Every so often Sam will share a military story with me. It may not directly relate to his service, but it may have been an event that occurred during the time of his deployments. Sometimes the stories are good and sometimes the stories are sad.
Good Friday is coming up. While some folks see this as the Friday before Easter Sunday or as a time of fasting and penance, others may see this as an anniversary date. Some may remember the “Good Friday Ambush.”
The Good Friday Ambush of 2004 was an attack by Iraqi insurgents during the Iraq War. This occurred when an American convoy near the Baghdad International Airport was attacked as the result of various clashes throughout the country.
Five contractors and three soldiers were killed. One contractor was listed as missing, and around sixteen civilians and soldiers were wounded.
Five vehicles of the 724th Transportation Company ran through a well-planned and large scale ambush. The trucks were operated by an American defense contractor, KBR. The commander, Lieutenant Matthew Brown was wounded in the head and left his driver, Private First Class Jeremy Church to lead the convoy to safety. Church then tried to rescue stranded trucks and other soldiers.
Five civilian contractors and one solider were killed. Private First Class Matthew Maupin disappeared.
This was considered to be the worst ambush of the war because no other transportation company suffered as many casualties in one ambush. This was not an Easter weekend soldiers wanted to remember, rather it was a turning point in the war for convoy ambushes. Insurgents would control the roads for a year and in 2005, insurgents had mass casualties during the Palm Sunday Ambush.
It wasn’t until 2008 that Maupin’s remains were found. Timothy Bell, a civilian driver who is presumed missing. Tommy Hamill, another civilian was held hostage for around 20 days until he escaped. Commanders wanted to search immediately and try to recover their men, but were told to stand down due to the ambush that occurred.
Church, who helped save and recover, was the first truck driver to receive the Siler Star Medal (since Vietnam).
Unfortunately, Maupin was the first American soldier missing in action during the Iraq war. A week after the convoy attack, Maupin was shown on a video surrounded by many armed, masked men. The Army promoted Maupin from Private First Class to sergeant and then staff sergeant as the search for him continued.
Maupin’s family was notified when his remains were found, and after a four-year search, their hopes were crushed.
That is something I could not fathom. No mother wants to hear the news that her son has died, let alone that her son is missing.
Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter have incredibly difficult memories for these families, soldiers, and contractors who are left with the pain of this ambush every day.
While it is difficult to understand how an ambush could be this severe, or why missions can be so dangerous and involve civilians, it is important to remember that not every normal holiday we may celebrate may have the right or correct connotation to go with it.
For Sam, there are anniversary dates…much like the family of Matthew Maupin and Timothy Bell. Certain days on the calendar want to be ignored, avoided, and forgotten. It is hard to do, it doesn’t get easier with time for some families, and for some Veterans.
This Sunday, perhaps as you gather around your familiy’s table to eat…while you are saying grace…say an extra prayer for those who are serving or have served our country. You never know what type of battle they are facing on the front lines or at home. Battles that may go on even if we think their war has ended. I’m grateful for every day I have with Sam. I’m thankful that he was able to return home after three combat tours. I’m also aware that some of his fellow brothers and sisters did not come home. Although I don’t know the families, there is a part of my heart that hurts for them. There’s a big part of my heart that is forever grateful for their sacrifices.
Try not to take for granted the time you have with your loved ones. Try to see the good in every day you have with them, every moment that may seem small—those small moments may turn out to be very big moments at some point in your lives…