Col. (Ret.) Nate Slate: This Was My War

Toward the end of my military career, I watched peers leaving the Army.  It was their time.  I had always been told that you would know when it was time to go.  For me, the looming war was a mantra.  I had prepared my entire career to lead troops into combat.

Taking care of Soldiers and their families was the joy of serving in leadership positions.  Leading these same Soldiers into combat was the agonizing responsibility.

As a young officer, one of my commanders once told me that I was too close to the troops.  He said that I would not be able to handle losing them when the tough times came.  I did not dismiss his comment.  It could only be addressed in two ways, I thought.  First, I must always pursue the tough training that prepares Soldiers for combat.  Secondly, I would have to prepare my spirit for the challenges that would lie ahead.

From the moment I knew I would take command of the brigade, training and preparation were foremost in my mind.  What could I do to better prepare the Soldiers for combat, their families for the challenges at home and myself for the emotional turmoil that would follow?

I was too naïve to understand the impact of the human element of the Iraqis.  They, too, would become part of the emotional fabric of the deployment.  Working civil military operations in the villages, the Iraqis became part of our team.  As they joined our extended family, our responsibilities grew.

My approach was to always focus upon the things that were right.  The rules of engagement were straight forward enough.  We were there to assist the good Iraqis in building a better government – a better life.  We were also there to prosecute the criminals, those who would attack us from the sides of the road.  It was not hard to tell them apart.

Over time, it became apparent to me that my role there was not an accident.  It seemed my whole life of experience had been in preparation for this opportunity for service.  No matter how difficult the challenges of the day, I knew that I was there because I was supposed to be.

Some spiritual writers opine that we are always where we are supposed to be, based upon our relative enlightenment.  Whether this is a good thing, a compliment or a curse, is another matter.  We have to figure this out for ourselves.  One thing was for certain, as time passed, I felt more comfortable with my plight in life.

The conduct of our Soldiers and the progress made in the villages encouraged me to believe that much good could be accomplished in Iraq.  It was, I thought, a righteous mission.  My lifetime of experience had brought me there.  It was my rightful place.

RIGHTFUL PLACE