"That Was Some Scary Shit"

Yesterday, I experienced something I didn't think I ever would, but knew was a possibility.

I told you recently about some force protection upgrades we were working on for our Iraqi Army (IA) brothers in an outpost in this area. Yesterday, we stopped by that outpost in a small town to perform several tasks. My boss met with the city leaders, I checked in with the IA and others on our team were going to meet with various other folks in this town. The barriers were in place and the IA guards were well positioned and understood their jobs. The IA commander of this outpost felt he understood the dangers in this town and this area but I'm certain that he only had a partial understanding of what was going on. His outpost had been attacked on the very first night his unit arrived. It was a very ineffectual attack with no casualties on either side, but it seemed that the attack was more a message than an attempt to engage in a serious battle. The message being, "we know you're here and we don't like it." Hence the new barriers and such.

Well, it didn't take long to check things out, count heads (to ensure that the number of jundis on duty matched the number being reported), and talk some about life support issues (water, latrenes, electricity, etc.). Just as I was leaving, a truck pulled up to deliver water. I asked if that truck was searched every time it entered the compound, it was not. I told the commander that he must ensure that his gate guard searches the truck so that the enemy does not try to smuggle a bomb into his compound. He agreed. So then my interpreter, another Soldier and I returned to my truck parked outside the mayor's compound, in which my boss was having his meeting.

At this point in time, I was sitting in my truck, settling in for the hour or so it would take for the meeting to wrap up and for us to continue our patrol to another town and other activities. Suddenly, I see smoke and dust billowing out from the row of shops along the front right of my truck and then the truck rocks hard. I knew immediately that it was an explosion, and IED [Improvised Explosive Device], and that I needed to check my people. I heard someone say over the intercom, "what was that?" I answered, "an IED, get in the truck and shut the door!" I ask each guy in my truck if they are alright. Everyone is. Then we hear the IA start shooting. I asked my guys if they could see what the IA were shooting at, but told them don't get out of the truck to find out. Nobody could tell. Later, my gunner told me that the blast had forced him down into the truck and that when he looked up he saw chunks of metal and debris flying over the truck.

Next, I got on the radio and made an announcement, "there's been an IED, no casualties in victor [vehicle] one, no damage. Get accountability of your personnel and report in." By then, the IA had stopped shooting, so I told everyone in my truck to stay put, I got out and looked around. Now I realized that this was no ordinary IED. I saw the stores on my right just blasted apart, the metal doors ripped off or barely hanging on. There was a column of smoke coming from the back of those shops and dust and smoke hanging in the air everywhere. Civilians were moving out of the mayors compound, many hurt and bleeding, and many people from the town were running to the blast site.

Myself and another NCO moved into the mayor's compound to find our team leaders. His came out first with very minor cuts to his face, my boss was still inside. I found him quickly and we helped an old man coming downstairs, blood streaming from wounds on his head. Once outside, we set up the medic with security and an interpreter across the street in the clinic. I asked for another accountability check and then tightened up our perimeter.

It turns out the blast was caused by a vehicle-borne improved explosive device (VBIED). A big one. Big hole, lots of damage, lots of chaos for several minutes.

It didn't take long for the news to pick it up. All the "facts" in these reports aren't exactly right, but the gist of the reports are about right. More about it here and here. Most of the initial reporting on this event was wrapped into another Associated Press story.

So, what was it like? Well, it was kind of surreal. I didn't feel much different than any other time I'm out on patrol. I was keenly aware of what was going on but I know that there was sensory overload going on. It is very hard to sort out the information, keep what you need, set aside what you don't, then make logical, meaningful decisions and finally turn those decisions into understandable orders to your Soldiers.

How did I do? Well, upon reflection, I feel I did fairly well. I know this wasn't a sustained firefight over a long period of time with casualties and and enemy maneuvering on my team, all of which is far more challenging than what I faced yesterday. But my VBIED was challenging nonetheless. There was chaos, there was confusion, there was death and destruction around us. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, just to share with you the self-reflection I experienced since the event.

Everyone probably wonders how they'll react in these types of situations, I know I have in the past... even in the past few months. Just because I've spent nearly nineteen years in the Army doesn't mean I've seen or done it all. Will I freeze under pressure? Will I get goofy and make stupid mistakes and dumbass decisions? Or will I be cool and collected like I envision my boss would be (and was)? Well, I don't know about "cool and collected" but I know I didn't panic, I did check on my guys welfare and then checked on security. I adjusted our security a few times during the aftermath as the situation changed and we moved guys around. I ran into the building to find my boss and the couple of other guys in there.

I don't remember being afraid or panicked. I do remember that I realized immediately that there was an explosion, though I misjudged the size and exact location of it. But I think I gave my guys good guidance and was able to assess the situation fairly quickly and accurately after the debris had stopped falling and the IA had stopped shooting. I guess that's all I can say about that.

So, what happens next? I know that we won't stop going on patrol, we won't stop trying to help the mayors and city councils and police and army try to bring peace and stability to this part of Iraq. I know that we will continue to push the Iraqis to fight back against terrorism and help them rebuild their homes, their government buildings, roads and infrastructure. We will continue to help them get better at governing themselves, at policing themselves, and at helping themselves.

This attack hasn't made me any less of a supporter of this war. It hasn't changed my mind or made me afraid to continue to fight. If anything, it has strengthened my resolve.

I hope the Iraqis in that small town feel the same.

Their future depends on it.

Oh, by the way, one of my gunners said that, the post title. He is right, it was scary, when I think about what could have happened.


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