Post by Mason St. Croix on Jul 31, 2017 4:14:43 GMT
War Stories #2
Not all war stories end tragically.
Last time I told the story of my best friend Tommy Cooper and how he gave his life to save mine. I failed to mention how Tommy was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously a few months later. I thought I'd take the opportunity this week to tell the events that lead to me also being selected for such a great honor.
December was always my favorite month during my tours of the Middle East because a mid December afternoon was the closest it ever got to feeling like home temperature wise. We had set up camp just outside of a tiny village east of Baghdad where scouts had spotted the leader of a terror cell who had kidnapped an American photographer and his family. The mission called for a solo ground recovery and as the most experienced member of my team when it came to stealth tactics I was chosen to sneak into the village and rescue the photographer, his wife, and their son.
According to the locals the hostiles were using an old warehouse that had been empty for years to house the hostages. Our scouts had determined there were three guards, one inside, one stationed at the door, and one who walked to perimeter. I quietly took out each of the guards with my Mark II dagger but as I freed the photographer and his family I triggered an alarm. Within seconds hostiles had surrounded the building.
Armed only with my M9, I began firing on the reinforcements responding to the alarm. Even after taking a bullet to the shoulder I continued to fight while rapidly losing blood. I’m not sure how I did it but I held off the insurgents single handedly until my team arrived to even the numbers and we were able to get the American civilians out unharmed.
Once word got out of my actions I received a call from then President Bush to thank me for my courageous acts. After being discharged in 2010, I received another call this time from President Obama who asked me to come to the White House. On Thursday August 26th 2010 I flew to Washington, DC and in a ceremony that was televised all over the World he pinned the Medal of Honor to my chest.
The thing is though I would have done it without a single bit of recognition because it was my job to save those people's lives whether anyone ever found out about it or not.
----------
March 30th, 2017
We open to the living room of the St. Croix residence. Mason and his daughter Emmie lay on the couch watching Teen Titans GO! They both share a hearty laugh at Beast Boy’s antics but the laughter is broken up by the sounds of an engine rumbling outside. Emmie jumps up with excitement.
Emmie: Grampa’s here!
The loud rumbling of the old Jeep Scrambler cuts off and a few moments later George St. Croix walks through the front door. Emmie runs up to him and he picks her up into a hug but puts her back down quickly.
George: Shew girl, you're gettin too big for Grampa to be picking up.
Emmie: I’ve grown an inch since Daddy’s been home.
George: I can tell.
Emmie goes back over and sits down by Mason.
Mason: Hey Em, why don’t you run upstairs and play in your room for a little while. Me and Grampa have to talk about some stuff.
Emmie: Ok Daddy, pause our show.
Mason: I will.
Mason picks up the remote off the coffee table and pauses the TV before Emmie runs upstairs but unbeknownst to Mason and George she just sits down at the top of the stairs where she can still hear what they’re saying. George takes a seat in the Lazy Boy.
George: Boy I love this chair, this is a perfect nappin’ chair.
Mason: I know that’s what you said when you demanded I get it when you went with me to pick out furniture for the new house.
George: That’s right I did didn’t I?
George lets out a hearty chuckle.
George: So what did you want to talk about? You said it had to be in person and couldn’t be on the phone.
Mason: I’m going back to wrestling, Pop.
George: What about the kids, I love them with all my heart but I can’t take care of them by myself.
Mason: I’ve got an ad out looking for a live in Nanny.
George: Are you sure this is a good idea so soon after their Momma passed?
Mason nods and then takes a sip of water.
Mason: It won’t be right away, I need to train and get the ring rust worked out but I definitely need to be back in IWF by the beginning of July. I’m not gonna tell the kids right away, I still can’t get Jack to say more than two words as it is. I’m pretty certain he hates me, I’ve done everything I can to try to get him to care about me but he’s been this way his whole life.
George: He’ll understand why you were gone so much when he gets older son, he’s only 12. When you were 12 our country wasn’t at War and I could take you and your Mom with me to the different places I was stationed so I got to be there for you. You’re here now though and with his Mom passing he’ll come around.
Mason: I sure hope so, him and Emmie are like night and day, she thinks I hung the moon.
George: She’s always been a Daddy’s girl.
Again Mason nods and smiles, a look of doubt flashes across his face briefly.
