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Forinstance,heisstilmariedandtheyrecentlyhadanotherchild.HenowteachesatExplosiveOrdnance Disposal(EOD)School.WhenIaskthenewairmeniftheyknowofhim,theyalwaysdo,becausetheyhave a l l b e e n ru n ra g g e d b y h is p h y s ic a l tra in in g p ro g ra m . S e rg e a n t W ild e h a s u s e d h is p o s itio n a t th e schoolhousetoteachthesetraineeshowtopushthemselvestothelimitandstilgetup,stilgoon,sothat somedayiftheyexperiencesomethingsimilartohisstorytheywilexpectit,confrontthememoriesofit,and pushthemselvesforward.
ThisishowWildetampsdownthatlitleboy.Thisishowheputshim torestandhowheavoidspickinghim upoverandoveragain.Thisishowheavoidsthemissingeyeandthebrainswithoutmuchblood.Thisis howheavoidsthesleeplessnights,andthisishowhemournsthatchild.Andthroughalofthishebeginsto misshistimeatwar.Thegoodpartsaresharpened–thecamaraderie,theaccolades,therush–andthe badpartsareblunted–thepain,theboredom,thefear.Healsouseshispositiontomournhistimein AfghanistanandIraq.
Yes,evenhistimetherehemourns...wemourn.Becauseasmuchaswehatedbeingthereandthethings thathappenedtousandaroundus,thereisapartofusthatdeeplymissesitandlongstobebackinthe comfortofourbodyarmor,helmet,andrifle.Imaginewalkingdownapathknowingthatthisdaycouldvery easilybethemostexhilaratingdayofyourlife.Thedayyoucheateddeath.Thedaythatyouwilnowmark timewith,“ThathappenedbeforethatfirefightintheArghandab.”Oritcouldjustaseasilybeyourlastday onearth.
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