Life

Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them.
Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.
Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.
Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.

- Pamela Glenconner

     Last night a grain of hot metal tumbled through the air, a swift manmade meteor crashing through the heavens. The statistical chances of this solitary round impacting one the scattered buildings was negligible, and the chances of it actually injuring someone were almost infinitesimal.  But in stark defiance to all known laws of probability, this small sliver of dead steel plummeted downward, downward, downward… until its path intersected a house. And then it continued on, tunneling its way into a little girl sitting down for the celebration of Ishtar. The round smashed into the girls head, its sheer velocity driving it on a merciless path through her neck and into her chest. Left alone she would have died in less than five minutes, her death throes painting the kitchen with bright spatters of arterial blood.

But she wasn’t left alone. Instead her father picked up his beloved daughter and carried her trembling form out into the dusty street. As he stumbled outside the door, blinded by the agony only a parent can know, his movements were tracked by two sets of practiced eyes. Those eyes belonged to our two battle seasoned medics, who had heard the painful cacophony and leapt to action as surely as if someone had bellowed out their names. The medics assessed the situation in less then a second, and then without pause they both set out at a dead sprint. In those first terrible seconds they recognized how grave the girls condition was, and passing the information to one of our platoon sergeants. While they struggled to stabilize their patient the little girl continued emptying her precious life into the street. As the medics labored under the harsh light of their LED flashlights, SSG Rock was making coordinations with a MEDEVAC helicopter for immediate pickup. Fortunately they didn’t have to wait long.

     Mala survived long enough to make it onto the medevac bird, and then she left our protectorship. When the helicopter whisked her away at full combat power she disappeared from sight, but not from our memory. The minute we arrived back in the barracks the commander jumped on the line and made a call to the CASH (Army Combat Hospital) to find out if Mala was still alive. The nurse on the other end of the line told him that Mala was in surgery, and that we could call back at midnight to find out if she’d survived the surgery. The last couple days had wore us to the bone, but instead of succumbing to sleep the company leadership waited for the time to crawl by. The evening quietly slipped by, the small coffee pot set up in our command post straining to keep up with this sudden spike in demand. The coffee was hot and nourishing, but it did little to lift the tension that fogged the room. A little before midnight, unable to wait any longer we made a second call to the CASH. In a cool, professional tone the nurse on duty told us that Mala was in ICU. Something about our tone must have hinted at the storm of emotion on our end of the line, and taking pity she added “she is going to make it”. As the news spread though the barracks everyone breathed a deep sigh of relief. Then, with our concern slaked we all crawled into our bunks to get some desperately needed rest.

     The next morning brought even better news. The bullet had broken her jaw and nicked her carotid artery, but despite the agonizing injuries she was awake and alert. Hearing this news we decided that instead of our usual patrol we would return to Mala’s home and escort her family to the CASH. Although it was still early in the morning when we arrived at the small home Mala’s extended family told us her parents were already making their way to the CASH to see their daughter. We loaded into HMMWVs and made our way to the IZ, hoping to link up with Mala and her family. As we entered the hospital there was no sign of the family, but when we got to the ICU ward we found Mala’s family anxiously waiting for her in the hallway. They were as silent and grave as marble statues. That all changed the moment they recognized us. In an instant they had returned to life, and they started to shower us with blessings and tear filled praise. We looked around sheepishly, uncomfortable with this sudden outpouring of praise. A few of the soldiers looked through the ICU door to see Mala for themselves, seeing instead her father anxiously signaling for us to join him. We walked over to Mala’s father, and as we did Mala came into sight in the hospital bed behind him. She was awake, and as we walked up she gave us a tired, thin smile. We had brought some stuffed animals along to cheer up the antiseptic sterility of the room, and her eyes flared with joy when we placed them at the foot of her bed. As we were arranging the stuffed animals SGT James T., the medic that had worked so hard to save little Mala, came into the room. Although the young sergeant was making an earnest attempt to maintain some semblance of medical detachment he beamed like a new father at the birth of his first child. Mala didn’t recognize him, but he wasn’t looking for praise or thanks. He just wanted to know that his little patient would survive her terrible wounds. We didn’t want to tire out Mala by extending our stay, and once we were convinced she was going to make it we left the room. We said our goodbyes to the grateful family, made our way to the vehicles, and returned to the FOB.

     Ten years from now our unit will have long since passed out of local memory, the desert swallowing any physical trace of our year in the Land of the Two Rivers.  But there will be one living, beating heart that will bear testament to our company’s mission and the good we tried to do.  And right now that somehow seems enough. 

