April 2, 2014. Two brave public servants in the city I named my son after will be laid to rest today. Though I cant be there in person I know that their sacrifice will be honored by the city, the state, and the country today. This day always carries some significance for me. It is my parents anniversary, my fathers birthday, and the day I joined the Army. It is also the day that I experienced my first serious firefight as my unit marched north through Iraq. After this firefight a Soldier came up to me and said Doc, Doc, I got shot. It was obvious, from his laughter and keyed up attitude, likely from the adrenaline that was still pumping through his veins, that his injuries were not grievous. Fully expecting him to continue the previous days practical jokes I said, ok, let me see, and sure enough he held out the palm of his hand to reveal a mangled lead slug. I remember thinking, oh, hes not joking. He said, yup, f%$@ing lucked out today, damn round caught on my magazines, and he pointed to his OD Green camouflaged magazine carrier where a burned hole had been the entry point of this round. Then as he pounded on his chest he said something that I can still hear clear as day when I think about it, I got really lucky too because I dont even have plates in my vest. Luck. Its an odd thing. Im sure that he felt lucky, but the reality of the matter is, he shouldnt have been without the equipment he needed when we crossed the border. But like 50,000 of our American Service members, he was asked to do an impossible job with inadequate equipment by policymakers who did not use his willingness to volunteer to serve his country as a last resort. I will never forget. I hope you never will either. Public servants need the proper equipment to do their jobs. It took us 3 full years, and I served another tour with only makeshift scrap metal armor (that may have been more dangerous than safe), before our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan got the equipment they needed. We should NEVER let that happen again.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:02:35 +0000