So after completing our mission in Iraq, we've convoyed south to Kuwait. Instead of goin home right away, we get to "stay n play" so to speak. I was struck the other day, in the midst of formations and just overall surroundings, that this feels like being at NTC at Fort Irwin, CA. We arrive at Buerhing in July, spend a couple weeks there (like RUBA at NTC), head north into Iraq (the Sandbox) for our war games and field exercises, then rotate back into Buerhing (RUBA again) to prep our stuff to go home. It feels a little surreal. Like i'm not REALLY in the middle east. In Kuwait, there are no mortar attacks, Improvised Explosive Devices, improvised rockets, or people shooting at you. It's easy to get complacent here. Military bearing is KEY. We're in garrison, but still deployed. You've gotta remember to keep hands outta pockets, salute officers and then there are the bugles. Reveille, retreat, Taps, etc. JUST LIKE HOME.
So, the question gets asked to every soldier, whether its by family, friends, strangers, reporters, or each other: Was it worth it? And to me, the answer is always "Yes." In varying degrees, this conflict, this war, was worth the blood and sweat and tears that American service members gave. The lives laid down, opened up this region to democracy. Some people say "Well, it was better under Saddam." To them i say really? Power/electricity generation and distribution is 2x what it was PRIOR to the invasion. The sacrifices made by our soldiers and marines also have contributed, albeit out of necessity, to the medical community in ways previously unimagined. Tourniquets are being used in the private sector to save lives AND limbs, IV fluids like Hextend are being used on patients prior to arriving at a trauma room. Hextend boosts blood volume and blood volume only. Where normal saline will temporarily refill the blood vessels, by its neutral nature, it quickly is absorbed through osmosis into the intercellular spaces and into the surrounding cells, allowing the blood pressure to drop. Hextend stays in the blood stream, allowing less fluid to be used overall (avoiding dilution) and increasing the chances of the patient. Breakthroughs in artificial limbs, recognition and treatment of head injuries, ALL have occured because of the war. Negatives influencing the positives. Newton's Laws stripped down to humanity's level. For every action there is a reaction. in this case, for every negative (battlefield casualties) comes a positive (better treatments, training and skills that not only benefit future soldiers, but the entire civilian population as well).
So, again, was it worth it? Yes. But thats all i'll say about that. I know of people who aren't returning home alive, and i have close friends who are forever affected by that. But, how dare you try and say we accomplished nothing. That all our blood, sweat, tears, time and lives were all for naught.
To my brothers and sisters, HOOAH, OOHRAH and SEMPER FI!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Of Mice and Men
As we wind down here at COS Kalsu, we start looking forward to the next phase. Kuwait, then home. However, sometimes a light scratching or squeak brings you hurtling back to the present. I’m in a metal box where the sound of birds and mice on the roof is bad enough as it is, and I have a furry companion that decides it likes my rice crispy treats more than I do. Maybe it’s the warmth and free food. MAYBE it’s my charming personality. I’m gonna go with the former. Having spotted this invader a few weeks ago, I thought he was gone. That was until I grabbed a rice crispy treat prior to patrol without looking, only to find a hole nibbled in it and a decent chunk eaten out of it. Blasted creature. Then I found the hole. I plugged it up good n tight and thought “There, now I have beaten you, Jerry.” Until last night, when I felt the little bastard on my arm and leg as I groggily woke from my dreamscape. I saw him multiple times this morning, attempted to catch or corner him just as many times, my futility often making the little bugger laugh. Now I know what you’re thinking. “But Nash, mice can’t laugh at you.” Oh, but they can and will. Taunting you with a flash of light brown as they dart from behind the fridge to the locker. Or as they perch on your waste basket, peering in as if to ask “what goodies have you left me in here?” The sound of little claws scurrying on the linoleum, or as he sits under my bed squeaking away, teasing, and LAUGHING. Anyways, I digress. With the help of my roommate, I cornered, caught and dispatched the little squeaky nuisance so he will never disturb another soldier just trying to make it to the next day and the next and the next until we’re on our way home.
Haji, however, doesn’t give 2 shits about that. They launched 7 mortars at the COS, yet hit nothing. That’s not to say they weren’t close. They were DAMN close. One was so close it rattled my CHU like a Cali Quake. I even thought that at first, but then snapped back and went “wait, I’m in Iraq. Time to head to the bunker!” It’s been cold. REAL cold. Not just crisp. That’s reserved for the day time. At night, it’s been getting down around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s pretty damn cold for this area. Day time highs reach maybe 75-80 now. It’s a big difference than when we first got here. I’ve found myself comparing the daytime to October or November in Cali. Bright blue skies, super crisp. Like New Year’s Day after it rains, and its 60 degrees, light breeze and you can see snow on Mt Baldy.
So as I’m writing this, NO SHIT, I hear a noise coming from my ACU top hanging up. I see it moving. I’m thinking “WTF?!?!” I open the door, grab the shirt and turn it around. I HAVE A FUCKING MOUSE ON IT! So I hit the inside of my shirt and sent the little shit FLYING out the door. Man. Like Jacob Marley coming back to scare Scrooge. Hopefully that’s the last of him! Aye yi yi!