Mason: Yeah, I hope she stays that way.
Just then Emmie speaks from the top of the stairs.
Emmie: I’ll always love you, Daddy.
Mason and George turn their attention to the little blonde headed girl standing at the top of the stairs with a smile.
Mason: How much of what me and your Grampa were talking about did you hear?
Emmie: All of it.
Mason: Come down here.
Emmie runs down the steps and hops up on the couch next to Mason once again.
Emmie: Am I in trouble?
Mason: What do you think?
Emmie: I think I’m too cute to be in trouble.
Mason smiles and George chuckles.
George: She’s right boy, she’s got you wrapped around her finger.
Mason: So what do you think about me wrestling again?
Emmie: I think it’s awesome, I love seeing you on TV.
Mason: You’re ok that I’m gonna be away from home more often?
Emmie: Yeah, I know you’re always gonna come back, you always do.
Mason smiles widely and puts his arm around her.
Mason: That’s right, I always do. Let’s not tell your brother just yet ok?
Emmie: Ok, can we finish our show now? Grampa can watch it with us, I think he’ll like Raven, she’s grumpy like him sometimes.
George: Grumpy?
Mason AND Emmie: Yeah, grumpy!
They all laugh as Mason grabs the remote and the scene fades.
----------
I’d like to begin by apologizing for my words and actions following my match last week at Sacrifice. I was angry and I reacted in a way that was very unlike me. I’m still not happy that Dre Cutler tagged himself in and cost us our match against The Council but the way I acted and the things I said when Willy Carter tried to interview me were totally uncalled for and I’m sorry.
I also need to briefly address Xavier Cross. I heard you mentioned me multiple times but I failed to catch what you said personally because my Ambien is working just fine. Keep saying my name and I’ll make the ass kicking that Cable, Mike, and Spike put on you and your lap dogs at Lineage look like a slap fight you long winded fuck.
Now for the matter at hand and where to begin.
Myself and five other competitors will be competing in a Battle Royal at Lineage with big Heir to the Throne implications at stake. Points are won and lost based on when you’re eliminated and I could win 20 or lose 20 or somewhere in between. My opponents are James Gilmore, John Tolly, Todd Williams, Derek Brooks, and Dre Cutler. If you listen to Tyler Jacobs you already know that half the field has little chance of leaving this match with a positive amount of points but in a match like this anything can happen.
I faced John Tolly on August 11th, 2014 in my first match after being out five months with an injury and I walked through him like I’d never missed a minute. You took The Ranger’s Way twice that night because I had a point to prove so you know what you’re getting yourself into.You have less of a chance of anyone in this John but I refuse to underestimate anyone in a situation like this. You don’t have to pin me, you don’t have to make me submit which are things you’d have no chance of doing. All you have to do is knock me out of the ring.
It’s possible, but it’s not going to happen I promise.
Going even farther back than my victory over John Tolly was my loss...my first loss ever inside an IWF ring to Todd Williams in February of 2014. I didn’t take Todd serious and I paid dearly for it. I should have listened to all the people who were telling me that when he wants to be Todd Williams is as good as anyone else who’s ever stepped foot inside and IWF ring. I didn’t, I just thought I could walk in and put him away with ease but thanks to a little distraction from my old rival KLB Todd ended my first undefeated streak in IWF. I spent a long time blaming Todd and wanting to get revenge.
Then I realized the only person to blame was myself.
Never again will someone catch me looking past them or taking them lightly. I learned that night that you have the ability to beat anyone here just like people had told me Todd. The thing is you rarely show it, no one ever knows if you’re going to show up and if you do whether you’ll be in shape and ready to compete or if you just hope luck and a half assed effort will be enough. It won’t be enough this week. I’m over the loss to you three years ago but I think tossing you out of this match will give me just a little extra feeling of satisfaction.
Then there’s the one man in this match I’ve never had any interaction with whatsoever, Derek Brooks. Derek if I’m totally honest you’re also the one man in this match I’m the most concerned about because even though you’re coming off back to back losses to the Imperial Champion and the #1 Contender you’re also the biggest threat physically. You’re a big, strong, athletic guy and this type of match is tailor made for someone like you. I can’t find a lot of negatives to say about you honestly except that sometimes you let your mouth get you in trouble but that happens a lot in this business.
