I’m just remembering all 3 of my son’s deployments to Iraq and vicinity.
Each time I repeated the words an old Korea War vet told me: “Don’t Trust any of them. They are all your enemy. Do NOT trust ANY of them.”
And Sgt Howard Brandt came alive out of Korea even after being overrun by a combined Chinese Korean Hoard. He was the ranking NCO left and the platoon worked its way back to its own lines.
Howard Rule #2: Do not ever be in a crowd.
Howard Rule #3: Never be without your weapon and loaded.
And my son did not forget.
Sometimes you don’t have a choice about rule #2. Sadr City got pretty crowded at times.