3rd Brigade Rides Again.
It was eerie walking through the barracks and seeing no one. It was almost as if they had already left. I knocked on doors and peered in windows and saw no one. Finally I saw one of the Recon squads outside and we started drinking together. Jokes, war comments, and no false bravado from the new guys made me feel strange thinking some of them may not come back. I so didn't want to do it but you couldn't help but wonder if the guy you really get along with was the next black wrist band, the next terrible fashion statement.
Some of the guys had red eyes and warm cell phones from the "girlfriend" call. The real man has that softness in his life that gives him a reason to be tough. Others had an independant air about them as if to say they had or needed no one. The orphaned, the estranged, the tortured soul finds a place where he can make the family of his choosing. We drank and joked; some of them had no idea I wasn't going. They understood and were genuinely sad that I was staying behind, even with a legitimate reason.
We had the uncomfortable I'll see you when you get back/I may not get back look. We all knew, especially the Vet's, this could be it. More so the Vet's.
I will miss my friends, my Brothers in arms who killed and saw others killed along with me. The feeling of lost friends filled me even though they stood in front of me shaking hands and patting backs as we joked about getting killed. Blackness and humor are bed fellows in war. I have to joke about the possible to kill the power of the inevitable for some unlucky bastard.
I hear the same line about the family and how I am their only one. It is true, but the other family I have may need me as much since I am a better soldier than I am a Husband and Father. Killing is easy, loving isn't.
I hope that this war ends, I am not a politician and I have no political goal. I just want all of 1-23 Infantry, the Tomahawk Battalion, to make it home and drink with me again at least one last time before we all move on with our lives and forget all the lies we told each other.
GOOD LUCK MY BROTHERS AND GODSPEED TO YOU.
TOMAHAWKS!!
Some of the guys had red eyes and warm cell phones from the "girlfriend" call. The real man has that softness in his life that gives him a reason to be tough. Others had an independant air about them as if to say they had or needed no one. The orphaned, the estranged, the tortured soul finds a place where he can make the family of his choosing. We drank and joked; some of them had no idea I wasn't going. They understood and were genuinely sad that I was staying behind, even with a legitimate reason.
We had the uncomfortable I'll see you when you get back/I may not get back look. We all knew, especially the Vet's, this could be it. More so the Vet's.
I will miss my friends, my Brothers in arms who killed and saw others killed along with me. The feeling of lost friends filled me even though they stood in front of me shaking hands and patting backs as we joked about getting killed. Blackness and humor are bed fellows in war. I have to joke about the possible to kill the power of the inevitable for some unlucky bastard.
I hear the same line about the family and how I am their only one. It is true, but the other family I have may need me as much since I am a better soldier than I am a Husband and Father. Killing is easy, loving isn't.
I hope that this war ends, I am not a politician and I have no political goal. I just want all of 1-23 Infantry, the Tomahawk Battalion, to make it home and drink with me again at least one last time before we all move on with our lives and forget all the lies we told each other.
GOOD LUCK MY BROTHERS AND GODSPEED TO YOU.
TOMAHAWKS!!
posted by Combat Doc at 9:41 PM
7 Comments:
One human soul may be as dark as another. One human soul that speaks of grave and iminent danger may be a glimmer of light. One human soul that speaks of the scantity of life and concern for his brothers and sisters may be a flicker of light. One human soul that wishes for the safe return of all: may be a candle in the dark.
A beacon of light reaching out over the rigours and toils of life to stand as the light house of safety... that others may see and
know where their safe return lies.
I miss reading you. I hope you are well.
Hooah!!
~ a 3rd bde, infantry wife
This is a great post. You make me feel like I was there. I've been reading soldiers' blogs this week because my brother left for Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division on Wednesday. It's his first tour. He's leaving on base his wife and three kids. I want to say thank you to you soldiers who paved the way in Iraq for the soldiers that are coming after you. May they all return safely!!!!!
Hooah!
- 3BDE Medic Wife
Well said old man...
Looking forward to a beer at the B's again. See ya then my friend
Dimez Recon
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