(12SEPT2008)Most bases, especially the larger ones, have a “Big Voice” that makes announcements to the entire base. In Balad, Iraq, where we had incoming mortars almost daily, the Big Voice often told us “There has been an indirect fire attack”, and to be wary of unexploded ordnance. She – the
Big Voice was a woman’s voice and we often joked about having crushes on her – she would also serve notice that “There will be a controlled detonation”, so that we knew the coming explosion was not in fact an attack.
I have only heard the Big Voice in Bagram a couple of times in my two weeks here. We have had no attacks of any sort and they don’t announce controlled detonations like they did in Balad.
This morning, the Big Voice wakes me up around 0730, though I can’t understand what it’s saying. My housing is apparently located in an area covered by multiple loudspeakers, and the slight delay between them results in a garbled message. When the Big Voice (it’s a man’s voice here) speaks up again a half hour later, I leave my room and find a place where I can catch the message.
“There will be a Fallen Comrade ceremony this morning. all available personnel are required to report to Disney Drive no later than 0850 hours. No cameras, PT uniforms, or sunglasses are allowed.”
Disney Drive is the main strip on Bagram, named after SPC Jason Disney who was killed in an industrial accident on Bagram in 2002. I put on my uniform on and join hundreds of others lining both sides of Disney leading to the airfield; there are uniforms as far as the eye can see down the road. We stand at parade rest until an MP escort leads two HMMWVs carrying flag-draped caskets guarded by the fallen’s friends and colleagues.
As the HMMWVs pass, we stand at attention and all of the soldiers salute their fallen comrade. It’s an altogether moving and sobering reminder of what happens here.
PT = Physical Training
SPC = Specialist
HMMWV = High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (‘humvee’)
