"Food," that's all I heard him say and he said it three times. We had just returned from a short mission "outside the wire" and were getting ready to enter our base. While out on patrol we are at 100% alert and always expect the unexpected. We are also never to throw candy, food or water to anybody, especially not children. This is because they can be used as "bait" for an ambush and get a lot of us killed or injured. And the children are always waiting for the Americans coming and going from our base.
It really pulls at one's heartstrings to drive by so many children and act as if they don't exist, but we rarely have a choice. So, as we were pulling into our safety zone, I took the ammunition out of my machine gun and removed my goggles. (We were in a lane that had heavy machine gun coverage, fences and concertina wire as security for us.) "Food" I heard from a very faint child's voice, and looking over the top of my weapon and through the wire, I saw him. A child of perhaps 4 to 6 years, a boy, barefoot, soiled and hungry.
A soldier said "Hey Sarge, look he's hungry don't we have something?" Yes! I had candy and food in my fanny pack. "Food" he said it again. I knew I had to hurry, we'd be moving in the compound soon. "Food" for the third time, and now he rubbed his stomach. "Help me out of this gear!" I said to my fellow machine-gunner. I had to get to the food. I didn't move fast enough, the child caught me unprepared for kindness.
Our vehicle bolted into the base to water, safety and food.
As we drove forward I had a long backward glance at that little boy and wondered when, if ever, his hunger would cease.
I made myself a promise, a promise to keep, that from that day on I will keep candy and food next to my bullets. If I can do harm or even kill in the fraction of a second, then shouldn't I also be able to perform an act of kindness? My only consolation, at this point, is that I know that little boy won't have long to wait until one of us Americans do what is right. After all, the kids wait there for a reason don't they?
One more thing to note. As we drove through the series of obstacles and past some of the Iraqi soldiers I shouted out "Salam Alekum" (Peace to you) and the soldier made the "Hang loose" sign with his hand and smiled back. I'm lucky to be an American.
Leave a comment