There is a wonderful little irony that gets played out whenever soldiers from 3^rd Battalion, 17^th Field Artillery go into action.

For long periods of time, out here on a distant corner of FOB Blackhawk, they wait quietly for a mission.

As I worked with SSgt. Peter Bazo, Spc. John Walsh, Pfc. Jolicoeur Kirouac, Spc. William Goboff, Spc. Paul Hawthorne and Spc. Jonathan Wilkinson in remodeling the shelter for the rounds and powder, I remember saying to Bazo how quiet it was, but that it would change when they got a mission.

"Oh yeah, it's quiet right now," said Bazo.  "But once we start firing these guns, all hell breaks lose."

The guns he referred to are 155mm howitzers.  A weapon that simply looks powerful, the gun can hurl an almost 100-pound shell over 20 miles.

"When one of these shells comes down even near the enemy, they will experience a significant change to their day," commented Bazo.

In short order, a fire mission came down to the crew from the fire direction center (FDC). 

Bazo and his crew sprang into action.  As Bazo relayed information from a handheld digital fire control system, Walsh brought powder up, Kirouac and Goboff loaded a shell, Hawthorne placed the gunpowder, and then he and Wilkinson made sure that the gun's deflection and quadrant were correct.

Once ready, Wilkinson stood by to pull the lanyard.

"Fire!" yelled Bazo.

With the big gun's report the earth shook, a shock wave radiated out away from the gun, and dust exploded into the air.

The noise was immense.  As Bazo had said, all hell had broken lose.

Surrounded by smoke and dust, the crew jumped into action and began reloading another round.  Within a minute, the gun was ready to go.

"Fire!" yelled Bazo again.

As the dust and smoke grew thicker, the crew continued to work as one.

Two more shells screamed down range before the crew completed its mission.  The sound and fury of the King of the Battlefield was over.

As the dust settled and the gun crew began to get ready for its next mission, it grew quiet again.