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Do we get out of Iraq
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,579
From:
RE: Do we get out of Iraq
A soldier's letter home
"...Every Soldier who gets hurt in this unit is my responsibility. I was the one who gave the orders that put them in harms way. I was the one who has decided how we will conduct operations and I bear the burden of the cost. It becomes much more personal when it is someone like SSG Maupin, who is like a younger brother.
"I was in the vehicle behind him when the IED hit. It seemed like forever for the dust to clear, but was probably only thirty seconds. In the meantime I was calling on the radio to Maupin to get a status. I became increasingly worried when I got no response. Also, we were looking for the son of a bitch who set it off. When the smoke finally clears I see the wreck of a HMMWV[Humvee] and Doc Coursen treating someone on the right side of the vehicle. I put my vehicle in between where I thought the triggerman was and the damaged vehicle so that we could have some protection from small arms fire while we treated the casualties. I jumped out after telling SSG Johnson in the trail vehicle to call in a report and get support up to us. As I raced around the vehicle Coursen tells me to check on Delgado and Simmons. When I got to the drivers side, Simmons comes out with blood on his face, but he is OK. It was almost funny because he comes out with his pistol at the ready because he lost his rifle in the blast. He was pissed off. I jump to the top of the vehicle to check on Delgado. The hood of the HMMWV is gone so I stepped on the engine block to get there. I didn't notice at the time it was on fire. Fortunately Delgado regained consciousness and was able to get down on his own. Went back around to where Doc was treating Maupin.
Simmons and I are pulling security to allow Doc to work. I didn't know it but Doc was hurt too. I thought the stress was getting to him, but it was actually the pain in his leg and his head. I had to encourage him to keep going as he is placing a tourniquet on Maupin's almost severed arm.
Thank God he hung with it.
"In time two more patrols showed up to assist with the CASEVAC, [casualty evacuation]but we had a hard time with the damn stretchers we have. Helicopters flew overhead to ensure that we did not get attacked. I'm sure by then word was out that it was my PSD [personal security detail]that got hit. One of the hardest things we had to do was lift SSG Maupin's broken and bleeding body into the Bradley. Every time we moved him had to be excruciatingly painful, but we knew we had to do it to save his life.... I will never forget his screams.
"We raced to the aid station behind the Bradley. I had Simmons and Doc Coursen in my HMMWV and both started to pass out. We had to keep shaking them to keep them awake. Did not want them to fall asleep because I did not know the extent of their injuries. Simmons knowing he needed to stay awake started singing...a rich baritone I think. It seemed like it took forever to get to the aid station...When we got there the medics rushed to get Maupin inside. Simmons refused a stretcher, cursing that he would walk in on his own, damnit.
"Shortly after we arrived, got word that we were under attack at one of our outposts...so had to leave my guys at the aid station and get to the rear command post to deal with it. Turned out a TV Station near the HQ got hit with small arms fire and a VBIED [car bomb, or vehicle-borne improvised explosive device].
"Made it to the CSH [combat support hospital]that night just before SSG Maupin was placed in the helicopter for Balad. He looked so helpless...Pretty much what was left of the PSD escorted him to the helicopter and a couple of our guys helped lift him in.
"I can't put into words how much these guys mean to me...They protect my life every day and have become like family. The day before SGT Allison, who is the one who pretty much walks wherever I go, got shot in the hand and again in his flack vest as I was talking to a st
"...Every Soldier who gets hurt in this unit is my responsibility. I was the one who gave the orders that put them in harms way. I was the one who has decided how we will conduct operations and I bear the burden of the cost. It becomes much more personal when it is someone like SSG Maupin, who is like a younger brother.
