Every now and then I get a chance to sit under the stars and enjoy a big fat ceegar. Last night was one of those opportunities.
The air was crisp, cold, and clear. It seemed as if I could see every star, every constellation hovering in the heavens above. As I listened to the rhythmic sounds of rotary winged aircraft sail through the dark and watched the cobalt smoke from my Montesino Robusto lazily float up to the big dipper, I found myself reflecting, comparing the then and now.
Now, I am in Iraq. Then, I was in Afghanistan. Then, as now, we were at war. Then, as now, an enemy lurked in the shadows, planning, waiting, killing. Then, as now, our will was tested. Then, as now, we succeeded more often than they.
Then, we deployed with very few combat veterans in our formation. We went in wide eyed, with preconceived notions, anticipating things we could only imagine having little previous experiences. We were confident, we had trained together for years, but our comfort zone was minimal.
Now, we deployed with more than half of our formation combat veterans. Many on their second or third tour, some their fourth. We came in less nervous, wondering not as much, with a greater zone of comfort. Our training measured in months, not years, yet we remain confident.
Then it was a long twelve month deployment. Now it is just fifteen months.
Now, as then, we miss our families. Now, as then, we long for home. Now, as then, it hurts like hell to lose one of ours. Now, as then, is our time to make a difference, to make history, to triumph good over evil. Now, as then, we will accept nothing short of victory.
Then, the support on the home front was tremendous. Now, that support remains tremendous.
Now, the politics surrounding our efforts stink, just as it stunk then.
Then, I served alongside heroes, just as I do now.
Every now and then a good cigar and quiet reflection helps put things into perspective. Sgt Hook out.
The Medal of Honor, established by joint resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by Act of 9 July 1918 and Act of 25 July 1963) is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Armed Services, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of The United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which The United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of service is exacted and each recommendation for award of this decoration is considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. Full-text Listings of Medal of Honor Citations The President, in the name of Congress, has awarded more than 3,400 Medals of Honor to our nation’s bravest Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen since the decoration’s creation in 1861.
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy is the third warrior in the Global War on Terror, and the first from the Afghanistan Campaign, to be recognized for his personal bravery, self-sacrifice, and conspicuous gallantry with the awarding of the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Lt. Murphy, of Patchogue on Long Island in New York, was the 29-year-old officer-in-charge of a four-man SEAL reconnaissance team tasked with capturing or killing a high-ranking Taliban leader in the Hindu Kush mountains, east of Asadabad behind enemy lines. A group of goat herders betrayed their position to the Taliban, and the team came under a heavy coordinated assault by dozens of insurgents, perhaps as many as 100.
The SEALs were at a tactical disadvantage and became pinned down in a ravine. Lt. Murphy, already wounded, moved out from behind cover, seeking open air for a radio signal to place a rescue call. He was shot several more times in the back. He dropped the transmitter, picked it back up and completed the call, and then rejoined the fight.
The battle, the last stage of Operation Redwing, was the worst single day of casualties for Naval Special Warfare since World War II. Only one man from the SEAL team would survive. A Chinook helicopter, carrying 16 soldiers for the rescue mission, was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade.
Lieutenant Michael Murphy, truly an American hero, among the bravest of the brave. I’ll see you salute you on Fiddler’s Green LT. Sgt Hook out.
WASHINGTON (Oct. 12, 2007) - When Staff Sgt. Jason Fetty put himself between a suicide bomber and the bomber’s intended targets at the grand opening of a new medical facility in Khost, Afghanistan, he wasn’t thinking of the strategic, or even tactical, importance of his actions.
All he wanted was to protect his fellow soldiers, the Afghan people they were helping and the new emergency room his provincial reconstruction team had spent months working to make a reality.
—
Staff Sgt. Fetty said he remembers hearing the blast of weapons from other members of the security team firing at the attacker. He shot again, at the man’s stomach. He’d heard that it’s safe to fire into a suicide vest, but didn’t want to test his luck by firing into the attacker’s chest. “That’s a bad way for me to end up in a bunch of pieces,” he said.
Then the attacker looked at Staff Sgt. Fetty with “the scariest face I’ve ever seen.” The standoff had turned personal. “Earlier, he just looked crazy, but now he wanted to kill me,” Staff Sgt. Fetty said. “I knew what his intent was, and I abandoned all hopes of killing the guy before he would explode.”
