I never knew what I wanted to do with my life until career day at my school. There was a man in a uniform and all the kids crowded around him, I thought to myself why couldn't that be me!? I wasn't an awkward kid nor was I popular, I was the silent kid that nobody talked to, And why would they with a name like Rusty Shackleford. I kept to myself really, thinking more than actually talking. Once
I saw this man, my thoughts never stopped. I thought about being a soldier and the honor, dignity and glory that comes with it. Maybe just once I could be in the spot light as a hero. I went through the rest of the year waiting for graduation, waiting to get my opportunity to leave this town behind and make something of myself.
I shipped out two weeks after graduation. I was Anxious to start basic. While waiting for my plane I thought to myself this is a new chapter in my life and no one knows the Rusty from high school, the quite kid. I could be Rusty, a social person that people could talk to. As I took my seat something down the row caught my eye. Or should I say someone, a tall blonde in a banging black dress. I put my bag in the overhead compartment and took my seat next to an older woman. Just my luck. When the Stewardess passed, she crocked for her, almost spitting out her dentures.
"Yes miss."
"Are there any extra seats Available!? I hate sitting next to the door.”
“Let me go check."
I really hoped there would be an extra seat available I had no intentions of talking to this old lady about her seven grand kids.
“Miss I'm sorry but there aren't any extra seat available, but I did find someone who would switch with you."
"Yes yes that's fine."
As she gathered her things and left I sat looking out the window. I still remember my first plane ride with my sister and my dad. We were flight to go see my grandmother one last time before she passed. It’s weird how memories work a touch, sight, and even words can reopen parts of your life. Good or bad, that memory was of my last with my father, he took the money grandmamma left him and split.
“Is this seat taken?"
“uhmm noooo.”
Out of everyone the old lady could have switched with, she switched for the hottest girl on the plane. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise. After all this is the perfect opportunity to test out new Rusty.
“So what’s your name?” she asked
S*** what do I do? Do I tell her the truth? Can I? Is Rusty an unattractive name? I decided I need more time to decide whether to lie about my name or not so I said the first thing that came to mind.
“What’s yours?”
She looked around awkwardly and replied “Kelsey and yourself”
“My name is Adam.”
“Why hello Adam, nice to meet you.”
I didn’t reply and I couldn’t the Stewardess was standing there with a clipboard.
“Seat 34 Mrs. Ann Woodson”
Oh no, looking down at my ticket it was staring me straight in the face in bold print. Rusty Shackleford Seat #35. She was going to call my seat next, and with it, my name.
“No that was the older women, I switched seats with her. I’m Kelsey Harriage.”
“Ok not a problem, Seat number 35 Rusty Shackleford.”
I could feel Kelsey’s eyes staring at me, cutting though my new ego like a pair of scissors running cleanly through a piece of paper. Without looking in their direction I managed to mumble out “here”.
I decided the best option for me was to act like I was asleep. I didn’t have to given the fact Kelsey put in some head phones and acted like I wasn’t even there. I guess new Rusty would have to wait for another Day.
When the plane landed I rushed to get off. Wanting to put as much distance in-between Kelsey and I as possible. I found the first taxi and hopped in.
“Fort Knox.” Finally I was on my way, on my way to something new something better.”

Basic training was over, in what felt like a flash. They taught me everything, from firing a weapon to cleaning shoes. I learned a lot in my seven weeks there. But I still was unable to break out of my shell; I befriended one man named Ernesto Lopez. We grew close, well as close a man with poor English and a man who barley talks can get. He was my bunk mate and only friend, he is the only person I’ve ever been able to call “friend”.
Ernesto died last week while guarding the gate of our encampment in Afghanistan. Everyone was shocked by his death, we hadn’t had an attack in weeks and the one time only one person is on watch, we got hit. I was suspicious, believing someone was giving the enemy information. Information that lead to my friends’ death.




























I started watching everyone in my unit, anyone of these men could be the trader. While we were off on a routine patrol of the town I noticed SGT Griggs talking to some towns people. This wasn’t unusual, he talk to many towns’ people on patrols trying to get new information, but because of the resent events I decided to get a closer look. I walked to a stand about 8 feet away and acted like I was looking at some movies. I was in luck they were in ear shot, but the man kept trying to sell me things.
