Outpost Badel, Kunar- 18:50, dusk is the dangerous time, but it's easy to get lulled after a few days of no attacks, sitting on the makeshift bench, made of the field litter and stacked crates outside the team leader's hooch, filling out the quiz in the back of the sarcastic best-seller Stuff White People Like, that is supposed to determine how white you are.... the crack and whiz of incoming, I run right, but it's wrong, as I'm not going inside the hooch, since the team leaders will coming piling out in seconds, I spin left and run into Sgt. Camarillo and Spc. Cintron, scrambling to get into the hooch to get their gear to go out and shoot, and then I'm filming the wrong shot, as I could have had a good perspective of them pouring out of the doorway in helmets and M-4s, and instead I'm focused on some red tracers coming from one of the MRAPs, and it's not real focused, and then the guys scramble straight out of the hooch and bound from sandbagged side to the other side of the Humvee left, to their soldiers already kicking up a deafening roar at the mountain top, and it's almost completely dark except for a small expanse of light over the upper mountains beyond, and then it's quiet for a few seconds.
Then 60mm mortars drop from the top of Badel, then 105s fly from Fortress, the sparks, and echoes race across the valley, and now even 155s from Asadabad, hearing the dull launch and whirling in of them and the earthquake on the back side of the mountain, that makes 2nd Platoon cheer, because they believe the fires are only effective if they get the Taliban as they're fleeing from their shooting postions, as they're no longer anywhere on top, and it's one of the first times 155s have been launched, probably not a coincidence, since one of 2nd Platoon's soldier's was wounded by an enemy RPG less than a week ago. And now they feel they have some support on their hill. Their office, their home, what they defend.
Then 60mm mortars drop from the top of Badel, then 105s fly from Fortress, the sparks, and echoes race across the valley, and now even 155s from Asadabad, hearing the dull launch and whirling in of them and the earthquake on the back side of the mountain, that makes 2nd Platoon cheer, because they believe the fires are only effective if they get the Taliban as they're fleeing from their shooting postions, as they're no longer anywhere on top, and it's one of the first times 155s have been launched, probably not a coincidence, since one of 2nd Platoon's soldier's was wounded by an enemy RPG less than a week ago. And now they feel they have some support on their hill. Their office, their home, what they defend.
5 comments:
It's weird. I feel like I'm reading O'Brien, like this is a fictionalized account of a real war. Then I remember it's you, it's you in the midst of this. I cannot fathom the experience you have and continue to gain. Thanks for the perspective. Stay safe.
Mr. Foley, now I know you are as crazy as the husband and his guys for heading out to Badel land for round two!! Anyway, I just wanted to show my appreciation personally for getting their thoughts out there! They are amazing men on the rocks, mixed with a little crazy, and garnished with a twisted sense of humor, lol. Because of you each and every person that takes the time to read your articles now has the chance to "see" them for who they are, true heroes! Thank you!!
el comentario de su amigo--que coincidencia, no? pero esta situacion--un buen cuento, espero que sea valido la pena.
you should be proud of this little vignette. it captures the frantic boredom pierced by the common havoc. i know you were crazy but not this crazy. had an awesome time at DJ's reading. Saw Ricky and Camilla, Don and Tizi. We all talked shit about you and wondered when you were coming back. And then we tried to piece together "the truth" from all the snippets you've fed us. Love you kid!
Nicely done Jim. I'm really enjoying your pieces. Keep up the good work while keeping your head appropriately down sir, and we hope to see you back in Baghdad at some point
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