After being told we’d be home by the end of the year, we were let down when it was revealed that instead, we’d be doing our full year tour, but in Kuwait. I just want to get home. See my girlfriend, my family and my friends. It’s barely been 4.5 months and it feels like forever. Stupid garrison style rules that make no sense in a combat zone, make being in country difficult. Patrols are welcome as they get us away from that. They allow us to sample the local food, which I think is delicious. Having spotty internet and no mail really drags. Fortunately we’re almost outta here. Until next time. Vanilla Gorilla, out!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Another Month Down and the Trip of a Lifetime
Wow, time really flies when you're constantly busy. Everyday is the same thing, just different times. And when you wake up late at night to go out early in the am, to return mid-morning, and then have lunch, gym then back to sleep all afternoon, the days disappear. Its a vicious cycle that can break you off. The monotony will get to you. You forget what day of the week it is. Your only reminder that it's Sunday again is when you go to lunch chow and are greeted by an omelet bar. Oh yeah, its Sunday Brunch....again. Its been 1 full moon cycle, 5 loads of laundry, 3 haircuts and here we are again. Only difference was 2 weeks ago we had the opportunity to escort some people from the State Dept out to the ruins of Babylon. Yup. THAT Babylon. The Babylon that is an hour away, was ruled by Nebuchadnezzar 1 AND 2, conquered by the Persians and Alexander the Great, and saw the likes of Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah, and BFF's Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Listening to the US archaeologist, I felt catapulted into an Indiana Jones movie. Only he wore a "Welcome to Egypt" Gilligan hat instead of a sweet fedora. He had the satchel, the local head garb worn as a scarf/ascot, and was a real archaeologist. However, no whip or 5 o'clock (and then some) shadow, so he lost major cool points. However, walking around the ruins, I felt like all of a sudden Nazi troops would appear, or the roof of some temple would be discovered and opened releasing gas and lightning, or I'd hear "snakes....why'd it have to be SNAKES?!?!" Raiders of the Lost Ark not withstanding, we were among buildings built in 600 BC, and earlier. Some were 3500 years old! Walking a good 4 km, we walked passed guard towers erected in the Invasion of 2003 (since this land had been invaded multiple times throughout history), the footprint of the Tower of Babylon, and a pit that had tons of pottery shards scattered about. From high up on this vantage point we could see the old palace of Nebuchadnezzar that had been rebuilt in the 80's by Saddam Hussein. Brick by brick, he rebuilt the palace ON TOP of the buried, existing walls and foundations. I learned that in 1900, the Germans excavated this place, only to BURY it again to hide it during the wars. Yup, Indiana Jones easily could have been here too. It was funny but the Indiana Jones theme song was echoing in my brain as we walked around.
Now, at the palace, there is a fenced off area surround the ORIGINAL King's Road. The pavement still exists, in its original form, albeit littered with some water bottles here and there. We had an Iraqi guide who worked on the excavation and rebuilding between 87-03. Hearing a Muslim man refer to the Bible and Torah and talk about Daniel and Ezekiel and others was pretty surreal. He took us down hallways and into various rooms, the palace was labyrinth. He showed us original sun baked bricks that had cuneiform inscriptions indicating it was laid during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar I. He showed us the throne room that had held the kings of Babylon as well as saw the reign and death of Alexander the Great. I was able to gaze on the wall (or the recreation) that God Himself scribed with his finger during a royal feast. And the Muslim mentioned this! Incredible! After exiting the palace, we walked amongst the ramparts of the city walls. a maze of tunnels and pathways. Original masonry still intact. The walls were so thick and so tall, it was intimidating as rubble, a soldier could only imagine what it would have a) been like to gaze upon them as an invading army with primitive siege weaponry, and b) the horror of the occupying army watching the invaders breaching your massive and presumed impenetrable defenses. Massive engineering overcome by massive will power. Following that, we saw the Ishtar Gate, with the 3d bricks. These are multiple bricks that have protrusions that when laid together into the wall, create the image of animals. Now the Ishtar gate was reserved for the priest and he was the most powerful man in Babylon. More powerful than even the King. I was disappointed that i couldn't locate the site of the furnace, or the lion's den. However, the CURRENT Ishtar gate is built on top of the original, which due to hydroelectric project on the Euphrates has raised the water table and covers the original walls.
After that, we drove up to Saddam's palace. WOW. This place was MASSIVE. from a basketball court sized room over looking the Euphrates with floor to ceiling windows offering a 180 degree view to the roof some 50-70 feet above the ground, the tallest point for MILES. Hidden staircases and rooms and bathrooms EVERYWHERE. And also not a single pane of glass left intact, 99% of the doors gone, and TONS of pigeon crap was everywhere. The walls were tagged with Arabic graffiti and every light switch, outlet, and the covers were gone. Oddly, most of the marble was still intact. One of the bathroom door jambs had a pull up bar installed when the military used it as a base during the invasion.
All and all it was an amazing trip. One that 160+ pictures can't even begin to describe. "You had to be there" is an understatement. Hopefully, once all "this" is over and the region hopefully stabilizes, I'd like to return, retrace my steps, and see it all again. This time, without having to wear body armor and carry and M4 (you know, JUST IN CASE someone decides to make it past all the Iraqi Police securing the area)
Listening to the US archaeologist, I felt catapulted into an Indiana Jones movie. Only he wore a "Welcome to Egypt" Gilligan hat instead of a sweet fedora. He had the satchel, the local head garb worn as a scarf/ascot, and was a real archaeologist. However, no whip or 5 o'clock (and then some) shadow, so he lost major cool points. However, walking around the ruins, I felt like all of a sudden Nazi troops would appear, or the roof of some temple would be discovered and opened releasing gas and lightning, or I'd hear "snakes....why'd it have to be SNAKES?!?!" Raiders of the Lost Ark not withstanding, we were among buildings built in 600 BC, and earlier. Some were 3500 years old! Walking a good 4 km, we walked passed guard towers erected in the Invasion of 2003 (since this land had been invaded multiple times throughout history), the footprint of the Tower of Babylon, and a pit that had tons of pottery shards scattered about. From high up on this vantage point we could see the old palace of Nebuchadnezzar that had been rebuilt in the 80's by Saddam Hussein. Brick by brick, he rebuilt the palace ON TOP of the buried, existing walls and foundations. I learned that in 1900, the Germans excavated this place, only to BURY it again to hide it during the wars. Yup, Indiana Jones easily could have been here too. It was funny but the Indiana Jones theme song was echoing in my brain as we walked around.
Now, at the palace, there is a fenced off area surround the ORIGINAL King's Road. The pavement still exists, in its original form, albeit littered with some water bottles here and there. We had an Iraqi guide who worked on the excavation and rebuilding between 87-03. Hearing a Muslim man refer to the Bible and Torah and talk about Daniel and Ezekiel and others was pretty surreal. He took us down hallways and into various rooms, the palace was labyrinth. He showed us original sun baked bricks that had cuneiform inscriptions indicating it was laid during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar I. He showed us the throne room that had held the kings of Babylon as well as saw the reign and death of Alexander the Great. I was able to gaze on the wall (or the recreation) that God Himself scribed with his finger during a royal feast. And the Muslim mentioned this! Incredible! After exiting the palace, we walked amongst the ramparts of the city walls. a maze of tunnels and pathways. Original masonry still intact. The walls were so thick and so tall, it was intimidating as rubble, a soldier could only imagine what it would have a) been like to gaze upon them as an invading army with primitive siege weaponry, and b) the horror of the occupying army watching the invaders breaching your massive and presumed impenetrable defenses. Massive engineering overcome by massive will power. Following that, we saw the Ishtar Gate, with the 3d bricks. These are multiple bricks that have protrusions that when laid together into the wall, create the image of animals. Now the Ishtar gate was reserved for the priest and he was the most powerful man in Babylon. More powerful than even the King. I was disappointed that i couldn't locate the site of the furnace, or the lion's den. However, the CURRENT Ishtar gate is built on top of the original, which due to hydroelectric project on the Euphrates has raised the water table and covers the original walls.
