This Fight Chose Me

I sat on a FOB knowing what needed fixed 
Hundreds of soldiers in a dining facility 
Indirect fire every day at this target 
A suicide bomber demonstrated enemy ability 

Common knowledge not to gather in groups
One grenade will kill all our drill sergeants said
 I’d live to see that wisdom come to fruition 
That mistake caused many wounded and dead

Unvetted civilians walked freely on Marez
I took some to the vetting unit with no success 
These civilians did not display their badges
The bomb exploded with no blame just a mess

The high command brought in radar units
These triangulate mortars to destroy them 
Counter batteries were to protect our own
The choice not to use them in my mind a sin

Unnecessary convoys made no sense at all
Some of our own wanted to make a big splash 
When I had the opportunity to stop foolishness 
I told a couple senior officers to kiss my ass

In the Department of Corrections I came to see
Unnecessary murder and staff assaults
It all came back just like in Mosul 
Again those in charge seeing no fault

Don’t mind a fight when it is has to get done
Until unnecessary deaths is what I see
Despised what I couldn’t changed what I could
I didn’t choose this fight it chose me

JBentley-06Dec2025