Hurt Locker

Has anyone watched this movie? Here is the synopsis:

“US Army Sergeant First Class Will James, Sergeant JT Sanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge comprise the Bravo Company's bomb disposal unit currently stationed in Baghdad. James is the tech team leader. When James arrives on the scene, Bravo Company has thirty-nine days left on its current deployment. It will be a long thirty-nine days for Sanborn and Eldridge whose styles do not mesh with their new leader. James is a renegade for who the thrill of the dismantlement seems to be the ultimate goal regardless of the safety of his fellow team members, others on the scene or himself. On the other hand, Sanborn is by the books: he knows his place and duty and trusts others in the army to carry out theirs as well as he. And Eldridge is an insecure soldier who is constantly worried that an error or misjudgment on his part will lead to the death of an innocent civilian or a military colleague. While the three members face their own internal issues, they have to be aware of any person at the bomb sites, some of who may be bombers themselves.”

In 2004 I was stationed at Camp Victory in Iraq (same time and location of the EOD guys portrayed in this movie). I dated an EOD technician my first tour in Iraq, we met at Ft Bliss (CRC) and dated the entire tour. It was a deployment relationship. He was a jerk but I was thousands of miles away from home in a war zone and way more scared than I ever wanted to let on. I enjoyed having someone who I felt could protect me and in all honestly I liked his team. They were fun and dangerous, a tight knit click that I felt special to be included in.

Anyway back to the point as no one wants to hear my dating story. I finally watched the movie Saturday night. It was chilling and surreal. It looked just like Iraq (they filmed in Jordan and Kuwait – both places I have been), the Iraqis were Iraqis, and the base reminded me of Victory. I lived in those trailers, I was surrounded by heat and dust, the private security guards in their big armored SUVs drove me around on missions, I bought black market DVD’s from the Hodgie’s (horrible term I know but its in the movie). The boys would return from a mission and tell stories. It was scary, I never knew if they would all return. Luckily for me they did. These guys had dangerous jobs and explosive personalities – there was conflict yet there was also comradeship like none other. The movie portrays this well. Some parts of the movie are a bit far fetched (a soldier wandering around Baghdad solo) and a few that have watched it felt it was slow. But I would recommend it if you want a glimpse into the life of an EOD soldier at war. These guys risk their lives to protect us, there is nothing more honorable and I will always be grateful to them for my freedom.

I keep thinking about the movie – it’s weird to watch a movie that portrays your life. Obviously I wasn’t out diffusing bombs but I was in that country living with the possibility of an IED or mortar explosion both inside and outside the wire, living with the fear (and sometimes reality) that one of my friends (or boyfriend) would not return from a mission, loosing linguists and contractors to the war. Surreal at times, especially now that I am home surrounded by the comforts of my plush every day life. Even the scene at the grocery store when the solider has returned home was eerily familiar. I remember being overwhelmed with choices after having went so long with none. I miss the excitement and adventure but am also grateful to be home and safe in a wonderful country.