Staff Sgt. Fetty took three steps before making a “Hollywood dive.” The blast came as he hit the ground, peppering him with shrapnel in the face, leg and ankle. All that remained where he had struggled with the attacker was a big hole in the ground.
—
Although he’s proud to receive the Silver Star, Staff Sgt. Fetty said anyone in his shoes would have acted the same way. “I don’t really believe in valor that much,” he said. “It’s more like the set of circumstances you’re put in. I think there are plenty of people over there who are just as brave as I am, who fortunately never found themselves in that situation.”
Well done Soldier. I’m proud of you. Sgt Hook out.
I was recently reflecting on our road to war and all the activities, training events, briefings, etc. that literally consume that last few months of a unit and the soldiers just prior to deployment and thought about something Castaway Conner said to the Lovely and Talented and Downright Sexy Mrs. Hook a few months ago.
CC: Mom, does dad have medics in his company?
TLATADSMH: Yes honey, I believe that he does. Why?
CC: I hope they are good medics and have lots of training.
TLATADSMH: I’m sure they are, why do you ask?
CC: Well, if dad gets shot at war the medics can fix him up.
TLATADSMH: blink, blink, blink
Castaway Conner is our six year old swashbuckler and for all concerned, yes, I have great medics that are well trained. Sgt Hook out.
The Sunni Arab insurgent leaders said they disagreed with the leadership of Al Qaeda in Iraq over tactics, including attacks on civilians, as well as over command of the movement.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, on his last day in Iraq, said Monday that American officials were actively pursuing negotiations with the Sunni factions in an effort to further isolate Al Qaeda.
“Iraqis are uniting against Al Qaeda,” Khalilzad said. “Coalition commanders have been able to engage some insurgents to explore ways to collaborate in fighting the terrorists.”
Insurgent leaders from two of the prominent groups fighting U.S. troops said the divisions between their forces and Al Qaeda were serious. They have led to skirmishes in Al Anbar province, in western Iraq, and have stopped short of combat in Diyala, east of Baghdad, they said in interviews with the Los Angeles Times.
While I wouldn’t classify this as a signal to start packing bags and loading ships, it certainly is indicative of a shift in priorities for many of the insurgents. Perhaps the notion of Iraqis fighting for Iraq isn’t such a far fetched one. Sgt Hook out.
“Today, in a loud voice, the Congress of the United States said to the president: ‘We need a new direction in Iraq,’” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., after the 246-182 vote.
I agree. And I believe that the President himself recently said the very same thing and after consulting with his top military advisors, is indeed pursuing a new direction in Iraq, one headed towards victory. I suspect that many of the aforementioned esteemed elected representatives are thinking of a different direction, however; the word retreat comes to mind.
And oh by the way, the escalationsurgereinforcements change in tactics seem to be already paying dividends in Baghdad. Imagine what will happen if when we get the 21,000 more troops over there.
While the debate continues in D.C., your Soldiers and Marines are tightening up their bootstraps while cinching down their chinstraps and taking to the streets of Baghdad. The “surge” is underway, but don’t be fooled by the terminology, this is a tactical maneuver aimed at turning the tide in Baghdad, permanently, and not a tidal wave flooding the streets initially, and then washing away. Our forces along with the Iraqi military intend to not only take back the streets, but keep them. Though some have seen the rising waters and taken to high ground, others appreciate what the changing tide brings.
“My friends and I who are the old women of the neighborhood went to the soldiers and welcomed them and prayed that God would help them to defeat the terrorists,” said Um Sabah of the Mashtaal area in eastern Baghdad. “Although, the presence of army and vehicles is not very comfortable, we welcome it because it is for the sake of Iraq.”
I would add that said presence goes far beyond the “sake of Iraq.” The successful turning of the tide in Baghdad will change the world profoundly. We are atop the crest of an historical tidal wave and either we ride it to victory, or we dive into the deep. I know where I intend to be when the waters recede. Sgt Hook out.
This site is a collection of my writings, thoughts, and ramblings and in no way reflects the official positions of the United States Army or the Department of Defense. OPSEC trumps everything.
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In view of a recent tendency to identify characters in fiction with real people, it seems proper to state that there are no real people in this volume: both the characters and their names are ficticious. The names or designations of any military units are ficticious. There are no living people nor existing military units presented in this book.
-Ernest Hemingway
Halfway down the road to hell,
In a shady meadow green,
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddler's Green.
-Author Unknown
The Blog of War
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