I just wanted to put the BBC coverage of my platoon's deeds on here for easy quick-linking. We had a great time with the reporters, Mark Urban and Mark McCauley. In May, we used to sit in "Doug's Diner" - named after our First Sergeant, Doug Maddi - and talk about our experiences. They had both been in numerous Arabic states, and spoke of 'the wave' and gaining rapport with the people. When we first deployed back into Tomah - where Gibson and Freeman were killed - me and the Lieutenant both laughed because we were throwing 'the wave' at everyone. It was a beginning.
I remember my first patrol back into Wahdi/Wahlameen. My section was driving down 3rd Street, so I dismounted and just started walking by myself with the truck following me. A kid was leaning against the wall - he was maybe 7-10 years old - so I walked up to him. "Irfa Aydek," I said: Raise your Hands. The people were so used to us coming in stormtrooping, so he raised his hands and got ready for 'tefteesh,' or being searched. There were some women on the street, and their fear was so apparent. So I walked up to the kid, dropped my weapon to my side (it was on a sling) and started tickling the kid. Everyone that saw started laughing as he squirmed all over the place, laughing. I chatted a few minutes with him, in Arabic, then continued on down the street, smiling, waving, and saying "Sabah al-Khayr," or, Good Morning. We still got attacked after that, a couple more times, but I think I showed them that, yes, you recognize us. Yes, the last time we were here, you couldn't walk the streets, safely. But, things are going to change; we're here for you.
That reminds me of something Jake told me. He was visiting a house and a woman said, quite frankly, how can you protect me if you can't protect yourself. When he and I spoke of the engagement, I told him, "We're not here to protect ourselves. If we wanted to be safe, we'd be back home. We're here to do what's necessary, even if it means getting killed, to make sure these people have a fresh start and a safe life." I think we agreed on that.
And I think I really internalized his speech the morning we went back into the neighborhood. "No road is black. No house is off limits. This is our neighborhood. We're going to take it and we're going to make a difference." And we did.
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