5 of 9

Write now Article Tools

A friend of mine was one of the first to enter Baghdad. He reminded me of my brother who had died a hero's death in Viet Nam. Both proud Marines. Both honorable human beings. Both charming, alluring, extremely handsome, dynamic, fun, sunny, sweet, endearing, and sparkling. They shared a common twinkle in their eyes which, even in this day and age, is uncommon to the vast majority of people around the world.

I spoke with my friend on the night before he left for Baghdad. He was a new Marine, fresh out of boot camp. Standing tall, though he was not a tall man, and straight, though he, too, was frightened by the egregious, slow beheadings of those whom the Taliban had sequestered. He was mentally preparing himself for possible hand-to-hand combat against a ruthless, underestimated enemy, while enjoying the frippery of that which could possibly have been his final adieu to the American night life. For several hours, he was radiant. Alert. Engaging, laughing, smiling, winking. Aware. And, with the flash of his most winsome smile, he bade us good-bye.

I saw him, within the same local club, one year later. His shoulders hunched. Wide, stark, dark eyes, staring into black nothingness. Beer in hand. Grateful that he had made it home alive, I gave him a few minutes berth while I observed his apparent demeanor.

I greeted him warmly, then, rather directly, asked him what had happened "over there", causing his brilliant sparkle to have disappeared from his eyes. Because of my brother's experiences in Viet Nam, he knew that I would understand his answer to my question.

So, as directly, his shrunken response was, "When we entered Baghdad, they made us drive tanks down the center of the streets, shooting, without warning, anyone who stood in the street before us - women, children, the elderly; waving, cheering. Our commanders didn't care; we had to shoot. Those were our orders. Everyone. Refusal to shoot everyone in the streets would have resulted in us being shot by our own men." Silence followed.

Had our commanders learned nothing from the protester in Tiananmen Square when he stood, like a man, in front of the advancing tanks? Even the leading Chinese soldier tank driver halted in respect.

When I was four, I believed that each Nazi soldier was culpable for the horrors perpetrated under the jurisdiction of the transitional government which Hitler called The New Order [Time/Life Books: The New Order]. Decades later, I came to know that soldiers, historically, have been required,

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Testimonies: Civilian life after Iraq?
We want to hear your view. Write now!