You Are Worth It by Kyle Carpenter, Don Yaeger - Ebook | Scribd

And the life I am living now—even as I am continuing to build it—is one I love. I am worth it. And so are you. Chapter 1. Afghanistan. Marjah, Afghanistan. OpennavigationmenuClosesuggestionsSearchSearchenChangeLanguageclosemenuLanguageEnglish(selected)españolportuguêsDeutschfrançaisРусскийitalianoRomânăBahasaIndonesiaLearnmoreUploadLoading...UserSettingsclosemenuWelcometoScribd!UploadLanguage(EN)ScribdPerksReadforfreeFAQandsupportSigninSkipcarouselCarouselPreviousCarouselNextWhatisScribd?Ebooks(selected)AudiobooksMagazinesPodcastsSheetMusicDocumentsSnapshotsExploreEbooksCategoriesBestsellersEditors'PicksAllEbooksContemporaryFictionLiteraryFictionReligion&SpiritualitySelf-ImprovementPersonalGrowthHome&GardenGardeningMystery,Thriller&CrimeFictionSuspenseTrueCrimeScienceFiction&FantasyYoungAdultDystopianParanormal,Occult&SupernaturalRomanceHistoricalFictionScience&MathematicsHistoryStudyAids&TestPrepBusinessSmallBusiness&EntrepreneursAllcategoriesExploreAudiobooksCategoriesBestsellersEditors'PicksAllaudiobooksMystery,Thriller&CrimeFictionMysteryThrillersRomanceContemporarySuspenseYoungAdultParanormal,Occult&SupernaturalMysteries&ThrillersScienceFiction&FantasyScienceFictionDystopianCareer&GrowthCareersLeadershipBiography&MemoirAdventurers&ExplorersHistoricalReligion&SpiritualityInspirationalNewAge&SpiritualityAllcategoriesExploreMagazinesCategoriesEditors'PicksAllmagazinesNewsBusinessNewsEntertainmentNewsPoliticsTechNewsFinance&MoneyManagementPersonalFinanceCareer&GrowthLeadershipBusinessStrategicPlanningSports&RecreationPetsGames&ActivitiesVideoGamesWellnessExercise&FitnessCooking,Food&WineArtHome&GardenCrafts&HobbiesAllcategoriesExplorePodcastsAllpodcastsCategoriesReligion&SpiritualityNewsEntertainmentNewsMystery,Thriller&CrimeFictionTrueCrimeHistoryPoliticsSocialScienceAllcategoriesGenreClassicalCountryFolkJazz&BluesMovies&MusicalsPop&RockReligious&HolidayStandardsInstrumentBrassDrums&PercussionGuitar,Bass,andFrettedPianoStringsVocalWoodwindsDifficultyBeginnerIntermediateAdvancedExploreDocumentsCategoriesAcademicPapersBusinessTemplatesCourtFilingsAlldocumentsSports&RecreationBodybuilding&WeightTrainingBoxingMartialArtsReligion&SpiritualityChristianityJudaismNewAge&SpiritualityBuddhismIslamArtMusicPerformingArtsWellnessBody,Mind,&SpiritWeightLossSelf-ImprovementTechnology&EngineeringPoliticsPoliticalScienceAllcategoriesQuicknavigationHomeBooks,activeAudiobooksDocumentsEnjoymillionsofebooks,audiobooks,magazines,andmoreOnly$8.99/monthaftertrial.Cancelanytime.HomeEbooksMilitaryBiographiesYouAreWorthIt:BuildingaLifeWorthFightingForByKyleCarpenterandDonYaegerSaveSaveforlaterCreatealistDownloadDownloadtoappShareYouAreWorthIt:BuildingaLifeWorthFightingForByKyleCarpenterandDonYaegerratings:5/5(1 rating)Length:311pages5hoursPublisher:HarperCollinsReleased:Oct15,2019ISBN:9780062898562Format:BookAlsoavailableas...AlsoavailableasaudiobookAudiobookAlsoavailableas...AlsoavailableasaudiobookAudiobookDescriptionWrittenbyScribdEditorsTellingthestoryofU.S.MarineLanceCorporalKyleCarpenter,whosacrificedhisbodytosavethelifeoffellowMarineNickEufrazioin2010.WhileinHelmandProvince,Afghanistan,agrenadeskitteredinfrontofKyleandNick,andinamomentofincredibleheroism,KylejumpedontheMarinetoprotecthiscomrades