Last evening I watched Grace is Gone starring John Cusack, a powerful film about a man who upon learning of his wife's death in Iraq, struggles to convey the devastating news to his two young daughters. In my opinion this film should be required viewing for the American people -- especially supporters of the war in Iraq who have no loved ones serving. It set my thoughts racing faster than I could keep up with them.
Because Grace is Gone is a story about a family pained by the death of a female soldier, I can't help myself not to reflect back to night of October 26, 2003 in the Abu Ghraib market. A night that I would very much like to forget -- it is not that I don't want to -- it is that I can't.
My infantry unit was working closely with a military police unit conducting "rapid response" to violent activity in our sector. We permanently positioned ourselves in a small police station called the municipal building. That night I was pulling guard duty on the roof of the building and things were unusually calm and peaceful -- a rarity for me and my fellow soldiers. When my guard shift expired I came down from the roof to my sleeping area. I loosened my body armor and boot straps and dozed off for a short while until the moment came -- BOOM BOOM BOOM.
Without any warning or expectation our municipal building was on the receiving end of an insurgent mortar attack. The mortars fell upon us quite accurately with deafening explosions.
Most of us were protected by the concrete building as the mortars landed outside directly in the parking area.
The first barrage of incoming mortars exploded at the exact same time that a contingent of military police were exiting their vehicles after pulling into the parking area -- they were fully exposed and received the full brunt of the attack.
Hearing the chaos -- I immediately tightened my body armor, tied my boots, grabbed my weapon and ran outside with approximately one dozen other soldiers. The mortars started falling short of our position. One of my junior soldiers ran out into the lot to aid the the MPs -- inspiring the rest of us to join him. We carried three critically wounded soldiers into the building. Two of the soldiers appeared to have lost limbs. The third soldier, a female, had no sign of an injury but was clearly fading away.
Moments later our combat medics arrived on the scene to evacuate the bodies -- two were still alive. Tragically, the MP who was killed was a 19 year-old girl who days prior survived an IED attack.
My squad leader ordered us out into the streets to patrol the area on foot to find the killers -- we wanted revenge. The night ended without us quenching our thirst for the blood of those who attacked us and killed one of our fellow soldiers.
Looking back on the incident I have always struggled to find out what hurt me the most about the death of that military policewoman. Was it her youth? Was it her gender? Was it simply just that another U.S. soldier was killed? Or was it a combination of all three? I still haven't reached a conclusion.
I just want you all to know her name -- Private First Class Rachel Bosveld.
The days after Rachel's death were terrible -- constant attacks, riots, and day-long battles.
Often I think of Lori Piestewa, the first woman & mother to be killed in Iraq -- in the very same convoy that Jessica Lynch was ambushed. I have no personal connection to Specialist Piestewa. However, I do have a wish for every American to know her name as well as PFC Bosveld. From the pictures I see of Specialist Piestewa on the web -- she appears to be a genuinely beautiful person -- inside and out.
In the end, all I can do is honor them both.
This was written as a recognition of all women who wear the uniform. I know that female troops don't want to be recognized by their gender -- they're members of America's armed forces -- first and foremost. But this is the very first war that women are fighting side by side with men up close and personal with the enemy.
In addition, these women have more courage and intestinal fortitude than most men in America -- Especially the cowards who support the continued war in Iraq while they stay home. They justify their lack of service by standing on a street corner waiving the flag and simultaneously spewing neocon rhetoric -- the epitome of the worst element in American society.
The moral and main point of this story is that I am so very honored to have served with PFC Bosveld, wishing I could have known Specialist Piestewa, and it was inspired by the film Grace is Gone.
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Beautifully done! Thank you.
itmaybetoolate,
I am pleased to hear from you again. Thank you for the kind reply.
V/R
John
Great Post Brother! I haven't seen the movie; but, I am definetely going to. I had the same feelings when I first heard the Lynch and Piestawa story in the news. All I could think about was the young female soldiers I was no longer leading who were over there, and hoping no harm would come to them. I get into it at work all the time with the "Chickenhawks" he didn't have the balls to serve, and have the same arguments constantly.
FLGuardsman,
Thanks for the reply , and letting me know there are others out there who feel the same way. I am constantly going back-and-forth with the chickenhawks -- they are the worst element in American society. I appreciate your input .
In solidarity,
John Bruhns
I quite agree - I hate the warmongers who have never served in the military, yet support the indefensible Iraq war. If they think the war is justified, let them go over there and fight in the son of a bitch themselves! But no, they cheer the war for somebody else to fight.
SteveWeisert,
Amen Amen
V/R
John
SteveWeisert,
Amen.
V/R
John
In a startling revelation, the former commander of Abu Ghraib prison testified that Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, former senior US military commander in Iraq, gave orders to cover up the cause of death for some female American soldiers serving in Iraq.
