The two best soldiers I served with in Afghanistan 19 years ago I don't even know their names. One was a specialist (E-4) turret gunner with a M2 50 cal. He was a skinny kid with buck teeth and complete disregard for anything military or combat related. He had a perpetual smile and was goofy in a way that everyone could recognize. That said, when the bullets started to fly, that kid became GRANITE INCARNATE!! Calling out targets, asking for ammo, giving coordinates to the truck commander on enemy movements with the same tone you order a beer at happy hour. Nothing fazed this kid. As soon at the engagement was over, he'd fling the brass out of the rig like last nights pizza box, grab some water, and say something like "I could use a green bean about now." Green bean was the coffee shop BTW. Never found out what happened to him, but he pops up in my mind quite a bit. The other was a female Blackhawk pilot. She was dark haired, petite, and harder than an anvil. She was so small, the helmet with all the night vision and other pilot stuff made her look more like a bobble head than a pilot. It was a sight to see. A tiny body with what looked like a beach ball sized helmet on, walking confidently out to a war machine like it was just another Tuesday. Rode the mail routes with her many times, but one trip stands out. We took ground fire and the door gunners were doing their thing. We in the back started to return fire as well. We were seated 4 across from each other and 8 in total. Only the outside troopers could see out and aim fire, but the four of us on the inside could only put our guns out the side behind their backs and pull the triggers firing essentially blind. Our pilot saw our tracers and flew the chopper to direct our fire on target. STONE COLD flying. Loved being in her bird as I knew whatever happened, we had a fighting chance. Think about her quite a bit as well. Would love to find these troopers and share a beer along with a truck load of thanks.
