samile, I'm new to serious writing and trying to learn the ropes. I found it easy to empathize with your main character, Winters, which is a must for a successful, serious piece on anyone caught in a war zone. The present-tense usage (He wakes, he spots, etc.) was different, but that's not meant as a criticism. Over all, I found your story interesting and very well done. Thank you for allowing me read this.