"Be safe"

It became the standard parting line when I was in Iraq. If we met other CA soldiers somewhere, when we parted ways, someone would say, "be safe." When my soldiers would run a mission without our truck, the last thing I'd say was, "be safe." When my truck would roll out without them (meetings and such), as I grabbed my gun to leave the tent, either the veterinarian or the specialist would always say, "be safe." When the vet would fly up to a meeting, "be safe."

It was a caution - don't do anything you don't have to do that might get you killed. It was a reminder - wear your eye protection, watch your ass. And it was a little bit of a prayer - be lucky, beat the odds, don't be in the bad place at the bad time.

Be careful isn't what you want to say - sometimes careful won't get the job done. Good luck isn't it either - luck alone will not save your ass when it's finally your turn.

Mr. Abby's rolling around Iraq right now. The guy he's traveling with - well, suffice it to say nobody wants that guy getting killed on his watch, so no unit is going to hang them out in the wind. But it's a dangerous place, and a random one. So every time I talk to him, I say, "I love you. Be safe."

There are three warriors missing right now in my old stomping grounds. Thousands are combing the canal roads and tall grass and the scary places to find them.

I hope against hope they find the missing, alive and defiant. And I hope that the searchers manage to be careful, lucky and ready. I hope they manage to be safe, and to bring our missing back.