"I was in the vehicle behind him when the IED hit. It seemed like forever for the dust to clear, but was probably only thirty seconds. In the meantime I was calling on the radio to Maupin to get a status. I became increasingly worried when I got no response. Also, we were looking for the son of a bitch who set it off. When the smoke finally clears I see the wreck of a HMMWV[Humvee] and Doc Coursen treating someone on the right side of the vehicle. I put my vehicle in between where I thought the triggerman was and the damaged vehicle so that we could have some protection from small arms fire while we treated the casualties. I jumped out after telling SSG Johnson in the trail vehicle to call in a report and get support up to us. As I raced around the vehicle Coursen tells me to check on Delgado and Simmons. When I got to the drivers side, Simmons comes out with blood on his face, but he is OK. It was almost funny because he comes out with his pistol at the ready because he lost his rifle in the blast. He was pissed off. I jump to the top of the vehicle to check on Delgado. The hood of the HMMWV is gone so I stepped on the engine block to get there. I didn't notice at the time it was on fire. Fortunately Delgado regained consciousness and was able to get down on his own. Went back around to where Doc was treating Maupin.
Simmons and I are pulling security to allow Doc to work. I didn't know it but Doc was hurt too. I thought the stress was getting to him, but it was actually the pain in his leg and his head. I had to encourage him to keep going as he is placing a tourniquet on Maupin's almost severed arm.
Thank God he hung with it.
"In time two more patrols showed up to assist with the CASEVAC, [casualty evacuation]but we had a hard time with the damn stretchers we have. Helicopters flew overhead to ensure that we did not get attacked. I'm sure by then word was out that it was my PSD [personal security detail]that got hit. One of the hardest things we had to do was lift SSG Maupin's broken and bleeding body into the Bradley. Every time we moved him had to be excruciatingly painful, but we knew we had to do it to save his life.... I will never forget his screams.
"We raced to the aid station behind the Bradley. I had Simmons and Doc Coursen in my HMMWV and both started to pass out. We had to keep shaking them to keep them awake. Did not want them to fall asleep because I did not know the extent of their injuries. Simmons knowing he needed to stay awake started singing...a rich baritone I think. It seemed like it took forever to get to the aid station...When we got there the medics rushed to get Maupin inside. Simmons refused a stretcher, cursing that he would walk in on his own, damnit.
"Shortly after we arrived, got word that we were under attack at one of our outposts...so had to leave my guys at the aid station and get to the rear command post to deal with it. Turned out a TV Station near the HQ got hit with small arms fire and a VBIED [car bomb, or vehicle-borne improvised explosive device].
"Made it to the CSH [combat support hospital]that night just before SSG Maupin was placed in the helicopter for Balad. He looked so helpless...Pretty much what was left of the PSD escorted him to the helicopter and a couple of our guys helped lift him in.
"I can't put into words how much these guys mean to me...They protect my life every day and have become like family. The day before SGT Allison, who is the one who pretty much walks wherever I go, got shot in the hand and again in his flack vest as I was talking to a st
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,253
From:
RE: Do we get out of Iraq
I'm not going to read the consiracy crap so don't really know what was bieng said but......I looked up and saw the damn planes hit the towers BOTH PLANES...I went ovet to the site and pulled dead bodies and pieces of bodies out of the rubble....don't come here spouting that conspiracy bull****...you give ALL canadians bad names!!!!! As far as the second tower bieng able to be saved and the firemen et it get destroyed or whatever crap you are saying...get a grip bro...that tower was f*cked on impact, the jet fuel melted that steel like it was made out of paper...again I don't need to read articles about this while I sit in my computer chair in ANOTHER COUNTRY....I WAS THERE and have plenty of nightmares that remind me of the canage I saw.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,253
From:
RE: Do we get out of Iraq
I saw the planes hit the towers and was close enough to feel the impact.....it was a terrible terrible time. The most horrible part of the entire thing was watching people throw themselves out of windows 60 stories up....that I will NEVER forget.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,453
From: Cincinnati, OH
RE: Do we get out of Iraq
I know .. I of course was nowhere near NYC that day but I stood and watched it on the live feeds ... we pretty much suspended operations here and gathered around the TV's in our cafeteria .. watched the 2nd impact and the Pentagon bit .. man that was a horrid day ... definitely gave at least me a feeling of helplessness :/
