Heroes of the Old Glory

Massive C-17 Globemaster III; a large military transport aircraft took off with a company of the US Special Operations Forces. The aircraft was armed with 75th Ranger Regiment troopers, a dozen of the elite Delta Force operators and ammunitions for a lil’ bang in Najaf region of Iraq.

Watching over the tequila skies of Fort Benning, Georgia, the humongous army base and Roosevelt's Little White House, Wagner stood alone besides the window.

Sergeant John Wagner; a war hero of Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom headed the company of troopers. As the warm brittle sunrays pierced through circular glass shield of the aircraft Sgt. removed a Lucky Strike and tried to strike it, but this time he aint lucky. An in-flight commissioned medical officer of US Medical Corps offered the light and begun the conversation.


Doctor: Good after noon Sgt. Where are you posted?

Sgt: Good after noon Doctor. In the regions of Najaf..one of the most terror infected territories. You never know whether you will return back alive or not.

Doctor: Hmm….yes. I have heard a lot about it. Had served there last year now being a master of Osteopathic Medicine, as Medical Corps for the Red Cross I am posted at Riva Ridge Troop Medical Clinic on Camp Liberty at Karbalah.

Sgt: Oh..Well! I know the camp; one of our officer as well as “Farowk Hameed”; a terror group recruiter and motivator was taken to the Camp when both of them were severely injured in an ambush.

Doctor: I know; I believe he was later handed over to the joint investigation company of Delta Force & Marine Corps. It was alleged that while interrogating he was inhumanely treated and probably died in the custody too, if I am not mistaken?

Sgt: Oh! So the world knows the lie. I understand Doctor that your profession allows you to use knife to heal people, irrespective of their cast creed on the basis of humanity. But we use it to kill the enemies of the nation irrespective of their nationality

Doctor: You are right Sergeant, but once a (Prisoner Of War) POW; must be treated as a POW not as a slave to play with.

Sgt: No one played with him Doctor! Only the interrogations were stern. In fact while interrogating he tried to attack as well and that’s when he was executed in that skirmish.

Doctor: May be. But the humanitarian commission claimed that it was a homicide of POW by the investigation authority after gaining all the information from him.

Sgt: Oh. Their highness! The humanitarian commission! It’s easier said than done Doctor! Where was this savior when sons and daughters of our country were brutally killed in the warfare by the terrorists while defending the nation? Where was this commission when innumerable innocent lives were lost in the 9/11 attacks?

Doctor: I agree but our values and cultures always commands on treating every individual equally and not deprive anyone of life and liberty. Do not sideline Constitution's Eighth Amendment (Amendment VIII) , which prohibits cruel and degrading treatment to a captivated criminal or a convict.

Sgt: True Doctor. I agree too. Have any other nation who sponsor cross border terror or the terrorist who claim to be righteous fighters have treated any one equally? Have you forgotten the Daniel Pearl case? And the murderer of the innocent journalist was just granted a Death Penalty for such an atrocious crime.

Doctor: If you say so, should we too be the same as there are trying to be? Are we supposed to ape what they have done? Then where do I see the difference between a human and being beast. (Smiles) I know you are bound by your profession and so do I. You have to kill and I must heal.

Sgt: (Laughs) Ah Doctor…you can win over with this point but explain me why is it said “Everything is fair in love and war”? Am aint here to claim what is right and what’s not? But I pledge that I shall guard the pride and honor of my nation come what may. An enemy or threat to my nation must and will be dealt with stern execution.

Doctor: (Smiles) all the best Sergeant! I wish that the Old Glory of our Fathers flies high in pride and honor. Win the war and get our heroes back home. Hope that mission succeeds and our credibility isn't questioned. Be careful out there

Sgt: Surely Doctor. The credibility of a soldier lies not in the number of war or medals he has won, but precision loaded with callousness while searching and terminating the enemies and their associations.


Both the men of honor bid a good bye to each other and left towards their respective sections. Shortly the deep blue backdrop was replaced with reddish and dusty surroundings, dotted with ruined houses and domes of Iraq. Soon the massive military transport aircraft landed over the runway at the Delta Force Base Camp Area 65 in Western Najaf.