I was the Chief of Clinical Operations for Multinational Corps Iraq (MNC-I). A large part of my job was establishing policy and procedures for the coalition from a medical standpoint. It did provide me a theater-wide perspective. I reviewed the security updates and battle reports each day. But no matter how much perspective you have, at some point the war becomes personal.
It was 0500 hours. The sound was not what I remember most. The concussive blast seemed to take my breath away. The discomfort of awakening to the feeling of having the breath knocked out of you is a disheartening experience. I struggled to get my body armor as debris hit the sides and roof of my trailer. Then I had to consciously get up and out of the trailer. I remember thinking, “That was close; someone is probably hurt.”
We had received a lot of incoming rocket fire that week. Only a few days before, fifteen rockets had impacted the living area. When the Quick Reaction Force arrived at the point of origination they discovered almost seventy more rockets that had not yet fired. I didn’t know if more rockets were on their way, I just knew I needed to help if I could.
I did not have an aid bag at the time. It would not have mattered for the soldier who was killed. The trauma was devastating. After the attack, the command directed that pre-positioned medical supplies be put in the living areas and other areas with large numbers of people. All I really changed was that I made sure I carried with me at all times a pressure dressing and a tourniquet, basic life saving items. I can recall numerous occasions in the past when I forgot to have those things on my person at times; I always had them after the attack.
I came away with a couple of lessons from that experience. You take one day at a time; and there’s so much that happens that is outside of our control.
Lord, may I seek to know you better each day, not just when life goes well or life is hard. Lord, may I trust your sovereignty and control more each day, again whether life is going well or is hard.
“Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:3)