War Withdrawal: Part Two

At midday Friday, the marines marched the first of us down to the beach where a bulldozer had been working out a landing spot...

...for the beachcraft.

Me (to Marine): "Jesus - the only time I've ever seen anything like this is, like, Saving Private Ryan." Don't ask me why I chose that moment to bring up Normandy.

Marine: "Yeah, well, she's just about that old (slow turn to me - broad, bright grin (military teeth are so white) which was unnerving given that his eyes were still shielded by wrap-arounds); but she sure works like a charm."

I'll say this for the military: impressive. Big ships, well equipped soldiers with thick necks. Descending from the manifest desk down to the shore, we were surrounding by binoculars, choppers - high alert. The crippled and bruised evacuees came on board with a sense of relief - finally, there was some strength, some focus...there was some hope. The welcomed sight of the US flag.

On board the beachcraft, the first of the "so where are you headed?" conversations started. I met a great many people headed to school, to LA, to ...anywhere, ready for home. For lack of a better answer, I told people that I'd be headed to Cairo and then to Pakistan to do civil society work. Before the war started, this was indeed my "plan".

Relaxation set in. People pulled out cameras or just out and out collapsed:

...and then we pushed off. Floated out while the craft warmed up, turned and under escort moved to the USS Trenton. Most watched the Trenton, sitting idle ready to receive us in the distance;

I watched Beirut.