The Pre-Game Show Took Over!

Everyone has a way of getting ready for the next mission. some method of calming nerves, psyching up, whatever...

My driver from Bremen GA holds out a mojo bag full of good luck charms for each platoon member to touch. A buddy of mine from Lithia Springs GA drinks a creatine shake and puts in a fat pinch of snuff. Me, I sing.

Todays selection was Hank Sr. "Love Sick Blues,"

I got a feelin called the blu-oo-oo-oo-ues, since my baby said goodbye

I don't know why this song popped up. I remember Budreaux singing it in his apartment near canton OH. But it popped up this afternoon and for three hours as we waited for the launch signal I sang or hummed or thought

Lord I don't know what I'll do-oo-oo-oo-o, all I can do is sit and cry-aye-ahhhh

and as we rolled into the staging area near Lutayfiyah, rechecked our night vision, linked up with adjacent units, gained the final intel dump, grid coordinates, sat photos and overlays, back briefs etc

I've grown so used to you somehow, oh Lord baby, sugar momma now

we hit the target area Bravo tanks set the outer cordon and we scouts moved to recon a route into the dairy plant, home (supposedly) of an IED maker. We were the designated breach team.

I'm Lo-eo-e-onesome. I've got the lovesick blues.

I was point man for alpha team. The fourman and I found a gate leading into the courtyard I started to hop it, but we saw a man approaching. some hushed shouts later we had two detainees. A search of the closest building and we had two more. We moved security further in, bravo questioned the detainees and a cute little puppy came up and sat peacefully wagging his tail and laying down at the feet of me and the two man.

I'm in love I'm in love witha beautiful gal, thats whatsa-matter with me

Blue platoon from bravo moved past us to stage outside their target building and we moved towards ours. they secured three kaleshnikovs, we secured two more personel and spotted movement in another building.

I'm in love I'm in love with a beautiful gal, and she don't care bout me

This last building had us shaky. the two teams never staged correctly. Bravo spotted more movement outside and began shouting, then i heard movement and crys inside and triggered the four to breach so i could enter. I came in barrel up safety off to a woman holding her baby. There were three others inside but i couldn't clear her from my vision. "It-me-ded" I told them, lay down.

Lord I've tried and tried to keep her satisfied, but she just won't stay

She and her family sat crying and shaken as we searched their home room by room holding them at gunpoint. I moed past them several times, she meeting my eyes. Finally I stopped again in front of her and took in what I could. Her child was red faced from screaming, little folds and creases of stress across its face, her eyes were needy as she looked from the child to me. I'm shitty at arabic. "Salaam" peace i told her. and in the calmest voice i could muster i said everything was gonna be fine, we're looking for ali baba, and we mean her no harm.

and now that she's a le-e-ee-a-eavin I guess this is all i can say

Long story short it was a "wrong ambush site" situation.

I got a feelin called the blu-oo-oo-oo-ues, since my baby said goodbye

This family had nothing to do with terrer-ists

Lord I don't know what I'll do-oo-oo-oo-o, all I can do is sit and cry-aye-ahhhh

I went back into their house one last time, closing their chicken pen door that we'd left open in the search. I looked at terrified mom and started singing

that last long day she said goodbye, well lord i thought I would cry, she'll do me, she'll do you, she's got that kinda lovin, Lord I love to hear it when she calss me sweet ba-y-ay-by such a beautiful dream. It's got me shakin all o-e-o-over, I've lost my heart it seems. I've grown so used to you somehow, Lord momma sugarbaby now I'm lo-e-o-o-onesome I've got the lovesick blues.

Keep it real Lambs,
REV

Never take your s2's word at face value. So many things coulda gone wrong. we released all the detainees and apologized, moved out of the cordon and back home. I've got about six hours before i go out again.

Side note: My leave is in July, here are my choices "Baghdad to Berlin Tour 05" - taking suggestions for destinations. "Bum across Amurka 05," - also open to suggestions, or hide on a beach somewhere drinking magaritas and soaking sun.