On this very day, it was a cool crisp morning in Missouri. Fort Lenard, just got done with a 12k ruck march. I was sitting with my squad changing our socks and powdering our feet. Its normal for you non military reading this. I got up to sneak off to the porta-potty. When walking by one of the Drill Sgts HUMVEE, I stopped for a brief moment. Hiding behind the back bumper so i could not be seen. I just wanted to listen to the radio that he barely turned up. Just to catch a brief update of whats going on out in the real world. Just as i stooped below the bumper, i was caught. They catch everything. Private WTF are you doing? Get back with your damn Squad! "Yes Drill Sgt", I yelled. I run back to my squad. I told them that i thought i heard about some terrorist attack. Didnt catch where or any other details. Then i look back up to the main road from the range we where at. I see a parade of HUMVEES. The First Sgt, Commander, Chaplain, and a few others, are pulling in. This cant be good. You never see these guyss in Basic. Atleast not all together. They ordered us to get into the bleachers. They drop the news. Privates, the United States of America has been attacked. They just told us where and when but not how. If you have family in NY, PA, or DC you are to call them when we get out of the field. People started to break down. Some were even. Crying hysterically. I told my squad something was wrong and this must of been it. This was the game changer. This seperated the men and women from boys and girls. Some like myself absorbed this to turn it into a way to make sure that i was prepared mentally and physically. I was preparing for war. Others true colors ran. Did what they could to get out. Deployment was inevitable. I myself could not wait its all i have thought about. Feb.12, 2003. Sitting in class at OSUM I got the call. Report 0700 the next day with all my gear, we are leaving for Iraq. Do you remember this day?
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 13:05:25 +0000
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