. Losinghisrighteyeandmostofhisjawintheexplosion,andhisheartstoppingthreetimesonthebattlefieldthatdayastheytriedtoevacuatehim.Hisbodywasbroken,buthisspiritwasn't,andthoughtheroadtorecoverywaslongandrequiredalmostthreeyearsofconstantreconstructivesurgeries,Kylekepthisheadheldhigh. Now,Kyleadvocatesforthepreservationoflife.Afterlayingdownhisowntosavehisbrother-in-arms,Kylehasrebuiltalifethatisjoyfulandfullofpurpose.Histimespentinrecoveryandthelifehehasfoundhimselfinnowhasbeenshapedbythatday,andinthisunforgettablememoir,theyoungestlivingMedalofHonorrecipientshareshowhisspiritsurvivedwhenhisbodywasbroken.MilitaryPersonalGrowthNewAge&SpiritualityAllcategoriesPublisher:HarperCollinsReleased:Oct15,2019ISBN:9780062898562Format:BookAlsoavailableas...AlsoavailableasaudiobookAudiobookAbouttheauthorKCKyleCarpenterKyleCarpenterwasborninJackson,Mississippi,in1989.HeenlistedintheU.S.MarineCorpsin2009andservedasaSquadAutomaticWeapongunnerinHelmandProvince,Afghanistan,aspartofOperationEnduringFreedom.InJune2014,CarpenterwasawardedtheMedalofHonor,andin2017,hegraduatedfromtheUniversityofSouthCarolinawithaBAininternationalstudies.ReadmoreRelatedcategoriesSkipcarouselCarouselPreviousCarouselNextPoliticalSelf-ManagementWars&MilitaryDemonology&SatanismBusiness&EconomicsAllcategoriesBookPreviewYouAreWorthIt-KyleCarpenterMapofAfghanistanDedicationTomyparents,JimandRobin,andmybrothers,PriceandPeyton.Thankyouwillneverbeenoughforthejourneyyouhavetraveledandenduredwithme,butjustknowthatyourlovehelpedcomfortme,healme,andgivemelife(again).Iamthankfulforyoueveryday.Iloveyou.—KCToJeanette,Will,andMaddie:YoumakeeverydayWORTHit!Iloveyouall.—DYContentsCoverMapofAfghanistanTitlePageDedicationIntroduction:YouAreWorthItChapter1:AfghanistanChapter2:ItStartsatHomeChapter3:HardWorkPaysOffChapter4:KeepYourPromises—toOthersandtoYourselfChapter5:LeadwithActionChapter6:SomeoneElse’sShoesChapter7:TheGrenadeChapter8:CallYourMomChapter9:FindtheJoyChapter10:ItStartsatHome(Again)Chapter11:ThePastTrulyIsthePastChapter12:JumpChapter13:Don’tHideYourScarsChapter14:StayMotivatedChapter15:KnowYourWorthChapter16:You’reGoingtoFail . . .andThat’sOkayChapter17:YouAreMoreThanYourRibbonRackorRésuméChapter18:SayThankYouPartingThoughtsAcknowledgmentsPhotoSectionAbouttheAuthorsCopyrightAboutthePublisherIntroductionYouAreWorthItIhoppedintheblacksedanandclosedthedoor.Yetanotherridetotheairport.ThistimeIwasheadedtoLondon.ThemomentIhittheseatIbeganscanningthroughvariousemailsoftickets,reservations,andconfirmationstomakesureeverystepofmytripoverthenextsevendayswouldbeassmoothaspossible.Butwitheachtapofthescreencameacommentfromthedriver;heclearlywantedtotalk.IputmyphonedowntochatwithBobby.HehadcometoAmericaatayoungage,withhisparents,fromPakistan.HeproceededtotellmethathebecameanUberdriveraftergettingburnedoutasabankerwhospecializedinmortgages,becauseitwasstressfulforhimtodealwithpeople’shomesandtheirlivelihoodsonadailybasis.Ashisstoryunfolded,weconnected.Icouldrelatetofeelingburnedout,iffordifferentreasons.Iappreciatedhisopennessandhonesty,andastheconversationcontinuedIdecidedtosharemyjourneyandstrugglewithhim.HelistenedintentlyandwhenIwasfinished,hesaidthesamefivewordsIhaveheardcountlesstimes.Thankyouforyourservice.Thephrasehaspromptedsomediscussionwithintheveterancommunitybecauseitissopredictable,almostreflexive.It’sbecomefillerlanguageforwhenpeopledon’tknowwhatelsetosaytoyou,buttheywanttosaysomething.Iknowsomevetsarebotheredbyitbecauseitcanfeelhollow,asifthepersonisjustsayingitoutofobligationorhabit,orthevetsfeelthattheyarebeingvaluedsolelyfortheirmilitaryserviceandnotforanythingelse.Personally,Idon’tmindthephrase.Thatpersondidn’thavetotaketimeoutoftheirdaytosayanythingtome,buttheydid,andthatmeanssomething.Iusuallyjustsay,Thankyouverymuch.Ireallyappreciatethat.Butthatday,onthewaytotheairport,IrespondedasIneverhadbefore.AsBobbysaid,Thankyouforyourservice,Ireplied,You’reworthit.Hepausedashelookedatmeintentlyintherearviewmirror.Tobehonest,Ipaused,too.WhydidIjustsaythat?Ihadheardthephrasebefore,butneversaidittoanyone.Howwoulditcomeacrosstosomeoneelse?Ididn’tknowhowBobbywouldtakeit,butinthatmoment,Iwantedhimtoknowthathisfamily,hisfreedom,hisrights,justthesimplefactthathewasahumanbeing,meantthathewasworthsacrificingfor . . .andthat’swhatIhavecometorealizeservinginthemilitarymeanstome.Thelastfewminutesofourrideweresilentbutasweapproachedtheairport,hesaidtome,Myparentsareretiredandtheyhavehadapeacefulandhappylife.IreceivedagreateducationandIwillneverexperiencethestrugglesmyparentsfaced.Thatisbecauseofyouandourmilitary,forwhichIwillalwaysbethankful.IwillpraythatGodwillblessyourjourney,mybrother.AsBobbyfromPakistanpulledaway,Itookamomenttoreflectontheencounter,thetwistoffate,thathadsuddenlypulledallthefragmentedpiecesintofocusforme.I’dsaid,You’reworthit.AndI’dmeantit.Astimehaspassed,andthemoreI’vesaidit,themoreIrealizehowdeeplytruethewordsare:Youareworthit.Youare.Youareworthprotecting,youareworthfightingfor,youareworthtimeinahospitalbedanddeepscarsonmybodybecauseallAmericans—andthepeopleofAfghanistan,andsomanypeoplearoundtheworldwhogotobedatnightwishingtoonedaytastefreedomandpeace—haveinherentworthashumanbeings.Ifwedon’tspendourtimeonthisearthlookingoutforoneanother,whatarewereallydoingwithourlives?Iwanttobestraightwithyou:Mygoalisn’tjusttomakepeoplethinkaboutthelongrun,buttolookevenbeyondthat.Howarewhattheyaredoingtodayandtheimpacttheyaremakingontheirworldrightnowgoingtopersist?Someofthegreatestdeeds,work,recognition,andimpactdonotcometofruitionuntillongaftertheirhumancreatorsaregone.It’sthewholeideaofplantingtreeswhoseshadeyouwillneverenjoy.Or,asonecharactersaysinCloudAtlas,Ourlivesarenotourown.Weareboundtoothers,pastandpresent,andbyeachcrimeandeverykindness,webirthourfuture.Onamorepersonallevel,youareworthwhateveryouwanttoinvestinyourself.Youareworthpushingthroughwhateverisholdingyouback,whateverchallengesyouarefacing,whateverseeminglyinsurmountableoddsarestaringbackatyou.Youareworthpursuingthehappinessyousearchforwhenyoulookinthemirror.Iamworthit,too,andthatiswhyIfoughttorebuildmylifeintosomethingevengreaterthanitwasbeforeagrenadechangedeverythingforme.Itmightseemnaturaltodividemylifeintotwoparts,beforetheexplosionandafter,butthatwouldgivethebadguywhowantedtokillmetoomuchpowerovermystory.Iamaboutsomuchmorethanthatonemoment.Theexplosionissimplyoneeventinalifetimeofevents,allofwhichhaveshapedme,changedme,mademegrow,andmademewhoIam.AndthelifeIamlivingnow—evenasIamcontinuingtobuildit—isoneIlove.Iamworthit.Andsoareyou.Chapter1AfghanistanMarjah,Afghanistan.Marinesonlyhalf-jokinglycompareittothesurfaceofthemoon.Therearesignsoflife—thelandscapeandvillagesareinterwovenwithlushagriculturalfields,treelines,andirrigationcanals—butotherpartsarebleak,rocky,anddusty.Oneofthefirstthingsyounoticeabouttheplaceisthedust.Itconsumesyou.Fromthegroundtotheair,fromyourgeartoyourthroat,thedusttakesover.Witheverystep,alittlecloudofdustpuffsupunderyourboot,nomatterhowhard-packedthegroundis.By2010,afternineyearsofaU.S.presenceinAfghanistan,thegroundatthemajorbaseswasaboutashard-packedascouldbe.Thetemperatureissomehowmoredramaticthanyouexpect.It’shotterinsummerthanyouimaginedwaspossible,andit’scolderinwinterthanyouarepreparedfor.Thetemperatureextremesaremoreevidentatnight.InSeptemberyouhavetodrinkabottleortwoofwaterbeforebedtomakeupforwhatyou’regoingtosweatoutinyoursleep,butbythestartofNovember,yourcold-weathergearcan’tkeepthefrigidnessfromcreepingintoyourfeetduringnightwatches,tothepointthatmovementbecomesslowanddifficult.ForaU.S.MarineinAfghanistan,youmightaswellbeonthemoon.ByNovember2010,the2ndBattalion9thMarines,or2/9,hadbeeninthecountryforfourmonths.Ihadenlistednotquitetwoyearsearlier,attheveryendof2008,justasU.S.andalliedjointoperationswererampingup.ManyoftheMarinesin2/9hadjoinedaroundthattime,too,andformostofus,thiswasourfirstcombatdeployment.Wewerephysicallytrained,mentallyhardened,andinanaiveway,excited.Wehadallgoneintothemilitarywithoureyesopen.Weknewwewouldalmostcertainlybeinsertedintoanactivewarzone—butit’simpossibletoeverbefullypreparedforit.Asasmall-townSouthernkidjustamonthpastmytwenty-firstbirthday,thesituationinAfghanistanrepresentedeverythingIbelievedinandnothingIhadexpected.IhadgrownupsayingthePledgeofAllegianceeverydayinschoolandbelievingthat"libertyandjusticeforall"wasanidealworthfightingfor.Tome,itmeantrootingoutthebadguyswhohadkilledalmostthreethousandpeoplefromninetycountries—peopleofeveryrace,religion,andethnicity—onSeptember11,2001,aswellas,hopefully,endingthebrutalTalibanrulethathadoppressedandkilledsomanyAfghanpeople.Wehadhydrationpackstocombattheextremeheat,andcold-weathergeartotrytoconservewhatheatwecouldatnight.Wewereissuedphrasebookstohelpusengageinbasiccommunicationwiththelocals,andtrytounderstandtheircustoms.ButasthoroughlyastheMarineCorpshadpreparedustactically,thecultureshockwasoverwhelming;we’dbeentransportedintoaworldofmudhomesandvillagesthatwentbackhundredsofyears,dominatedbywaysoflifethatprobablywentbackthousands.IfIhadtosummarizeMarjahinoneword,itwouldbeharsh.Thereisaharshnesstotheland,totheclimate,tothewayoflife . . .andtosomeofthepeople.Liketheguyswhohadbeenthrowinggrenadesatusforthepasttwodays.Thenagain,thatmaynotbefair;someoftheguyswhoplacedIEDs(improvisedexplosivedevices)orshotatusonlydiditbecausetheTalibanthreatenedtokilltheirfamilyiftheydidn’t . . .butIguessthatkindofprovesmypoint.Afghanistanisharsh.Thegrenadeswereactuallyanewthingforus;uptothatpoint,theTalibanhadmostlysentbulletsinourdirection,andtheoccasionalrocket.Grenadesaretrickybecauseforthemtobeeffectiveyouhavetobeinprettycloseproximitytoyourtarget—nofartherawaythanyoucanthrow.Thankfullymostofthebadguyswe’dencounteredsofarhadseemedtowanttokeeptheirdistance.Butwewereinanewcompoundnow,havingtakenitonNovember19,andthesetupwasnotexactlywhatwewouldhavechosen.Therewereterribleblindspotsinourposition,whichallowedbadguystogetmuchclosertousthantheywouldhavenormallyattempted.Butupuntilthegrenadesstarted,Ihardlyevennoticedthenoiseofthemshootingatusanymore.TherewerecertainsoundsIneverwouldhaveimaginedthatIcouldtuneout,likeAK-47sbeingshotatmewiththeintenttokill,butatsomepoint,yourbrainstartsregisteringcertaininputasmoreofanuisancethanathreat.Besides,bulletswerenotourmainconcern.WewerefocusedonavoidingtheIEDsthatwerestretchedacrossroadwaysandwalkingpathsandinsideofwalls.Theyhadtakenquiteatollon2/9.OnSeptember30,LanceCorporalTimothyM.JacksonhadbeenkilledbyanIED.Theninmid-November,IEDshadtakenouttwomoreofourguys.Bytheendofourseven-monthdeployment,we’dlostalmosttwodozenmen—amazingMarinesandsailors,allofthem.OneofthoseremarkableMarineswasoursquadleader,ZachStinson,whosteppedonanIEDthathadbeenplacedundergroundnearawallthatseparatedtwovillages.ThescariestthingaboutanIEDisthat,withoutametaldetector,awell-placedonecanbealmostimpossibletospot,eveninbroaddaylight.You’reluckyifthepersonwhoplacedtheIEDisinexperiencedorlazybecausetheywillleaveredflags,likedisturbeddirtorasmalltrashpilethatlookslikeitmighthavebeenconstructedtohidesomething.OnNovember9,atabout1:00P.M.,wewerewalkingonpatrolthroughoneofthedried-upirrigationcanalsthatcrisscrossedthelandscape.WewerescanningtheterrainforTalibanandmakingourwaytowardthenexttownweneededtosecure—whenanotherdreadedexplosionwentoff.Theshockwaveoftheblastrippledthroughourpatrol.Iwasthefourthmaninthepatrol.Thecloudofdustengulfedmeasthedebrisraineddown.Thestomach-wrenchingcuriosityofwhohadbeenhitbegantosinkin.IttookafewsecondstolocateStinsonbecausehehadbeenblownaboutfifteenfeetandwasontheothersideofthewallofthecanal.Wefoundhimfoldedinhalflikealawnchair.Hisoneremainingfootwasupbyhisheadandhislegsweremangled.ChristopherDocFrend,ourcorpsman(theMarineCorpstermforacombatmedic),quicklyevaluatedthesceneandannounced,IthinkStinsonisdead.Itdidn’tseempossibleanyonecouldsurvivethat.Incredibly,Stinsoncalledout,I’mnotdead.Ijustcan’tmove.DocrushedovertohimtoadministertriagecarewhileotherMarinescalledinamedicalevacuationhelicopter(medevac)andoursquadmovedtoprovidecover.Justaswegotintoposition,insurgentsopenedfireandbegantheirattack;theyoftenattackafteranIEDblastbecausetheyknowthatourcorpsmanwillbewiththecasualties,leavingusexposedandvulnerable.DoctriedtopullStinsontoasafelocationwhileIlaiddownfiretosuppresstheshooters.TwootherMarinesrushedtohelpDocdragStinsontosafetybehindtheothercanalwall.Astheydid,theyrealizedthatoneofhislegswasnolongerattachedtohisbody;whatwasleftsimplystayedonthegroundashewasdraggedaroundthecorner.WhileDocappliedtourniquets,Stinsonaskedustotakecareofhiswifebackhome,whowaspregnant,andhetalkedtousaboutourmission.Docgavehimaninjectionofmorphineforthepain,butitdidn’tknockhimout;hesomehowremainedconscious.Wewereunderattacktheentiretimewewaitedforthemedicalevacuationhelicoptertoarrive—almostfiftyminutes.ItwastheworstthingIeverwitnessed.Afewhourslater,afterthesunhadset,Iwasonmyshiftasradiowatch,backatPatrolBase(PB)Beatley,listeningtoinformationasitcameinfromtheMarineswhowereoutsideofthewire.DuringthesilenceofbreaksinradiotrafficIcouldn’thelpbutletmymindwanderbacktothehoursbefore.WasStinsonstillalive?Howwouldhiswifeandfamilyhandlethenews?WouldIbeabletosurvivesomethinglikethatif,orwhen,ithappenedtome?Asmybrainracedtocompartmentalizetherecentpast,mypresentrealitysuddenlybecameevenworse.Loosedirtcrumbledoutofcracksinthewallsastheroomshook;