To Lead by the Unknowing, To Do the Unthinkable
by
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It was April 7. We were taking fire. Sergeant G told me to stand by because we were going to cross the bridge soon. Everyone began to open fire. Then I heard loud booms over and over. We wondered if that was our artillery or theirs.
Corporal Cantu said, “Look, Ski, the artillery was hitting on the other side of the river in the next city and then next to the bridge and then in the water getting close to us.”
We were all close together because we were about to cross the bridge. It was morning. The sky and the city had a darkened tint to it. Yet we had a heightened sense of sight, smell, and taste from the adrenaline. I could see the thick smoke in the air. I could smell burnt flesh with the mix of gunpowder.
All of a sudden, I heard a loud crashing/crushing boom. At the same time, I saw a fiery flash that heated up my face. I didn’t know it had already put me on the ground. My ears were ringing. I felt dizzy and off balance. The blast threw dirt and shrapnel all over me. I had dirt all over my body. Blood was running down the side of my face and left arm.
I slowly got up, wondering, “What the hell just happened?”
Bullets were hitting buildings and walls right beside me. Confused, I started patting myself down to see if I was all there or if I had been hit. I saw small black dots splattered all over me.
I asked Purdon, “What the hell is this?”
He replied, “I don’t know. It’s on me, too.”
I got some on my finger and smelled it.
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About the Book
To Lead by the Unknowing, To Do the Unthinkable tells the story of a squad of marines on the front line of the war in Iraq. It tells of the battles the marines were in and how they had to improvise, adapt, and overcome to complete their missions, as well as the personal struggles they endured and their thoughts while the war was unfolding right in front of them. From Marine Corps boot camp to life out of the marines, To Lead by the Unknowing, To Do the Unthinkable is a must read.
About the Author
Michael Waseleski left for Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot in June of 2002, only six days after graduating from high school. He received an honorable discharge from active duty in June of 2006 following three combat tours on the front line and tip of the spear during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Michael was awarded eleven ribbons and medals, including two separate medals for heroic achievement; they are worn with a gold V for valor in combat. He started out in boot camp as a recruit; once he graduated, he started at the lowest rank of Private. Michael moved through the ranks quickly, reaching the highest rank a marine can reach in the first four years; he became a sergeant in three years. To Lead by the Unknowing, To Do the Unthinkable started out as just a couple of memories jotted down on paper, and those memories soon turned into a couple of pages. Once Michael let a few people read those pages, they wanted him to expand them into a book. To Lead by the Unknowing, To Do the Unthinkable is Michael’s first book.