Our guest blog post today comes from the U.S. Army’s Soldier of the Year and winner of the 2009 Army Best Warrior Competition, Sgt. Clancey Henderson. Henderson, who is currently deployed with the 1st Infantry Division, writes in vivid detail about his arrival to Iraq.
When we landed in Iraq it was mid-afternoon. As soon as the cargo door on the back of the plane was opened the heat seeped in. It was warm, but not unbearable. The light was intense. The sun was high in the clear sky, and its light reflected freely off of the sand. There were no trees or grass to dull its brightness. That was the most shocking aspect of the scenery. I’ve traveled to numerous places but have never seen one so bare and desolate. We were quickly moved to our temporary camp where we would live for the next few weeks. As we received our initial brief, you could tell some were nervous, others relaxed, and still others just ready to find out where they would call home for the next year. I was trying to take it all in. It was a completely new experience for me, and I wanted to gain as much from it as I could. The rest of the day quickly disappeared and it was time to head to work. It wasn’t long before the days began to blur together. Go to work before the sun comes up, don’t leave until well after it has gone down for the night. It is disorienting for the first little while, but you become accustom to it.
You understand what you do is important, but it’s difficult to see any immediate results of what you do. The rhythm of the day seemed daunting when it was described to us, but it flowed when put it into practice. Life seemed to be put on hold as I dedicated myself to my work. The typical routines of the day could easily disappear if you’re not careful. Actively planning your schedule is the only way to assure simple but important things aren’t over looked. Simple tasks like reading the scriptures, praying, writing letters, calling home, or even taking a few minutes to unwind, can become lost, forgotten or put off if you aren’t careful to make the time for these tasks. The positive outlook is in seemingly no time, we will all be heading back home.
To learn more about Sgt. Henderson and the Army Best Warrior Competition, visit http://www.army.mil/bestwarrior/2009/.