After that, we drove up to Saddam's palace. WOW. This place was MASSIVE. from a basketball court sized room over looking the Euphrates with floor to ceiling windows offering a 180 degree view to the roof some 50-70 feet above the ground, the tallest point for MILES. Hidden staircases and rooms and bathrooms EVERYWHERE. And also not a single pane of glass left intact, 99% of the doors gone, and TONS of pigeon crap was everywhere. The walls were tagged with Arabic graffiti and every light switch, outlet, and the covers were gone. Oddly, most of the marble was still intact. One of the bathroom door jambs had a pull up bar installed when the military used it as a base during the invasion.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
3,652 Days
Reposted with permission from Matt Dickerson. Read the original here!
The following is a personal message to all of those who think we should just pull our troops out of the Middle East theater of operations because "We've been there too long, and nothing is happening."
On a warm Tuesday in September 2001 our worlds were turned upside down by a group of men who would rather kill thousands of innocent people through cowardice, than stand toe to toe with the men and women sworn to defend their home, family, and nation. These are the same types that would rather blow themselves up in the middle of a busy market place, or plant a car bomb in the middle of a residential area. These are not conventional enemies. They have no uniform, no unit, only a distorted message of hate told to them by even bigger cowards in a mosque somewhere.
To those who think we should be nicer to them, to those that think we are still the aggressors, to those who feel that we as a nation are still at fault, imagine this for a second, these people are the enemy. Since G.W. Bush was in office, we have maintained a detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. This is where high profile detainees were brought to be interrogated so that maybe one day we could eradicate the terrorists who want to see America burn alive. Random idiots walking the street do not get sent to Gitmo. These are people who have extensive knowledge of terrorist networks, people who are one with the enemy.
Everyone is up in arms about the "acts of torture" performed on these high profile detainees. Saying it is un-American, saying it's illegal, saying it's inhuman. Know this, keeping them awake for long periods of time, waterboarding them, possible small voltage electroctuion is far easier on them than anything they would do to us. They get three meals a day, a right to practice their religion, and a bed with a roof over their head. That is a vacation for them. If the shoe was on the other foot, they would torture us, behead us, disembowel us, tie us behind a truck, drag our corpse through the streets, and hang us from a bridge to rot for everyone to see. They would video tape the whole thing and give it to al-Jazeera, who would promptly put it on primetime news to feed the rest of the Middle East with a sense of pride.
These people do not deserve to be treated as equals. They should not be treated as we would treat each other, nor should they be treated like we would treat POW's from a legitimate enemy. They deserve to be tied to a chair and be forced to watch someone execute their entire family. They deserve to be tortured. They deserve to be terminated with EXTREME predjudice. These people are not human beings. Unfortunately, our nation has been burdened with the responsibility of babysitting the rest of the planet for some time now. So this equal treatment will never happen.
To those of you who don't have the inner fortitude and patience to help our country see it's way through this difficult time, to those sounding the alarm to bring our boys home, just remember: The enemy is still out there. They will not stop until one of us are gone. Until we become a nation without concern for anyone else but ourselves, they will continue to find ways to attack. We all may not want the responsibility of being the world's police, but it is a responsibility we are stuck with until we decide to no longer take the responsibility. If we pull out now, our troops would have died for nothing. Our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters who bled in the sand thousands of miles away will have died in vain. they will have died in vain because as a nation, we would have failed them because we cannot agree, and we cannot pull together.
We are at war with an enemy, whether we as people asked for it or not. It was thrust upon us by ignorant cowards and we cannot back down. We must press on and continue to attempt to rid the planet of this disease known as terrorism. This will not be a quick process, as the last decade has shown us. Show some unity for our nation and the troops still putting boots on the ground for our safety. September 11th should not be the only day we pull together as a nation and set aside differences. Memories of 9/11 should burn inside of us every day, like an eternal flame that will never be extinguished.
The following is a personal message to all of those who think we should just pull our troops out of the Middle East theater of operations because "We've been there too long, and nothing is happening."
On a warm Tuesday in September 2001 our worlds were turned upside down by a group of men who would rather kill thousands of innocent people through cowardice, than stand toe to toe with the men and women sworn to defend their home, family, and nation. These are the same types that would rather blow themselves up in the middle of a busy market place, or plant a car bomb in the middle of a residential area. These are not conventional enemies. They have no uniform, no unit, only a distorted message of hate told to them by even bigger cowards in a mosque somewhere.
To those who think we should be nicer to them, to those that think we are still the aggressors, to those who feel that we as a nation are still at fault, imagine this for a second, these people are the enemy. Since G.W. Bush was in office, we have maintained a detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. This is where high profile detainees were brought to be interrogated so that maybe one day we could eradicate the terrorists who want to see America burn alive. Random idiots walking the street do not get sent to Gitmo. These are people who have extensive knowledge of terrorist networks, people who are one with the enemy.
Everyone is up in arms about the "acts of torture" performed on these high profile detainees. Saying it is un-American, saying it's illegal, saying it's inhuman. Know this, keeping them awake for long periods of time, waterboarding them, possible small voltage electroctuion is far easier on them than anything they would do to us. They get three meals a day, a right to practice their religion, and a bed with a roof over their head. That is a vacation for them. If the shoe was on the other foot, they would torture us, behead us, disembowel us, tie us behind a truck, drag our corpse through the streets, and hang us from a bridge to rot for everyone to see. They would video tape the whole thing and give it to al-Jazeera, who would promptly put it on primetime news to feed the rest of the Middle East with a sense of pride.
These people do not deserve to be treated as equals. They should not be treated as we would treat each other, nor should they be treated like we would treat POW's from a legitimate enemy. They deserve to be tied to a chair and be forced to watch someone execute their entire family. They deserve to be tortured. They deserve to be terminated with EXTREME predjudice. These people are not human beings. Unfortunately, our nation has been burdened with the responsibility of babysitting the rest of the planet for some time now. So this equal treatment will never happen.
