On Feb. 9th, in a field near a road, an Afghan soldier squatted to relieve himself. He picked the wrong spot. A bomb exploded, blowing off a leg, and he died. Captain John Weatherly, Commander of Charlie Company of the 4-23 Infantry at FOB Price in Helmand Province, mentioned that in passing as he described the series of events that led to the death of Specialist – now Sergeant – Adam Ray, a vigorous 23 year old, born in Tampa, Florida. The bomb the Afghan stumbled upon was near the IED that struck Adam.

Without the thousands of culverts underneath, the roads of Afghanistan would be flooded and washed away during the snow melts and rains. In safe countries, drivers pay as little attention to culverts as we would to telephone poles. As a practical matter they are invisible to us.

In the war zone that is Afghanistan, life and limb depend on noticing normally mundane things like culverts. They are a favorite hiding spot for the Taliban to plant bombs intended to kill Americans driving the roads. Hundreds, even thousands of pounds of explosives can be stuffed inside, launching our vehicles into the sky, flipping them over and over, sometimes killing all. And so, in some areas, soldiers on missions must stop dozens of times to check culverts for explosives. Since we do this every day in front of thousands of Afghans, they know our patterns. In addition to planting bombs in culverts, they plant mines and other bombs near culverts, to get men who stop to check.

Read it all.

Update: An obituary of Adam Ray is here and an excerpt is worth citing:

Sgt. Adam Ray is survived by his parents, Jim and Donna Ray ofFargo, N.D.; sisters, Betsy of Iowa City, Iowa and Amanda of Fargo; brothers, Zachary of Florissant, Mo. and Seth of Fargo; one very loved nephew, Christopher; grandparents John and Doris Ray of Louisville, Ky. and Bobby and Marilyn Sumner of Tampa; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Adam had some very close brothers and sisters in the military, that should be mentioned for the family bond of the soldiers is as strong as blood.

Another update: I found a small picture there.

Filed under: * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry • Death / Burial / Funerals • * Economics, Politics • Defense, National Security, Military • War in Afghanistan

1. Kendall Harmon wrote: Two parents, two sisters, two brothers, and two sets of grandparents.  What an important reminder of how much sacrifice these families make in sending their loved ones to serve their country. February 20, 1:03 pm | [comment link]

2. David Keller wrote: Thsi is much more important than anything Rowan Williams might have to say about Lent, or any other topic for that matter. No greater love has any man than this: to lay down his life for his brothers. February 21, 10:00 am | [comment link]

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