ass pain

We completed yet another patrol into one of the more dangerous towns NW of our position today. It was considered by some to be highly unnecessary and errant, however off we went, boots popping dime size chunks of mud and dirt all along the way. The temperature was well above 40 today and the heat shimmer off the desert offered a 360 degree translucent field of view. I'm not sure if it was the heat, the fact that it was $@B s last patrol, or simply 6.5 months of patrolling, but the guys were tired out there today (myself not to be excluded). I reckon it was more psychological than anything, an equivalent to what runners might refer to as "the wall" or what an author may refer to as "writers block". At the end of it all everyone made it back in one piece shortly after lunch. One of our 2 sister platoons would not have it so lucky these past 2 days. 4&* occupies a position to our SW on the southern edge of N*******. They'e been out there for around 2 months now and patrol primarily to the south. This is where my good friend and future best man Yan Fortin is located. To emphasize the threat we face daily is to encompass every type of IED that can be used against us. Well, in those not to southern parts, it seems as though the pressure plate IEDs are the flavor of choice these days. The insurgents have been using a variant with a command wire safe to arm switch to ensure local nationals do not trigger these bad boys. When they observe our approach a power source is hooked up and the damn thing is ready to blow with a little help from a boot.
Like I said, 4&* got a wee bit lucky. 2 days ago they were patrolling in their AO and the dog handler John happened to step on one of these things. John is a 6'4" yankee who happens to be one of the better handlers. Well, he was sent into orbit while his dog remained grounded. Apparently he's in Germany now with not much more than a shattered leg, a broken arm, and a few frag holes in his frame. Came out in pretty good shape for a guy who stepped on a bomb. The next day another patrol. One of the guys (will refrain from using name as I know only his last) stepped on yet another bomb. This individual was extremely luck as he too was sent into orbit, however the only injury he sustained was a bruised ass from when he came back to earth. Upon completing the post blast, it turns out that only a fraction of the 5gl. pail of explosives had initiated resulting in a significantly "weaker" detonation. To regress to my previous blog I had mentioned that I figured there was a new bomb guy in the area. This certainly is indicative of my theory. I think an officer said it best today...."It's about time we got lucky." Yeah, no doubt about that.
So we got back and Hawk as well as Rediger headed down the road for some administration. Well I'd be damned if they didn't bring back 3 out of our 7 replacements. I guess my first thoughts were that this tour is actually going to end. We've arranged a few activities for the new guys to run through, attempting to bring them up to speed in the shortest amount of time. Not sure when the rest of their posse is getting here. I wish I could deposit my brain and what I've learned over the last 7 months into their heads. There are some things they are simply going to have to learn on their own.
The guys are all good to go. Spirits are high as the new guys start to trickle in. I will leave it at that and keep yas posted.... until the next....out