To those of you who don't have the inner fortitude and patience to help our country see it's way through this difficult time, to those sounding the alarm to bring our boys home, just remember: The enemy is still out there. They will not stop until one of us are gone. Until we become a nation without concern for anyone else but ourselves, they will continue to find ways to attack. We all may not want the responsibility of being the world's police, but it is a responsibility we are stuck with until we decide to no longer take the responsibility. If we pull out now, our troops would have died for nothing. Our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters who bled in the sand thousands of miles away will have died in vain. they will have died in vain because as a nation, we would have failed them because we cannot agree, and we cannot pull together.
We are at war with an enemy, whether we as people asked for it or not. It was thrust upon us by ignorant cowards and we cannot back down. We must press on and continue to attempt to rid the planet of this disease known as terrorism. This will not be a quick process, as the last decade has shown us. Show some unity for our nation and the troops still putting boots on the ground for our safety. September 11th should not be the only day we pull together as a nation and set aside differences. Memories of 9/11 should burn inside of us every day, like an eternal flame that will never be extinguished.
10 years later.....a look back
10 years ago, today, I was woken up by my mom, saying "come watch the news!" She had a look I'd never seen before on her face. When i walked in the bedroom and rubbed my eyes, looking at FoxNews, the Fire Technology student in me said "Oh, New York's on fire." So matter-of-factly like i was talking about the Great Chicago Fire, or how San Fran burned after the 1906 quake, or the Great Fire of London. Then the replay. Over and over. First one plane, then the 2nd one, hitting the building and exploding through. It was an explosion that surpassed anything Hollywood special effects could even imagine! The Thick black smoke against a pure blue sky. A blue that the entire US looks at on January 1 as the Rose Parade rolls through Pasadena and North LA. A blue that Southern Californians know ONLY exists after Santa Ana winds roll through blowing out all the smog. A "Catalina Day" or a "Downtown Day", speaking of when you are in the foothills of Orange County and can see IN DETAIL the buildings in downtown LA. A sky so clear, so pure, so innocent. Then the news came from DC, another airliner, this time in the Pentagon. And another, downed in a Pennsylvania field, speculated to be headed to the White House or Capitol. So surreal. A story line movie scriptwriters would have been either scoffed at or paid handsomely for. This was worse than Pearl Harbor. Not one, but 4 coordinated attacks against both military and civilian targets. War had come screeching into the United States at 600 miles an hour, fully loaded with jet fuel.
Responding were the boys in blue. Underpaid, overworked, but dedicated to the death to their job. Cops and firefighters. New York's Finest and Bravest. Men who months prior were criticized for excessive force were being praised for their selfless attitude. Men who people were too busy to pull over so the engine and truck could pass, grasped and reached out as they ascended the stairs, determined to reach the top. They went as far as they could, grabbed whomever and however many they could, and made the long trek down. Some made it out, and went back in for round 2, determined to go the distance or get knocked out trying. These men were warriors, fierce in their attack. They saved who they could and desired to grapple with the beast burning on 6-10 floors. These were bloodthirsty men, craving the taste of Satan's fire and willing to beat him at all costs. Then at 9:59, all hell broke loose. concrete and steel acted like pipe cleaners, bending, twisting, breaking. The fatal ballet was reaching its apex. The tower twisting on itself, spiralling like a giant corkscrew into the basement below. And while that happened, FDNY and NYPD and PAPD STILL ran up the North tower, striving to try and save more lives. 29 minutes later, the WTC basement swallowed up the North tower as well, claiming even more souls. 2,819 lives silenced in the two 12 second collapses. 343 fellow firefighters called home. 23 NYPD officers on final patrol, and 37 PAPD who will never be at roll call.
Support and unity. 2 things never seen since WW2 and the "support the war effort". Stores couldn't keep American flags in stock. Betsy Ross would be proud. The Stars and Stripes, the international symbol of freedom, was back with a vengence. The whole country rallied around their neighborhood firestation. People finally took notice of the emergency vehicles responding to calls. Gone was the image of firemen getting a kitten out of a tree, in was the superhero. Superman couldn't hold a candle to these real life heros. Women loved them, men envied them, kids wanted to be them, still. Many flocked to recruiting stations eager to get some, to get revenge for their country. No draft necessary, the all volunteer military saw unprecedented numbers. And the gloves were off.
Its odd to think that on that day, I was already working to become a firefighter. Seeing those brothers killed in 12 seconds, made me stop. I asked myself "what am i doing? Knowing that death hovered, waiting for me, on every call, is this STILL the life and career i want?" And the answer was a resounding yes. Scratch that. I still remember thinking "FUCK YES!" without a doubt. What happened 10 years ago steeled my reserve and determination. I was not gonna take no for an answer. I would become a firefighter by any means necessary. Its even more surreal to think that 10 years later i'm not a firefighter, but instead have too gone to the recruiter and signed my life on the line, vowing to protect the nation I love and adore, the freedoms most Americans take for granted. I'm fighting alongside some of those same people who joined 10 years ago, and are still pushing back, giving our enemies what for and not going quietly into the night. I may never become a firefighter. My options are open, from working at becoming a flight medic on a MEDEVAC chopper, to taking 2 more years to go off and fight in the 'Stan, to getting out and still becoming a Firefighter. Each day I remember 9-11-01. its interesting, that the number you call when you need help is 9-1-1. You call, I come, I fight, I win.
Hooah, Semper Fi, Fir Na Tine, etc. It all different, but its all the same! Never Forget!
Responding were the boys in blue. Underpaid, overworked, but dedicated to the death to their job. Cops and firefighters. New York's Finest and Bravest. Men who months prior were criticized for excessive force were being praised for their selfless attitude. Men who people were too busy to pull over so the engine and truck could pass, grasped and reached out as they ascended the stairs, determined to reach the top. They went as far as they could, grabbed whomever and however many they could, and made the long trek down. Some made it out, and went back in for round 2, determined to go the distance or get knocked out trying. These men were warriors, fierce in their attack. They saved who they could and desired to grapple with the beast burning on 6-10 floors. These were bloodthirsty men, craving the taste of Satan's fire and willing to beat him at all costs. Then at 9:59, all hell broke loose. concrete and steel acted like pipe cleaners, bending, twisting, breaking. The fatal ballet was reaching its apex. The tower twisting on itself, spiralling like a giant corkscrew into the basement below. And while that happened, FDNY and NYPD and PAPD STILL ran up the North tower, striving to try and save more lives. 29 minutes later, the WTC basement swallowed up the North tower as well, claiming even more souls. 2,819 lives silenced in the two 12 second collapses. 343 fellow firefighters called home. 23 NYPD officers on final patrol, and 37 PAPD who will never be at roll call.
