Martyrs

" Sacrifice still exists everywhere, and everywhere the elect of each generation suffers for the salvation of the rest"
                              - Henri Frederic Amiel

     Yesterday on an empty spit of road, on the broken edge of a town you will never see, a woman’s life came to an end. In another Iraq  this woman might have been a teacher, patiently nurturing wide eyed children. Or maybe she would have managed a small import/export business, using her natural affinity for languages to sell and trade goods and support a small but happy family. But that Iraq doesn’t yet exist, and when it does come into being Adele will not be there to see it. 

     Arabic is a ferociously difficult language to master, and its flowing script is a virtual cipher. Every soldier learns basic commands in Arabic, but this limited grab bag of phrases doesn’t allow us to engage the locals in any type of meaningful conversation. To bridge the gap between our two cultures the Army assigns interpreters to each company performing missions outside the wire. Applicants are carefully screened for ties to the AIF (Anti-Iraqi Forces) and tested on their aptitude with both English and Arabic – if they pass they are allowed to become “terps”. The terps are all capable of translating, but they differ wildly in attitude, disposition, bravery, and intelligence. Adele was one of the terps with our sister company, and was widely known within the battalion for her competence, optimism, and work ethic. Most of our interpreters are comfortable with our cultural idiosyncrasies, but Adele wasn’t just comfortable with them… she adopted them.  Here in the land of the two rivers, where many women are relegated to secondary roles on the periphery of society, Adele was an anomaly. She dressed in a mix of American clothes and DCU uniforms, chewed Copenhagen like an old ranch hand, and could curse in a dozen languages. And day after day she was willing to risk her very life and leave the wire on patrol with US soldiers.

  The blast that killed her didn’t do so in a neat, quick fashion. Adele was a fighter, and she struggled for several hours trying to overcome the horrific injuries she sustained. But despite the best medical care in the world she finally succumbed to the inevitable, and left this world for a better one.

There will be no statues erected for Adele. There will be no heads of state at her funeral. In time her memory will fade into little more then a statistic, another anonymous Iraqi citizen killed by the AIF. There will be no footnote letting the world know that Adele was patiently working to build something of lasting value. No mention that Adele spent her life struggling to bring light to this land of long darkness.  Adele realized it isn’t enough to just live if you cannot live free of fear… and she did something about it. At least now she is in a place far from all fear.   

Comments

[Doc "Archie"]

I tried my best sir, she made it to the E.R. They said truama to her brain stem swelling is what did it. It was by far the most horrific scene for me in the war, and that means alot coming from a combat medic. thank you for writting this. It means alot to me. -"old rock red Doc .05-06"

[Rhonda]

Did Adele leave family behind? I am sure Soldiers Angels would love to send at least some cards to this family. May God Bless Her and Her Family

[Dave]

It's nice to get a reflection from time to time that from the same population of Iraqi citizens that gives us news story after news story of insurgency, death, and chaos, come heros fighting for and alongside our troops - fighting for a better life for themselves and all Iraqis. May she rest in peace.

[Derek]

As I sit here in my home I am struck by the fact that people who have the ability to effect change have the have the reponsibility to make it happen regarless what thier comtribution may be. This woman wanted to see her Iraq grow and blossom. She gave what she could and paid with her life. You have just made sure this womans memory will mean something. To people who say we dont belong there hey just ask people such as Adele if we are wanted there. T6 continue your hard work and stay safe.

[Tony]

Allah bless Adele.

[Sharon]

As others have said... you have ensured that she will be remembered ... May her memory be a blessing to all who read about her, in addition to all who knew her.

[NYgirl]

What a poignant story. Thank you for sharing it with us. I too agree with David, now she will be remembered & honored in the way she deserves. God bless her soul.

[moradali]

May her soul rest eternally in peace. I am sure she is thanking you and others for bringing freedoms, as you have so fittingly thanked her. This was a very moving piece. My sincere condolences to her family who may one day read this.

[Timothy Bennett]

Her memorial is now consigned to the ether, where it will be preserved by all those who care to know. I, once again, am in awe of you and yours and what the cause of liberty will move mere humans to do.

[Gypsy]

Thank you for the poignant story of Adele. As others have said, through your post others have learned of her courage in lighting the way for her country and she will not be forgotten. May she rest in peace.

[SK]

Thank you for sharing her story with us and for letting others know about the Iraqi's who are fighting for their freedom.

[Kat in GA]

OMG...thannk you so very much for telling us about her. The world has lost a bright and shining star, a hero in her own right. I will always remember this story, and this woman. {{{{hugs}}}}}

[TC]

You have remembered her well with the grace and elegance than is uniquely your own. She will live on in those quiet moments when you are reminded of that spirit which made her so special to those with whom she served her country so well. A spectacular gift!

[Sirc_Valence]

I'm gonna try to get Free Republic involved in this. Later.

[Huntress]

"She would rather light candles than curse the darkness and her glow has warmed the world" I had heard about Adele several times in other blogs,mostly from those who knew her, and sometimes from those who knew of her. She was a brave woman. A woman who chose freedom over fear and courage over cowardice. She will be missed, but she will NEVER be forgotten!

[Lisa]

It's the Adeles of Iraq that will bring about that freedom. You have given her such a loving/moving tribute. If she touched each of your lives that way, imagine how many others she has infected with her ways?! Yes she paid the ultimate price, do you think if asked she would have had it any other way? She stood up for what she believed in and was willing to die for it! Bless her and all of you out there making this sacrifice. It's not in vain but for the greater good in the long run!

[Janie]

And another Iraqi will take her place if it has to be over and over and over again. Thank you for letting us know about Adele...

[speaker]

The real tragedy of Adele's death is that the uber-commie-pinko liberals (i.e. Senators Schumer, Clinton, and even Dean) will all point to her death and say: See!? If Bush had not invaded Iraq, Adele would still be alive. This is another example of how women are now worse off during post-Saddam Iraq. The real irony of all of this is that her death didn't make the headlines so we will never hear their ignorant, Monday morning quarterbacking analyses.

[Sirc_Valence]

Stay up, bro.

[Sirc_Valence]

It's Chris, you have my e-mail address. You gave me the OK to post a pic from your site. I almost forgot that my e-mail address isn't in my profiles. Good thing I remembered before going off. So don't be shy, send me the info if you want and I'll send you the Arabic course at no charge. Or you can just go to the site where they sell it.

[Sirc_Valence]

The Rosetta Stone Language Learning system has a package on Arabic. Thunder, I'll send it to you if you give me the info of where. The State Department and the Peace Corps find it useful. Look for it at RosettaStone.com

[Rina]

Thank you for your account. God rest Adele's soul...and Godspeed to you and the troops. Best Regards, Rina

[Lisa]

Thank you for your insight. I am so moved my your writing that sometimes it brings me to tears (both joy & sorrow). Since discovering your blog I read it everyday and enjoy your writing. Like others before, I hope you take up the pen professionally after you 'retire' from your current career. As a Canadian 'arm chair' critic in this particular theater of war, I do support your efforts. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your fellow soldiers and all your families. Thank you for opening up a whole new window to the world. Adele, and her efforts will not be forgotten, you've made this possible in your writings. Stay safe

[C]

You have given her a wonderful place in history! I am thankful for her service along with all US Soldiers. My heart feels heavy and sad for her family, but you also made me laugh in your description of her. Laughing and crying, they are both good for the soul.

[Rebecca McCormick]

Thank you for sharing Adele's courageous life with us. Those of us dealing with the aftermath of Katrina, are likewise learning to cope with random acts of violence, unfortunately on our own soil.