9/20/06

Yesterday, God called another one of our soldiers to be by his side, (for those who wonder why, I have been advised not to mention names here), a female Lieutenant, killed by a VBED, (car bomb). Two others in her vehicle were seriously wounded.

I sat with her unit as they remembered her today. She was the first of their unit to be killed on this tour. Sad thing is they only had two months left in country, then they were out of this hell they were living thru.

At the end, their First Sergeant had to instruct the unit on the proper protocol and ceremony when at the airstrip, for loading her casket on the plane to send her home later that day.

It is training I am sure they wish, as do I, they would never have to learn, let alone participate in with one of their own.

Just 4 days ago, two soldiers I met when I first arrived here, battle buddies, came in and one of them had burns all over his face and hands. They told me they were on patrol, and just as they were passing a car with four occupants, they blew their car up. Their stryker was demolished, but all survived. Both are just kids, barely in their 20's, and visibly shaken by this close call.

They couldn't believe 4 people would kill themselves like this. It is just astonishing to me how they could all sit there waiting for this convoy to come past, knowing they were about to all die. What could possibly be going thru their minds? What gains did they think giving their lives like this would acheive? I just don't get it.

At least they only killed themselves and didn't take any of our soldiers that time..

The Lieutenant was just was married a year ago. I pray for her soul, and strength for her parents and husband, to get through, what is surely a devastating time for them..