No amount of talking is going to help you win this match.
I have no reason to dislike you or want to hurt you but if you get in my way that’s exactly what will happen. You can avoid that and still walk away with 5, maybe 10 points in the HTTT but if you cross me I won’t hesitate to toss you out of the ring. I say we work together- eliminate the rest of the field and then we fight. The offer is there and I think it’s a good strategy, it’s up to you whether you want to take me up on it or not.
I should be making that offer to you Dre Cutler but you let me down last week, and it seems like you’ve been letting the fans down basically every week since you returned. You were the odds on favorite to be the Heir to the Throne but you’re a shell of the man who took IWF by storm a year ago and almost kept Cable Arcane from becoming Imperial Champion. Your name should be the one on everyone’s lips but you’re an afterthought at this point. I may have apologized for the way I acted following our match backstage but I still want to slap the shit out of you for tagging yourself in last week and getting pinned.
And I get that opportunity this week at Lineage.
I don’t just want to slap you for the blind tag, I hope that slapping you will get you out of whatever funk this is you’re in because before last week I was a Dre Cutler fan and want to be again. Pull your head out of your ass and show these people that they’re rooting for the right guys. Fan or not though, you had your shot last year this is my time and my year. I’ve hit a few bumps along the way but there’s a lot more HTTT left and you or no one else is going to keep me from walking out of this match with 20 points.
Especially not James Gilmore.
I love how this sack of shit can claim he didn't tap out like he was trying to put out a fire when I was choking the life out of him two weeks ago. I've given each of my other opponents in this match credit but you get none James. You're dead last in the HTTT standings and you're going to remain there after Lineage.
There's a reason I saved you for last James and it damn sure ain't cause you're the best. You've attacked my character, you and your delusional campaign manager repeatedly called me a quitter, but when your worthless fucking mouth piece decided to bring up my family and tried speculate on what I was thinking the first time I came back from the war and my life was falling apart she crossed a line that you're gonna pay for every chance I get.
I'm going to hurt you and I'm going to hurt you badly.
One by one you'll fall and in the end only a true warrior will remain standing. This battle royal is my chance to jump from the middle of the pack in the HTTT standings to damn near the top and none of you are taking this from me.
Not all war stories end tragically.
Last time I told the story of my best friend Tommy Cooper and how he gave his life to save mine. I failed to mention how Tommy was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously a few months later. I thought I'd take the opportunity this week to tell the events that lead to me also being selected for such a great honor.
December was always my favorite month during my tours of the Middle East because a mid December afternoon was the closest it ever got to feeling like home temperature wise. We had set up camp just outside of a tiny village east of Baghdad where scouts had spotted the leader of a terror cell who had kidnapped an American photographer and his family. The mission called for a solo ground recovery and as the most experienced member of my team when it came to stealth tactics I was chosen to sneak into the village and rescue the photographer, his wife, and their son.
According to the locals the hostiles were using an old warehouse that had been empty for years to house the hostages. Our scouts had determined there were three guards, one inside, one stationed at the door, and one who walked to perimeter. I quietly took out each of the guards with my Mark II dagger but as I freed the photographer and his family I triggered an alarm. Within seconds hostiles had surrounded the building.
Armed only with my M9, I began firing on the reinforcements responding to the alarm. Even after taking a bullet to the shoulder I continued to fight while rapidly losing blood. I’m not sure how I did it but I held off the insurgents single handedly until my team arrived to even the numbers and we were able to get the American civilians out unharmed.
Once word got out of my actions I received a call from then President Bush to thank me for my courageous acts. After being discharged in 2010, I received another call this time from President Obama who asked me to come to the White House. On Thursday August 26th 2010 I flew to Washington, DC and in a ceremony that was televised all over the World he pinned the Medal of Honor to my chest.
The thing is though I would have done it without a single bit of recognition because it was my job to save those people's lives whether anyone ever found out about it or not.
----------
March 30th, 2017
We open to the living room of the St. Croix residence. Mason and his daughter Emmie lay on the couch watching Teen Titans GO! They both share a hearty laugh at Beast Boy’s antics but the laughter is broken up by the sounds of an engine rumbling outside. Emmie jumps up with excitement.
Emmie: Grampa’s here!
