Horrible Tragedy
When I came to Camp Butmir yesterday afternoon, all flags (except the American flags*) were flying at half mast. It turns out that the Macedonian contingent that left earlier that morning by helicopter crashed. There are no survivors.
Just the night before, three of them were at the American bar, where they were fairly regularly. Most of us knew them. They were easy to identify because they often appeared in their flight suits having come straight from work. They were outgoing, friendly, and cheerful.
This flight was home for them. They were done. The helicopter was going to reload and take on a new crew, then head back to Sarajevo. The guys who died in the crash were coming home and died within sight of the airport, only 10km away. I can't help but wonder if their families were not excitedly waiting for their landing which should have occurred in just minutes.
*The American flags were not at half mast because we have a procedure of approvals that need to occur for the American flag to fly at half mast on a military base. I was assured our flags will be at half mast tomorrow. In the mean time, we look like heartless jerks. These guys were our personal friends and they were our colleagues on this mission.
Just the night before, three of them were at the American bar, where they were fairly regularly. Most of us knew them. They were easy to identify because they often appeared in their flight suits having come straight from work. They were outgoing, friendly, and cheerful.
This flight was home for them. They were done. The helicopter was going to reload and take on a new crew, then head back to Sarajevo. The guys who died in the crash were coming home and died within sight of the airport, only 10km away. I can't help but wonder if their families were not excitedly waiting for their landing which should have occurred in just minutes.
*The American flags were not at half mast because we have a procedure of approvals that need to occur for the American flag to fly at half mast on a military base. I was assured our flags will be at half mast tomorrow. In the mean time, we look like heartless jerks. These guys were our personal friends and they were our colleagues on this mission.