‘Tough to sleep in those times. They will never be the same.’
A drone attack launched by the so-called Islamic Resistance struck a U.S. base known as Tower 22 in which three soldiers (Kennedy Sanders, Breonna Moffett, and William Rivers) were killed and at least another 40 injured — and there was a follow-up attack on our outpost Al-Shaddadi in Syria 220 miles northeast of that desolate bit of Jordan. The reporting has covered most of the essential components: Here’s more about the fallen; here’s a cartographical tally of military events since October 7; here’s a summary of what transpired at Tower 22.
What we don’t know yet is why the hostile drone, which is reported to have been mistaken for a U.S. drone returning to the base, was not identified with enough time to either destroy it, divert it, or get soldiers, who appear to have died in their barracks (trailers), to better cover.
While part of me hopes that Sanders, Moffett (horizontal engineers (12N) qualified in operating heavy machinery like bulldozers and dump trucks), and Rivers (a sergeant and electrician (12R)) never knew of their end or any pain, it galls that they appear to have been afforded no chance to protect themselves.
Someone messed up at the switch; probably multiple someones. Complacency is lethal, but so easy to come by when every day looks and acts the same.
That said, I have no firsthand experience in that part of the world, so I reached out to Benny Winslow, a former shipmate (a quartermaster) who went on to run with the SEAL teams for a bit and later became a contractor who did some time in Afghanistan. An instinctive documentarian, Winslow recorded his living arrangements at Kandahar Air Field (“Rocket City”) as well as capturing sitting through a mortar attack in one of the cement shelters while the klaxon sounds.
Winslow writes [shared with permission]:
The construction of the base in Jordan was probably nothing like Kandahar Air Field. The video you’re referencing was taken in the last year we were in Afghanistan. You’re seeing the culmination of 20 years of war. We were built up very well there. Monolithic T-Wall’s, and bunkers everywhere. Restaurants, coffee shops, NEX, internet, gyms and running water.
I’m guessing the base in Jordan was primitive as we haven’t been there for long. Generators, tents and MRE’s. No showers for weeks or months and s****** in a hole you dug. Regardless of the base’s amenities, we are bombed regularly in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. We were bombed repeatedly in Kandahar during the last year and the attacks were rarely mentioned in the news back home. Thousands of all US service members and veterans there so you’d think they’d do a story about us.
Our bases are sitting ducks in year one or 20 of war. Our bases are always surrounded by the enemy and our movements on and off base are tracked. The Marines always said, “if I’m hit by a mortar then it’s my time to go.” The joke behind it was in reference to how wildly inaccurate the Taliban were at shooting mortars. It was a miracle if one hit something other than a T-Wall. They got the Exchange on base with a mortar, which was a kick in the balls for everyone on base.
Our bases in Afghanistan are not usually repurposed. The Afghani’s view our bases as cursed and talk about ghosts inhabiting them. Most of our bases in Afghanistan are only inhabited by wild dogs like Camp Leatherneck.
With the accuracy of drones, rockets or mortars, it seems like military life would be harrowing in a place like Jordan. If you’re a 19 year old Grunt and sitting in Jordan right now, it would be nice to have some comforts. There are none in Jordan.
You remember a hard day at sea on the RMD [USS Rodney M. Davis]? Nice to have a piping hot meal, and take in a movie while being rocked to sleep in a freezing cold coffin. It was fun to go to work. Over there it’s a nightmare because they can land a rocket in your lap.
Tough to sleep in those times. They will never be the same.
