(3/5) “We were based out of the Baghdad Airport. I drove...

(3/5) “We were based out of the Baghdad Airport. I drove armored Humvees. Mainly we transported detainees between the airport and the Green Zone. The road was known as ‘Route Irish.’ We called it the eight-minute heart attack. A lot of times there was sniper fire and almost every day an IED would explode. We’d drive through traffic as fast as we could. Sometimes it was like parting The Red Sea. We’d clear our way through traffic by pointing our rifles at drivers and waving them off the road. You can understand why they resented us. Imagine that happening on the streets of New York. I’ll never forget the looks we’d get. I’ve never seen that sort of hate. My worst day was when we had to transport this really bad prisoner to the hospital. He was 6’5” and completely shackled up because he’d beaten up six of our guys. When we got to the hospital I was ordered to guard his room. The hospital was tiny. Just a few rooms. And this truck pulled up with Australian troops. They’d been hit by an IED and were covered in blood. And they’re being carried right in front of my face. And the first guy is dead. And the second guy has no leg and he’s spilling blood all over the floor. And the doctors and nurses are slipping around like penguins. And they’re carrying this guy’s leg in a garbage bag. And I can’t leave. I’m gripping this rosary that my girlfriend’s mom gave me, and I’m praying for this guy to live, and he’s bleeding out and dying in front of me. And what’s the point of prayer anyway if God brought me here to watch this sick shit. And behind me is this huge madman that I’m supposed to be guarding. And I’m trying not to cry and I’m not allowed to move. I was trapped. It’s like somebody was holding my head and forcing me to watch hell. And in front of me, this Iraqi janitor is mopping up the blood. And he’s smiling. He’s fucking smiling.”