Thoughts on War

Thoughts on War

Most people have an idea of what war is like, but only those that have seen it know it’s true scope. When soldiers from previous conflicts have described war as 90% boredom and 10% terror it may have been correct at the time, but not on the modern battlefield. The American soldier is so well trained and conditioned to react to the chaos that reigns that from my experience their minds simply lose their ability to process emotions such as fear as long as they have a task that occupies their immediate attention. Fear and anxiety are emotions that are felt while readying for a mission or sitting patiently in a vehicle waiting for something to happen, but once it does there simply is no time for the fear. Adrenaline takes over and a soldier must than act on instinct and the orders of their superiors. Maverick from Top Gun said it best, “If you think, you die.”

When I was wounded in my first and only enemy contact during my short tour in Afghanistan the only emotions I distinctly remember feeling were shock, disbelief, relief, and anger. In all honesty I was shocked that someone would dare try to kill an American serviceman. Then came the relief that I wasn’t killed in the attack. Then came the disbelief that my squad leader and myself were wounded, and that another comrade was killed. After all this and the immediate needs of securing tourniquets to stem the bleeding from what would later be confirmed as arterial wounds was completed came the anger. Anger at the death of a comrade. Anger at the cowardice of the enemy for running as soon as they fired their weapon. Anger at the simple fact that someone from that desolate wasteland had dared tried to kill Americans.

Even though I was wounded and a comrade died that night it didn’t change my support of the war in Afghanistan. The Taliban and Al Quaeda aren’t civilized people. They do not follow the Rules of War. Indeed for them there are no rules. If you are taken prisoner you will...