A Soldier's Death on a Stunning Day in Iraq
For Whitten, who has been on active duty for 3½ years, it was the first time he had seen an injury.
"I was holding his head while the doc was working," he says.
Del Valle has been thinking about his family all night.
"You get in the humvee every day because that's the job that's feeding your family. I also believe in what we're doing here," he adds.
Today, Del Valle says, "I saw the Iraqi soldiers doing everything they could to help us." They are impressed that Karcher stayed back with the humvee and only the Iraqi soldiers, as the other Americans drove the injured back to the base. "We've been here two months and we've already got that trust," says Whitten.
"That's what's so beautiful about what we do," agrees Del Valle. He then pauses for a moment. "But, I think, when I get back, it's time for me to retire. If I get back."
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