Ben Weakley

All acronyms are explained at the bottom of the text.

Lieutenant Ben Weakley surveyed the scene before him on a steamy Baghdad night. A PLS truck stacked with Jersey Barriers marked the spot where the next section of wall would appear. An M-88 wrecker was positioned perpendicular to the tail end of the truck, acting as a crane to download each two-ton block of concrete. Weakley's Engineers were supervising an ad-hoc collection of transporters and mechanics who together were tackling a mission that none of them had trained for--surrounding residential neighborhoods with high concrete walls.

As Weakley talked with his platoon sergeant, a man's scream pierced the night.

"Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!"

Barriers on the back of the PLS had tumbled, partially crushing a Soldier under two of them. He was one of the mechanics.

Without a word, Weakley's experienced platoon sergeant took charge of the rescue mission. The accident had knocked the steel cable off the M-88's guide-wire spool, so the cable could not be used to lift the barrier.

"Get breaker bars and tanker bars," the platoon sergeant ordered. Soldiers scrambled to their vehicles and returned with the bars. Teams tried to re-align the guide wire on the M-88's crane and to create some breathing space for the trapped Soldier, but both efforts were unsuccessful. The Soldier was slowly suffocating.

Weakley reported the situation to his TOC and called a 9-line for medical evacuation.

"First Squad," ordered the platoon sergeant, "Bring up your ESV and use the blade to push the barrier off him." The Engineer Stryker Vehicle had a bulldozer-like blade on its front. First Squad rushed into action. The squad leader operated the vehicle. A team leader jumped up on the PLS to comfort his wounded comrade and to position the ESV's blade.

The squad leader inched the blade into position against the barrier. Soldiers grabbed hold of the casualty. As soon as the blade moved the barrier, the Soldiers pulled him free.

Weakley judged that the casualty was litter urgent. There was no time to wait for the helicopter MEDEVAC.

"We'll CASEVAC him directly to the CSH," he ordered. "Put him in the back of the ESV and let's go!"

The Stryker didn't move.

"First Squad, let's go!" he repeated. Then he saw what was causing a delay. The movement of barriers that had freed the trapped mechanic had inadvertently trapped the team leader who had been assisting.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," the squad leader who had operated the ESV was saying to his buddy, holding his free hand. "We'll get you out of here,"

"Sergeant," Weakley told the squad leader, "We have to go to the CSH right now."

"I can't leave him. I won't leave him. Fuck all this!" cried the distraught squad leader.

"The mechanic is litter urgent, Sergeant. Let's go!" ordered Weakley.

The mechanic's CASEVAC convoy was waiting. The team leader's injury did not immediately threaten his life or limb.

"Oh, God, what have I done..."

"Now!" the platoon leader commanded, looking directly into the tearing eyes of his battle-proven NCO. The message got through. The squad leader snapped up, ran to his waiting vehicle, and led the convoy to its destination.

The CASEVAC convoy sped to the CSH in minutes, saving the Soldier's life. The platoon sergeant was able to free the team leader, who suffered a broken hand.

Later on that night, Weakley sat talking with his platoon sergeant in their CP back at the FOB. Neither of them could sleep.

The squad leader who had operated the ESV appeared in the doorway.

"Come on in," said Weakley.

The NCO remained standing in the doorway. Then, looking at his platoon leader, he said, "Sir, we all thought that if something bad happened you were going to freak out and get somebody killed. You proved us wrong tonight, LT."

It had taken a while, but Ben finally sensed that he had earned the trust of his platoon.

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TOC: Tactical Operations Center
ESV: Engineer Stryker Vehicle
MEDEVAC: Medical evacuation by aircraft
CASEVAC: Casualty evacuation by ground
CSH: Combat Support Hosital
NCO: Non-commissioned officer
CP: Command Post
FOB: Forward Operating Base
LT: Lieutenant