If you ever needed a sudden reality check, a blown up hummvee usually did the job. This sight was a constant daily reminder on what we were in for, and it had the eerie symbolism of a really fucked welcome sign. Daily, it introduced the feeling of the faith that could be in store. This Iraqi patrol was attacked right outside of our wire, during a sandstorm, and the insurgents were smart enough to use that to their advantage. You could hear the exchange of gunfire and explosions, but that's all you heard through the wall of sand. A few mortars rounds hit our position, trying to walk them in, but nothing major. As I was hearing all this unfold from the rooftop, a stretcher came in with one of the Iraqi Soldiers resting on it, his body completely mangled, but somewhat still alive. As he was looking up at the sky, his eyes meet mine and I thought to myself : "He doesn't know what he's looking at, but I know...I'm looking at a dying man". After the storm settled, this was one of the remnants of the skirmish, and dose of reality. #stayzero #truth #war @whateverthecost