Well it's now became a brand new year.
Will it be filled with love or filled with fear?
So as we're entering twenty twelve,
with so many things on our shelves.

 America's fighting an unpopular war,
many of our soldiers have died or seen gore.
Some will have injuries until they reach their death,

Another wonderful day in the world of dreams, the world of screams, the world of  blood that flows in streams.

The war machine

The war machine

 Oiled by the blood of man

 Today I'm just a strong young man,

trying to live life the best I can.

When Sgt. Rodriguez first came to the 264th I honestly thought he was an asshole. He was always yelling and getting pissed off at his soldiers. I remember thinking, "man I'm glad I'm not in his platoon." But, as I got to know him I grew to respect him more and more. Temper aisde, he's a great leader.

Driving down a gnarled dirt road in search of death incarnate as we see glimpses of his wraith. From my turret I smell his breath and feel it on the back of my neck. And, every now and again he shows his face. A bizarre filled with people clears in seconds. Only a shady few stay. The truck goes silent for an eternity. The Earth just stops moving for a moment.

An RPG, that's rocket propelled grenade, travels at roughly 700ft/sec. It has a general kill radius of 10m and is rather unpleasant. Why am I saying this? Because a few nights ago a friend of mine was hit with one. He took shrapnel and some TBI (traumatic Brain Injury) but survived. While sitting in a hospital bed he was paid a visit by the battalion Sgt.

I've spent the last six months of my life in a small volatile country called Afghanistan. I've missed Christmas with my family for the second year in a row and will possibly miss a third. I'll miss the 4th of July. I'll miss my brother's first high school football game even though he never missed a single one of mine.

Well, we've been at it again...  I honestly don't know if we accomplished anything worthwhile.