March 2004

A few days after arriving at Combat Outpost, we witnessed a casualty come in. It wasn't serious but required evacuation. Regardless, he was in the Army and I didn't know him, so I could remain detached. However, not two weeks after the company rolled in, one of our motorized patrols was rolling through the city when an IED went off near one of the HMMWVs. The blast wounded four of the Marines in the back of that truck. Gunny J pulled me aside later to tell me that one of the Marines wounded was one of my good friends and that he had lost his jaw to the explosion. Another had lost an eye, the other two took shrapnel in their legs, one of which was able to return to duty. This brought it home for me and many others at the Outpost. It was real, we were at war with an enemy who believed that we were weak and undetermined. As bad as these casualties were, they strengthened the resolve of Golf Company. We focused on finding those responsible, and those who would aid them, and bringing them to justice.

Those first three Marines that were sent home are with their families and are recovering or have recovered well.