AD, you remembering this means a lot to me. This is why I love this community. My fondest memories here are of how talking with you guys got me through some really tough times. Times when I just didn't want to get up and face what I had to do on a given day.
I remember that day I jumped off the SB when we took incoming. I removed shrapnel from a kids face, arm and leg. Then came right back here and continued our conversation. Those are the things I remember the most. Talking to you AD and SJ and all the other veterans of the community. The more this community grows, the more I love being part of it.
Some of the things I remember....its harsh, but its the truth...
I lost a 20yr old PFC to a road side bomb, three weeks after treating him for the same thing. He always stopped to say hi and had dinner with me at the chow hall often, was the first soldier that acted like he appreciated what I did for him when he got hit the first time. When I lost him, I was devastated....
While I was filling in for another Medic that was on leave, I lost a 19yr old PFC to a RPG...I remember after the Doc called time of death, I inventoried his personal affects, in his left front pocket was a picture of him and his family. That was a bad day, one of my worst. For months after, everytime I closed my eyes, I saw his family...and how guilty I felt because I wasn't able to save him.
I set up a make shift aid station to treat locals in a small Iraqi village one day, I ended up not treating anyone...I was too busy providing security for the horde of Adults punching and kicking the 2 and 3yr old kids that wanted to see a doc so they could get all the free meds for themselves. It was 125 degrees that day, I was in full body armor, I was out for 10 hours...I was exhausted and just wanted it all to end...Just wanted to burn the entire country.
These are just few of the bad times I had in Iraq, but I had some of my best times ever over there. Because of this community, talking with you guys took my mind off the bad things, kept me sharp and on point. I could finally sleep, after talking with the members here, halo was on my mind when I went to bed. The nightmares didn't come as often, I was at peace...thank you, to everyone here. I will never forget the times I have had here, nor will I ever feel I can repay this community for what is given me.
I love you all.