Same Ol’ Story Planning and Outline
A. Perspectives
Marcus Webb (African American Soldier)- this man never saw the good in James Connally, his (now dead) former comrade, who he thought was racist, especially towards him.
Nicholas Hubiak (Soldier in debt)- Staff Sergeant, and leader of his squad, this man owed his life to the now dead James, and is coming to terms with the fact that he'll never be able to pay back his debt.
Christopher Schmidt (Christian Victim)- This man was often abused by the now-deceased James Connally but his faith is stronger than the pain that James dealt to him.
Annie Leonhart a.k.a. Matthew Brown (Female Friend)- This African American soldier is a woman in disguise as a man who became and remained infatuated with the now-dead James.
B. Universal Storyboard (original)
Regimental Combat Team 1 (RCT1) is engaged in conflict in the Second Battle of Fallujah. Tanks are firing back and forth. Hubiak’s squad has been separated from the rest of the 1st Marine Division and finds itself in a village alongside the Euphrates, under fire from unidentified, hostile forces.
1. After an RPG is fired and nearly hits his squad, Hubiak orders his men to run for a nearby building from which they can gain higher ground and better cover.
2. While making a dash for the building, a bullet pierces Nicholas’ left leg, effectively crippling him. He insists that the others just go.
3. Now out of enemy sight, Hubiak’s men begin to formulate a plan for a counter attack when they notice James has gone to help Nicholas get to the building.
4. One of the insurgents spots the two men and yells out to alert his comrades.
5. James hears the yell and sees the insurgents scrambling. He pushes Nicholas to the ground and takes several bullets.
6. Nicholas remains on the ground, James’ body now fallen on top of him, he plays dead as the insurgents now combat his men in the building.
7. Hubiak’s men manage to defeat the group of insurgents and proceed to see if either of their comrades survived.
8. They find a bleeding-out Nicholas and dead James.
9. Weeks later in the U.S., Hubiak’s team individually receive invitations/summons to James’ funeral as parts of the honor guard. All of them are asked to speak, at the viewing.
10. The funeral is to go as planned. When giving their speeches at the viewing, none of them hold back anything, and speak their minds.
11. With everything out on the table, a more awkward than respectful silence fills the cemetery the next morning. The funeral takes place, and the honor guard, made up mostly of James’s comrades, give James full honors.
C. Annotated Bibliography
A. Perspectives
Marcus Webb (African American Soldier)- this man never saw the good in James Connally, his (now dead) former comrade, who he thought was racist, especially towards him.
Nicholas Hubiak (Soldier in debt)- Staff Sergeant, and leader of his squad, this man owed his life to the now dead James, and is coming to terms with the fact that he'll never be able to pay back his debt.
Christopher Schmidt (Christian Victim)- This man was often abused by the now-deceased James Connally but his faith is stronger than the pain that James dealt to him.
Annie Leonhart a.k.a. Matthew Brown (Female Friend)- This African American soldier is a woman in disguise as a man who became and remained infatuated with the now-dead James.
B. Universal Storyboard (original)
Regimental Combat Team 1 (RCT1) is engaged in conflict in the Second Battle of Fallujah. Tanks are firing back and forth. Hubiak’s squad has been separated from the rest of the 1st Marine Division and finds itself in a village alongside the Euphrates, under fire from unidentified, hostile forces.
1. After an RPG is fired and nearly hits his squad, Hubiak orders his men to run for a nearby building from which they can gain higher ground and better cover.
2. While making a dash for the building, a bullet pierces Nicholas’ left leg, effectively crippling him. He insists that the others just go.
3. Now out of enemy sight, Hubiak’s men begin to formulate a plan for a counter attack when they notice James has gone to help Nicholas get to the building.
4. One of the insurgents spots the two men and yells out to alert his comrades.
5. James hears the yell and sees the insurgents scrambling. He pushes Nicholas to the ground and takes several bullets.
6. Nicholas remains on the ground, James’ body now fallen on top of him, he plays dead as the insurgents now combat his men in the building.
