Duty, honor and country

  • Published
  • By Maj. Brett L. Mers
  • Iraqi air force operations center
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq (AFPN) --  "Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be," Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur said during an acceptance speech at West Point in 1962. "They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn." 

People from American and Iraqi cultures are very different in many measures. They speak different languages, wear different clothes and listen to different music. They see the world from different vantage points and communication across that cultural divide can sometimes be challenging at best. But like flying high over a mountain range, some days present a perspective by which it becomes easier to see the connections that comprise the unity that is obscured by the detail. 

One of those days recently made it all clear.

An Iraqi air force MI-17 Helicopter went down in northern Iraq recently with eight patriots on board -- one American Airman and seven Iraqis. The remains of the Air Force NCO were flown home to his family for a funeral with military honors. Our condolences and prayers went with him. The remains of the seven Iraqis were brought back to Baghdad to be honored and interred. I was privileged to be present for part of those ceremonies. 

We arrived at New Al Muthana Air Base about an hour prior to the scheduled arrival and watched the Iraqi air force members preparing for the ceremony. The Iraqi air force airmen were practicing their marching and drill for the receipt of the remains. Due to the numerically small size of the Iraqi air force, several of the personnel there knew one or more of the casualties and you could sense an "air of restraint" in their demeanor. 

When the notice of arrival was given, the Iraqi air force members assembled in formation on the tarmac with the Iraqi flag proudly flying in the spring wind and sunshine and the U.S. Air Force members assembled in a formation next to them. The Iraqi C-130 landed and taxied slowly to a stop in front of both formations; the whine of the engines making a poignant commentary on the gravity and sadness of the proceedings. 

The ramp door lowered and members of the Iraqi air force came out slowly carrying six litters bearing the remains of their fallen comrades. As the solemn procession passed the U.S. Air Force formation, the command of "Present arms" was given and in a tradition known to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines from across history and around the world a salute was given to those who had most recently fallen for duty, honor and country. 

The litters were carried to an open area and placed on the ground facing Mecca. The Iraqi air force members gathered around and prayers were raised for the souls, families and peace of the fallen. The Americans stood next to their Iraqi brothers and mourned their losses with them. When the time of prayer was ended, the litters were loaded onto Iraqi air force Huey helicopters and taken to the waiting families for final repose. 

For the Americans, the language of the ceremony was foreign, but the meaning was understood. The land of the ceremony was strange, but the danger was familiar. The style of the ceremony was different, but the grief was the same. 

Combat advising requires a diverse skill-set to bridge the cultural barriers and successfully meet the challenges of a dynamic tactical and operational situation. But that day, at that time, during that ceremony, there was no cultural gap. 

There was one heart. It grieved for the loss brothers in arms. It mourned for the members of the families left behind. It wept at the cost of freedom. 

There was one mind. It was to make sure that this didn't happen again. It was determined, energized and looking to the future. It was ready for the challenges. 

There was one goal. It was to make Iraq safe. It was to make Iraq secure. It was to make Iraq free. 

When attempting to communicate across cultural barriers, the best place to start is where you already agree on and with what you already have in common with the other person. In our common grief, we are reminded of what links us -- our humanity, our ideals and our purpose. 

We can clearly see the unity connecting the diversity. The events of the remembrance ceremony served to remind us again of the foundational, grand and profound ideas and values that bind us together -- duty, honor and country. The words may be English, but the ideas are universal. 

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page