War has broken out in Equestria. A war that will change everything. There have been wars in equestria since the dawn of time but this one is special. To a boy who is about to go to war, this means everything. This is a war that has lasted a decade and has torn the world apart.
The Griffins Republic of Vietnam tried to spread their ideals to the rest of the world. Equestria said no. Equestria sent many soldiers to the griffin land only to be slaughtered by the griffin army and the fierce “zebra kong” assisting them. They fight using savage techniques and harsh methods. In the jungles of Vietnam one soldier writes his experiences. This is his story.
August 12, 1969 St. Pony Minnesota
I got my draft letter today. “Jack Maripony” sits at the top staring at me like a timberwolf stares at its prey. Dad says I’ll soon be "an official soldier of the Equestrian army". Mom won’t stop crying. “He’s only 19 he’s too young to go to war”, she yelled with her face red as a beat. Dad told her “He’s not a colt anymore he can handle himself”.
Granddad gave me this journal to write in when they ship me off. “Jack” he said, “you have to put your thoughts down or you’ll go crazy”. Granddad fought in both pony wars so I think he knows what he’s talking about. I ship in a few days. I’m using tomorrow to say my goodbyes. Chances are I won’t be coming back.
I arrived a few hours ago, met some of my squad mates as well. Nopony goes by their name; just some nickname somepony gives you. People just call me “new pony”. Only one of my squad mates is actually friendly. They call him Hollywood. He’s a real charmer. He’s got a flowing mane that looks like something out of a movie. His cutie mark is a pair of black sunglasses. He has a pair to match that he never takes off. I’ve never seen him once without his dark aviators he loves so much.
Another who I met that wasn’t so friendly is Gut buster a big burly pony from Manehattan. Both are my age. My room or section of a room I should say is small. My bed is even smaller; my hooves hang off the edge when I lay down. Boot camp starts tomorrow. I heard the instructor is a real hard flank.
August 17, 1969
Boot camp is awful. I have never had to trot so hard in my entire life, and its only day one. I was right about the instructor. He is the scariest pony I've ever seen. He has a scar over his eye and is missing part of his ear. I sneezed while we were in formation and he made everypony run 3 extra miles. My squad mates have taken to calling me dipshit as my nickname which isn't helping. I hope it doesn't stick.
August 20, 1969
We stared fire arms training today. Thank god granddad taught me how to shoot when I was little. I was always a good shot as a kid and my granddad taught me how to levitate small guns and shoot them well. I was the best shot when it came to using smaller weapons, but then we moved on to battle saddles I had no idea what I was doing.
A battle saddle is a modified saddle that is used to carry larger weapons like m-60s. To fire them it has a mouth bit and a special sight that can be very effective in combat. I had never used one before and was surprised when I did ok. By the end of the day I was the best shot in our squad. Our drill instructor said I can be our squad sniper if I want. I think I might just take him up on that.
August 23, 1969
I started my special sniper training today. I was pulled off from the rest of our squad and was given lessons in sniping. When to shoot, where to shoot, the whole 9 yards. They taught me how to load and properly use a sniper rifle. It’s just small enough that I can levitate it and not have to use a battle saddle. I got paired up with Hollywood as my spotter. Since he’s a Pegasus he can do aerial recon and spot targets for me. I’m just glad it wasn't some other pony I don’t even know. Command says they’re shipping us out soon. I’m not sure I’m ready.
The time has come. My unit is getting dropped straight onto the front lines, well sort of. We’re about 50 miles from any Zebra Kong or griffin soldiers. Sergeant Stonemane says we’re only there as just insurance to make sure they don’t come this way. Hope I don’t screw anything up. This is not a good time to have to tell my superiors about my mistakes.
Hollywood and I just got finished setting up our sniper outpost in the trees. It’s not the prettiest place but it gets the job done. No enemy soldiers yet, I hope it stays that way.
August 29, 1969
Hollywood is dead. My god I can’t believe it. We were digging a fox hole and he hit a buried mortar round with his shovel. Blew him right in half. I was the closest one to him so I ran over and picked up what was left of him. He died right there in my hooves, before the medic could even get out his tools. His last words were to tell me to write to his girlfriends and tell them what happened. I never even knew his real name. Sergeant Stonemane says now our top priority is to find me a new spotter. I can’t believe a pony could be so heartless.
Due to the death of Hollywood I got assigned with gut buster as my spotter. I’m glad it’s him. He’s fun to be around. I see now why they call him gut buster. We were telling jokes today and I told one that everyone loved and gut buster broke out into the most deep, loud, whole-hearted laughs I’ve ever heard.
We go out on a stakeout tonight. Hope all goes well.
August 28, 1969
I’m a killer. I’ve ended somepony’s life. Last night during the stakeout Gut Buster spotted a griffin patrol moving toward our camp. I had to take them out. I killed 4 of them before they even knew what was happening. The last one I looked straight in the eyes as I levitated the rifle and pulled the trigger. They probably had families, friends, and girls. And I took that away from all of them. I’m a monster.
September 1, 1969
We were telling stories today and an officer told us about his experience at the Ponoi Hilton. He and his squad mates all got sent there 2 years back. He told us about how poorly the griffons treated the prisoners. He said they crammed 20 or 30 ponies into closet sized rooms and had to stay there for days at a time until they let them out for food that wasn’t even edible, but they had to eat anyway.
That story got me thinking, why are we really here, fighting this war. Is it for a good cause? Or are we just blindly sending ponies to their deaths.
