Telephone Game

You hold a greater appreciation for the little amenities after you see some things out here. For example, I have never realized how important communication was or is until the past few weeks.

It seems as if comm that comes from the top as it gets down to us, the lance corporals and pfcs, always gets distorted.

The incidents of the past few convoys have taught me many lessons. Most imprtantly, it has taught me to be more viligante and calm in the face of potential danger. And that's all you can live on out here, potential danger. But even that potential pierces you more than the actual because you're always on the alert wondering when it will happen. When will it happen to you. Is this your day?

I ask these questions and more as I drive my gunner past our checkpoints. We see an Iraqi National with a little boy on his lap; they wave to us. My gunner turns to me and in a subdued tone tells me that seeing that little boy on his presumably dad's lap made my gunner miss his 2 year old son. And I sat there, driving, pondering, not knowing what to say at this delicate and touching moment. A thought crossed my mind; I hope I don't get us killed.

I would hate for that to be on my conscience.