Reality Check

I have worn my body armor once since I've arrived in Afghanistan. In fact no one here wears their body armor. There is effectively no need unless going within close proximity to the wire. Yesterday, amid a fury of powerpoint slides and training, an announcement came over the basewide PA having all persons report alongside Disney Ave. Note that Disney avenue, being the main drag though base, was named after a fallen soldier. SPC Disney was KIA in Semptember 2002 and in the tradition of the Military service, a street was namedin his honor. All of the buildings, camps, and streets here are named in that same manner.

Standing alongside Disney Ave, the reality check hit pretty hard. The street was lined with servicemembers from the whole base. It was then that I took part in a ceremony that no person wants to be the recipient. . . the Fallen Comrade Ceremony. No traffic drove along Disney until a single MP truck drove along with its lights flashing. All persons came to attention and rendered a salute. Following the white pickup were three open bed humvees. In the bed of each humvee lay an aluminum casket with an American Flag draped across the top.

These three soldiers died in small arms fire on a convoy in northeastern Afghanistan. That is all that I know of their honorable demise, that is what The Stars and Stripes tells me. Now they are headed home, to a place where their loved ones will mourn them and where journalists and protesters will add their name to a list. The purpose of which is to dishonor them and all of the other fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen of this war on terror.

For now, I rest comfortably in the bosom of the safest base in theatre. The mood was somber the rest of the afternoon, returning to its normal din after some time.