Support and unity. 2 things never seen since WW2 and the "support the war effort". Stores couldn't keep American flags in stock. Betsy Ross would be proud. The Stars and Stripes, the international symbol of freedom, was back with a vengence. The whole country rallied around their neighborhood firestation. People finally took notice of the emergency vehicles responding to calls. Gone was the image of firemen getting a kitten out of a tree, in was the superhero. Superman couldn't hold a candle to these real life heros. Women loved them, men envied them, kids wanted to be them, still. Many flocked to recruiting stations eager to get some, to get revenge for their country. No draft necessary, the all volunteer military saw unprecedented numbers. And the gloves were off.
Its odd to think that on that day, I was already working to become a firefighter. Seeing those brothers killed in 12 seconds, made me stop. I asked myself "what am i doing? Knowing that death hovered, waiting for me, on every call, is this STILL the life and career i want?" And the answer was a resounding yes. Scratch that. I still remember thinking "FUCK YES!" without a doubt. What happened 10 years ago steeled my reserve and determination. I was not gonna take no for an answer. I would become a firefighter by any means necessary. Its even more surreal to think that 10 years later i'm not a firefighter, but instead have too gone to the recruiter and signed my life on the line, vowing to protect the nation I love and adore, the freedoms most Americans take for granted. I'm fighting alongside some of those same people who joined 10 years ago, and are still pushing back, giving our enemies what for and not going quietly into the night. I may never become a firefighter. My options are open, from working at becoming a flight medic on a MEDEVAC chopper, to taking 2 more years to go off and fight in the 'Stan, to getting out and still becoming a Firefighter. Each day I remember 9-11-01. its interesting, that the number you call when you need help is 9-1-1. You call, I come, I fight, I win.
Hooah, Semper Fi, Fir Na Tine, etc. It all different, but its all the same! Never Forget!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Laughter is the best medicine....but medicine still works
Crazy things happen when people are tired. Some get grumpy, some get quiet. Soldiers, get goofy.We joke and harass and pick on each other. At some point, everyone is a target. its like a verbal game of "Hot Potato". Most everyone can dish it out. Some just can't seem to take it. They try and "sound" logical in their banter, but while they try and prove their point, my whole crew is laughing up a storm. Pranks abound. Chem Lights (chemical light sticks) grow wings and fly, alighting on the roofs and turrets of our other vehicles. Water bottles, while not as common, make for a bigger splash. My team leader, the other day, for example, channeled Jennifer Beals and "Flashdance". We were in the motorpool waiting for the mechanics to dispatch our vehicles and simple spraying of water became a full blown water fight. each person trying to up the ante on each other. A whole water bottle, then a bottle from the cooler, then a bottle filled with ice and water from the cooler, topped off with an ammo can of ice and water from the cooler. Needless to say it was entertaining to watch, kept everyone from over heating, and passed the time.
Generally the Iraqis tend to give our convoys a wide berth. However, the other night, one Iraqi was a tad too impatient. Ignoring the traffic that stopped so we could cross the road, AND the previous 2 Caimans that had already passed, he decided to make his move. In doing so, he took the Rhino ALLLLLL the way down the side of his BMW. He smashed his mirror, shattered drivers window, rear passenger window, rear sail window on the rear passenger door, and the whole rear window. It also looked like T-rex tore through the D-pillar sheetmetal. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed. Yet, after we took pictures of the damage, got driver's statement, etc, we got a call from the IA (Iraq Army) Checkpoint up the road asking why we killed someone? That guy told the IA that coalition troops shot and killed someone in his car. Unbelievable.
With the end of Ramadan, we encounter more people on our nightly patrols. More people waving, and more people glaring. many of the areas we go through are controlled by Al-Sadr. His followers do not like us. The kids wave and want candy, but the adults seem to just want us out. We're doing more patrols that start while the sun is up, so we get to see more of what our area looks like. All farm land. Not as hot, but clearly more humid sometimes. Night time sees much cooler temperatures though.
So now its September 10. Been away now for almost 2 months. That 2 months of talking to friends and family back home have seen a rollercoaster of emotions. From a total communications black out with my now-ex-girlfriend, to her breaking up with me, to being 100% ok with that and having a total weight lifted off my shoulder. Then i met someone who i click with. Never met before, but can talk to for hours. I can laugh about the most random things. I've heard it said "You will find something when and where you least expect it". Sounds like a fortune cookie. It also is true. When you stop trying to force life, and force your hand, and just live, that's when it seems like life turns around and rewards you. And so, for now, while i'm stuck in this shit-hole (sorry mom) of a country, with people who would like us better if we were dead, its nice to have that ray of sunshine that always wants to be there to talk to me, and i can talk about anything with and just laugh with. Family is one thing, but to have that ASIDE from family, that's when you've found something special. So to you, Lord, I truly thank you for the things and people you have blessed me with .
Generally the Iraqis tend to give our convoys a wide berth. However, the other night, one Iraqi was a tad too impatient. Ignoring the traffic that stopped so we could cross the road, AND the previous 2 Caimans that had already passed, he decided to make his move. In doing so, he took the Rhino ALLLLLL the way down the side of his BMW. He smashed his mirror, shattered drivers window, rear passenger window, rear sail window on the rear passenger door, and the whole rear window. It also looked like T-rex tore through the D-pillar sheetmetal. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed. Yet, after we took pictures of the damage, got driver's statement, etc, we got a call from the IA (Iraq Army) Checkpoint up the road asking why we killed someone? That guy told the IA that coalition troops shot and killed someone in his car. Unbelievable.
With the end of Ramadan, we encounter more people on our nightly patrols. More people waving, and more people glaring. many of the areas we go through are controlled by Al-Sadr. His followers do not like us. The kids wave and want candy, but the adults seem to just want us out. We're doing more patrols that start while the sun is up, so we get to see more of what our area looks like. All farm land. Not as hot, but clearly more humid sometimes. Night time sees much cooler temperatures though.
