1 - Memorial

I figure I’ve put off starting this blog back up long enough. I’d given myself enough excuses: not enough access to internet, nothing to really write about; but any longer and it’d flat out be lazy procrastination. So screw it. It’s back up. If you didn’t already know, I’m on my second combat tour to Iraq stationed at Al Taqaddum, with the CH-47D Chinook unit from Fort Wainwright, Alaska (near Fairbanks). My old blog from my first tour (arieck.blogspot.com … follow that link at your own peril) has been hostilely taken over by spammers. They can have it. I’ll start anew with this one and try harder to defend it. I’ll write whenever I get the chance, and you all can read it whenever you’re bored enough.

Today was our unit’s memorial for those five pilots and crew members aboard aircraft 171 when it crashed during a maintenance test flight one week ago today. It was held at the small chapel that sits between the gym and the locally run store that sells pirated DVD’s for a couple bucks. Besides the people from our unit, in attendance were two 2-star generals, one 1-star general and the entourages that follow those officers around. As we were milling around outside before it began, a motorcade of about 8 SUV’s pulled up to drop them off. These guys roll like rock stars.

After a few scripture readings and some music, each of the deceased had someone stand up and say a few words about them. It hurt a bit to hear about these men’s hobbies, passions, pasts, and future plans. It hurt even more to hear of the wives and children, moms and dads, they left behind. To be snatched so suddenly, with so many prospects ahead of you and so many people who depend on you and love you. Just a sad event, no matter how you justify it.

After the personal reflections and a final prayer, they did a roll call. It’s the first one I’ve ever seen, though I heard about it a few years back. Apparently a military custom when soldiers die is to stage a last roll call. The 1st Sergeant calls the names of a few people from the unit and they respond with “Here.” Then he calls the names of the ones who died. He calls each name three times, each time getting silence in return. Following the roll call, they fired rifle volleys and played taps. It was a somber, respectful military ceremony and I hope I don’t have to be a part of too many more of those.

This crash was an ominous way to start the deployment. We’re all expecting to be here for 15 months, this happening in the first few weeks makes me cringe. One thing we hoped to hold on to was the feeling that no matter how bad things got, no matter how much we missed home, or no matter much suck we endured, if everyone came home safe, we could call this tour a success. We lost that luxury last week. But like so many other units that have suffered losses, we’ll just push on, hoping to accomplish something that will justify and honor their passing

And if nothing else, football season starts next week.