Stories of Faith And Courage From the War in Iraq & Afghanistan
“Joseph Bills, Chaplain’s Assistant, U.S. Army, Afghanistan (2004–2005); Iraq (2006-2007) A knock on my door jolted me awake at 2 a.m.
“Twenty minutes, sir!” a voice announced.
I rolled out of my cot and shook the sleep from my mind and body. The unexpected wake-up call meant more U.S. soldiers had been killed. It was time for another Hero Mission time to get on the helicopter and collect the remains somewhere in northern Iraq.
As a chaplain’s assistant, it was my job to go on these Hero Mission...s almost as soon as the soldiers were killed, day or night. As the helicopter landed, blades still running, I’d hit the ground and collect the remains and make sure everything ran smoothly. We’d do a ceremony for them, and transport them down to a bigger air base to prepare them for the ramp ceremony so they could fly home.
What I saw, smelled, and touched on these Hero Missions was pretty bad, but I had to do it. Even though I didn’t know the soldiers personally, I felt like I did.MoreLess
“Twenty minutes, sir!” a voice announced.
I rolled out of my cot and shook the sleep from my mind and body. The unexpected wake-up call meant more U.S. soldiers had been killed. It was time for another Hero Mission time to get on the helicopter and collect the remains somewhere in northern Iraq.
As a chaplain’s assistant, it was my job to go on these Hero Mission...s almost as soon as the soldiers were killed, day or night. As the helicopter landed, blades still running, I’d hit the ground and collect the remains and make sure everything ran smoothly. We’d do a ceremony for them, and transport them down to a bigger air base to prepare them for the ramp ceremony so they could fly home.
What I saw, smelled, and touched on these Hero Missions was pretty bad, but I had to do it. Even though I didn’t know the soldiers personally, I felt like I did.MoreLess
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