked out and blew into my cold hands. The night was freezing cold! And it was only the end of the summer in the year 1967. 

After standing out in the open for a few moments I resolved to go back to the tent and try to sleep. I felt a bit better knowing that other soldiers were patrolling the area. As I neared my tent with my head hung low I thought of how nice the blankets would feel on my now cold skin. I lifted my head at the entranced and put my hand up to open the tent flap. But David opened it before I could reach it. 

"What the Hell!?" I screamed as he slammed into me. I fell to the ground. 

David held onto the side of the tent bent over. He gagged and retched as bile poured from his bowls. I didn't want to watch him, but I was transfixed by him. After a few minutes he slid down to his knees and held tightly to the tent. 

"Hey, David." I whispered.

"I'm sorry." He whispered without looking at me.

"No that's fine. I, um, Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah." It was barely a sound. He was weak. I presumed from not eating. That would explain the vomiting as well. 

I crawled to him and forced him to look at me. His face was drooped and he labored in his breathing.

"Come on David, let's get you something to eat." I said kindly. I stood up and put his arm around my neck. David stood with me, and we walked back into the tent. I sat him down on his bed before reaching for my pack. We were not supposed to keep food in the barracks, but I figured that if I ever had to run off for any reason, food would be an need. So I stole a bit of chicken from supper. 

I figured that David needed it more than I did. So I handed it to him and sat down beside him. He thanked me and began to attack the morsel. 

"You should have eaten at supper, David." I laughed in a whisper so I didn't wake the others. 

David took a ravenous bite of chicken and nodded. 

"Davy." He finally said through a mouthful. 

"What?" I asked.

"Davy. That's what every calls me." He clarified. 

"Okay, Davy, you should have eaten at supper." I laughed.

"I couldn't." Davy explained. 

"And why not?"

"I was in shock." David whispered sadly.

"I'm sorry." I said equally as sad.

"Why? It's not your fault." Davy licked his fingers clean. 

"I'm just sorry it happened to you." I said with a sad smile. I patted his leg and stood up to get up into my own bunk. I nestled into the covers and I almost fell asleep when someone blew out the nightlight. My eyes flew opened and fear tore through me. 

Slowly I sat up and looked around the pitch black room. I breathed deeply and accepted it was going to be a sleepless night.