At one point, it seemed that the memorial services for lost Soldiers were rolling up on each other. The units in the area supported each other, and we attended each other’s services, as the mission would allow. All of this pain created a sense of heightened reality. It was like life experience was streaming by at the speed of thought.

I was particularly concerned about how this would impact the young Soldiers. Normally, a young person does not experience the loss of a loved one or a member of the family until they are older. While loss and pain are a part of life, it is normally spread over time. In the theater of operations, it seemed that life experience was on fast forward. So many life-changing events happen in a day – in an hour. I wondered how these young Soldiers could possibly pro

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