Realities

Capt. Amy Malugani, United States Marine Corps

One of the greatest challenges for Captain Amy Malugani was mentally preparing for high-alert situations. “Knowing that I had the capacity to do whatever it took to keep myself and someone else alive was difficult. I did have to provide security, but I didn’t have to fire my weapon personally, even though there were some close calls. Everyone has that instinct to protect themselves and those around them. Your defense mechanism kicks in,” she noted.

Battlefield realities reveal humanity’s primal state. Everyone wants to get out alive. Surprisingly, the reality was sometimes better than expectations. “As my vehicle moved deeper into the city, I expected the stench to be overwhelming based on the death totals, but to my surprise, it was bearable.”

Sometimes, reality was simply a matter of logistics and innovation.

When the Marines raised the Iraqi and American flags in the city of Fallujah, there wasn’t a single investigative reporter around to capture the significant moment. A lieutenant used his mini DVD camera to film it. Unit by unit, they handed the recording back through the city in a wrapper from a readymade meal.

“Marines moved it from the center of the city to the logistics channel; I got it from the edge of the city and into headquarters. They used it in the press conference that night, and media outlets broadcasted it around the world.”

Sometimes, the news media was abuzz with a different reality. A Los Angeles Times photographer captured a striking close-up of a Marine smoking a cigarette—reminiscent of the Marlboro man commercials from decades past. Everyone wanted to know his name.

“This was a big deal back in the States. I was getting called to put a name with the famous face. It may appear simple; however, reality proved otherwise in the midst of a battle with Marines on the move.”

“At other times, the reality was worse than expectations. Your brain doesn’t allow you to prepare for some things, such as suddenly being overwhelmed by a swarm of flies or a dog gnawing on a dead insurgent’s remains. “You don’t allow yourself to imagine some of the sites you’re going to see. I’m a believer in being in the moment, being in the present. There’s always enough grace in the moment. It’s when I go into the past or the future that anxiety or fear sets in. The grace is in the moment. I tapped into that a lot for strength and peace.”

Prayer: Father, renew my heart. Help me to live in the present tense, trusting you for strength for whatever comes my way today.