Jewels of the Desert part 1: The sun went down as it normally is supposed to. The moon did not fail to rise, but simply delayed it's appearance for the cooler portion of the night. I normally stop to take a moment to reflect on the random happenings in this landscape. I think of a place on the other side of the world that I long to explore. There is a glint in the distance. My eyes have glazed over, but they still see. The dance and glimmer plays off of my retinas like sparkles from the most brilliant jewels I have ever seen. I think to myself that I have actually never seen anything that brilliant before. It isn't blinding and I don't have to squint. I simply let myself exists with the landscape. The beauty of the night is overwhelming. I think to myself that I am lucky to experience this desert jewel. There are many jewels in the desert if one stops to appreciate them. There is another side to everything though, an inherent duality in nature. The desert holds jewels, but if those jewels are dwelled upon too much, one forgets reality of the harshness. But then again, it is that same harsh reality, that causes people to overlook and underplay the desert's magic. All this reverberates inside of me as I think of the heat and of war and that at any moment I could cease to exist. I say a quiet prayer to God to forgive my sins. I do not fear hell, but I respect the fact that it exists. I mix religions into my spiritual prayer to my maker. I do believe he will forgive my sins and that I do not need an earthly conduit. I do not know all the world has to offer, because when it comes down to it, I am a speck. All I need to know is that there are jewels in the desert.

CR

Nature will run its course

As in typical Army fashion, "No shit, there I was..." Driving around in the middle of the night when out of nowhere the sky lights up to show the nightime landscape as if it were day. I waited for the onslaught of noise. Nothing came. I didn't feel the ground shake either, weird. I mean I remember the drudgery of physics quite well and as I recall, light travels faster than sound, so when I didnt feel a shock wave concuss over my body, I was perplexed. We continued on and I began to survey the landscape. Then, it happened again, another awe inspiring flash of light, but this time I saw its source. The heavens above were boiling in rage and the air was charged.

All I could think of was a movie I had once seen in which a man would stake the sand at a beach and collect the glass creations from below after a lightning storm. I wondered if I could make some money off of my experience in Iraq, like in the movie. Crazy, I know, But I am always wondering about ways to sell thatr next great thing. I think Iraqi Lightning Glass is a highly specailized field for those Art Afficianados. Oh well, maybe some other day, but I digress.

The storm was amazing in and of itself. I will say though that Rain in a desert climate isn't good. I mean don't get me wrong, the area has experienced a three year long drought, but the first rains can be deadly. Oils soak into the asphalt all year long and surface on the first rains, not to mention the wadis that fill instantaneously with water and then of course the flash floods. Luckily I only had to experience the asphalt this time. In all honestly, I thought my crew and I were going to get a firsthand account on a reallife rollover drill.

As we all know, and if you don't, take my word for it, the Army is notroious for drilling things into the dirt so they become second nature. It may seem mundane, but I assure you, when you are on the goaline and the audible is called with 3 seconds on the clock, you have to act, not think. Well, in this particular case, time slowed as my driver began to turn the wheel. The back of my 8 ton vehicle swung lazily to the left. Immediately I could feel the drift. I had a flash to the movie, Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift. I looked at my driver and he smiled at me. It's funny how you grow so close to someone that you think alike, well in this brief moment we were on the same page, no, the same scene in the movie. Everything was so calm and my gunner didn't even bother to say "rollover" he just got down. I braced and tried to coach my driver through it, but as I said, we were already on the same page. In the next instant, our back end was on the right side of the road and the edge of the highway loomed ever closer. Tailend to the left. "You got this Bro."

I will be the first to admit, when shit hits the fan, my professionalism turns to familism, because I honestly don't see the point in using someone's rank and last name when bullets are flying or vehicles are flipping over, lol.

Me: "You got this."

Driver: "Sir, I wasn't worried, it was like drifting back home..."

Passenger: "What the eF is goign on!"

Me: "It's cool."

Gunner: "I'm back up. I thought we were done."

Me: "Naw, he had it."

Over the Radio: "Sir, you check your pants yet?"

The Best Job in the Army....

I am in the best job on the Army, hands down. I get to have a direct impact on my life and the lives of other people. I am able, to an extent, make decisions and plan my life. The small unit I have is a microcosim. It is a challenge, but it is the best in the Army.

There are alot of things that I worry about, but how my men and I will perfrom is not one of them. I have had the privilage of fighting with the best that America has to offer and it is an honor everyday. There are challenges, but that is normal for everything in life.

I don't even know why I am writting this right now. Maybe it's because doing our job means sacrifices. I have been fortuneate thus far and have only had to sacrifice friends and family for a year. Some, people I have known for years, shared life experiences with, procrastinated on papers for proffessors with, trained next to, have paid the ultimate sacrifice. They were people I knew personally, people I played football with, roomates, frineds of roomates, but most of all, they were my Brtohers. maybe you will never understand the feelings of remose, honor, and pride of having known such outstanding and amazing people. After such a loss, I don't know what quite else to say, but know that I miss them, I remember them, and I know they are looking out for the rest of us down here that are still doing what they gave so much to experience. I thank their families for their sacrifice. I truly Love my Brothers and pray for them ceasingly.

Be thou at Peace...