7. Hubiak’s men manage to defeat the group of insurgents and proceed to see if either of their comrades survived.
8. They find a bleeding-out Nicholas and dead James.
9. Weeks later in the U.S., Hubiak’s team individually receive invitations/summons to James’ funeral as parts of the honor guard. All of them are asked to speak, at the viewing.
10. The funeral is to go as planned. When giving their speeches at the viewing, none of them hold back anything, and speak their minds.
11. With everything out on the table, a more awkward than respectful silence fills the cemetery the next morning. The funeral takes place, and the honor guard, made up mostly of James’s comrades, give James full honors.
C. Annotated Bibliography
- ""2nd Battle of Fallujah" Nov - Dec 2004." YouTube. YouTube, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNxJFgfFQyM>. This video in particular was useful to the same extent as the book and articles. The main reason for using it was to actually get a better feel for the atmosphere of the battle and add another perspective on the battle so that the analysis can be as unbiased as possible.
- "1st Marine Regiment (United States)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Marine_Regiment_%28United_States%29#Operation_Iraqi_Freedom>. This page details the particular part of the military that the characters in "Same Ol' Story" are a part of this page provided basic details and groundwork from which it was easier to do further research.
- Camp, Richard D.. Operation Phantom Fury: the assault and capture of Fallujah, Iraq. Minneapolis, MN: Zenith Press, 2009. Print. This book was used to research extremely specific details regarding the Second Battle of Fallujah so that the short stories, while fictional, could be as historically accurate as possible, and very possible. Specifically, this book provided a useful account of how the U.S. military was organized and how it functioned during the battle. With that information, it became more than possible to really develop the characters in a realistic way that makes each one come to life. Plus, it made it easier to get inside the mind of a soldier in the battle.
- Keiler, Johnathan. "Who Won the Battle of Fallujah? - Page 1." Who Won the Battle of Fallujah? - Page 1. The Naval Institute., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.military.com/NewContent/1,13190,NI_0105_Fallujah-P1,00.html>. This article in particular was useful to the same extent as the book and articles. The main reason for using it was to actually get a better feel for the atmosphere of the battle and add another perspective on the battle so that the analysis can be as unbiased as possible.
- "Military Funeral Honors | Military.com." Military Funeral Honors | Military.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.military.com/benefits/burial-and-memorial/military-funeral-honors.html>. This article was used primarily as a source to determine the circumstances of death necessary for a soldier to receive full honors.
- Sattler, John, and Daniel Wilson. "MCA&F." Operation AL FAJR. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/operation-al-fajr>. This article was used to research more details regarding the Second Battle of Fallujah so that the short stories, while fictional, could be as historically accurate as possible.
- "Second Battle of Fallujah." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Fallujah>. This is the article that gave me a rough idea of the Battle of Fallujah. In particular, this helped me decide how my characters should be involved in the battle in a semi-realistic manner. Overall, it provided me with the basic details of the initial setting and atmosphere of the short stories.
- "The Maryland National Guard Honor Guard Demonstration of Military Funeral Honors." YouTube. YouTube, 3 Sept. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhXkP2emFII>. This video, among others, was used to get a feel for what a military funeral with full honors was like. This helped in developing each individual character's perception of the event would be like.
- "The Military Honors Funeral Of An American Hero: SMSGT Donald E. Garrison Sr. 08/21/2008 Part 1." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Aug. 2008. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q58aslLU_-s>. This video, among others, was used to get a feel for what a military funeral with full honors was like. This helped in developing each individual character's perception of the event would be like.
- "Wedekindt.com." Wedekindtcom. Harry A. Wedekindt Funeral Home., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.wedekindt.com/funeral-arrangements-procedures/>. This source gave an outline of the typical procedures fro organizing and having a funeral. This source provided information on the broad scheme/schedule of the average funeral process so that a point in which the people could say some last words/speeches/stories could be identified. With this information, it became possible to give the characters an opportunity to present their speeches.