The loud rumbling of the old Jeep Scrambler cuts off and a few moments later George St. Croix walks through the front door. Emmie runs up to him and he picks her up into a hug but puts her back down quickly.
George: Shew girl, you're gettin too big for Grampa to be picking up.
Emmie: I’ve grown an inch since Daddy’s been home.
George: I can tell.
Emmie goes back over and sits down by Mason.
Mason: Hey Em, why don’t you run upstairs and play in your room for a little while. Me and Grampa have to talk about some stuff.
Emmie: Ok Daddy, pause our show.
Mason: I will.
Mason picks up the remote off the coffee table and pauses the TV before Emmie runs upstairs but unbeknownst to Mason and George she just sits down at the top of the stairs where she can still hear what they’re saying. George takes a seat in the Lazy Boy.
George: Boy I love this chair, this is a perfect nappin’ chair.
Mason: I know that’s what you said when you demanded I get it when you went with me to pick out furniture for the new house.
George: That’s right I did didn’t I?
George lets out a hearty chuckle.
George: So what did you want to talk about? You said it had to be in person and couldn’t be on the phone.
Mason: I’m going back to wrestling, Pop.
George: What about the kids, I love them with all my heart but I can’t take care of them by myself.
Mason: I’ve got an ad out looking for a live in Nanny.
George: Are you sure this is a good idea so soon after their Momma passed?
Mason nods and then takes a sip of water.
Mason: It won’t be right away, I need to train and get the ring rust worked out but I definitely need to be back in IWF by the beginning of July. I’m not gonna tell the kids right away, I still can’t get Jack to say more than two words as it is. I’m pretty certain he hates me, I’ve done everything I can to try to get him to care about me but he’s been this way his whole life.
George: He’ll understand why you were gone so much when he gets older son, he’s only 12. When you were 12 our country wasn’t at War and I could take you and your Mom with me to the different places I was stationed so I got to be there for you. You’re here now though and with his Mom passing he’ll come around.
Mason: I sure hope so, him and Emmie are like night and day, she thinks I hung the moon.
George: She’s always been a Daddy’s girl.
Again Mason nods and smiles, a look of doubt flashes across his face briefly.
Mason: Yeah, I hope she stays that way.
Just then Emmie speaks from the top of the stairs.
Emmie: I’ll always love you, Daddy.
Mason and George turn their attention to the little blonde headed girl standing at the top of the stairs with a smile.
Mason: How much of what me and your Grampa were talking about did you hear?
Emmie: All of it.
Mason: Come down here.
Emmie runs down the steps and hops up on the couch next to Mason once again.
Emmie: Am I in trouble?
Mason: What do you think?
Emmie: I think I’m too cute to be in trouble.
Mason smiles and George chuckles.
George: She’s right boy, she’s got you wrapped around her finger.
Mason: So what do you think about me wrestling again?
Emmie: I think it’s awesome, I love seeing you on TV.
Mason: You’re ok that I’m gonna be away from home more often?
Emmie: Yeah, I know you’re always gonna come back, you always do.
Mason smiles widely and puts his arm around her.
Mason: That’s right, I always do. Let’s not tell your brother just yet ok?
Emmie: Ok, can we finish our show now? Grampa can watch it with us, I think he’ll like Raven, she’s grumpy like him sometimes.
George: Grumpy?
Mason AND Emmie: Yeah, grumpy!
They all laugh as Mason grabs the remote and the scene fades.
----------
I’d like to begin by apologizing for my words and actions following my match last week at Sacrifice. I was angry and I reacted in a way that was very unlike me. I’m still not happy that Dre Cutler tagged himself in and cost us our match against The Council but the way I acted and the things I said when Willy Carter tried to interview me were totally uncalled for and I’m sorry.
I also need to briefly address Xavier Cross. I heard you mentioned me multiple times but I failed to catch what you said personally because my Ambien is working just fine. Keep saying my name and I’ll make the ass kicking that Cable, Mike, and Spike put on you and your lap dogs at Lineage look like a slap fight you long winded fuck.
Now for the matter at hand and where to begin.
Myself and five other competitors will be competing in a Battle Royal at Lineage with big Heir to the Throne implications at stake. Points are won and lost based on when you’re eliminated and I could win 20 or lose 20 or somewhere in between. My opponents are James Gilmore, John Tolly, Todd Williams, Derek Brooks, and Dre Cutler. If you listen to Tyler Jacobs you already know that half the field has little chance of leaving this match with a positive amount of points but in a match like this anything can happen.
