Backscatter

     After night has finished gnawing away the last, feeble scraps of daylight our area is reborn in darkness. Twilight provides a stark reminder of the architectural gulf between central Baghdad and  its southern provinces. Central Baghdad hovers in the cold glow of an artificial dawn, the true night held at bay by countless legions of fluorescent lights. In this light Baghdad seems proud and aloof - an island of light in an ocean of shadow.

     Our realm lies submerged in that great oceanic darkness, an inkstain flecked with prickles of lonely light. In this jet landscape the only color is the burnt orange of sodium lights, flickering like the campfires of a ancient army. 

     Driving in central Baghdad is relatively simple - the collective backscatter of a hundred thousand naked bulbs pulls away the curtains of night. Since the area is already thick with light most HMMWVs think nothing of flipping on their service lights and adding to the photonic din. But in the unsteady darkness of southern Baghdad headlights are a dangerous liability. Their powerful light stabs through the night like a blade, their sheer force drawing every waking eye. To avoid this photonic betrayal our HMMWVs move through the night sheathed in darkness – roaring nocturnal predators hurtling through the gloom.

     If we relied on our own naked eyes our mission wouldn’t last long - we would end up blindly hurtling off into one of the deep agricultural canals. Fortunately our success isn’t contingent on our own eyes, built as they are for the light and warmth of day. Instead we rely on our trusty night vision goggles (NVGs). The minutes leading up to our night patrols are marked by the spring loaded click of NVGs mating to Kevlar helmets. In their stand by configuration they seem to erupt out of the front of our helmets like a great misshapen horn. When we leave the wire these ungainly protuberances drop down and lock into place, eyecups nestled against your eye soft plastic leeches. In this configuration the upright horn seems to jut out from your face like a long thermoplastic eye stalk. These cyclopean sights incessantly tug at your trapezius muscles, but in exchange for their nagging weight they peel away the cloak of night, and reveal the darkness in her naked splendor. The emerald images the NVGs splash across our retinas allow us to move like wraiths across the silent moonscape, dodging and weaving through the murk.

     Despite the visual enhancement driving in blackout remains a pulse quickening ordeal. To get a flavor of just how difficult the process really is grab a toilet paper tube, and lash it to your eye. Then tape your other lid shut and get behind the wheel. You will quickly get a sense of just how challenging night driving can really be. And that isn’t even taking into account craters large enough to swallow a HMMWV, the specter of newly emplaced IEDs, and the throat clogging clouds of dust. Our vehicle crews have long since mastered this silent art, but it never seems to get any easier. But then again nothing here seems to be all that easy. 

Comments

[Alec Rawls]

Dear J, who asks Thunder6 to respond to a long list of Democrat talking-point/lies about the war: It is bad enough that you people continue to peddle these lies to everyone you meet back here in the States, refusing to ever set a single lie aside, no matter how many times it is exposed. And of course you HAVE seen all of your lies exposed many times. Everyone who repeats these lies has seen them exposed many times, even if many more times people are too exasperated to bother with you. Most times people don't bother. It is much more work to rebut lies than to tell them, and you regard that as your advantage. You regard it as a victory when you can tell your lies and have them go unrebutted. You wage a war of attrition with known lies as your ammunition. Is it too much to ask you to forbear trying to wage this war of attrition against soldiers in the field who are bearing the burden of long dangerous exhausting hours? When one of our soldiers relates in profound words the awesome duty that he and his fellows undertake for us, do you really have to think to yourself: "Aha, here is someone who won't have the time to rebut my talking points!" Come bother us stateside folks instead, we who already get enough sleep, and can take ten minutes to ridicule you. Come bite my scalp, little flea. The big dogs have bigger worries.

