aadler | Day 13 at NTC

Up 4:30 AM, loaded the truck, got ice in the cooler, lined up with the other drivers, and went to get our interpreter. Quick convoy brief, then we were on our way at 6:00 AM.

The scenario was that a stash of weapons had been discovered in the desert; our assigned company would assess, disarm, remove and/or destroy those weapons, while we and our interpreter would warn local civilians away from the danger area and deal with those who had information or complaints.

As it happened, we reached the area before any civilians could, after which they either decided their role-play had been pre-empted, or were kept out by the security cordon. Result, my team and truck sat on top of a hill while the rest of the mission was carried out. Before it got too hot, I pulled out my paperwork and did some further work on “Zero-Sum Game”. (Almost exactly 1,000 words, as it turns out. As I’ve visualized the story, it has four parts, with transitional passages to link the parts. I’ve done two, so I’m about half-done, and the completed story should run somewhere around 4,000 words.) After that, I just sat very still, in what shade I could find, trying to sweat as little as possible.

We got back to the FOB about 3:15 PM. I helped my team unload the truck, then headed to BSTB TOC for an afternoon briefing. On the way, the CO of the battalion hailed me with the news that my team was to be pushed out to another base for “a couple of days”. O-o-kay.

After the briefing, I went back to the barracks tent and coordinated with my NCOIC. He explained that another of our teams requested that we join them for an upcoming operation at FOB Dallas. That’s encouraging; the last time we were sent somewhere “for a few day”, we discovered after arriving that we’d be here for the duration.

Evening chow, worked up a sitrep, and then had hours of time with nothing that had to be done right away. I went by the interpreters’ tent to visit with them and thank them for their help, courtesy and hospitality … and then, because the opportunity was available (a rarity in itself, Catholic chaplains are relatively scarce in the military), I went to Confession and then Mass.

(I got a bit of a jolt. During the part of the service where we add our own prayers, I inwardly said, Lord, look after my wife, my children, and all who are dear to me. And the thought came back, clear and instant: And how should I do this? Who would be the proper instrument for ministering to those YOU value? Whoa. Wake-up call. I love my family, but feeling isn’t doing. I should be doing more.)

After that, I pretty much went straight to bed.