Last week, Col. Janis Karpinski told a panel of judges at the Commission of Inquiry for Crimes against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration in New York that several women had died of dehydration because they refused to drink liquids late in the day. They were afraid of being assaulted or even raped by male soldiers if they had to use the women's latrine after dark.
tbone99,
I never heard that, nor can I back it up. Any MSM coverage on it? The incident I describe took place in the Abu Ghraib "market" area in a small police station ...
V/R
John
MSM ? no . This news is old but caught my eye when I was looking for the recent article on the much higher incidence of PTSD among women soldiers due to sexual assault from their "comrades"( published in th NYT in last few weeks)
http://www.truthout.org/article/military-hides-cause-women-soldiers-deaths
Thank you for writing this article.
Jess27,
You're very welcome. Thank you for reading it and replying.
V/R
John
That was incredible! If that wasn't your best written piece, maybe you should let your fingers fly (while your heart takes the wheel) more often. It made my stomach hurt, made me cry and made me beyond grateful and filled with awe by the people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for what they believe in. I have never been behind this war, but I've have never held an ill feeling towards those who believed that they were were serving and protecting their country or believed that they were bringing democracy to Iraq. I've got ill will out the ears towards the people who put them in harm's way, who squandered their heroism and altruism for this farce, but that's another post. Thank you for honoring Rachel Bosveld and Lori Piestewa who's name I don't remember hearing over the dog and pony propaganda of Jessica Lynch (which, to her credit, she spoke out against the smoke and mirror show the admin was selling). These women are just two of thousands upon thousands who've lost their lives and who's families are left to try to live without them. And you put them into the hearts and minds of everyone who didn't have the honor of knowing them, but who read (and will talk about) this post. Keep writing.
kareneiffel,
Thanks very much for your kind comment. I share your outrage with those who send others off to die in war like toy soldiers -- life is too valuable.
V/R
John
As we're seeing in the mental health reports coming out now, the killing in war is often only slightly less painful than the dieing.
The book from Viet Nam Vets that moved me the most was "Home Before Morning" by a field nurse and how trying to heal the ravages of war impacted her.
My lesson from all of this is that the price of war, any war, every war, is always much to high to even consider paying unless there is a clear and overriding imperative for our entering it.
Now we're facing a choice between a non-Vet who appears to understand this truth, and a Vet who, inexplicably seems to have forgotten what he once surely must have known. Fortunately this distinction is so stark that it is simply unfathomable that the electorate will not sweep out the old in a landslide.
oldpotsmuggler,
I agree.
V/R
John
I just read an article that suggested that President Bush
sees the world as though it was a movie set, with him as
the lead. Since it's fantasy in the movies, he doesn't see
the reality.
Maybe those who are supportive of the war, see the world
in the same way. The dying soldiers, whether they are male
or female, are just bit players. That's also true of what is
being said and written about Iran. Bush sees a golden
sunset on the horizon. Trouble is, the blood is real.
Plain and simple Bush is a sociopath, no script needed.
deminmo,
That is probably true -- that Bush sees the world as this is was a movie set with him as the lead.
V/R
John
Thanks for the heads-up John. I hardly ever watch, so the occasional worthwhile program slips by. I will pick up the DVD. Good post.
burnt,
Do pick up the DVD -- it is an eye opener. Thanks.
V/R
John
John,
Thank you for telling still another truth so eloquently. War isn't a football game, with cheerleaders and fans--except to the NeoCon Chickenhawks, who stand on the sidelines, shake their pompoms, and shout encouragement to far better men AND WOMEN than they'll ever be. These cowardly NeoCon Chickenhawks will never fight a war - except with their overwrought, overblown words - and they deserve neither the respect nor the attention of anyone who's actually earned (or is in the process of earning) a combat endorsement on his OR HER DD-214.
LouisPWu,
I totally understand & agree. Thank you so very much for your comment . -- JB
I'll take truth over well written any day. Especially today.
jmpurser,
Keep it coming. -- JB
Great post John, thanks for your honesty and insight your posts are from the heart. As you point out there are far too many men who support this war who will not serve, have no urge to serve and even will forbid their own children from serving, all while waving the flag fervently and calling me (a veteran) a liberal (what does that mean?). I love how these Bush loving war mongers think they are actually supporting the troops by placing a magnetic ribbon( now faded) on their car, denigrating Cindy Sheehan ( the mother of a slain veteran) Allowing soldiers to serve three or more tours of combat (they volunteered) and of course being against any and all spending on veterans benefits but not caring about fraud, waste, corruption and cronyism that is the hallmark of the Bush Presidency.
jfor,
Thank you sir for your service. I totally concur with your comment -- thank you for sharing your thoughts . JB
That was very well written. Thanks for telling us about the movie and about the memories it stirred. I hadn't heard of Grace is Gone and will definitely see it at some point.
LizM,
Thank you -- check out the movie -- sad, yet powerful.
V/R
JB
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Posted June 1, 2008 | 03:51 PM (EST)