Bless The Beasts and Children...Michael Yon
Michael Yon: Bless the Beasts and Children
WARNING! Very graphic photos here!
And this is just one of many reasons why we are where we are and the urgency there is to utterly destroy the murderers of Islam.
Keep up the good work, Yon and may God be with you.
Why are we there? You decide!
On 29 June, American and Iraqi soldiers were again fighting side-by-side as soldiers from Charley Company 1-12 CAV, led by Captain Clayton Combs, and Iraqi soldiers from the 5th IA, closed in on a village on the outskirts of Baqubah. The village had the apparent misfortune of being located near a main road—about 3.5 miles from FOB Warhorse—that al Qaeda liked to bomb. Al Qaeda had taken over the village. As Iraqi and American soldiers moved in, they came under light contact; but the bombs planted in the roads, and maybe in the houses, were the real threat.
The firefight progressed. American missiles were fired. The enemy might have been trying to bait Iraqi and American soldiers into ambush, but it did not work. The village was riddled with bombs, some of them large enough to destroy a tank. One by one, experts destroyed the bombs, leaving small and large craters in the unpaved roads.
The village was abandoned. All the people were gone. But where?
On 30 June, Soldiers from 1-12 Cav allowed me to go to the village in one of their M-1 tanks.
LT Baxter, Tank Commander.
As often happens in Iraq, the first time I meet American combat soldiers, we are going off to do something serious. Although the soldiers usually do not know me, they are courteous and professional, and always watching out for me. And so it was with LT Baxter, who was commanding the M-1 tank that I’d be riding along in, and who made sure I didn’t break my neck getting into the tank. I nearly pulled him off the tank while climbing aboard.
The tankers drove off FOB Warhorse, and only a few miles later, we arrived at the outskirts of the abandoned village.
American soldiers began unloading dozens of body bags, which the Iraqi soldiers, with grim looks, carried into the village.
Well I just had to look at the pictures didn’t I. This story took me back 40 years to a far away land and a time I was 19 years young going on 100 years old.
The eyes of Capt. Baker tell the story.
That they do, solo–that they do.
So the question is : If we we get it and feel it and know what’s at stake why don’t congress?
RCP
I’ve been reading about the technology we have to explode any IED from a safe distance - with no loss of life or limb to our soldiers. The problem: it may kill civilians. IMO, we send all the people to a tent city somewhere and we blow up everything available to be blown. Then we hold the area.
Hey Snooper, I finally made it in your door
Yes, God bless Yon and our military and their families - and this country.
Maggie
Maggie’s Notebook
The eyes…the windows to the soul!
Hello Maggie! Welcome!
Very true Snooper. You know “that” look….the thousand yard stare of a young man who has seen far too much horror for his years…and the knowledge that more will come.
solo…one never forgets…ever