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by gmays·12y ago·view on hn ↗
In late 2008 when I was in the Marines and deployed to Iraq I was following too closely behind the vehicle in front while crossing a wadi and we hit an IED (the first of 3 that day).

Nobody was killed, but we had a few injured. Thankfully the brunt of it hit the MRAP in front of us. If it hit my vehicle (HMMWV, flat bottom) instead I probably wouldn't be here.

That was the first major operation on my first deployment, too. Hello, world!

My takeaway? Shit just got real.

We ended up stranded that night after the 3rd IED strike (our "rescuers" said it was too dangerous to get us). It was the scariest day of my life, but in similar future situations it was different. I still felt fear and the reality of the existential threat, but I accepted it. It was almost liberating. Strange.

I deployed for another year after that (to Afghanistan that time). After Afghanistan I left the Corps and started my company. Because if it fails, what's the worst that can happen? Lulz.

1 comments
This really puts some of the boneheaded moves I've made in my career in perspective. One thing that's always kept me pretty even keeled after a blowup is to take a breath and tell myself that no matter how bad I've screwed up, I'm still here, still breathing, and there (most likely) is some way out of the hole I've dug, no matter how painful.

Depending on the industry, that might not be the case though. Thanks for your service.