The Fog of War

Many times I have been cought in some rather tricky situations. One thing I have always been grateful for is that God gave me the ability to remain calm in the worst situations imaginable. I cannot count how many hair raising encounters I have faced in my life. Every time I encounter one I always notice that most people present are staring in shock or wondering what to do. The current situation has them lost in space, it's as if they have lost thier ability to think or funtion. In my carreer as a soldier I have learned a motto to follow, NCO's (Non-Commisioned Officers) make it happen. A long time ago I chose to never stand by and do nothing because the situation in which I found myself was just to horrible or shocking. Make a quick assessment of the situation, determine what needs to be done, get people moving, then lead by example. This approach has saved a few lives, and I'm proud of that. Often times afterward, I would think about what had happened and how I responded. I would commit to memory those things that were good, and forget the bad and move forward better than I was before. But until this photo I never really had any idea what it looked like, action in the midst of chaos. I would like to thank AP Photographer Ken James, also a good friend of mine, for coming along on this particular mission to the bombing of the Al Sadeer Hotel in Baghdad Iraq. The destruction was tramendous. Many people were injured, no one was killed but the bombers themselves, thank God. As you can see, some of the Iraqi soldiers were "lost in space" so to speak. Not in the picture were some of my soldiers doing the same thing, looking shocked wondering where to begin. The picture was snapped as I began to do what Infantry Leaders do best, chew butt, and get soldiers moving. It's not often that people can get a good look at what soldiers do from day to day. I just thought I'd share this with you. The evil here was whatever possesed the bombers to think that what they did would actually be a good thing to do. The hotel was filled with americans, none of which were killed. If you ever wonder if there is a God, maybe this example may help. Despite their very best efforts, the terrorists were unable to end anyones life but their own. I must also add that two men were in a guard shack that was struck by the vehicle full of explosives, and they were knocked out, but otherwise unharmed. God is in charge and I'm thankful for that. God spared those people, and he spared me when I was hit by the insanity of a terrorist whose mind was warped by the powerful forces of evil within this dark world. May God have mercy on their souls, and I pray that he can help us to change the world from it's evil ways and let us work to accomplish his plan for us all.

The fog of war is a term to label the confusion that exists in combat. As we wage war against the forces of evil within this world we must understand that confusion is all around us. Pray, seek guidance and wisdom, don't be afraid to ask for help. When lost, confused, and you don't know where to turn, or where to begin to undo the damage done, hit your knees, tell it like it is, and ask for help. You will be amazed at the results.