Thursday 29 April 2010

Day 208 Week 29

Thought C would be home by now. But he's not and then discovered the reason is he's gone to visit a comrade, who, as H put it 'had half his leg blown away'. What can you say or think when you hear such a sang-froid acknowledgement of complete ruination.

You see Afghanistan is never very far away. And as C was flying home another boy from our village was flying out and so the baton was metaphorically handed over.

H said the Rifles' de-brief last night was very interesting and it was presented by the officer who wrote the blog for the Today programme. The gist of it was an explanation as to why the soldiers had lived in small isolated patrol bases amongst the indigenous population, instead of at the larger forward operating bases as was previously the case. During the former methodology the soldiers would travel out daily and return to camp nightly, but the problem was no assimilation was developed with the people they were there to protect, and during the unguarded nights the insurgents would return and intimidate the locals so undoing any achievements. The change of tactic has proven very successful in consolidating gains with schools built, roads created and safety zones provided, but the evidence in cost to life and limb seems exponential.

Thirty Riflemen lost their lives during the tour.

H home and reading and R home and dying her skin orange. C hopefully on his way. Fellow soldier's Mum tingling with excitement and her tone has changed completely as M is also due home tomorrow.

More prayers of thanks and reflection.

Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x

No comments:

Post a Comment