It was about 2130 (9:30 pm) and I was hanging out in my trailer doing some reading when there was suddenly this very loud explosion.  I threw on my sneakers and popped open my door, ready to dive into the bunkers (which fortunately sit right outside my door).  As I stepped out into the night there were already a bunch of others out there sort of looking around trying to figure out what is going on.  Usually when a mortar hits the FOB someone announces "BUNKERS, BUNKERS, BUNKERS," over our overhead PA system.  There was no "Bunker Call" for this explosion.  It must have occurred "outside the wire," or outside of the FOB.  The more I thought about it, it did not sound like a mortar; it sounded like a car bomb or a big IED.  "I hope no one was injured," I said to one of my neighbors.

Well, apparently one soldier was.

About 45 minutes later a Stryker pulls up to the ER.  There was one injury, the Squad Leader.  The Squad Leader is positioned in a hatch, and typically will have their upper body outside of the Stryker vehicle.  This poor Squad Leader had a massive injury to his right forearm.  Most of the bone between his elbow and wrist was gone, destroyed from the blast of this IED.  He was clearly going to require an amputation of his forearm, below the elbow.

Our first reaction to these type of patients is ANGER.  I get very angry when I see these young guys come in with life-altering injuries.  I wish we were doing a better job of killing these losers.  Make this place safer for our soldiers and the Iraqi people.  When you talk to the locals who come here to this base, they say the 85 to 90% of the Iraqi people are in support of the US actions in Iraq.  They are happy that Saddam is gone, and they feel that their life has improved as a result of this war.  Unfortunately, it is this small minority that are causing all these problems.

While the patient was in surgery a few of us debated about what body part would be easiest to live without - the lower leg (below the knee, so the knee would still work), the lower arm (so the elbow would still function), or one eye.  Interestingly, the group was split on what they thought would be easiest.  What do you think would be easier to live with?

The attitude of these soldiers also amazes me.  This guy comes out of surgery and has an amazingly positive attitude.  We saw a very similar attitude in a soldier who lost part of his leg several months ago.  It would be so easy for them to be angry and upset and mad at the world for the permanent disability that they now have.  However, this guy had an amazing attitude, it seemed as if he was proud to have sustained this injury fighting for the freedom and safety of his country.  This is one of the reasons I am glad I am here - to take care of these soldiers who are so proud to be serving and fighting for their country.