Things Fall Apart

Lynn,

I just shot out the normal long email, but will fill in the gaps. First, for the day of the bombing. One of our [platoons] found the Mahdi [Army] killing locals just outside the FOB. A small firefight ensued and the Mahdi got the worst of it. They killed between 5-7 [militiamen], wounded probably [twice] that many and captured four. I ended up getting the mission to transport the prisoners later on that night along with my normal patrol. Two of them were IP. I wonder if they will get fired or promoted because of the incident. Since then the number of bombings in our area has taken off. We are seeing them every other day at least, and the route into work is not improving. They blew the s--t out of an M1 yesterday right outside of the FOB. [ ... ] We are waking up to explosions every morning at this point.

Bock, 24, was killed by an IED in Baghdad on Oct. 23.

Army Capt. Blake Russell
Mar. 13, Baghdad area (instant-message exchange)

BELLINDA (9:18:14 AM) How do you feel about those Mahdi guys?

BELLINDA (9:18:26 AM) Good thing? Bad thing?

BLAKE (9:18:38 AM) I hate them

BLAKE (9:18:43 AM) They are a cancer

BELLINDA (9:19:07 AM) Are they just like a big gang or something?

BELLINDA (9:19:30 AM) Going only after the Sunni?

BLAKE (9:19:32 AM) Yes