Read selected portions of the New Release, The Secret War.
The Secret War
There must have been eight of us that gathered in a circle that day. We had been given our mission, and the time to execute was moments away. We gathered together as we often did before, with talks of the future and what we would do during the war. Most importantly, we discussed what we would accomplish once we returned stateside. These conversations would play the most vital role in morale-building during our time in Iraq…
The sound that shattered my moment of silence was that of Cruise missiles. These missiles were aimed at various targets and locations. The missiles, the flame and smoke that trailed them seemed surreal. Time seemed to slow to a snail’s pace as I watched them streamed across the backdrop of the blue sky. Trying to analyze everything, required most of my senses. The sight of the missiles, the sounds of the tanks coupled with my heart that was beating in my ears heavily, the smell and the heat of the desert, all gave me an ominous feeling…
Fourteen years later, I would find myself in another circle. This circle had the same purpose—a circle of prayer. The purpose again was to calm my spirit and provide a sense of peace before the mission that was about to occur. This time it was not missiles that caught my attention. This time I did not have any military-issued armor or weapons. I had traded all those things in years prior to this moment. I was now a civilian. This time my moment of solitude was interrupted by the chatter of children as they entered the campus. The same chill I felt 14 years ago had returned…
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