“We have new movies, not released in America yet.”
“No thanks.”
“You sure? I have the best deals in town, you won’t find this anywhere.”
“I’m fine.”
“You can’t get these movies anywhere, not even in America”
“20 bucks to shut the hell up and to stay quite.” I said, he nodded with agreement and stood there. Dealing with this clerk made miss what the SGT was saying, I was only able to hear him say “Then it’s agreed.”
While the towns man handed him an envelope, which he put in under his flap jacket. Was this happening on every patrol? I looked around an all of the men and none of them were in a position to see what I saw, and it was like that on every patrol. My suspicion grew greater and greater.
“Let’s move out” SGT said turning around. Before I left I got a good look at a towns person, there was nothing at first glance that set him apart from the rest of the towns people. He looked like every other person I’ve seen on patrols. We caught eyes and he gave me this grimy smile, that’s when I notice the two gold teeth. My hand griped the hard steel of my rifle even harder and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. There was something going on between him and the first sergeant and I was going to get to the bottom of it.
Griggs must have noticed my presences on the last patrol because he put me as gunner. Even worse he put me in the lead vehicle. A place where he knew I wouldn’t be able to get close to him. As lead gunner you have to be observant, this was only my second time being gunner and I still wasn’t confident with myself. I tried to keep an eye on Griggs but it was hard, I had to make sure the area was safe as well. Last I saw he was walking into a building with two other men. Before he went inside he turned around a looked straight at me.
Within a matter of minutes the street we were on became the most dangerous street in Afghanistan. I wish I could tell you more about the fight but I was in the heat of the moment. My memory blocked out what I did on that gunner. Manly because killing a person is something you try to forget.
It was done deal, I didn’t trust Griggs anymore. He was no longer my leader, he was the enemy. When we got back to camp I decided that I would sneak into his room later that night and see what secrets has been hiding. Then I would go to my commanding officer with concrete evidence that he’s been helping the enemy.
I left my tent in the middle of the night, creeping my way through the camp. When I got to Griggs tent I realized he could be in there, but I didn’t care I knew in my heart that he’s been betraying us. If I had to I would kill him just like he killed my only friend. I decided it was either now or never and barged in. To my surprise it was empty, he wasn’t in there and neither were his possessions. The only thing was the stander bed and shelf. It looked just like my tent did on the first day at camp.
I was mad and confused. Why wasn’t he in his tent? Where’s all his stuff? I couldn’t rap my head around what was going on. And to make matters worse the alarm signaling an attack was going off.
This wasn’t the usual attack, this was an invasion. Gun fire and expositions rippled through the night sky. I went into action, I ran in the direction of my tent. I found a weapon next to one of my fallen comrades picked it up and was ready to fight. I continued to move in the direction of my tent, picking off enemies running in between the tents. I had no idea where anyone was, the only men for my unit I’ve seen where on the floor, dead.
Outside my tent I saw Griggs and the man with the gold teeth, working together just as I thought. I raised my rifle to end this but before I could shoot Griggs pulled out his pistol and shot Gold Teeth. He turned to the other men yelling find Rusty and kill him. He leaned over and was picking through Gold Teethes pockets. It was my time to strike, I wasn’t going to shoot him in the back, and I was going to end this the right way. I ran and tackled him; he dropped his pistol and was going for his knife. My mind flashed back to basic, they taught me how to use an enemy’s knife against them. He tried to stab me but I quickly disarmed him and forced the knife through the side of his neck. He fell to his knees, it was over. Or so I thought two men came out from behind a tent. I dove for Griggs pistol, falling hard on the ground; I spun around and got one shot off. I knew I hit my target, but before I could take another shot I felt the hot lead fling through my body…….
When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed with a man hovering over me.
“Rusty, Rusty, Rusty Shackleford. Are you ok?’
“Never better” I said but I was lying my body ached with pain.
“Rusty do you know who I am?”
“No”
“My name is General Mark Lee. I’m here to award you the Medal of Honor for your actions overseas. Rusty the world wants to know your story; they want to know what happened over there.”
“I don’t want that, I was just doing my job.”
Thinking back over everything I’ve been through, I don’t want to be known by everyone. I just want to do the only thing I know. Fight. Rusty Shackleford is a name best left out of the history books.