worth saying again

It was 2003, the 4th Infantry Division was deployed to Iraq. Our area of operation was in the "Sunni Triangle" more deadly than the Bermunda three-sided object. We had been in-country for almost six months, we had seen combat action but were now finally getting into "stability operation" and were more relaxed. Not everyone was out to get us, just a small part of the community. No one I had known had been killed at this point, just injured or wounded in action.
September 18th started out like any other day, probably late night/early morning guard, convoy escort, and relaxation. OK, no relaxation, but we pretended to relax.
We had gotten word that elements of G Troop, 10th Cav (our brigade's recon company) had taken fire and needed support. Then their company post was now under attack, we were already gearing up when we were told to man our fighting positions instead. G Troop's CP was less than two miles away from us, from my position on the roof I could see the battle taking place. Plus, I had the radio tuned to our brigade's frequency and was listening to the reports which were hurried and filled with gunfire in the background.
I had asked my first sergeant if there was any way I could take a team to try flank the attackers, but he said that it was too risky to attempt that without prior coordination with G Troop. So I just sat back and watched helplessly as my friends needed some help. I was still monitoring the radio when G Troop sent up a report: Two KIA. One was Arriaga.
Arriaga was a great person. He had a huge heart, helping whoever whenever he could. Which was why he was where he was when he was killed. Another soldier was feeling ill and didn't think he was up to the mission that night, without hesitation Arriaga he switched duties with him.
That night the HMMWV he was driving took RPG and small arms fire. An RPG, fired at close range went through Arriaga, bounced, then exploded killing the TC of the vehicle. Arriaga was killed instantly, but his death has had a lasting effect on the rest of us.
Arriaga used to work up at the TOC with me, he was the "new" kid and I used to tease him about the fact that he was combat arms and I wasn't but he ended up in the 'rear' with me. Our two sections were competitive. Once at Ft. Hood there was a three-on-three freestyle wrestling match that took place in a tent we had set up. The FSE (fire support element) vs. MI (military intelligence) and the victor was unclear. FSE claims that they beat us because they had two of us down when the fight was interrupted. However, MI claims victory because of the fact that out of the six, only one was sent to see the medics the next day. Arriaga sustained minor injuries, two cracked ribs, which got him sent to the hospital for x-rays. An MI soldier sent a combat arms soldier to the hospital. There was never a rematch to determine a real winner.
Then when we deployed, Arriaga was sent to support G Troop along with some other soldiers I knew well. We still kept in contact, whenever either side was at the other's FOB we'd talk or exchange items. I remember when Ribas told me that Arriaga had gotten a rep as a bully. He got a way with alot because he was likeable, he'd swap MREs or cots with people (by force).
There are lots of other memories of Arriaga and he had an impact on everyone he's ever known.


We will remember.