From Panama With Love

I guess I should talk about this. It’s still the source of bad dreams that wake me up during the night, even eight years after the fact. It happened when I was still in the military. Way in. I was sent to Panama on an MRT (a Maintenance Recovery Team) to repair a bird that went down out there. I had been there for about two and a half weeks when we finally got the parts in and made our repairs on the C-130. Typical procedure is that it flies home immediately and we as a crew hitch a ride on it. Well due to circumstances upon which I cannot comment, I had to stay behind for several more days, and would catch a bus to Costa Rica (ugh) and from there, fly into San Antonio. All good.

I was staying in a cheap shitty motel on the outskirts of Santiago, trying to dodge people wherever and whenever I could, lying low. I’d already had several run-ins with the locals and had almost been arrested for being white. I had sent my uniforms and all evidence of my involvement with the US military back on the plane with my team. All I’d been left with was a sidearm. Once my double-stack magazine was empty (and I hoped to God I wouldn’t have to empty it) I was out. Bare as a naked baby’s ass.

Read the rest of the story…

This Post Has 34 Comments

  1. Jeremy

    Man that’s awesome. Good story dude.

  2. You are officially my favorite writer on these forums Spacey. Sweet fucking mother that is awesome. I got chills all over. Well done, sir. 5

  3. Fuck yes, spacey. FUCK YES. Bad the fuck ass man. I hope it really happened. I don’t really give a shit though. voted 5! :hifive:

  4. I always love your stories man. My wife and I just sat here and read it and she’s sitting here with tears running down her face. Fuckin beautiful man.

  5. That was truly wonderful writing, Spacey. I don’t like violence but it was so touching at the end the way you pulled it all together and said goodbye. I’m literally weeping!

  6. I got a little sickly when you said he tore her face off with his boot. But it was worth reading noless. How does that happen or could you explain that?

    Edit: great story though!

  7. Dracus

    Man youve either had a lot of cool shit happened to you or you’re just a bad ass writer. Maybe both. Either way, I salute you, good sir.
    :patriot:

  8. So the first bang was the shot that killed her? I don’t know why it took so long for me to get that. I had to reread it several times. Wow. That’s hard core

  9. Incredible. In-fucking-credible.

    You keep writing, I’ll keep voting 5’s.

    I got a little sickly when you said he tore her face off with his boot. But it was worth reading noless. How does that happen or could you explain that?

    The bottom of combat boots, or any boots for that matter, are very tough rubber material. If someone is laying there not resisting at all and you try to stand on their face and slip off, you’ll rip the flesh right off like peeling a banana.

  10. Seems a little weird. What was the big deal about seeing the American troop carrier in the street? Good story. Just seems a little far fetched..

  11. Because dipshit like he said that means there’s about to be a skirmish.

    I thought it was bad ass. Sure would like to know her name though. Either way, well spoke, Spacey.

  12. Space

    The bottom of combat boots, or any boots for that matter, are very tough rubber material. If someone is laying there not resisting at all and you try to stand on their face and slip off, you’ll rip the flesh right off like peeling a banana.

    I guess that’s one way to put it. It was one of the most horrific images I’ve ever had burned into my brain. Fortunately it was mostly dark, so the details weren’t as vivid. But yeah, that’s pretty much how it happened. All the flesh, muscle and everything just gone. I prefer not to get hung up on that part though.

  13. I like how you dropped in the mud to cover up all the blood and grease on you. That was quick thinking. Good job, Space.

  14. It was a good descent there at the end. Very nicely told. With the Ray Charles songs and the dog and the zippo lighter.
    Really put an aura of realism there. Fantastic story man. 5 all the way.

  15. Its Lincoln You Fuck

    Jesus Quintana declared:

    I went to Panama once.

    Hmm. how about that. Thanks for sharing!
    :rolleyes:

  16. So is there always a war going on down there or what? That’s scary spacey.

    Oh well at least you made it out alive! I feel sorry for that poor girl.

    :(

  17. You got some balls man.

    And a helluva tough story. Well told. I always enjoy reading your posts.

  18. Bloop!

    It’s amazing it takes you that long to cry. I was the same way when my dad died. It took me several months to finally open up and accept it enough to just let go and have a good cry.

    Thanks for sharing man. That was really good.

  19. So is there always a war going on down there or what?

    Pretty much. Not a war, per say but they’re always aggressive towards American soldiers and civilians. Not a friendly vacation spot.

  20. Man I haven’t been this shaken up by a story in a long time. I hope it’s true as I sure would hate to be broken up about a tale.

    Even still, very nicely done. I will have to save this and read it again.

  21. We need to get together and have a beer sometime. I’d love to hear more stories straight from the horse’s mouth.

    Fuckin excellent. :cheers:

  22. Cliffton McBride

    I think I’ve been in that same exact cheap shitty motel. The alley right behind it is lined with palm trees or some shit and there’s a little fish place right next door. Is that the one?

    I get that exact feeling when I read your story. I’ve been there man!

    I was there in the late 80’s with a detachment but we were there for a totally different reason. And lemme tell ya it wasn’t no fuckin vacation. Those bastards have warefare in their blood. They’ll kill their own friends just to get to you.

    Congrats on coming through and I hope you’ve finally gotten rid of your bad dreams. It does take a long time. And congrats also on helping that young lady’s legacy live on. Good job, Spacey.

    :patriot:

  23. Very well written, Space. I applaud you for having the resolve to handle yourself like a man and not getting to hung up on the emotion in the room.

    But the fact that you still cared about her speaks volumes of your character. Who was she though? Are you ever going to tell us?

  24. _x-SPECIFIC-x_

    I don’t feel sorry for you, flying in on a C-130. But they’re safer than the jets. Pretty funny that a military aircraft can be taken down and grounded by something as simple as a harmless fuckin bird.

    So yeah, send my ass on a prop-job.

  25. Raging Beijing

    What the fuck. I sure hope that wasn’t Felicity. :(

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