A picture with my Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leaders. The senior leadership of the Platoon. I apologize to everyone. I have no pictures of my promotion ceremony. I will describe it though. We were called up rather abruptly (myself and a fellow Platoon leader in my Company). The Battalion Commander says some words about us accomplishing what took him 25 years to accomplish, i.e. command in combat, purple hearts, etc. Then he turns to me after pinning my new rank, "1LT Smith, your up, say some words." I just smiled and said "I think since I'm still a LT that it would be better if I just didn't say anything at all." That got a great round of applause and cheering (obviously a joke). But it was a good time. On another note, just another observation that is much more dismal, yet just as important. Motivation is so difficult to maintain in this environment. When you put all your efforts into the preservation of your men's health and well being, success is inherently tied to mens' lives. Regardless of where we are, the network of friends stays close and we are able to keep up with each other, even if we are not in direct contact. The untimely death of friends is so difficult to get over, especially in this place. Something goes wrong or it just happens. Another soldier killed. It literally drains the motivation and causes you to second guess yourself. Simple actions become impossible tasks. Reactions we all have experienced. I've been through it more than once unfortunately and most others have or will go through it in some point in time. Why do I go on about this? I'm not sure. I would imagine it haunts us all. Here it is something that we just accept. It just happens. Yes, to some degree its the futility that exists, but its more the reality of war.