Years ago, while writing a war novel, I interviewed fighters willing to share their experiences. It was a challenging task. The genuine fighters were reluctant to talk, preferring to leave the dark chapters of their past behind. I was wary of those who were more vocal and boasted about their so-called “achievements.”
Through friends, I arranged a meeting and interviewed two fighters together. They had served in the same unit and had fought side by side. I promised to respect their privacy and explained that I was not there to judge them in any way.
They began by recounting some of their experiences, which were heavy, to say the least. I asked which moment stood out most in their minds. One hesitated, then said he had something to share but doubted I would believe his story. He looked at his friend as if seeking permission. I assured him I was willing to listen.
He began describing a particular night on the front lines:
“Our unit was made up of 11 young men. All were good fighters, highly trained, but we were outnumbered. The enemy force was at least three times larger. You’d shoot one, and two more would appear. They were relentless. It was night, low visibility, and we were taking heavy fire. It didn’t seem like any of us would survive.”
He paused to take a deep drag from his cigarette, then gestured for his friend to continue.
“In the middle of the battle, I turned to my right and saw more men in our unit than there should have been. It was strange because I had no idea who these extra men were or where they had come from, but they were all engaging the enemy.”
“We both saw them. The rest of the unit saw them, too.”
“We managed to repel the enemy attack and even gained some ground. When the battle ended, the extra men were gone. They left no trace behind, not even shell casings.”
“It was a long night. We were exhausted. Some of our own were wounded, and a couple were killed. As we waited for relief the next day, we made a pact not to speak of what we had seen.”
I had no reason not to believe them, just as they seemed to have no reason to invent the story. To this day, what they shared remains a mystery. I still have no credible explanation for any part of it.
