The Killing Battalion

The glowing pride in memory of a unity of

purpose, the collegial atmosphere of like-minded

stalwarts all volunteering their services in a

truly transformative cause that would change

the world in the final absence of a breed to

whom all the cares and faults of humanity were

attributed, count among the happiest, most fulfilling

years of the nonagenarian's life, a time of tense

world affairs that enriched his life with the

engagement of the battalion of his choice whose

purpose was clear and noble. As he nears the

century-mark in his long life he reminisces of

the glory days for his memory remains intact. Not

so the memories of those whose armed forces were

sent out to sacrifice their own lives to stop the

beast of war that dispatched these killing formations.

Forgotten are their monumental losses in fighting men

and innocent civilians for so much has intervened

as the world carries on. Then the occasion when an

unforgivably forgetful government invited him to

meet a world leader whose family had perished to

the killing fields, presented as a patriot to loud acclaim

the killer and the target. Those who had escaped death

revealing his identity of pride, warm with the memory

of accomplishment, yet confused that his persona's

appearance and applause suddenly lurched to disgust

and condemnation, as lost memory was restored.