Comments

[Mark]

Awesome! America needs to hear more stories like this. Keep up the great work. God Bless!

[Craig Hubley]

"You are a gifted writer, and you should consider publishing some of your entries when you finally come home." Absolutely. And keeping a journal in video or audio form of these same events would also be very effective to convey both your experience and commitment. "Perhaps this one act is the seed that will germinate hope not only in this family but in the sceptics back home." I don't mean at all to demean the interventions, bravery and commitment of the occupation troops, but, it must be said that there were very many civilian casualties, including many very horrific ones, in the initial air attacks on Iraq in 2003. Those who believe that it was possible to get to this point in Iraq without an air invasion or "shock and awe" will continue to criticize actions that led to the civilian casualities which have not ever been added up and may never be.

[jfs]

This is the one I would submit. It is beautiful! jfs

[Weaser]

Thanks for the update T6 on Mala. I shared your story with all my friends and we have been praying for her. We are happy to hear she is going to make it and are anxious for an update. You and your comrades are heroes. I have never understood why the Iraqi people cannot comprehend that celebratory gunfire that goes up, must come down, and it can have devastating consequences such as what happened to Mala. It had to have happened many times in the past. You would think they would know better. I guess it happens every where, even here in the states. I also cannot comprehend the absolute low down, dispicable, evil, scum of the earth that can take a beautiful story, twist it, and post it on their websites stating our soldiers have yet again committed atrocities. I'm sure you could have an eloquent post on this subject, but honestly T6 I don't think these people are worth it. So, thanks again for sharing your world with us.

[SGTD]

T6 makes that clear in his story, you just have to know a little about the military to read between the lines. When American soldiers fire they shoot at a target, they NEVER just shoot into the air. For the shots to follow that course they would have to be celebratory fire

[Jon's mom]

who shot the bullet errant? If we were the ones who shot it, then fixing the little girl back up would not erase the anger they would have for causing the injury in the first place.

[Maria]

You are a gifted writer, and you should consider publishing some of your entries when you finally come home. I sincerely appreciate your post that allows me to view the happenings in Iraq through another pair of eyes other than the media. Obviously it has become very vogue for the press to print “selected” truths and to choose which facts they will report on, while omitting the rest. It is very frightening to see their abuse of trying to influence public opinion instead of keeping the public fully informed so that it can form its own opinion. Oh--but that would mean allowing others the freedom to make their own judgment, and the press seems intent on telling us what to think, but then you of all people, already know about those that would steel freedom form others. Well, soldier, I thank you for defending freedom and for all you and your men are doing. My thank you and heartfelt appreciation seems so lame, so inadequate when I think of how much all of you are sacrificing, living under the worst of conditions that I am in no way capable of understanding. And such ignorant bliss is due to soldiers like you—who are engaging the terrorists there, so that we do not have to engage them here. You are in our prayers, and so too is the success of your mission. And I realize it’s not much to offer—but you do have the support of many Americans, including mine. May God watch over you and keep you from harm’s way.

[Huntress]

