Day 25

Grenade launching and live convoy operations were the order of the day...oh yea, another new MRE lunch, too. Today: chicken and dumplings. But first, I was woke up a few times overnight as big, thunderous storms came through overnight. The silence from flash to thunder was virtually non-existent so I knew it was right on top of us. By morning's light, it was tapering off and the day ended up being glorious...upper 70s, low humidity, and sunny skies. Perfect.

For the convoys, we headed out twice. There are 4 platoons within our company so that's 8 total trips. I'm in the 4th Platoon so we went last each time. The way they work is this: we had 6 Humvees, a SAW machine top mounted up top, and everyone was locked and loaded with blank rounds in our M4s. Communication checks, pre-briefs, and everything that goes into a convoy in Oz was done. There was a team out on the course that would do a multitude of things: set off roadside IEDs (bombs), dress up in "Oz" garb and walk out towards us (we'd have to slow down and if they didn't move out of the way, we challenge them...no compliance, they risk getting shot), and on the 2nd convoy later in the afternoon, we had a mission to meet with the police chief of a village. As we pulled up to the police station and checkpoint, they (insurgents) took out our commander...shot on site. Our entire platoon immediately dismounted (got out of our Humvees) and took our security checkpoints behind cover. That's when all Hades broke loose. I was in the last vehicle and we had just crossed under a bridge. On top of the bridge was a guy who looked like he was holding a push-button device...commonly used to set off a bomb. I pointed my rifle at him and shouted to him to put up his hands and leave them up. Had he not complied, he was going to get a bullet in the head. He did comply but soon after, an explosion happened behind him and another insurgent appeared with a RPG (rocket propelled grenade launcher). That's when he ducked down out of site then appeared with a weapon. Lights out for him! Both myself and the gunner atop my vehicle took him out. By this time, yellow smoke was filling the air. I'm guessing it was meant to simulate some kind of tear gas...not sure. I continued to scan the area looking for bad guys and saw no more. The RPG guy was taken out by another one of our gunners. The guy on the bridge who we took out all of a sudden had his hand flop out over the bridge...simulating he in fact was dead. We all got in our Humvees, called in the Medevac to notify of dead and wounded soldiers and we returned to base.  Talk about getting the adrenaline pumping!  I had not shot my rifle on the burst mode (3 automatic shots) until today. That was fun.

In between the convoy ops, I received some grenade training. Basically, it was familiarization and practice throwing them...from the standing, kneeling, and laying down positions. Believe it or not, it's tougher than you think to properly toss a grenade at the enemy and they do NOT soar like a baseball. We also practiced crawling up to a bunker, burning off the grenade for 2 seconds, and then tossing it in the bunker...then finishing off anyone who may have survived that blast.

Today was an awakening of sorts. As I rolled around in the dirt while attempting to launch a grenade and through the countless other evolutions I've been involved in during the past three weeks, I have learned some things about myself and have come to peace with them. First off, this has been a great experience thus far. None of these things would I ever do on my own as a civilian. It is only because of my deployment to Oz that I have received this training. I have done everything to the best of my ability but often, I can tell that God did not gift me with the talents of a front of the line soldier. I am not fast on my feet. I am not agile. I am, for the lack of a better word, clumsy. Tall and clumsy. I get the job done but should never be that warrior on the front line. I am best in a support role, in leadership, in areas where I have strengths. It is true, everyone has their calling and is good in some things, excellent in others, and downright horrible in others. I think I've seen a little of all these things in the past three weeks. In the end, though, I have gained a new appreciation of those who defend our freedom from the front line and put their hind-side on the line for us, day in and day out. We as Americans should be ever-grateful for the sacrifices of the many. Most are college age and fresh out of high school. My job in Oz will be one of support. My "customers" will be those front-line soldiers.  Helping them get what they need, train them in the systems set up to get them those items, and get involved when they needed something "yesterday." I am looking forward to serving them to the very best of my ability!

Time for bed. Goodnight, everyone.