I was deep into my fourth rotational deployment to Afghanistan with the 96th Civil Affairs (CA) Company. We had been working in the same general area of operations (AO) for about 2-1/2 years, so we knew the people and the terrain well.
A specialist in my company came into my office one morning after going on sick call. The Soldier had a reputation in the command for being a hard worker and doing his job.
Iraq, a year after the war began, the insurgents had organized, newspapers splashed beheadings across their front pages, and American deaths were climbing. It was hot, and the footfalls of Abu Ghraib echoed in the minds of all of us.