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Mr_Sandman's Blog

by Mr_Sandman from Hazelwood

Last Post 472 days, 4 hours Ago


One night in Mosul, Iraq
Dec 18, 2006 | 8:07 AM
Category: News
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Moonlight on canvas


I remember many nights during my deployment to Iraq when the moon was so full and so bright it seemed to sag in the night sky. I would write home to loved ones, and my now wife because it would light up the note book paper. The moon would light up everything. The canvas of the tents, the sand looked white at night even though it wasn't. It was like a whole diffrent world from the day when it was loud hot and unforgiving.


The night... stirred only by my breath... silent
Moonlight washes over eveything......a time to reflect

Holding on to memories of a world far away....but the horrors of my day I try to forget
I send home in letters........ my love to all who will listen

I cannot write how I feel inside.....a shell..... of who I used to be
A monster for all to hate

Knowing my fate.... a Humvee driver......I sit and wait
For the call that will come soon.....I will have to go

Will this be it for me....the one they will talk about....but no longer see
I light a cigarette to calm my nerves......pull myself together

Lights fill the sky..... explosions suck the air away
Yelling and screaming...... more lives.................. gone

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Member Comments Total Comments: 8
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poopanina2 read my blog view my photos
Dec 18, 2006 | 10:01 AM

Beautiful poetry, my brother served with the 101rst in Viet Nam, he was KIA 3/16/ 68. I have found a lot of answers on thier web site, Geronimo.
http://geronimo-vietnam.com
statueman read my blog view my photos
Dec 18, 2006 | 11:18 AM

I remember going through the MEPs station in St Louis back in 87'. I took the color dots test and could only see a little over hafe the numbers. This disqualified me for almost every combat Military Operational Specialty (MOS). I was 21, had a dead end job and wanted to get in fast so I took the clerk MOS and was in South Korea in under 6 months playing 'Radar' for the Military Radion and Television station. I spent 3 years there getting out of the Army and leaving Korea in 1991.

All that to say I was not a combat soldier and for some reason that bugged me a little. In 1995 I joined the Guard and got to be a line unit clerk in an Armor Brigade. I asked the Sergeant Major and got to go out with the Scouts in a war game. I got to be a HMVEE driver through rough terrain and do things that I hadn't done in over 10 years like low craw and shoot blanks. It was a real rush. But my scout platoon was taken out by the enemy scout platoon and I was the last survivor since my HMVEE had been disabled and I was ordered to stay with it. As I was making my way back to our own defense lines I was taken out by friendly fire.

I wish we could find a better way. I thank you for your blog. I am proud you are a soldier who is continueing to do things that make a difference, Mr_sandman
CBCB read my blog
Dec 18, 2006 | 12:35 PM

Hey Sandman,

Welcome back home!!

I was glad to see the pictures of you and the Iraqi kids. It's pictures like that that the general public doesn't get to see thanks to the Media. All they ever show are the negative things. I realized this after I got back from Afghanistan and realized I never heard any of the good we do over there. I am a member of the Missouri Air National Guard and served over in Afghanistan in 2003. More than once I went out to local villages as part of an "Adopt a village" trip. We would collect everything from toiletries to food(rice/flour/canned goods) to toys and books/educational material. Never once did I see anything on the new, local or otherwise, when I returned. I find it very frustrating that the media only shows things in a negative light. But unfortunately, negativity sells. I've heard stories of Mosul. I'm glad you returned safely.

If the media would just show the whole story....

CB
CBCB read my blog
Dec 18, 2006 | 12:36 PM

***FOX 2 could take up the cause***
Be a leader, not a follower.....


CB
LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Dec 18, 2006 | 7:20 PM

Sandman, beautiful prose. The reader can sense you pain. Bless you for sharing.
SharonC read my blog view my photos
Dec 18, 2006 | 8:34 PM

Thanks for sharing this, Sandman. The prose and photos are educational. Not everyone "sees" the simple things around them as you certainly did. I hope your soul will heal from the horrors you experienced. Love the photos.
theirmom99 read my blog view my photos
Dec 18, 2006 | 10:05 PM

Hi Sandman,

Your poem was very powerful. I am glad you are home, and I read your bio, you are so right in saying that people need to be aware of PTSD in returning soldiers, I totally agree. I think as time goes on and more of our men and women return home, this is something that the public will need to be educated about so they have *compassion and empathy* for what our soldiers have gone through. Thank You from me and my family for your service to our country.
carmellion read my blog view my photos
Jan 12, 2007 | 10:31 AM

I will be in prayer for you and those suffering in that living hell of a place called Iraq. My brother is in the Marines and this is his third time there, this war. I pray for him as well as the other guys there. We take life for granted tripping off of things like a pair of the latest whatever or racism when our guys that are all one coler as a target are over there fighting for our lives and there's because of some personal gain and ill thought out plans of our president.
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Mr_Sandman

A 27 year old who recenlty returned from the war in Iraq. I served with the 101st Airborne division "Air Assault". I created this blog to raise public awareness of PTSD, "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder", and the effect it has on us soldiers when we return from war and are let loose back into the civilian world.

Member Since: 12/18/2006


 

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