CENTRAL IRAQ

This time, missiles fail to materialize

By David Kamerman, Globe Staff, 4/1/2003

he war came a little closer yesterday for the US Army's 27th Field Artillery at its base in central Iraq. A call from headquarters saying an enemy artillery strike was expected had the soldiers running to the edge of the defensive berm. Troops from all parts of the camp struggled to don protective gear while sprinting to the berm. Diving to the ground, they lay on their stomachs with their faces in the dirt, covering them with their hands and arms. They waited, tensed for the incoming attack. Being the potential target of an artillery strike or an incoming missile is horrible -- you feel as if you are naked, that you can't hide, and all you can do is wait for your twist of fate. Even though Iraq's missiles are rather inaccurate, we know someone has to be unlucky.

But yesterday, the missile was nowhere near us, and we went back to the mundane chores of an army in the field. The soldiers here hope their fellow troops can say the same.