Junkyards of War

"(Originally published in the New York Times select on March 26, 2006 - link)

Last week I discovered the Camp Falluja junkyard. It was glorious.

As our HMMWV turned the corner and I caught my first glimpse of this vast expanse I heard the playing of “Hallelujah” and saw a radiant white light shine down from heaven upon the scores of deadlined vehicles, discarded parts and general detritus that filled the place. It was a sight to make any gearhead shed a tear. Gunny cursed out loud in excitement from the seat behind me. We had found our Mecca."

Midnight in Iraq