In the shadow of darkness Published April 22, 2009 By Lt. Col. Gregory Laffitte 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron CAMP BUCCA, Iraq -- Rounding the bend in the river I could barely make out the bank as I slowly paddled my pirogue between fallen trees and stumps. The rain was coming down much harder now and the occasional flash of lightning would provide intermittent glimpses of what lay in my path. The pirogue was a project my dad and I had made several years earlier and though she could glide through the water barely skimming the surface, I knew how easily she would tip over if she suddenly got lodged on a submerged log. The Ochlockonee River, just west of Tallahassee, Fla., was known for being full of stumps and fallen trees providing ideal home for big catfish. I had fished there on many occasions and absolutely loved the feeling of isolation that this river had to offer. Catfish are nocturnal creatures becoming more active at night just like many of the other wildlife that live deep in the swamps and marshes adjacent to the Ochlockonee River watershed. My plan was to search out a bend in the river which would have a deep hole and string a trot line from one of the low hanging willow branches across the bend. There was no moon so I had to depend on my senses and take extreme care to avoid an accident. I was out here for one purpose: to fill an ice chest with my limit of channel cats. Under the cover of darkness, nighttime catfishing on the Ochlockonee River in North Florida can be a thrilling experience, but you must be careful and observant in order to have a successful trip. For U.S. Airmen, the darkness of night in Iraq brings a different set of concerns. The experience gained as a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle, or MRAP, turret gunner on a nighttime combat patrol in Southern Iraq is one few of us can understand. What we do understand is the need for alertness and quiet observation. Airman 1st Class William Logsdon from Vacaville, Calif., is one of the many Airmen who can tell you in great detail what it's like to roll out of a forward operating base under the cover of darkness while perched alongside his M-240 machine gun in the turret of an MRAP. The MRAP is a massive vehicle, yet fear of the unknown is the common denominator for these night-time warrior Airmen. In anticipation of an upcoming patrol, Airman Logsdon explained that he spends hours prepping his weapon system before a mission. In fact he proudly explained that he can disassemble and reassemble his weapon in just under 60 seconds, providing the confidence that, if necessary, he could solve any malfunction in a stressful situation. Training is the key to success. The combat patrol covers many miles of Iraqi highway and smaller intersecting roadways. Along these roadways are check points occupied by Iraqi army and Iraqi police personnel. Airman Logsdon said their work is paying off because he sees significant progress in how the Iraqi army and police are stepping up and taking charge of the security in their country. Driving between these checkpoints requires a diligent sense for maintaining 100 percent situational awareness. Airman Logsdon accomplishes this through the use of night vision goggles which he says gives you a sense of being right out of the movies by illuminating an incredible expanse of desert terrain. Warrior Airmen such as Airman Logsdon know all too well the threats they face on a daily basis, yet they go about their daily duties with a sense of accomplishment and great pride in what they have done to assist the people of Iraq in their quest for peace and prosperity.