Lifeblood

     Blood. The very syllables weave a sound that speaks to our fragile mortality.  A week ago there was enough of it to create a bitter aria; the sound is still rippling through the battalion.

     I wasn’t there when the explosion flared in front of LT Irish’s HMMWV, but I’ve relived the scene a hundred times in my minds eye. Looking into my friends eyes I can see the after image like the soft aftermath of a flashbulb. Listening to his story I can almost taste the ugly cocktail of copper and cordite that would follow such a vicious blast. But I wasn’t there. I didn’t feel the searing heat. I didn’t watch the transparent armor crackle under the merciless shrapnel. I didn’t cradle a wounded man and fight to keep him alive. I didn’t - through sheer will - drive a crippled HMMWV back to our FOB, only to have it finally burn to the ground in a fiery pyre at our very gates.

     I haven’t been able to write about the incident, the ragged wound it left was too tender. What happened that day on that nameless Iraqi road was every soldier’s worst nightmare brought to glaring life – a point blank IED. It took a millisecond, a snippet of time to small to be perceived, for the IED to lash the HMMWV with a tidal wave of explosive energy. The armor weathered the hypersonic onslaught and somehow LT Irish had the presence of mind to snap his driver into action. With the thunderous blast still reverberating off the canyon of buildings, the driver punched the accelerator to open the distance between the vehicle and the blast site. They couldn’t have known it then, but their vehicle was crippled and quickly spilling its lifeblood onto the pavement. The vehicle wasn’t the only casualty. One murderous fragment had slipped past the armor, a fragment that struck the gunner, SGT Ferguson.

     As the vehicle staggered back to the FOB LT Irish worked feverishly to care for SGT Ferguson. His focus was so keenly focused on SGT Ferguson he never realized the damaged vehicle was charring his leg. With the vehicle dying around him and every light on the panel screaming in electronic agony SGT Ski stayed the course and pulled his HMMWV to the FOB gates. He only stepped out when the vehicle shuddered to a stop and burst into a blistering bonfire.

     As I write this LT Irish is still recovering from the deep burns etched in his leg and SGT Ferguson is laying in a hospital bed in Bethesda, Maryland. For the last week our entire battalion has been praying for SGT Ferguson as he struggles for survival. His family is fighting a battle of their own, struggling to deal with the financial burden of staying at SGT Ferguson’s side. To deal with the wholly unexpected and quickly mounting costs of airfare, lodging, and cross country phone calls a trust fund has been set up for SGT Ferguson’s family. Donations can be made to:

                              SGT James Matthew Ferguson

                        Washington Mutual 325 East F St. Suite A

                                      Oakdale, CA 95361

Comments

[SSG A]

Sir, Just heard back from Bethesda. SGT F isn't out of the woods yet you might want to let the MAJ anf LT know they have some bad intel.

[devildog6771]

I too am sorry to hear abot their injuries. It is truly amazing they made it back to the FOB gates in the shape they were all in.I will pray for both men's full recovery. God Bless you all!

[Toni]

What a horrifying experience. It is so good to hear Sgt F is stabilizing and doing better. I hope the same is true with Lt Irish and his burns. My prayers are with them and you.

[AFSister]

Lt. Currie said that doctors are now anticipating a 70% recovery for Fergison. Let's hope that number keeps going up and up! I didn't realize that Irish was injured, or that the vehicle burned up though- that was new...and scary. Burns are the worst injury ever...please let him know how much we appreciate and admire his efforts. I think about you guys all the time- and pray for your safety and well-being daily. Be safe... I hope you find some peace and comfort in your writing. When I am faced with difficult times, I turn to the pen for relief. It's very healing.

[REMF]

TG, indeed. And thanks to you, your unit, and all like you out there doing the hard work. I don't know if you ever get into the IZ, or if so if you ever get to the Palace (Embassy annex), but if you do, go to the big room off the rotunda near the back entrance and I'll be happy to brew up some real coffee (noticed that was one of your interests). Just ask for the coffee guy.

[Some Soldier's Mom]

Major K posts that miraculously, Sgt. F is awake and responding appropriately and has use of his right arm/hand... TG! http://strengthandhonor.typepad.com/ You and your families are all in our prayers!!