The Hottest Place on Earth
I remember a place so hot, we could cook eggs in the sand. A place so hot, you could pour out your canteen and it would evaporate in front of your eyes. A place so hot, people died from the heat. A place so hot that your forgot your name...
I remember the intrepid, non-stop sun. Its heat waves made many of us pass out from exhaustion in defeat. It rays blinded those that didn't know how to protect their eyes. Its light revealed everything in your path.
I remember the wildlife. It was deadly and beautiful at the same time. Much like the land around it.
I remember the inhabitants of the endless desert because they were so few and far between. They were as tiny as a grain of sand and large as a vehicle.
I remember the unexpected and being afraid to fall asleep outside. While there are many dangers in this warzone, some of the worst are natural.
I remember that in a place so desolate and dry, there is an oasis. A palace stands in the center of the busy, bustling capital city.
And at night, it was a place that drew everyone's eyes like moths to the flame.
I remember spending hours and sometimes days cleaning sand out from every place possible.
I remember a place of such conflict and fighting, that I try to forget.
I remember a language barrier, although we tried to keep it light hearted at times.
Most of all, I remember the endless, continuous sands. It surrounded you everywhere and at times huge storms swept in to remind you of it's power. It would not lay silently. It would not be overlooked.
I remember a place of limitless heat - both from sun and from weapon. I remember a place that could be so bright it would blind one minute and so dark you couldn't tell if you had died yet or not. I remember a place of both beauty and danger. I remember a place - it was the hottest place on Earth. It has a name and it is Iraq.