The Program

56A Life-Changing Explosion

IN 2007, SAM CILA deployed to Iraq with the “Fighting 69th,” a National Guard unit from New York. Sam’s platoon was hand-selected to work under and support 5th Special Forces Group. As part of this support, they executed a raid in the town of Amaria and managed to capture a few high-value insurgent leaders. The next day, Sam’s platoon was tasked with going back to the town to talk to the villagers and see if they could glean any more intelligence. They rolled in on armored vehicles, but dismounted outside the village and moved in on foot. Armored vehicles offer greater survivability, but you are far less likely to see or hear possible threats. In addition, the threatening look of the powerful vehicles often intimidated the locals, who were therefore more reluctant to speak to them. Sam and his teammates moved into the town with the vehicles rolling slowly behind them.

Looking for threats, and possible improvised explosive devices (IEDs), is physically and mentally exhausting. You are constantly searching for items that seem out of place or were not there earlier. Unfortunately, roadsides are strewn with piles of garbage and refuse, and it is tough not to “see an IED” everywhere you look.

While scanning the area, Sam noticed a pile of garbage that had not been there the day prior. Sam and his teammates approached the suspicious area to investigate further. When the insurgent detonated the IED, the blast was enormous. It blew a hole in the concrete ...