So now its September 10. Been away now for almost 2 months. That 2 months of talking to friends and family back home have seen a rollercoaster of emotions. From a total communications black out with my now-ex-girlfriend, to her breaking up with me, to being 100% ok with that and having a total weight lifted off my shoulder. Then i met someone who i click with. Never met before, but can talk to for hours. I can laugh about the most random things. I've heard it said "You will find something when and where you least expect it". Sounds like a fortune cookie. It also is true. When you stop trying to force life, and force your hand, and just live, that's when it seems like life turns around and rewards you. And so, for now, while i'm stuck in this shit-hole (sorry mom) of a country, with people who would like us better if we were dead, its nice to have that ray of sunshine that always wants to be there to talk to me, and i can talk about anything with and just laugh with. Family is one thing, but to have that ASIDE from family, that's when you've found something special. So to you, Lord, I truly thank you for the things and people you have blessed me with .
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Time Has Come Today
So time seems to fly by here. Perhaps it’s the fact that i have been going out every night on patrol so my days just are one big blur of food, work and sleep. Rather than in Kuwait where I was just waiting around for something to do, nowadays, I scramble to find enough time to do what i need to do before rolling outside the wire again. But I love it. I was never cut out for the rigid walls of a clinic or aid station. I do my best when my back is against the wall and I need to think outside the box. Best is when I just get to relax and not do anything, cuz when Doc works, it’s usually a bad day. So far, no bad days. Interesting, yes, but not BAD. One night on patrol, we made a left on ASR Dell. 3 Caiman MRAPS made it across a narrow little bridge. Ours did not. The left rear tires had the roadway give out and they slid into the canal. The frame kept our truck from sliding any further. When recovery got out there with the M88 (think Tank Tow Truck) they hoisted our truck up in the air and swung it back onto the roadway. We continued on without incident.
Our patrol area or AO (Area of Operations) consists of 95% farmland with these narrow dirt roads that have canals on either side. These canals are for irrigation and are anywhere from 6-30 feet down from the side of the road. Turning around is an interesting prospect, sometimes taking HOURS for 4 trucks to completely turn 180 degrees and move out. To our north, there is a town. We drove up there one night and haven’t really explored it yet, but around our FOB, pictures of Al-Sadr are up EVERYWHERE, especially in this town. The looks we got were half bewilderment and half “Go F yourself!” I actually look forward to pressing into the town and establishing a presence. Currently we’re merely learning the roads in our AO. Which are hardball (paved) and which aren’t. During the day, one might mistake where we are for Viet Nam. The fields with grass, cows and little farm huts. Only when you see the farmers is it clear we’re in South WEST Asia, not South East. That has to be my biggest surprise. I thought I was going to be in desert like the Sahara, and here I am surrounded by what is almost describable as lush fertile countryside. We’ve rigged up an old headset to play our iPods through the j-boxes (junction boxes). Every soldier in the truck has a headset linked to an intercom system. You talk into the mic and everyone in the truck hears you. All the while, music plays in the background. You have a switch on the cord that lets you key the radio to transmit to the other trucks or back to base. The J-box allows you to switch which radio will be keyed, if any, and volume. My truck runs about 3 iPods in rotation, giving us a nice wide range of music. Mostly its country and rock and blues with a little hip-hop thrown in for good measure. A song everyone knows comes on and we all sing, through our headsets. It’s quite comical to hear. Sounds like a karaoke bar in the truck.
We’ve dismounted a couple times to check out suspicious activity, and I go with the guys, usually. The other night we got a report of a house with a lot of traffic at it. So we sent our dismounts to go check it. As medic, I have to stay with the CCP or Casualty Collection Point. It sucks, but for now, that’s where I stay. Plus the rules have changed. While we tactically move to our objective, once we get there its handshakes and pleasantries with the suspect. No assaulting the house, kicking in the door and zip-cuffing the people there while we search and question them. Times have really changed. What day is it again? No one ever truly knows. You need a watch that tells you what day of the week. I guess that’s good. Makes my time go by faster. Hopefully the infantry guys will loosen up and let Doc out of his cage to play more often!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Mesopotamian Mystery Meat and Mexican Street Tacos
When you're in Mexico, invariably you have tacos from a street vendor. Tasty carne asada in tiny diced pieces cooked on a flattop griddle. So succulent and tasty you fail to notice the lack of feral animals lurking around his stand. Am i saying you just ate dog or cat? Can't prove it, but everyone pretty much agrees on it. Then returns for 5 more plates and a Fanta in a glass bottle. Same thing here. a T-bone steak for Surf n Turf that has a 7" vertical bone (ala T-bone) but yet lacks the top of the "T", making it more of an I-bone steak. I don't think Apple has copyrighted it, so I'm safe. This made me wonder. Was this truly beef? Or was it a much larger beast that may or may not have a hump on its back and likes to spit when angry? No, NOT Rosanne Barr. I'm talking camels. Having been in the Middle East, i figured i'd see at LEAST one, which i did, in Kuwait. Guy was offering free camel rides. Who wouldn't? But here in Iraq, they are surprisingly nil. Which again brings me to the meat question. There are also no cows (and yet no Chik-fil-a?!? WTH?!? EAT MOR CAMEL). Additionally, they must have some freakazoid chickens. i got a DRUMSTICK with a 6 inch bone! Not the size of a turkey leg, but thinner than a chicken and 2x as long. Truth be told, i did NOT eat "chicken" that night. So it seems i'm relegated to my egg white omelett for breakfast, and a panini for lunch and dinner. not too shabby.
On a different note, I've left HHC and the aid station and am now attached to Charlie Company again. Its nice comin home to my guys, even if i am in the attached A Co platoon. i'm home here and ready to go on missions. The aid station is too slow for me and slow=burn barrel. Yup, the resident firefighter took up the job to burn all English documents and paperwork, classified and unclassified, as well as any other combustibles I could dig up. My parents remember this part of my personality fondly. Remember those halogen desk lamps? Before they had the glass pane, they had a wire screen. Incidentally, you take a piece of paper and that wire would burn it and poof, fire. For an 8y/o kid, this is freakin AWESOME!. They will also remember me trying to light a paper towel off the HVAC's pilot light in the garage. For years they had me convinced i almost blew up the house. Then i enrolled in fire tech classes and learned that since a flame ALREADY existed, any gas present would already have burned. Therefore, only problem would be if i dropped a flaming piece of paper on something combustible. I digress. The point is, i do what i do best. Burn stuff then put it out. No, not an arsonist. I'm a professional controlled burner.
