Dear Everyone, please read.
31 July 2004
I have an amazing testimony from this week. The Lord continues to reveal His presence to me. His protection on my life has been so humbling. Darlene gave me a paper with the 91st Psalm on in. I meditate on this daily, and have felt it in the past. I never realized how powerful and relevant God’s word really is.
On Thursday I lead a convoy up North for a resupply to our FOB (forward operating base) at the prison. Wednesday night I was unsettled. This particular weekly mission seems to always be the most dangerous one. I have lead several convoys since I have been here. I prayed especially hard that we would be protected, and that God would give me exceptional wisdom to make the right decisions. I sensed that this was going to be a different run than the previous ones. I lead four of our gun trucks, and sixteen of our men as the escorts. I had a total of twenty nine other soldiers from the FOB to escort up there. I gave an exceptionally detailed brief before we departed. The ride up was smoother than we are used to. We typically run into trouble when going through Baghdad, but nothing slowed us up today. Once I reached our destination in Balad, I checked in, so I could be cleared to return. I was informed that there were travel restrictions that day, do to credible threats. I had to convince them that we needed to return before night fall, because our other drivers did not have night vision capabilities. As the commander I put my truck as the number two vehicle in the order of movement. We had a very smooth return though the typical hot spots. We slowed down a couple of times to check out suspicious vehicles. We had reports that there were a couple vehicles in our area causing trouble the last couple days. A white BMW and a black Toyota corolla that had been shooting up the nationals that were working with the coalition forces. About five miles out from the prison, my front gun truck reported to me that they saw two vehicles ahead of the convoy that fit the description. They were running side by side far enough ahead of us, that we could not detain them. We noticed that no one else was in the area, which was strange. We traveled at a slower than normal speed, because we had some big trucks, loaded down, that could not keep up very well.
Suddenly, those vehicles ahead of us hit the gas, and disappeared down the road. My job is to make sure that the vehicles we escort stay safe; therefore pursuing the other vehicles was not my primary job. It is very common to see broken down vehicles on the side of the road. Most of the time we blow right by them. My front truck noticed a broken down vehicle ahead of us, and reported to me that no one was around it. We hit the brakes, and stopped just short of it. I got within a hundred feet of the vehicle, and saw a wire coming out of the trunk. I got out of my truck, and started motioning the other vehicles in the convoy to back up. I had my rear gun trucks set up a road block, so no other traffic could pass. I had all the passengers dismount the vehicles, and set up a security perimeter. I worked my way down the line letting everyone know what was going on. I got on the radio, and let our HQ know what was going on, and my location. I requested the bomb squad. I worked my way back up front. I got a call from my rear trucks telling my that another U.S. patrol requested to pass our convoy. I told them no, that we had a suspected car bomb ahead of us. Apparently they did not want to wait. It can take hours for the bomb squad to show up. I worked my way back up to the front, and felt that my truck, which was now the lead vehicle, was too close. I got in front of my truck and began yelling for my driver to back up. At that point there was nothing between me and the abandoned car.
I noticed three gun trucks speeding up the left hand side of my stopped convoy. I yelled at my assistant commander to stop them. He got out in front of them, but they blew right by us. I watched in disbelief as they tried to drive right by the abandoned vehicle. At this point I was still out front of everyone. I turned to look at the car, and the three vehicles passing it, at a high rate of speed. Once the second truck from the other convoy passed, the car exploded. Someone had been watching us, and detonated the car. It was horrifying. I was looking right at the vehicle. I saw a bright flash, and a huge explosion. Shrapnel was flying everywhere. I had no cover, and stood there, exposed to it all.
I should have been vaporized. I didn’t even get knocked down. My ear drums didn’t blow, and I didn’t receive a scratch. I was safe in the shadow of His wing. It was a miracle. My men were all behind cover, and they did not expect to see me coming out of the smoke. Debris was raining everywhere. The vehicle that was passing took a direct hit. I felt no fear, and I was at peace, still able to make clear decisions. I sent out two four man patrols to look for secondary devices, to make sure we were not in a kill zone trap. I radioed in for a quick reaction force (QRF). We spotted an individual drive away after the explosion, so they went after him. My vehicle that I was in front out was covered with shrapnel, and the gunner on the vehicle behind that caught a piece in his helmet. There were no other injuries to our guys. The vehicles that got hit took their wounded and went back to the prison hospital.
Tony Sandler, the guy from Kennsington, happened to be on that convoy. As I was checking for casualties I saw him standing by his vehicle saying “thank you Jesus”. Tony rarely gets out on convoys, and this whole thing was new to him. I give all glory to the Lord for that day, and I refuse to take credit for it. He gave me the wisdom to do the right things, and the protection to make it through it. All day I was saying out loud in my truck, “I shall not die, but live, and proclaim the works of the Lord”. Darlene had given me verses to memorize, and I used them, and I believed them.
I have been received as a hero all week since this has happened. I had several people who were there, thanked me for saving their lives. This has been an opportunity to proclaim the works of the Lord. I know that I had nothing to do with this, and all glory goes to Him. Once this was over I began to pray that I would remain humble, and take no credit for what happened. I have been in two ceremonies this week, where I received medals. This has been a testimony to His faithfulness, and a great opportunity to share my faith.
This isn’t a story for everyone. I just wanted to share my experience with you, and Darlene. God is listening to our prayers. I am humbled.
You can share this with anyone who doesn’t fully trust in the word of God. I love you, and will talk to you soon.
This is a letter from my Uncle Brian in Iraq.
