Camp Victory In Baghdad

Camp Victory Iraq is where I found myself on Memorial Day in May of 200. I traveled to Baghdad from Camp Warhorse in Baqubah, where I worked for KBR, for a company meeting.

The trip was uneventful and I arrived safely with no problems.

A friend of mine from back home in San Antonio was working there as a civilian contractor for another company. We had planned ahead of time by e-mail to meet at the PX Plaza for dinner. I was truly looking forward to getting together with him.

This buddy attended the same church that I do when I am home in San Antonio and, like me, was ex-military. We had a lot in common and it would be good to see a friendly face in Iraq. When I arrived at the camp and checked my e-mail at the office, there was one from him. Something came up and he could not make our meeting.

So I headed on foot for the Burger King there at the camp. On the way, I heard an all too familiar whistle and knew what it was. I headed for the nearest bunker which was a long way from where I was.

Boom! It hit somewhere behind me. Then came the second whistle and it hit much closer. Just as I finally made it to the bunker, the third one hit with the loudest whistle I had ever heard.

This third one, it turns out, had hit the PX Plaza, killing several and wounding many. The next day, I went to check it out. It landed just 50 feet from where my friend and I were to have met. God protected us by changing my buddy's plans! God is good and always has our best in mind.

Now, the second round that I mentioned above hit just behind the Camp Victory transition center for our company. It sent shrapnel into buildings occupied by our company personnel. None of our guys was hit but there were a lot of near misses.

For instance, a piece of metal flew by the head of one of our guys. It hit the wall behind him and missed his head by inches.

Desks were shoved up against the back wall and trash cans were overturned. Lights were knocked down from the ceiling due to the force of the concussion.

Amazingly, three vehicles parked close to the explosion did not have one scratch on them!

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