Even without having been outside the wire yet, i'm reminded about the area i'm in and the Biblical and historical significance of this place. On the FOB we have the "Babil Reconstruction District". Seeming benign, most people don't understand the true significance of Babil. The Tower of Babil was a MASSIVE undertaking, where humans desired to be on God's level and thus built a tower to the heavens (without modern equipment mind you). In their desire to be near God, they weren't seeking Him, but rather seeking to BECOME Him. God destroyed the tower, gave them different languages and scattered them to the corners of the earth. Before this, Man was centrally located HERE and all spoke the SAME language. So to see "Babil Reconstruction", it make one think about what is truly going on here, physically AND spiritually.
Until next time, Graverobber out!
On a different note, I've left HHC and the aid station and am now attached to Charlie Company again. Its nice comin home to my guys, even if i am in the attached A Co platoon. i'm home here and ready to go on missions. The aid station is too slow for me and slow=burn barrel. Yup, the resident firefighter took up the job to burn all English documents and paperwork, classified and unclassified, as well as any other combustibles I could dig up. My parents remember this part of my personality fondly. Remember those halogen desk lamps? Before they had the glass pane, they had a wire screen. Incidentally, you take a piece of paper and that wire would burn it and poof, fire. For an 8y/o kid, this is freakin AWESOME!. They will also remember me trying to light a paper towel off the HVAC's pilot light in the garage. For years they had me convinced i almost blew up the house. Then i enrolled in fire tech classes and learned that since a flame ALREADY existed, any gas present would already have burned. Therefore, only problem would be if i dropped a flaming piece of paper on something combustible. I digress. The point is, i do what i do best. Burn stuff then put it out. No, not an arsonist. I'm a professional controlled burner.
Even without having been outside the wire yet, i'm reminded about the area i'm in and the Biblical and historical significance of this place. On the FOB we have the "Babil Reconstruction District". Seeming benign, most people don't understand the true significance of Babil. The Tower of Babil was a MASSIVE undertaking, where humans desired to be on God's level and thus built a tower to the heavens (without modern equipment mind you). In their desire to be near God, they weren't seeking Him, but rather seeking to BECOME Him. God destroyed the tower, gave them different languages and scattered them to the corners of the earth. Before this, Man was centrally located HERE and all spoke the SAME language. So to see "Babil Reconstruction", it make one think about what is truly going on here, physically AND spiritually.
Until next time, Graverobber out!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Ride of the Valkyries
Friday, July 22, 2011
I'm not delivery! I'm DiJourno!!
In "Good Morning Viet Nam", at the very beginning when Eddie Garlick picks up Adrian Cronauer, he says "You'll get used to the heat, sir!" Adrian's response is "Hot? This isn't hot, this is the setting for London Broil!" Today, my friends, is one of those days. Its not much hotter than Phoenix or Death Valley, and there's no humidity, which is good. But at the same time, it seems more intense. Maybe because when you look at a globe, Kuwait is at roughly 27 degrees North Latitude, and Phoenix is at 33 degrees North Latitude. Therefore, while temperature is the same, I'm closer to the sun here in Kuwait. Think of it as a giant oven. The whole oven maybe 350 degrees, but if you put your pizza on the bottom rack, its gonna take longer to cook than on the top rack. Thusly, the 125 here feels more intense. I don't think anyone TRULY acclimates to these temperatures unless they live here, and even then i'm not sure. When you're cold, you can layer up. but when you're hot, you tend to run out of layers and then you're naked and still sweating your tail off. I'm starting to feel like a brisket. Low heat, long time in the smoker. I'm stuck in Kuwait for a few more days, marinating at 125. Throw on some BBQ sauce or a dry rub and I'm pretty sure I'd take first place at the Texas State Fair.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
TMD's
In THIS desert, there are no tumbleweeds. Kind of disappointing. Guess that means there won't be Tumbleweeds of Mass Destruction, or TMDs. residents of the desert in CA, AZ, NM and TX understand what these are. They aren't so much heavy, but HUGE. Hit one in your car and you risk being crippled on the side of a desolate highway with a busted radiator, punctured tire or one totally messed up paint job. In the states, TMD's are more dangerous to the road warrior than coyotes. Not as bad as deer, but they're up there. They are pretty benign when it comes to structural damage, unless it hits your screen door, then you are in for it. But in the desert here, TMD's would, theoretically, pose a risk to structures more than vehicles. Our up-armored Humvee's and MRAPs have been expertly designed to mitigate the threat of even the largest tumbleweed! The tents however, remain vulnerable, like a newborn fawn in a meadow. These TMDs are equipped with razor sharp spines and shred most cloth materials. Kevlar tents are a no-go here. The risk doesn't justify the necessity.
Needless to say, we're thankful for no TMDs here in the Middle East, just remember to protect yourself on the highways of the Southwestern US.
Needless to say, we're thankful for no TMDs here in the Middle East, just remember to protect yourself on the highways of the Southwestern US.
Moses and the Nomads
Sitting a chow tonight, i was discussing my thoughts on being in Mesopotamia with my battalion chaplain. He too was marveling at the region that we are in, how culturally and religiously significant to us this area has been. We saw nomads while on our way from the airport. Couple trailers, a tent and some camels. Modern day nomads! how they live out here is truly beyond my comprehension.
Reflecting with Chaplain Cobb, we realized that in 40 years, roughly 1 million Hebrews AND their gear AND their livestock roamed the Arabian Peninsula. He was reading Joshua and recounting the kings he conquered as they moved into the Promised Land. The army has a hard time logistically in MODERN times with GPS, computers etc, tracking and following gear and personnel. How Moses was able to maneuver and coordinate the movement of ALL those people, without modern tech, is mind boggling. and 1,000,000 people can cover a lot of ground in a day, 365 days/year, for 40 years!! not accounting for death, birth and injury to both person and beast, that is a HUGE amount of distance. imagine the swath of people! Figure the average person takes up say 4 square feet. They walk 2 miles in an hour, and figure they walked roughly 10 hours a day. So, mathematically, that's 422,400 square feet covered by each person, PER DAY. multiplied out, in 40 years, ONE person would log roughly 1,168,000 square MILES. That's the equivalent of them walking the ENTIRE Arabian Peninsula by them self. Now you factor in the number of the hebrew nation, estimated by myself and the chaplain at possibly 1,000,000 people. if they stood still, not counting livestock or equipment, the amount of land they occupied STATIONARY is 758 square miles!