I faced John Tolly on August 11th, 2014 in my first match after being out five months with an injury and I walked through him like I’d never missed a minute. You took The Ranger’s Way twice that night because I had a point to prove so you know what you’re getting yourself into.You have less of a chance of anyone in this John but I refuse to underestimate anyone in a situation like this. You don’t have to pin me, you don’t have to make me submit which are things you’d have no chance of doing. All you have to do is knock me out of the ring.
It’s possible, but it’s not going to happen I promise.
Going even farther back than my victory over John Tolly was my loss...my first loss ever inside an IWF ring to Todd Williams in February of 2014. I didn’t take Todd serious and I paid dearly for it. I should have listened to all the people who were telling me that when he wants to be Todd Williams is as good as anyone else who’s ever stepped foot inside and IWF ring. I didn’t, I just thought I could walk in and put him away with ease but thanks to a little distraction from my old rival KLB Todd ended my first undefeated streak in IWF. I spent a long time blaming Todd and wanting to get revenge.
Then I realized the only person to blame was myself.
Never again will someone catch me looking past them or taking them lightly. I learned that night that you have the ability to beat anyone here just like people had told me Todd. The thing is you rarely show it, no one ever knows if you’re going to show up and if you do whether you’ll be in shape and ready to compete or if you just hope luck and a half assed effort will be enough. It won’t be enough this week. I’m over the loss to you three years ago but I think tossing you out of this match will give me just a little extra feeling of satisfaction.
Then there’s the one man in this match I’ve never had any interaction with whatsoever, Derek Brooks. Derek if I’m totally honest you’re also the one man in this match I’m the most concerned about because even though you’re coming off back to back losses to the Imperial Champion and the #1 Contender you’re also the biggest threat physically. You’re a big, strong, athletic guy and this type of match is tailor made for someone like you. I can’t find a lot of negatives to say about you honestly except that sometimes you let your mouth get you in trouble but that happens a lot in this business.
No amount of talking is going to help you win this match.
I have no reason to dislike you or want to hurt you but if you get in my way that’s exactly what will happen. You can avoid that and still walk away with 5, maybe 10 points in the HTTT but if you cross me I won’t hesitate to toss you out of the ring. I say we work together- eliminate the rest of the field and then we fight. The offer is there and I think it’s a good strategy, it’s up to you whether you want to take me up on it or not.
I should be making that offer to you Dre Cutler but you let me down last week, and it seems like you’ve been letting the fans down basically every week since you returned. You were the odds on favorite to be the Heir to the Throne but you’re a shell of the man who took IWF by storm a year ago and almost kept Cable Arcane from becoming Imperial Champion. Your name should be the one on everyone’s lips but you’re an afterthought at this point. I may have apologized for the way I acted following our match backstage but I still want to slap the shit out of you for tagging yourself in last week and getting pinned.
And I get that opportunity this week at Lineage.
I don’t just want to slap you for the blind tag, I hope that slapping you will get you out of whatever funk this is you’re in because before last week I was a Dre Cutler fan and want to be again. Pull your head out of your ass and show these people that they’re rooting for the right guys. Fan or not though, you had your shot last year this is my time and my year. I’ve hit a few bumps along the way but there’s a lot more HTTT left and you or no one else is going to keep me from walking out of this match with 20 points.
Especially not James Gilmore.
I love how this sack of shit can claim he didn't tap out like he was trying to put out a fire when I was choking the life out of him two weeks ago. I've given each of my other opponents in this match credit but you get none James. You're dead last in the HTTT standings and you're going to remain there after Lineage.
There's a reason I saved you for last James and it damn sure ain't cause you're the best. You've attacked my character, you and your delusional campaign manager repeatedly called me a quitter, but when your worthless fucking mouth piece decided to bring up my family and tried speculate on what I was thinking the first time I came back from the war and my life was falling apart she crossed a line that you're gonna pay for every chance I get.
I'm going to hurt you and I'm going to hurt you badly.
One by one you'll fall and in the end only a true warrior will remain standing. This battle royal is my chance to jump from the middle of the pack in the HTTT standings to damn near the top and none of you are taking this from me.
Well howdy there pardner.