Sometimes something little happens that you know is special, but you cannot talk about it right away. You have to let it absorb and sink in for a bit before you share it with anyone else.
Recently some of our team returned from a mission. These missions are never routine and are taxing on all involved. Everything is a potential threat or hazard. From traffic driving on the wrong side of the road, children playing in the roads, to IED’s, a mission is taxing both physically and mentally.
When you return to the relative safety of the FOB and off load from the MRAP’s everyone tries to come down from the mission. Immediately body armor and helmets are placed in sweaty piles on the ground. Bottles of water are chugged to replenish fluids lost from wearing body armor in the heat.
Some guys will talk about what they saw or what they could do differently. Some will light up a cigarette or a cigar. Others will toss around a football. Others simply sit and enjoy being done with the mission.
On this particular day a group of a half dozen guys were sitting down smoking and talking when they noticed a visitor to their area. This visitor was not invited to the group but he was safe among these tough Soldiers.
As he slowly moved along the gravel towards the boot of one of the Soldiers, a rough hand slowly reached down and allowed this creature to climb aboard.
As the chatter died down this group of guys soon became enthralled by this visitor. He was passed from Soldier to Soldier where nothing but gentle touch was to be found.
Soon the creature was placed gingerly onto to the gravel where all passerby’s were warned to not step on him or harm him.
For me this scene, although only lasting for a few moments, epitomizes the Soldiers found in the Army. These trained Soldiers, who only moments before were locked, loaded, and ready to kill; would not let any harm come to a simple praying mantis.
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