[David]

Dear Thunder 6 Thankyou for what you are doing. It is important that we hear both sides of the story. God bless & keep you safe. David

[J]

Dear Thunder 6, Thank you for everything you are doing and have done. I am proud that people such as yourself are representing the USA in our armed forces. You have tremendous integrity and courage and for that I have a great deal of respect for you. That said I wanted to get your viewpoint on a few things. I do have many reservations about the Bush administration and our war with Iraq. Doe it at all bother you that the main reasons why we went to war turned out to be false (i.e. no wmd's and no ties to Osama Bin Laden). Does the death toll of US soldiers now reaching 2,000 upset you? Does the indictment of Scooter Libby surprise you? Do you think that in the end the mission will prevail and democracy will free Iraq and the entire middle east of tyranny and terrorism? Does it bother you that many counterterrorist officials believe that our presence in Iraq strengthened terrorist groups throughout the world because of the worldwide dissaproval of US foreign policy? Do you believe that since we have invaded Iraq that we should then invade any country that we believe is building a nuclear weapon (i.e. N. Korea, Iran)? I know I have a lot of questions but it is because I love my country and I am very distraught over the policies of our government. With all that being said I pray that you remain safe and that our presence in Iraq will bring more good than harm in the long run. Admiringly, J

[Weaser]

And I thought riding with my 16 year old was scary !! I've heard about the NVG's and night driving from my nephew. I remember in particular his account of the 3rd ID's long, fast trek from Kuwait to Baghdad when Operation Iraqi Freedom started in March 2003. Being in the MIB he was out in front a good piece of the time in the dark like you've described, running high on adrenaline with both excitement and fear of the unknown (ambush, chemical attacks, road bombs, craters, etc.). And then you guys have the sand storms that even in daylight are blinding !! We do not envy your jobs and are extremely greatful to all of you fighting for a better life for the Iraqi people, and fighting the war on terror. THANK YOU

[Danielle]

Wow!!! Terrific writing! I wish you could write my school papers for me,lol. Promise me you will write a book when you get back, ok? You have great talent. Your work is descriptive without being tedious, and very interesting. That is a mark of true talent for a writer...well done!And I'll be looking for that book:)

[opforsoldier]

I always hated having to drive at night at Irwin. Robber of depth perception and peripheral vision is bad enough but the feeling of having to inch your way through the night is worse. I cannot begin to understand how it must be for you and the men when you add the increased risks you face. As always D we pray for you and think of your sacrifices daily.

[CJ]

T6- Great writing as usual. Thank you for taking us 'over there' with your words. You guys keep your eyes open!

[Kelly'sEffeminateAngel]

You are a fantastic writer! I will definately be back to read up on how you are doing out there. Stay safe!

[devildog6771]

Great post, T6. I have a cheap pair of at home. I can truly understyand what you're describing. Darkness to me is a lot like a carrot hanging off a string just beyond reach. You guys do a lot on just plain faith don't you? God bless. Watch your 6. Thank you!

[Kat in GA]

YIKES! Gosh..makes driving in Atlanta seem... well, TAME! (now THOSE are words I NEVER thought i'd say, as atlanta drivers are psychotic, LOL). Come to think of it...i wonder if people around here ARE driving that way NOW...that could explain a lot...hmmmmm.......

[Ashley]

That is a great post for the book!

[David]

Danjel, What memories you bring back for me. I remember my first attempt at Ft, Knox at night driving with NVGs, the TC was screaming watch out for that hole, and I said, what hole just as the APC nosed into a 3 foot deep trench. Thankfully we came right back out the other side although not without a couple of head slaps from the TC. LOL I learned quickly that depth perception was gone with NVGs and while I did master the ability it was as you say always an exciting experience. Karma bit me back though, when I was a TC my driver did the same thing to me at Ft. Bliss, only he nosed into a 6 foot deep trench. Thankfully I dropped down into the vehicle before we went over to avoid any broken bones. Lost my coke tho as I left the can on the top of the APC when I dropped in. A lost drink is better than a broken bone! David

[Curt]

Danjel; You are a master of the use of words to convey the detail of what you feel, what you do and who you and the troops are. Thanks for the vivid description and feeling of the using NVGs...it is far from clinical, it's absorbing, engaging reading...

[MBDonaldson]

So I'm guessing 60 mph is out of the question? I'm thankful for the technology you're able to employ while in Iraq. I'm sure these technologies save lives and give you an advantage over those who would attempt to do you harm.