It is hard for me to imagine that my son Mark who has only been in Iraq since October of this year has seen more friends killed and injured in a month than I have in almost 50 years. Last Sunday, November 9 is but one example. About 3 pm in the afternoon (Iraqi Time), Mark's team of soldiers, which is made up of seven soldiers including him, were scheduled to make a patrol in the town of Mullalah. On this particular patrol Mark was not scheduled to go and so he took the time to enjoy some much deserved rest and listen to a sermon on his MP3 player since there are no church services where he is at. Toward the end of the sermon he heard the explosion.
When he ran outside his quarters, he realized something was seriously wrong as the sky above him suddenly filled with two Apache attack helicopters protecting two MEDIVAC Blackhawk helicopters who were landing in an Emergency LZ (Landing Zone). Then as the call came in for "ice" and lots of it--Mark began to put together the pieces. The explosion he heard had been an IED and the only team out on patrol in the immediate area was his.
As Mark began to help in what was now a rescue and recovery operation it wasn't long before the story of what happened began to filter through the ranks. While on their patrol, Mark's team entered a house to clear it not knowing it had been "boobytrapped" by Insurgents with an IED (improvised explosive device). Three members of his team were severely injured, two losing legs and a third soldier, an arm in the explosion.
After the bodies and limbs were recovered and quickly placed on the MEDIVAC Blackhawks, Mark and what was left of his small unit stood in their compound, in bloodstained uniforms, weeping at the loss they had just experienced. It might be helpful to know that Mark's unit had been attacked by mortars a little over three weeks ago leaving two soldiers dead and seven wounded. The losses experienced in that attack as well as in the IED explosion took their toll that afternoon and Mark told us that he along with who was left in his unit experienced a deep overwhelming sense of sadness. As Mark told us, "Many were crying and holding each other . . . . .We just stood there for at least twenty minutes. Some asked questions trying to figure out what had happened. Two guys were kneeling down, holding each other's heads as they wept. . . . I teared up. I felt that I should just stand there in the midst of them, so that at least the Lord's presence in me would be near to them."
Mark didn't have long to grieve as within the hour he had to meet with a local Iraqi man. And then the next day Mark went out with another platoon into the same neighborhood checking and clearing more houses. Soldiers just don't have time to weep for long--not even when they lose friends who become closer than brothers to them, which was the case for Mark. One of the soldiers injured in the IED explosion was a combat medic whom he had become quite close to.
A few days later, after things were beginning to get back to normal, Mark's best friend in the Army--a guy who we at COG have prayed for during the last two years--a guy Mark has known since AIT was on patrol in another town when the soldier next to him stepped on an IED. Mark’s friend was hit with shrapnel but miraculously was not injured. The same cannot be said for the soldier who stepped on the bomb.
Nancy and I sure do appreciate all the prayers being lifted up on behalf of our son Mark and his buddies. And now you have a better idea of why.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying and please don't stop!
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