12/22/06

A few days to go 'till Christmas, trying to do what we can here to get everyone mentally thru the next couple weeks ok.

It has been very cold here, we have been expecting snow, nothing like the states is currently receiving though.

It's just been really cold at night low 30's...I can tell you the port-a-potties really suck right now.

Sadly a couple days ago a sniper struck again, hitting one of the soldiers in the head. Cracked his skull, but he is still alive. His kevlar helmet saved his life. They expect him to survive, however, his motor skills are at best, dicey right now. They said with physical therapy and God's grace he may make a full recovery...I hope and pray so.

Yesterday one of the Kurdish terps came in the tent to talk to me. He was holding a manila folder. He told me he had something to show me.

I said "OK", and he hesitantly looked around the room. Then he opened the folder. It was two pictures of him with Saddam when they captured him in Tikrit.

One was when they were walking Saddam handcuffed into what, to me, looked like the palace in Tikrit. This "Terp" was walking right next to Saddam with many other soldiers around them both.

The second picture was of Saddam sitting in a chair with this terps hand on top of his head, like you would do to a small boy. I made a remark to him that he sure could not have put his hand on Saddam like that a few years ago.

He very excitedly responded "NO, Saddam would have killed me and my whole family".

Now, I know with the current climate about pictures, some may view this second picture in a bad way.

However, throughout time, men have posed with their prey.

From the Neatherthals...Egyptian hieroglyphics...those that killed Billy the Kid... cops cleaning up Pablo Escobar after they shot him to death to take a picture by his corpse...to your uncle posing with the deer he shot this season.

Something drives the need to have this picture with the predator and the prey taken...

The picture in the hand of this Kurdish man was evidence the nemesis of his people, of their very freedom to exist, had been taken down.

This picture he held was testimony to that.

I few day ago I was asked to participate, in a something coming up very special for a soldier here.

I was approached by a soldier that told me he was about to be promoted to Sergeant. He asked me if I would pin his stripes on at the promotion ceremony. At first I was stunned, but then jumped up and shook his hand and told him it would be an honor and I would be very proud to do so.

I have talked to this soldier many times when he entered our tent. I, as usual, mostly listened.

He is a young Hispanic man, and I remember how he told me where he grew up was a very poor, dangerous, bad area. All he ever dreamed of growing up was getting out of his neighborhood.

Making the Army a career he was able to do just that. He is now married his high-school sweetheart and they live at Ft. Lewis with 2 kids.

I remember how he told me he never thought he would even live this long growing up.

When he would come into the tent, like everyone else, I would help however I could. Ever since I have been here, he was always bringing in stuff he needed copies of. I realize now it was all the stuff he needed for his promotion.

I am really looking forward to honor. I joked with him, that I knew what was supposed to happen after he gets pinned, and I was gonna have to do it, (after pinning the new stripes, it is a ritual that it is marked with an exclamation point, by a punch right on the pin, usually this is done by pretty much everyone...ouch), he told me he wouldn't expect anything less.

I really don't feel I have done anything special, other than my job for this soldier to deserve such an honor as this. But it makes me feel really good...just to be asked to do this.

This poem now rings in my head

People may not remember you for what you say...
People may not remember you for what you may do...
But people will always remember how you made them feel...