The Roadblock

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"
                                      - Edmund Burke

     As our vehicles came around the sharp corner we ran into something wholly unexpected, a neat row of rock and brick that sprawled across the road. The impromptu roadblock had a strange castaway symmetry to it; it brought to mind long summer days spent building little dams in the local streams. As the vehicles lurched to a halt I could feel a wave of frustration flare - we were on our way back to the FOB after an extended mission and everyone wanted to get back.

    I looked around for a long minute, taking in this sudden change in circumstance. The HMMWVs could hurdle these barriers with ease, but there was something slightly ominous about this thin string of material laced across the road. Any doubts that this was a warning were extinguished when we traced the snaking asphalt street to the horizon. The road itself was just a black strip bordered by tottering one room huts made of loosely stacked brick, the swaths of dilapidated homes bordered by wide fields of debris and high clumps of burnt weeds. But it wasn’t the terrain that set our nerves on edge, it was the utter lack of life. No cars were driving down the road, no children were playing in the fields, the homes sat as vacant as dead and lidless eyes. This strip of land was completely and utterly deserted. Instead of pushing through the thin line of rubble the lead HMMWV heeded the warning and pulled back to a safe position with the other vehicles. As we set up security all eyes scanned the area for anything out of the ordinary, but on this side of the roadblock everything seemed tranquil. The roads still hummed with traffic and old men lounged under dusty straw porches. As the dismounts moved into position a middle aged gentleman working on the corner started to smile and then slowly walked towards our cordon. As he approached he started chatting with our interpreter, and for a few moments we impatiently waited to here what was transpiring. When he had finished the terp turned to us and said “this man’s family put up the roadblock to protect you from the insurgents, they planted a large bomb on the road ahead”. After several rounds of question and answer the full story started to emerge.

     Sometime that morning the AIF had planted a large IED on the road and scuttled off to watch the aftermath from afar. In that moment the locals had a choice to make, let the Americans stumble into a trap and watch the carnage from their front doorsteps, or risk the wrath of the AIF and try to warn us. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for these people to turn their backs on us and watch while our patrol spilled its blood on this sullen stretch of road. But to these people we weren’t strangers or occupiers, we were allies. They remembered all the times their children would run out to catch handfuls of candy as our patrols passed. They remembered our vehicles stopping to pass out supplies, and staying to talk with the sheiks. And because of that they refused to leave us to die like stray dogs in the street. As soon as the IED was in place the neighbors set to work to foil the AIF. Fathers and grandfathers on both sides of the street labored to set up roadblocks to warn us of the danger, while their families moved away from the lethal IED. Once the walls of stone were in place to ward off traffic they made an anonymous call to our headquarters to let us know there was a grave danger to our soldiers.

     A few minutes after they finished their labors my patrol turned onto their road, and finding it blocked we set up a security position. Had they done nothing our patrol would have been gutted. Instead we were able to screech to a halt out of the kill zone.

     An hour later as I watched the EOD robot defuse the giant IED I felt a cold shudder run down my spine. Brave soldiers, myself among them, had almost lost their lives on this empty stretch of road. The only reason we didn’t was because equally brave Iraqi citizens refused to bear witness to our destruction. Thank God .

Comments

[Oh Great One]

Thank you for telling the stories we don't get to hear on the news. I also want to thank you for your service. You are amazing people.

[Allicadem]

Yeah, thank God. Pfew! I can't even imagine the emotional circus you might have about this.... I know that I have one and I am not there. I have heard a few stories about the Iraqi locals showing support to the USA. It would be hard and scary after being told from their own govt for, well, ever that we are the corrupt enemy. And then watch us giving out toys and treats and medical attention.... I agree, thank God. Oh, and thank you, too. I am military, but chances are that I will remain a rear echelon pogue.... Know that I love you guys out there. TSgt C

[BRUCE]

How come we dont hear this on the evening news. What a testament to the troops that have made this kind of impression on these people.

[Angel]

People always say that the Iraqi people are willing to lay down their lives for what they believe in...but they don't often tell stories that mirror this one...The ones that believe so strongly in how far they have come to being a free Iraq that they would lay their own lives down to save the ones that have helped them move forward. Thank you for telling this story. My husband went over in Desert Storm and volunteered to go this time when I asked him why he said "Because this time I can make a difference in their lives" And this story proves that is exactly what you all are doing. You have made a difference and empowered them! Keep up what you are doing and be safe!

[Jenn Mendyk]

Thanks for everything you do.

[Rebecca McCormick]

What an amazing account of courage! And what skillful storytelling. You're a great writer and current historian. We'll track this one tomorrow on our blog. Sorry for having been a little backed up. Our own soldier was here with us on leave this past weekend.

[Sherri]

Thanks so much for another riveting post. You guys are amazing with what you're doing and it is obviously making a difference.

