I have been in the military for a long time. My career alone is old enough to drink. In my years I have seen many things, been in two full out wars (plus a half assed war), and countless operations. I have been shot at, mortared, gassed and had missiles fired at me, but in all my years this stands out to me as one of the most amazing, outrageous, and funny stories.

Back in 1989 Manuel Noriega (President\Dictator of Panama) declared war on the United States. Some of you might remember this if for no other reason than the absolute insanity it took for him to do this. Within hours of the first sign of trouble my team was on a very fast plane on our way to Panama. Once we got there we went straight to work and for the most part all was said and done and Noriega was ousted with quickness.

Although Noriega was out we still had work to do, as he had many loyal followers and Uncle Sam is not fond of leaving those who would do us harm alive.

One day I was with another Jr. NCO, "DWA," who was a snipe, and were up on a hillside, looking down. Now this is important: I am not claiming to be a sniper. I was trained with the weaponry, and can make very long shots, but a sniper is a completely different breed and I would not shit on them by claiming to be one.

We were up there waiting for anything "interesting." I was on the rifle for quite some time and DWA was spotting, but after a while I tired out and we switched off.

To this day I thank God we switched off when we did. Not more than two or three minutes went by and we saw a kid, not more than 12 or 13 years old, heading straight toward us. He had an AK-47 strapped on his back and was riding nicycle right at us, about 750 yards out. At best, he doesn't see us, at worst he spots us and we are compromised. We had to do something.

Me "You seeing this?"

DWA "Yeah I'm seeing it."

DWA looks up at me like I have a fucking answer for him.

Me "Do it."

I was not serious, I honestly thought we would hope for the best--that he would move on and not see us--and I was completely busting his balls.

******BANG*******

The shot made me jump a little. I wasn't qite expecting it.

I watch through the scope and see the bicycle that the kid was riding disintegrate. It literally just blows apart from the front end back. The kid crashes to the ground in a heap of parts and spokes and chains. The kid jumped up, peeing himself as he ran into the jungle.

DWA put a bullet right through the bicycle frame where the handlebars connect to the forks. I could not believe my eyes.

Me "That has to be the best fucking shot I've ever seen."

DWA "Not really, I forgot to change dope when we switched off. I was aiming for his head."

Dope is the adjustment to your weapons sight.

Me "I guess that makes it the best miss I've ever seen."