Sasha and I were on a 57 MBTA bus going out on Commonwealth Ave right before the Brighton Ave split when another bus crashed into the back of us. We got hit twice, I’m not sure if both times were the bus or if the car hit us once. I was standing in the rear of the bus when it was hit. We got hit really hard and a couple people who were standing fell down but weren’t hurt. I thought it was really exciting. We pulled over and got out for a couple minutes before another empty bus pulled up to take all the passengers (2 busses worth) to their destinations. The people in the car were hurt and ambulances and firetrucks came. Some pictures:
Category: Photos
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Five and a half weeks
I will never forget my Platoon Commander Captain R. walking into my hospital room the day after my surgery, I was so surprised to see him. He sat in I-95 traffic for half a day so he could see how I was doing in person. I remember the look on his face when he realized how bad things were. He told me he sat the whole platoon down and had a long talk with them about what had happened to me. After a brief visit Captain R. went back to Quantico, but I wish he’d have stayed longer. That was the last time I saw anyone from my platoon.
I wonder sometimes that if I ever do see Captain R. or anyone else from the 4th Platoon staff again, if they’d remember me. Regardless if I ever make it back to Quantico, my life was changed more in those 5 and a half weeks by those Marines, than in my 24 years prior.
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America is at the mall
From the February 19th Kansas City Star:
Photo by John Moore / Getty Images -
Iraq and Afghanistan veterans honored at Harvard
Photo by Tom FitzsimmonsI attended a forum at Harvard last night, at which five veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan discussed leadership on the front lines. The veterans, 3 Army officers and two Marine Reserve officers, discussed how to be a successful leader in hostile situations.
Major Ewers explained that during the most dire of circumstances, how you handle yourself and how you react is when those under you most look to you as a leader. That is why you must always act ethical and honorable.
When asked about how he and his men deal with the crumbling support back home Major Ewers said he highlights and focuses on the importance and all of the good being done. He explained how he doesn’t waste his energy worrying about something that is outside of his influence.
When all of the veterans were asked why the continue to volunteer for service and make tours to Iraq they said that if they don’t go, someone else will, and they would rather put themselves in harms way.
“You get to the place where you would do anything for the guy on your left or the gal on your right, because frankly, you know they would do anything for you.†– Captain Maura Sullivan
The panel:
Lt. Col. Oscar Hall, U.S. Army Armor Battalion Commander, Iraq; KSG National Security Fellow ‘07
Major Daniel Wagner, U.S. Marine Corps Civil Affairs Officer in Iraq; Planner, Afghanistan ‘02; KSG MPA ‘02
Major Joseph Ewers, U.S. Army Infantry Company Commander, Iraq; HBS MBA Candidate ‘07
Captain Maura Sullivan, U.S. Marine Corps Operations Officer, Iraq; KSG & Stanford MPA & MBA Candidate ‘08
Lt. Col. Fredrick Wellman, United States Army UH-60 Aviator, Public Affairs Officer, Iraq; KSG Mid-Career MPA ’07Also in attendance was Lieutenant General Douglas E. Lute, Director of Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
More photos and information from the forum can be found here:
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/02.22/05-vets.html