This is the difference between US and THEM- between our values based troups and the terrorists that the leftist continue to support... contrary to what Lynnette may think since the overwhelming evidence speaks differently. Our troups save childrens lives rather than deliberately killing them,unlike the leftist supported mass murders. We don't plant hidden IEDs that cowardly kill our troups, we plant the brinks that become schools, and the seeds of hope and freedom; we don't kidnap and kill the lawyers involved in Saddamn's trial nor do we execute Saddam without giving him a fair trial(unlike Saddam who simply executed without trial) instead we provide the groundwork for that trial(democracy) and we protect those trying to implement democracy. Soldiers have been insulted, spat on, and vilified by the press and the leftist and skeptics, contrary to what Lynette may want to believe, and one the biggest insult leftists inflict is so erroneously and pompously claiming our boys were sent to war "for a lie and deserve better". Especially when leftists and their voice- the leftist media- recognized that Bill Clintons BIGGEST failure was "Saddam Hussein's continuing defiance of United Nations resolutions mandating inspection and dismantling of his weapons of mass destruction represents the most flagrant and protracted failure of President Clinton's foreign policy.....Since (Ousting UN weapons inspectors) Saddam has rebuilt facilities for his biological and chemical weapons programs as well as missile sites.In seven years, Clinton has tried to ignore, obscure, and misrepresent the threat from Saddam. Clinton's so-called containment policy has done nothing more than deter Saddam from invading his neighbors again. But that policy has not obliged the Iraqi despot to honor the UN's disarmament resolutions,has not protected the Iraqi people from the dictator's killers and torturers, and has not defended Americans against terrorists who may be acting with the veiled and deniable support of a vengeful Saddam" They insisted that Saddam be contained or REMOVED FROM POWER!!!! The claim that our men deserve better is disingenious! What is better than protecting the world(including leftists!!) from madman like Saddam, Osama, and Al Zarquawi. What better than bringing the first ever democracy which Iraqi's have embraced to the Arab world, and which has in turn brought about a shift in the mind set of Arabs who are now hoping that they will also be able to participate in democracy sooner! While Bill Clinton did NOTHING to stop or prevent the actions that Saddam was taking daily which democrats including the Boston Globe KNEW threatened America, and its allies, While those I once worked with in Hollywood shake hands with Mullahs hellbent on killing them and the rest of us, and share drinks with Castro as he imprisons artists and journalists who speak out against his dictatorship, and while the leftist media continues to paint a picture of failure and doom in Iraq while rarely sharing the truth about the daily progress on the road to democracy in Iraq, while choosing to DELIBERATELY underplay and in some cases IGNORE a monumentous moment in Arab history as well as in Iraq..the creation and ratification vote of the first ever Constititution by the people for the people-our men continue to do what they understand must be done. That some leftists have NOW jumped on the "we support our troups" bandwagon is too little, too late! None of us think this is an "in your face" moment Lynette, because we know Iraq isn't about singular "in your face" moments we understand the big picture...but that kind of attitude speaks more about a leftist mindset and the inability to comprehend the big picture. "Out troups were put in harms way for a lie" indeed! That bogus cry from democrats and leftist is the real lie!

[Michele]

As an American whose lived abroad and seen repression, as a blogger who's read you on occassion, as singleparent mom of a 6 year old... I thank you for your hard work, sacrifice and dedication!

[CJ]

You guys make me so PROUD!!!! You are just the best! Thank you!

[Robohobo]

You are fine, blessed people! Thank you.

[AubreyJ]

First time by to visit. With writings like yours... I'll be back many times over... Added your site to my blogroll-- if that’s OK. AubreyJ.........

[Trauma Chick]

AMEN. And on that night, you knew why go got up to start the day.

[Rosemary]

Thank you for such a moving history lesson. You also write very well. Thank you for your service, and God bless you all.

[Richmond]

And thank God you were there to help her. No words can convey how I am feeling right now, my gratitute is expanding exponentially. Thank you, thank you, thank you... For doing such a wonderful job, for your service, and for sharing with all of us....

[Rosemary]

Thank you for such a moving history lesson. You also write very well. Thank you for your service, and God bless you all.

[Rosemary]

Thank you for such a moving history lesson. You also write very well. Thank you for your service, and God bless you all.

[AFSister]

I'm at a loss for words. Fortunately, you are not, T6. Absolutely amazing. What a tribute not only to the medics, but also to the trust the Iraqi's have in your troops. Absolutely amazing.

[Beth Lamm]

I visited the World War II Memorial recently with my children. It is a beautiful tribute to a generation whose lives were defined by what they experienced when they were young. Elderly vets seemed overcome by emotion as they took in the memorial. I hope some day you and your men can visit a memorial in Washington to honor the fallen and take pride in having made the world a better place. Not unlike the Greatest Generation.

[Beth Lamm]

I visited the World War II Memorial recently with my children. It is a beautiful tribute to a generation whose lives were defined by what they experienced when they were young. Elderly vets seemed overcome by emotion as they took in the memorial. I hope some day you and your men can visit a memorial in Washington to honor the fallen and take pride in having made the world a better place. Not unlike the Greatest Generation.

[PrimoDonna]

Thank you for telling us about your life. Your attitude is wonderful in light of the terrible things you and your fellow Soldiers are going through. I appreciate your postive attitude. May God bless you and keep you safe.

[Yankee Division Son]

THANK YOU For what you do everyday.

[HomefrontSix]

As a parent, I can only imagine the horror of seeing my child so gravely injured. And I can only imagine the greatfulness those parents hold in their hearts for you and your soldiers. Stay safe...come home soon.

[Wild Thing]

With tears I write this, my heart is full of pride in what happened and the medics you have there. Thank you so much for sharing about this. You all are so beyond awesome,true American Heroes! Thank you with all my heart!

[Lil Toni]

“she is going to make it” Awashed with relief. Thank you. :)