A Soldier's Dilema

[Lestat]

Your unit is deep within enemy territory and has suffered massive casualities in severe heavy fighting. A rescue chopper has just flown in to evacuate those of you who are left. Your unit advances towards the chopper as bullets whiz past your head and grenades explode all around you.

As you run, you see a body laying on the ground that you immediately recognize as the guy you came up through boot camp with. You've been through it all together and have become best friends. You hit the ground beside him and realize he is still alive, although barely. Both his legs are blown off as is one of his arms. He is lying in a tremendous pool of blood. You look back at the chopper and see your commanding officer yelling at you to move out! He notices your friend but immediately understands (as do you), that your friend cannot be saved. Even if you could somehow carry him to the chopper, he is too badly wounded.

Your buddy realizes the sitution and as you look to him one last time you hear him say, "Kill me". You look back to the chopper and your commanding officer is now screaming at you to move out and telling you it's an order! Everyone else is almost aboard and you are close to endangering the whole unit. Your friend pleads... "Please! I'd rather it be you than them."

You draw your pistol and point it at his head. He looks straight at you with no fear in his eyes. This is what he wants. Do you pull the trigger? Or do you leave him there to die and possibly suffer a worse fate? Would it be morally wrong to kill your friend in this spot? Assuming you did kill him, would you ever tell his family what happened that day on the battlefield?