Late April, 2004 2230 hrs. Balad, Iraq
All of the contingency contracting officers and enlisted soldiers were working late in our new concrete building. We each had a stack of contracts to administer, nothing unusual during war. The stack was always there, and would always be there, even after we leave and our replacements take over, just as it was when I arrived six months earlier. Several of the personnel were about to go back home and they wanted to close out loose ends.
Engulfed with our work, there was mostly silence, no vendors or customers milling about amidst the chatter as it was throughout the day. Suddenly, a tremendous bang popped above us, crashing onto the roof, causing debris to rain down upon us as we jumped, wide-eyed and reactively alert. Then, nothing. More silence. After a few murmurs, “What was that?” a few of us got up to investigate. The building was intact, no damage.
One of the Captains drove to the MP station where there were members from the Ordinance section. Their explanation was a simple, “Happens once in a while. A rocket landed on your roof but rather than exploding, it bounced. Probably laying in a field somewhere. We’ll come take a look but probably won’t find it tonight.”
Looking back on this incident, I was reminded of the words from 2 Corinthians, “…he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. (I) have placed (my) confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. You are helping us by praying for us. Many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety (1:10, 11-NLT).”
That moment was during my first Iraqi Freedom tour and second tour of duty to the Middle East, the first being in 1991 during Desert Storm. I would go back a year later and after retiring from the Army, return yet again as a contractor. In every instance, the words from 2 Corinthians rang true.
All of the contingency contracting officers and enlisted soldiers were working late in our new concrete building. We each had a stack of contracts to administer, nothing unusual during war. The stack was always there, and would always be there, even after we leave and our replacements take over, just as it was when I arrived six months earlier. Several of the personnel were about to go back home and they wanted to close out loose ends.
Engulfed with our work, there was mostly silence, no vendors or customers milling about amidst the chatter as it was throughout the day. Suddenly, a tremendous bang popped above us, crashing onto the roof, causing debris to rain down upon us as we jumped, wide-eyed and reactively alert. Then, nothing. More silence. After a few murmurs, “What was that?” a few of us got up to investigate. The building was intact, no damage.
One of the Captains drove to the MP station where there were members from the Ordinance section. Their explanation was a simple, “Happens once in a while. A rocket landed on your roof but rather than exploding, it bounced. Probably laying in a field somewhere. We’ll come take a look but probably won’t find it tonight.”
Looking back on this incident, I was reminded of the words from 2 Corinthians, “…he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. (I) have placed (my) confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. You are helping us by praying for us. Many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety (1:10, 11-NLT).”
That moment was during my first Iraqi Freedom tour and second tour of duty to the Middle East, the first being in 1991 during Desert Storm. I would go back a year later and after retiring from the Army, return yet again as a contractor. In every instance, the words from 2 Corinthians rang true.