I have an amazing testimony from this week. The Lord continues to reveal His presence to me. His protection on my life has been so humbling. Darlene gave me a paper with the 91st Psalm on in. I meditate on this daily, and have felt it in the past. I never realized how powerful and relevant God’s word really is.
On Thursday I lead a convoy up North for a resupply to our FOB (forward operating base) at the prison. Wednesday night I was unsettled. This particular weekly mission seems to always be the most dangerous one. I have lead several convoys since I have been here. I prayed especially hard that we would be protected, and that God would give me exceptional wisdom to make the right decisions. I sensed that this was going to be a different run than the previous ones. I lead four of our gun trucks, and sixteen of our men as the escorts. I had a total of twenty nine other soldiers from the FOB to escort up there. I gave an exceptionally detailed brief before we departed. The ride up was smoother than we are used to. We typically run into trouble when going through Baghdad, but nothing slowed us up today. Once I reached our destination in Balad, I checked in, so I could be cleared to return. I was informed that there were travel restrictions that day, do to credible threats. I had to convince them that we needed to return before night fall, because our other drivers did not have night vision capabilities. As the commander I put my truck as the number two vehicle in the order of movement. We had a very smooth return though the typical hot spots. We slowed down a couple of times to check out suspicious vehicles. We had reports that there were a couple vehicles in our area causing trouble the last couple days. A white BMW and a black Toyota corolla that had been shooting up the nationals that were working with the coalition forces. About five miles out from the prison, my front gun truck reported to me that they saw two vehicles ahead of the convoy that fit the description. They were running side by side far enough ahead of us, that we could not detain them. We noticed that no one else was in the area, which was strange. We traveled at a slower than normal speed, because we had some big trucks, loaded down, that could not keep up very well.
Suddenly, those vehicles ahead of us hit the gas, and disappeared down the road. My job is to make sure that the vehicles we escort stay safe; therefore pursuing the other vehicles was not my primary job. It is very common to see broken down vehicles on the side of the road. Most of the time we blow right by them. My front truck noticed a broken down vehicle ahead of us, and reported to me that no one was around it. We hit the brakes, and stopped just short of it. I got within a hundred feet of the vehicle, and saw a wire coming out of the trunk. I got out of my truck, and started motioning the other vehicles in the convoy to back up. I had my rear gun trucks set up a road block, so no other traffic could pass. I had all the passengers dismount the vehicles, and set up a security perimeter. I worked my way down the line letting everyone know what was going on. I got on the radio, and let our HQ know what was going on, and my location. I requested the bomb squad. I worked my way back up front. I got a call from my rear trucks telling my that another U.S. patrol requested to pass our convoy. I told them no, that we had a suspected car bomb ahead of us. Apparently they did not want to wait. It can take hours for the bomb squad to show up. I worked my way back up to the front, and felt that my truck, which was now the lead vehicle, was too close. I got in front of my truck and began yelling for my driver to back up. At that point there was nothing between me and the abandoned car.
I noticed three gun trucks speeding up the left hand side of my stopped convoy. I yelled at my assistant commander to stop them. He got out in front of them, but they blew right by us. I watched in disbelief as they tried to drive right by the abandoned vehicle. At this point I was still out front of everyone. I turned to look at the car, and the three vehicles passing it, at a high rate of speed. Once the second truck from the other convoy passed, the car exploded. Someone had been watching us, and detonated the car. It was horrifying. I was looking right at the vehicle. I saw a bright flash, and a huge explosion. Shrapnel was flying everywhere. I had no cover, and stood there, exposed to it all.
I should have been vaporized. I didn’t even get knocked down. My ear drums didn’t blow, and I didn’t receive a scratch. I was safe in the shadow of His wing. It was a miracle. My men were all behind cover, and they did not expect to see me coming out of the smoke. Debris was raining everywhere. The vehicle that was passing took a direct hit. I felt no fear, and I was at peace, still able to make clear decisions. I sent out two four man patrols to look for secondary devices, to make sure we were not in a kill zone trap. I radioed in for a quick reaction force (QRF). We spotted an individual drive away after the explosion, so they went after him. My vehicle that I was in front out was covered with shrapnel, and the gunner on the vehicle behind that caught a piece in his helmet. There were no other injuries to our guys. The vehicles that got hit took their wounded and went back to the prison hospital.
Tony Sandler, the guy from Kennsington, happened to be on that convoy. As I was checking for casualties I saw him standing by his vehicle saying “thank you Jesus”. Tony rarely gets out on convoys, and this whole thing was new to him. I give all glory to the Lord for that day, and I refuse to take credit for it. He gave me the wisdom to do the right things, and the protection to make it through it. All day I was saying out loud in my truck, “I shall not die, but live, and proclaim the works of the Lord”. Darlene had given me verses to memorize, and I used them, and I believed them.
I have been received as a hero all week since this has happened. I had several people who were there, thanked me for saving their lives. This has been an opportunity to proclaim the works of the Lord. I know that I had nothing to do with this, and all glory goes to Him. Once this was over I began to pray that I would remain humble, and take no credit for what happened. I have been in two ceremonies this week, where I received medals. This has been a testimony to His faithfulness, and a great opportunity to share my faith.
This isn’t a story for everyone. I just wanted to share my experience with you, and Darlene. God is listening to our prayers. I am humbled.
You can share this with anyone who doesn’t fully trust in the word of God. I love you, and will talk to you soon.
This is a letter from my Uncle Brian in Iraq.