asecondlater,thesoundofamassiveexplosionreachedus.Morethanamileaway,LanceCorporalDakotaHusehadbeenmakinghiswaythroughdarkfieldsandtreelineswithhissquadonnightpatrol;theyweremovingtowardavillagetooursouth.TheTalibanwouldfloodfieldsinordertomakeitharderforustoadvancequickly.Theinundatedfieldsdidn’tslowdownourtallguysmuch,becausethewaterwasonlyaboutashighastheirboots;butforshorterguys,likeDakotaandme,thewaterwasuptoouranklesandevenourcalvesattimes.Betweenthewater,our22-poundSquadAutomaticWeapon(SAW),20to30poundsofmachine-gunammo,and45poundsofgear,itwashardtomovequickly.AndtheTalibanknewthat.AsHuseandhissquadapproachedthevillage,hereachedagoatpath—asmalltrailthatsurroundsanagriculturalfieldandallowslocalstotravelthroughthepatchworkoflandwithoutdamagingtheircrops.Steppingontoitafewmomentslater,nineteen-year-oldDakota,fromGreenwood,Louisiana,tookhislaststepandbreathonthisearth.Wehadnoideawhatthenexttwoweekshadinstoreforus.TENDAYSLATER,WORDCAMEFROMCOMMANDTHATWENEEDEDtoexpandourareaofoperationtocreatemoreofapresenceinthearea.Mysquadgotorderstohelpestablishanewcompoundinavillagetothesouth—thesameonewhereHusehadsteppedontheIED—becauseitwasaTalibanstrongholdintheregion.Itwaslateafternoon,andwepackedupourgeartostartourpushfromPatrolBaseBeatleytowardthevillageassoonasthesunstartedtoset.Thewalkwasonlyabouttwoclicks(kilometers),butitwasbettertodoitatnightbecausetheTalibanrarelyattackwhenit’sdark;theyknowwehavenight-visioncapability.Secondsquadhadfoundahousewithafairlygoodvantagepointwhentheyhadpatrolledtheareaearlier,andourjobwastotakethatbuildinganduseitforobservingthevillageandasahomebaseaswesentoutpatrols.Wheneverthathappened,wehadvoucherswewouldgivetotheoccupants,whichtheywouldtaketothenearestFOB(forwardoperatingbase)inthearea,wheretheywouldgetpaidfortheuseoftheirbuilding.Ourmovetherewasuneventful,thoughthepeopleinthehomewerereluctanttoleaveatfirst,whichisunderstandable.Buteventuallytheyacceptedtheextremelygenerousvoucherandclearedoutsowecouldsetup.Wenamedeverypatrolbaseaftersomeonewhohadbeenkilled,butsincetherewasalreadyaPBJacksonelsewhereinAfghanistan,wedubbedthehousePBDakota,inhonorofourfriendwhohaddiedjustdaysearlier.(ForasatelliteimageofPBDakota,seehereinthephotoinsert.)Thevillagecompoundwastiny—nobiggerthanahotelconferenceroom—andthehomewewereoccupyingwasonlytwostorieshigh,thoughitwasoneofthelargeststructuresinthearea.Unfortunately,theintelwehadreceivedprovedaccurate:TherewereTalibaninthevillage,andtheyweren’thappyaboutourarrivalandchoiceoflandingspot.Asweunpackedourgearforthenight,NickEufrazioandIchattedabitaboutwhatmightbewaitingforusatthisoutpost.Nickwasoneofmybestfriends,eventhoughwecouldn’thavebeenanymoredifferent.HewasfromPlymouth,Massachusetts,andcursedlikeasailor;IwasaSouthernboywhohadgrownupgoingonchurchyouthgroupmissiontrips.That’spartofwhyIthoughtNickwassogreat:Hewasmycompleteopposite,buthewasfiercelyloyal.Hewastheyoungestguyonoursquad,yethealsowasoneofthemostrespected.Nickdidn’tcarewhetheryoulookedlikehim,soundedlikehim,thoughtlikehim;itdidn’tmatterifyoucheeredforthePatriotsandtheRedSoxortheFalconsandtheBraves—hewasgoingtohaveyourbacknomatterwhat.Inhighschool,hehadbeenapartoftheYoungMarineprogram,andhissingulargoalinlifewastobecomeaMustang—thatis,tobeselectedforOfficerCandidateSchoolfromtheenlistedranks.Hewasthefirsttovolunteerforthetasksnoonewanted,likemanningacheckpointforlocals,andhealwaysdiditwithenthusiasm.Histrademarkgesturewasalittlethumbs-up.Itwasasimplegesture,butalwaysaccompaniedbyasmile.WhenNickgaveyouathumbs-up,youknewhewasalreadyontopofwhateveryouwereaskingfromhim.Everyday,hisattitudeandoutlookinspiredmetobealittlebetter,too—notjustabetterMarine,butabetterperson.Hisexampleencouragedmenotjusttohavethecleanestweaponandheaviestpack;hewasthesortofpersonwhomadeyouwanttoattackyourdayandlife.Thenextday,whenitwasmyturntostandpostontheroof—thatis,toscanthesurroundinglandscapeandbuildingsforanyenemyactivity—anenemysniperstartedfiringonmyposition,withmeinhiscrosshairs.TherestoftheguysonthegroundfloorwerescramblingtofillsandbagsandtossthemupsoIcouldcontinuestackingthemtobuildaprotectivewallaroundmewhileIlaiddown,manningmySquadAutomaticWeapon,alightmachinegun.Itwastheworstkindofmultitasking.Wewereshortonsandbagsandthehelicoptersupplydropthatwassupposedtobedeliveringmoresuppliesforushadbeendelayed,sowehadtomakedowithwhatwehad.Usually,theenemytendedtobeprettyterribleshots.Idon’tknowifitwasthefactthattheywereusingColdWar–eraweaponsleftoverfromtheSovietinvasionin1979,orbecausemanyofthemweregoatherdersandpoppyfarmersratherthanformallytrainedsoldiers.Butthesniperdidn’tletup,andunfortunatelyforme,hehappenedtobetherareskilledshotamongtheTaliban.AlthoughIwasabletobuildasmallbarricadeontheroofwithoutgettinghit,eachtimehefiredaround,IcouldfeelathudwherethebulletstruckthesandbagsIwaslyingbehind.Astheafternoonsunlightstartedtofade,Iwasinstructedtogetofftheroofandkeeppostintheroomdirectlybelow.IgougedoutalittleholeinthewallsoIcouldhaveabettervantagepoint,andaboutforty-fivesecondslater,arocketcamebarrelingintotheroofandthesandbagwallI’djustbuilt,completelyobliteratingthepostposition.ItwasasifIhadsteppedintothemiddleofatornado.ThedebriscloudsurroundingmewassothickthatIcouldn’tseeandcouldn’tbreathe.Mysquadmembersimmediatelyrealizedwhathadhappenedtotheroof,andDocFrendwasscramblingforhismedicbag,readytorushintoseeiftherewereanysignsoflife.Somehow,Iwasn’tinjuredandwasabletogetupandwalkoutoftheroomonmyown.Tohearmybuddiesdescribethescene,noonerealizedIwasaliveuntilIappearedlikeChuckNorris,strollingoutwithoutascratchfromanepiccloudofwar.NevermindthatmyearswerestillringingandIwasseeingdouble—itwasbetterthewaytheytoldit.AsIstumbledoutofthebuilding,ImutteredafewchoicewordstomyselfasIthoughtofallthesandbagswe’djustlostandallthebulletsIhaddodgedtryingtobuildawallthathadprettymuchbeenvaporized.Itwasn’tuntillaterthatIrealizedhowmentallywrongthatreactionwas.IshouldhavebeengladthatIhadn’tbeenuptherewhentherocketcameinratherthanmadmyworkhadbeenfornaught.Afterabigshowliketherocketattack,Iguesstheenemydecidedtotakeiteasyfortherestoftheafternoon.Laterthatnight,ataroundmidnight,whileanotherMarinewasonpost,theroofcollapsedfromthedamagedonebytherocketearlierthatday.Hewasfine,butwehadofficiallylosttheroofasavantagepoint.Fromthispostwewerefacingfourmajorchallenges.You'vereachedtheendofthispreview.Signuptoreadmore!StartyourfreedaysPage1of1ReviewsWhatpeoplethinkaboutYouAreWorthIt5.01ratings/0ReviewsWhatdidyouthink?Rateas1outof5,Ididn'tlikeitatall.Rateas2outof5,Ididn'tlikeitthatmuch.Rateas3outof5,IthoughtitwasOK.Rateas4outof5,Ilikedit.Rateas5outof5,Ilovedit.Rating:0outof5starsWriteareview(optional)Readerreviews