Perspective

I know, I know, I'm a shit-bag for not posting anything sooner. Truth is....not much going on up here. I am after all stuck in prison inside these fence-lined walls. Today, we are having yet ANOTHER dust storm with 30 mph winds and blowing dust everywhere. The heat has been on the rise, I think it's been around 115-120 lately and I don't care what anyone says...the desert is NOT a dry heat!! There is nothing dry on my body after I have been out on a mission all morning in this damned heat. Nothing finer than feeling that lone sweat droplet start at the base of my neck and trace the curve of my spine all the way down and end up settling in my ass!! Nice graphic huh? Sorry, that's the joys of being deployed to this jolly sandbox!
I have started volunteering at the base hospital. I have been really apprehensive to do this, because a couple of the guys in my unit have been over several times to help on the pad. They came back one night after helping out and told the horrific tale of assisting with two of our boys that didn't fare so well that night. Kinda messed my guys up for a couple of days. I really want to do my part over here and help out in any way I can, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to be taken out of my protective bubble that I live in every day. Yes, I'm in Iraq and yes, I'm part of the war, but since I have been here nothing has really put the whole ordeal into perspective for me. I go to work in my nice air-conditioned building with my internet and dsn phones available at a moments notice. I have a POD for just my roommate and myself with cable tv, fridge, microwave and dvd player. We even have a porch light for God's sake. My shower and toilet trailers are so clean you could eat off the floor. The DFAC serves crab legs every day at lunch. What else could I possibly ask for in a deployment, right? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all! I just feel that I didn't volunteer to come to Iraq to just groove along up here, but to make my mark on this war. Whatever mark that may be. That's why I want to volunteer at the hospital. Why I NEED to volunteer at the hospital. These are my soldiers, OUR soldiers and we have to be there when they need us. When I was there the other night, my roommate had some toys sent from home for the kids on the ward. There was a little girl that had been playing with a UXO (unexploded ordinance) that blew up on her. She lost an eye and shattered a lot of the bones in her legs so she has rods sticking out of them to help them grow back properly. She was sooo cute and so sweet. Her dad was there with her and he allowed us to take some pictures. I don't think I will forget her. It was amazing to see her determination even after what happened to her. The interpreter said she was going to give the toys to her big sister and her little brother when she got home. She is only 3! How awesome is that. I think we can all learn a little from that little girl.
Well, the klaxon alarm just went off and I'm supposed to be hiding under the desk right now. I figure if it's my time, the desk is not going to protect me from a mortar. HA! On that note, I'm outta here before a mortar falls on my head or some shit!