Edward Riederich
Trapped in Fallujah
I wrote this poem a couple years ago. This is probably one of my favorite stories I have written about.
I read a true story about a team of Marines in Iraq that were overtaken by a sandstorm called "The Churning". These marines found themselves pinned against a small cinder block wall braving the worst storm in a century. For three days they were pinned down motionless and pelted by hot sand. They had to fight for every breath as they choked down sandpaper air. They felt like they were being burned alive.
Finally, on the third day the storm subsided. Some were angry and bewildered at God that He would allow them to suffer this way. God was silent as they cried to Him in the storm but after the storm they saw He worked the bad for good. The storm had misplaced so much sand and it exposed a minefield they would have walked right into. You and I may not understand why we are going through the storm but we must believe that God is working all for good even in the times when we can't hear or see Him.Â
Back in the year 2004Â
West of Baghdad 40 milesÂ
Marines on this desert floorÂ
Withstood hardship and trialsÂ
In the battle of FallujahÂ
Stood a man named Sergeant TimÂ
There came forth a HallelujahÂ
When poor conditions looked grimÂ
An advancing ominous skyÂ
Threatening to engulf these menÂ
They could not outrun if they triedÂ
In quite a predicament thenÂ
The sandstorm called "The Churning"Â
Soldiers trapped against the wallÂ
Their bodies felt the burningÂ
Prayer to God, a desperate call
Â
Three days pelted by sand and windÂ
Lying motionless on the groundÂ
Three horrific days they were pinnedÂ
A horrendous roaring soundÂ
Furious sandstorm persistedÂ
Survival was appearing bleakÂ
Air particulates resistedÂ
Sand and stones scalded their cheeksÂ
Struggling for each short breathÂ
Battling against their fearsÂ
Now they were facing certain deathÂ
Storm of every one hundred yearsÂ
Prepared to be buried aliveÂ
Burned in the suffocating stormÂ
Fighting for breath they would striveÂ
As the blinding sand did swarmÂ
Three long days of The ChurningÂ
Now it gradually subsidedÂ
Three days of intense burningÂ
It became clear God had guidedÂ
At last they were able to standÂ
Assistance the storm would yieldÂ
This dust storm misplaced the sandÂ
Uncovering a minefieldÂ
At this miracle these men gaspedÂ
As they saw this explosive trapÂ
They soon realized and graspedÂ
God watched over them on the mapÂ
Underneath the desert skyÂ
Where those fortunate heroes stoodÂ
God had heard their desperate cryÂ
He replaced the bad for good
Trials in your life work for good
He redeems what has been wrecked
Your struggles He has understood
He is the master architect
In life we will go through storms
Sometimes for days and days
We may lose sight of His form
But perfect are His ways
Storms of life must be endured
Even if they go on longer
But by faith rest assured
Storms will make you stronger
In trials if you feel unseen
And can't raise a Hallelujah
Remember God and those Marines
How they were trapped in Fallujah