In war, not everyone is a hero or even lives past the first hour. Not everyone gets to have a panicked charge, a moment of pure terror as a machine gun rains down on you, the wonder of conquering a capital building or liberating someone's homes, or even a chance to shoot your gun. Sometimes you go through conscription, training, uniform and detail before your boots hit the ground and a moment later your dead. Sixteen to forty years of your life gone in a flash.
This is that story.

Credit to Ping for helping me with this.
Featured on 8/1/2024! Thank you everyone for it! It was surprising to say the least to see it featured when I woke up.
Still featured on 8/2/2024! Woah! Honestly I'm surprised my writing has managed to make it this far, thank you!
And featured on 8/3/2024! Yoh!!! Honestly I didn't expect it to survive on the featured board this far, thank you, thank you! :D