Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Escorting Iraqis, Part 1
A few days into my trip to escort 3 senior Iraqi Officers throughout the US we were walking into the Randolph BX. As we came into the store we were passed by an Air Force member who was covered in burn scars. I recognized him from the Air Force Times cover story, talking about how he was burned over his entire body yet is able to remain on active duty. I pointed him out to the General and said that he was wounded by an IED in Iraq. The General stopped in his tracks, his eyes got wider, and he asked me if that was true. When I told him it was he pulled the Colonels back and repeated the story to them. They were all amazed to see this scarred Airman still leading a normal life.
Later that night we were at Wal Mart and I noticed a young man in a motorized wheelchair with his daughter and wife by his side. He was missing his right leg below the knee. I walked up and asked him about his wound and we chatted for a few minutes. I mentioned to him I was currently deployed in the IZ, and that I was escorting the three Officers (who were off looking at clothes). When we were done I thanked him, shook his hand, and walked back to the guys. A few seconds later the Airman rolled up and introduced himself to the General and the two Colonels. They chatted for a few minutes and the General asked him a lot of questions about his service.
It was one of the most poignant moments of the trip because the Airman was so proud to introduce his family and talk to the Iraqi Officers, and the Officers were so taken back and impressed with this man who lost his leg for their country. After the Airman left you could tell by the looks on the Iraqi's faces that they were all touched.
In just one day we had two encounters with U.S. wounded, and it clearly meant a lot to everyone involved.
posted by El Capitan at 10:26 AM
4 Comments:
Jake Silver said...
That was a really great post. Just wanted to say so.
5:27 PM
said...
Terrific post, EC! Anxious to read the rest of them...
7:34 PM Southern (in)Sanity said...
And the Democrats and mass media would have us believe that the Iraqi people don't give a damn about the sacrifices the men and women of our country have made.
Thanks for sharing the TRUTH, El Capitan.
said...
That's what I'm fighting for, right there.
11:12 PM