A loud bang, I feel my eardrums pop, my eyes are wide open right away. Another loud bang is heard and I quickly look to my side, I hear a loud thud this time, I look to my side and see that the guy in the bunk above me has fallen onto the ground. At first he looks to be just stunned but soon I see the blood running out of the back of his head, a big gash is there. I attempt to grasp the top of my bed so I can sit upright, another loud bang is heard, this time behind me, time seems to stop. I feel my body thrusted forwards to the other side of the barracks, I attempt to grasp for my stomach as an immense pain strikes me in the stomach. I pass out.
I wake up, I feel pressure on my chest, I keep my eyes closed for a moment, I can still feel my heart beating in my ears, I feel a warm sunshine on my face. A moment of rest strikes me, then I slowly start to open my eyes, I look right into the sun so I quickly avert my gaze. The pressure on my chest is still there, and as I slowly start to regain all conscience I feel the pain everywhere, I groan softly as I attempt to push the thing that is resting on my chest off. I remember the guy falling down the bunk; he somehow ended up on top of me. He slowly rolls off of my chest after I manage to shift his weight a little. I start to look around me, the barracks I went to bed in were no more, the sheet metal mostly torn apart, small holes everywhere letting small rays of sunshine through. The dust that had kicked up made the rays very visible. I feel calm again for a moment, then the feeling rushes through me like you experience it every morning before you get out of bed, everything inside of you says no. My discipline however wins this argument, I slowly sit up and look around me again, my vantage point slightly increased. The small FOB we were stationed in is completely ripped apart.
After a while of looking around I slowly try to stand up, I feel a burning pain in my leg and slowly look down, I notice a large fragment of wood stuck through my skin, I lean my head back momentarily and close my eyes, the only thing I can come up with is ‘fuck me.’ I slowly reach down and grip the fragment. I then decisively pull it out, a pain strong enough to faint me under normal circumstances. A moment of silence after I pull the fragment out, blood slowly seeps down my leg. I then slowly check myself for any other wounds, apart from the beating headache I can’t really find anything worth worrying about. Then for the first time I finally take a good look around me, it seems there’s not a lot left, just small heaps of rubble. As I slowly pan my view around the barracks, I notice huge craters in the ground. I look down again, to see what was up with the guy on top of me. He seems to be in really bad shape, I kneel down to feel his pulse, then as I push my index and middle finger against his neck I remember the gash on the back of his head, his pulse only confirms my thoughts, I slowly rise up again, I feel this pain in my leg again. I slowly walk to what used to be the exit of the barracks, I notice the obstruction and as I slowly approach it I step up to it, clumsily climbing over. As I step out of the barracks I notice more bodies. Some holding their rifles and covered in dirt, a slight glisten still visible from their open eyes. I shake my head in despair and slowly walk towards the armory, it used to be one of the safest places in our FOB, but not much remained of it, as I slowly walked into the ruin I notice a man hanging over the radio, soft static still coming out of it. I suddenly hear a voice crack up, ‘Station four, do you read? We’ve got many casualties and not enough men, we’re going to need an evac out of here right now! Soft thudding heard in the background, I quickly ran towards the radio and pick up the microphone, I scream into it, Hello!? Static again, nothing. I sigh deeply and slowly walk towards the casket with rifles in it, it’s shot apart and the glass is broken, one rifle is hanging on to a glass shard with the sling. I slowly reach for it and pick it up; as I pull it out the glass shard the sling was hanging onto falls onto the floor, shattering into pieces.
As slowly walk out of the armory, wearing a modular vest with about two nearly empty magazines and a PASGT helmet in very poor condition. I look around for a short while to find nothing but bodies. As I’m on my way out I spot a man with his modular vest full of magazines, I bend down and pick a few out, ticking them against my helmet to see if they’re filled any. To my disappointment they’re not, I throw them back onto the ground and swear silently to myself. I pass through the gate and throw one last look over my shoulder.
A few hours later I still find myself walking down the road. I feel the eager to hit myself across the face because I forgot to take water. I’m so fucking stupid for forgetting the thing that I need m-  A sharp pain in the chest and I hit the asphalt, blood slowly flows from under me. A soft metallic thud is heard.