I have written here of my friend in Iraq a few times, of his problems with weapons, to his battle while comming home to see his child, etc.
He wrote me this weekend to tell me how they were hit in an ambush this week. One guys was killed right infront of him, another had the fuel tank of his vehicle hit and have burning fuel spray all over him. He was screaming, on fire when my friend and others got to him. They were able to save him, but he is in a bad way.
My buddy has seen guys get killed before, he has sent some Hajis to get their virgins, but there guys were under his command. He took a personal role in training them so they would be a close knit unit. They were trained to do their best no matter what. He wanted them to "stay alive, and not get my ass shot the f*k off". He was only an E-4, but pretty much ran the squad since the officer admitted he did n't know what he was doing.
My buddy is pretty upset about this. I don't want to tell him the usual "it is hard, but these things happen, get your head screwed on straight" kind of BS. I saw guys on my side killed, it bothered me, but I was not in charge of them either. I have been there - done that, but it was always a f*k it attitude with me, but again, I never had one of my guys burn up in front of me. I can only think of "soldierly" advice. I can not think of any moral or personal advice to give him. The words escape me.
I ask you for words of advice that I can give him. He is a good guy. Only 23, on his third deployment. He is quickly growing up on this one, I just hope not too much. He comes home to his (now) 9 month old daughter in December.