Just Like That…

Everything is different over here tonight. Our base was hit with several incoming rounds. We may have lost men; some were severely wounded. We were thrown into chaos in an instant. Just like that…everything changed.

We heard the loud speaker announce the normal test fire. It is always incredible to hear those big guns role out a couple hundred rounds a second. Amazing.

Right after that…minutes later, we heard another sound from the loud speaker; it was an alarm. We were being attacked. We have an early warning system that gives us a few seconds reaction time. I got the door open to listen and it hit. It was very close. It sounded like we took two on our pad. I was the first one in the bunker. Others followed. 6 of us huddled under one of the bunkers; waiting.

We are miles from the enemy. There is no scrabbling for weapons and gear. There is little we can do but sit and wait it out. Most of us were dressed in shorts. Several were casually talking, smoking and joking. For me and others it is our first. We have a healthy mix of guys in the company who were here when this was the norm. It was good to have them around tonight.

The "All Clear" command over the loud speaker seemed silly "after" rounds had hit so close to us. Alpha Co was having formation on the Basketball court behind my trailer (CHU). My company was gathering at another building.

One of the rounds hit a T-Wall right down the row from me. It was too close. I felt the shock from it and heard rocks and debris landing on top of my trailer. The 12 inch thick T-Wall did a good job stopping the 107mm rocket. Parts of the round were lying on the ground. I had no idea they would be that big. It took a decent chunk out of that t-wall.

The second one hit directly on the back corner of a CHU. It was one row over from mine, and still way to close for comfort. I did not go in but was told they pulled bodies out. One KIA and others rushed to the TMC. I'm sure we'll find out more in the morning. Two guys in my company helped provide first aid to the most serious casualties. Their trailers were next door. One of our guys helped with a manual breathing apparatus on an individual. He was covered in blood.

I'm finding myself writing tonight with a sense of just needing to get it all down, get it out. My imagination is running wild. Resting this evening has not been easy. My security has been shaken. My vulnerability exposed.

As I type this I can hear soldiers playing Volleyball 100 yards from where a soldier died this evening.

It is 1:00 am…and they are playing Volleyball…in a war zone.

Anywhere else in the world and we'd have them all loaded up to get their heads checked. Here it is another way not to think about what just happened.