Surface-to-air fire was a part of army aviation during the Iraq War. That was just another aspect of flying. There were times when small arms or rockets were used against us. A lot of the time the enemy was firing rockets blindly at the sound. I remember we were concerned early on about people shining headlights up at us.
I do remember one episode about six miles south of Baghdad. We were flying south. It was a flight of two CH-47 Chinooks. I was in the trail bird. In the back of the lead bird there appeared to be a column of smoke. We looked down and it looked like there was someone firing a roman candle at us from the ground. And then all of a sudden it dawned on us that it was anti-aircraft fire, and then the streaks of light began coming at us. We just had never seen anti-craft fire before. The pilot did something with a helicopter I didn’t know the helicopter could do, and we began to move away. At the same time he started yelling over the intercom system to return fire. The first Chinook began to put down fire as well and within a few seconds the anti-aircraft fire stopped. There were never too many dull moments.
War is not a safe environment, but to worry about the outcome of combat will only create an ineffective soldier. Whether by firefight or random indirect fire, life can end in a moment. If you thought about it too much you might wander at night whether you would wake up or not. The only way to be sane was to understand your faith is in the Lord and you would lie down in peace then whatever would happen would be his will. You had to accept that. And not so much that you had to accept it but that you needed to accept it with joy.
It was an aspect of duty. You will not add one second to your life doing anything differently. God is sovereign. Those of us who understood that then could more effectively perform our duties. It was an essential philosophy of Stonewall Jackson.
Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.
Speaking to Captain John D. Imboden (24 July 1861), as quoted in Stonewall Jackson as Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, 25.
Dear God, I know you already know the day I will die. May I live boldly and courageously, never shirking back when duty calls.
“Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight.” (2 Samuel 10:12)