Needless to say, i'm pretty sure people saw the same landmarks, over and over. Chaplain Cobb wondered if it was possibly cooler then. I thought about it and determined that the 40 years of wandering was a punishment by God for the Hebrew's disobedience. I guess making each person walk 1.1 times the surface area of the Arabian Peninsula is pretty intense punishment, but i think God would not necessarily alter the temperature to make this endeavour any easier. he may have cranked the heat, there-by when they were finally allowed to enter the Promised Land, there would an even greater appreciation for the Lord and His guidance. It wasnt to inconvenience them, like making it halfway to Texas from California only to turn around because your neighbor said you left the house wide open and they couldn't lock it up for you. No, this was about showing who was and IS ultimately in control. The Lord does things for very specific reasons and the stories of his wrath AND grace are passed to us as a guide of what to do and what not to do. Why then do we complain when we do exactly what our ancestors have done and get the same reaction from God?
Reflecting with Chaplain Cobb, we realized that in 40 years, roughly 1 million Hebrews AND their gear AND their livestock roamed the Arabian Peninsula. He was reading Joshua and recounting the kings he conquered as they moved into the Promised Land. The army has a hard time logistically in MODERN times with GPS, computers etc, tracking and following gear and personnel. How Moses was able to maneuver and coordinate the movement of ALL those people, without modern tech, is mind boggling. and 1,000,000 people can cover a lot of ground in a day, 365 days/year, for 40 years!! not accounting for death, birth and injury to both person and beast, that is a HUGE amount of distance. imagine the swath of people! Figure the average person takes up say 4 square feet. They walk 2 miles in an hour, and figure they walked roughly 10 hours a day. So, mathematically, that's 422,400 square feet covered by each person, PER DAY. multiplied out, in 40 years, ONE person would log roughly 1,168,000 square MILES. That's the equivalent of them walking the ENTIRE Arabian Peninsula by them self. Now you factor in the number of the hebrew nation, estimated by myself and the chaplain at possibly 1,000,000 people. if they stood still, not counting livestock or equipment, the amount of land they occupied STATIONARY is 758 square miles!
Needless to say, i'm pretty sure people saw the same landmarks, over and over. Chaplain Cobb wondered if it was possibly cooler then. I thought about it and determined that the 40 years of wandering was a punishment by God for the Hebrew's disobedience. I guess making each person walk 1.1 times the surface area of the Arabian Peninsula is pretty intense punishment, but i think God would not necessarily alter the temperature to make this endeavour any easier. he may have cranked the heat, there-by when they were finally allowed to enter the Promised Land, there would an even greater appreciation for the Lord and His guidance. It wasnt to inconvenience them, like making it halfway to Texas from California only to turn around because your neighbor said you left the house wide open and they couldn't lock it up for you. No, this was about showing who was and IS ultimately in control. The Lord does things for very specific reasons and the stories of his wrath AND grace are passed to us as a guide of what to do and what not to do. Why then do we complain when we do exactly what our ancestors have done and get the same reaction from God?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Different Shades of Sun
So while this will take some getting used to, it is enlightening to think that i'm staring at the same sunrises and sunsets as Adam & Eve, Abraham, Noah, Moses, Joshua, Elija, David, Daniel, Jesus and His 12 Apostles. While some of them were say 600 miles west of me, its the same region. And to cap it off, this is where God said "Let there be light!" and the sun rose, and the Lord said "It is good!" That would explain the intensity of the sunrise. God commanded the sun into the sky, and ever since, the sun has done just that. Lept out of its slumber and illuminated the world. And the Lord looks down on me and says "It is good!"
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Pre-deployment Jitters (Originally written 9July2011)
Gotta mixed bag of feelings as i get ready to head overseas on my first deployment. I've been to West Africa, and seen first hand human suffering at the hands of a corrupt and pagan government, torn by war. I've suffered through 115 degree heat under a cloudless and windless sky. I've even been held at gunpoint and robbed by uniformed national soldiers with an AK47 as an unarmed civilian, all while not even the adult age of 21. Yet here i am, 11 years later. I'm older and wiser, having done more than most men my age, with a wonderful and beautiful and loving and supportive girlfriend, who will one day be my wife, at home waiting for me. And yet, I am a little nervous. Nervous at the unknown, the unfamiliar, the danger that awaits me half a world away. These feelings don't make me less of a man. In fact, they make me HU-MAN. They let me know that I'm alive, have a shred of saneness, am normal. I should be more fearful of NOT having said feelings and doubts and anxiety.
I know my purpose in life. I was made a healer. Its a gift and a job I've been doing for the last 10 years. And now i take another stride in my journey. Led by men, and by God. Some call it deja vu, others prophetic visions. All i know is since I've joined the Army, they have increased in vividness and number. All this points to the fact that i am right where the Lord wants me, and am best suited to do His will. I will strive to maintain honor, integrity, courage and resolve in the face of an unknown and, at times, unidentifiable enemy. I will do my job and any other tasks assigned to me to the best of my human abilities, not striving for earthly honor or glory, but that people will catch a glimpse of God's hands in my actions and life. I will be in the cradle of civilization, mere steps from where God formed man from the dust and breathed life into his body, and said "It is good!" I pray that after my tour is up, God will once again say "it is good!" I pray for His covering and protection and guidance in my journey, so that i may return safely to my family, and to my future wife.
A verse jumped out to me today as i was reading in the Bible some passages given to me by my father.
Psalm 64:
1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
they shoot suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, “Who will see it?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
“We have devised a perfect plan!”
Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.
10 The righteous will rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him;
all the upright in heart will glory in him!
I know my purpose in life. I was made a healer. Its a gift and a job I've been doing for the last 10 years. And now i take another stride in my journey. Led by men, and by God. Some call it deja vu, others prophetic visions. All i know is since I've joined the Army, they have increased in vividness and number. All this points to the fact that i am right where the Lord wants me, and am best suited to do His will. I will strive to maintain honor, integrity, courage and resolve in the face of an unknown and, at times, unidentifiable enemy. I will do my job and any other tasks assigned to me to the best of my human abilities, not striving for earthly honor or glory, but that people will catch a glimpse of God's hands in my actions and life. I will be in the cradle of civilization, mere steps from where God formed man from the dust and breathed life into his body, and said "It is good!" I pray that after my tour is up, God will once again say "it is good!" I pray for His covering and protection and guidance in my journey, so that i may return safely to my family, and to my future wife.
A verse jumped out to me today as i was reading in the Bible some passages given to me by my father.
Psalm 64:
1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
they shoot suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, “Who will see it?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
“We have devised a perfect plan!”
Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.
10 The righteous will rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him;
all the upright in heart will glory in him!
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