• I stood in horror as the stewardess opened the plane door. It seemed as if time slowed down as she opened the door and the cold air was murdered by the humidity of the air outside. We began to file out of the plane and each one of us groaned as we stepped into the heat.

    As i walked off of the plane and down the stairs, i noticed a line of tired-looking soldiers. Some were on crutches, others were in wheelchairs, others were just standing there, staring at the plane door with longing in their eyes.

    Some of the men looked at us with sadness, some gave a reassuring smile, while others laughed at the ones walking by who held their head high and acted brave as if they owned everything. We marched single file into ranks and stood there awaiting orders.