[bernajoux]

Keep up the great work T6, it's stories like this that show that our troops are doing their job to a fantastic degree. Agree or Disagree with this war, the Iraqi's in this incident show that our troops are good and noble people. The Iraqi's would not have protected them otherwise.

[Tom Green]

In Vietnam, the villagers were tortured and killed if they were suspected of helping us. Do you know if (and I hope not) these brave villagers have received any retaliatory action?

[Tom Green]

In Vietnam, the villagers were tortured and killed if they were suspected of helping us. Do you know if (and I hope not) these brave villagers have received any retaliatory action?

[RonF]

God bless those Iraqi's that saved you from harm, especially considering the risk they faced and still face. A couple of questions. First, you reference an anonymous phone call to your HQ. Apparently, the information didn't get to you from HQ before you encountered the situation. Was there a communications failure of some kind, or was there just not enough time? Second, has there been any followup with these folks to see if the risk they may still face from the people whose purpose they frustrated can be ameliorated?

[Yankee PaPa]

..As well..happy to hear such a heart warming story in the face of grave danger..Thank the Iraqi's for us too..Keep Safe..Semper Fi..

[e1]

this is the story we never hear in the media or any other kind of blog. thank you.

[Gypsy]

I sighed with relief and said a little prayer when I finished your entry. May you continue to have these kinds of experiences of help from the Iraqi citizens, and Angels watching over you all. Thank you again and again for sharing with us what the MSM refuses to do. God bless and stay safe. I'm so proud of our Military, and I'm proud to be an American.

[lorilei]

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke) A very appropriate quote! Thanks for sharing that story. I'll be sure to add it to the collection on my own blog. So happy to hear you are safe. "Kindness is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back" (Anonymous)

[olga]

your story left me shievering... I am so happy that this story has a happy end. God bless those Iraqis for their hard and selfless decision to warn our troops of this danger... Stay safe and cool

[Ray]

I wonder if these brave people will face retalliation from the rebels. It's touching to hear that there are such acts of bravery and love in the middle of all that hate. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[Dave]

One can only hope that the bravery shown by these Iraqi citizens will spread like wildfire. This is a great example of realization by these citizens that self-determination feels good, and that they only way Iraq will ever be safe is if they stand up against the very people who stand between them and freedom. I am finding myself reading your blog half for the prose and half for the stories of the bravery and sacrifice of the Iraqi people themselves. Watching the news state-side, one of weak will could easily be ensnared by the assumption that all Iraqi's stand against US troops. Your blog gives me hope in the very stories you convey, that most people in Iraq simply want peace, and are willing to stand up to those who stand in their way.

[April Shah]

Oh my, what a wonderful story. This shows that there are Iraqis out there who do care about us Americans and who know that we are there to help them. Man, it is amazing to think that had they not done anything about it everyone could have been killed. I am so glad that they decided to put a stop to something even though it might cause them trouble later. I am sure that while you guys were happy that they did something to save you from danger, you were probably a little sad that they did it and could possibly face danger themselves later. Man, talk about God watching over you! Had it not been for those brave people we might not be reading your blog today! I am so glad that they did something to help out. I am going to make sure that everyone reads this story! I will post a link to it up on my site! Maybe this will help people see that not all Iraqis are out to get us Americans! Wonderful post!

[Timothy Bennett]

What a great story to read after all the depressing garbage with the hurricane coverage, not to mention the constant anti-OIF blather from the MSM outlets. Thank you again for everything you do, both on this site and as the honorable soldier you are.

[Agnieszka O.]

Gosh, so real... Very brave families. They risked being shot at or get killed themselves by helping you. Do you thing that they wiil be OK? no pay back from AIF? Keeping you in thoughts and prayers...

[Derek]

I have to be honest as I was reading this story I was kinda dreading the end as I thoought it was gonna bring bad news. But thanks to those great people no life was lost and the AIF was shown that they will not be tolorated in that neighborhood. Thank God you and your men are alive.

[Liberty]

Thank you for that story as I set back and relax with my children on this Labor Day. Another reminder for me of what really goes on in Iraq. Our hearts are so truly grateful for you & the other servicmen. God speed.

[Kat in GA]

God bless those heroes!!!! I absolutely got CHILLS reading this..OMG. I'm thanking God over and over again for what they did. I'm so glad y'all are OK! Thank god for those people who did that for y'all! *whew*

[Weaser]

Awesome story T6! I agree with everyone's great comments below. I'm grateful for all you and you're comrades do. I'm grateful that you share your world with us. I am extremely grateful for those brave Iraqi's. Those good people have earned honorable mention in my daily prayers. Can you imagine what would happen if all the good people of Iraq did similar acts? Happy Labor Day to you and all your friends. Today is a special day here for my family. My nephew is home on leave from FOB Danger and we can't to see him. GOD BLESS YOU ALL