In 2003 and 2004 Mike Kubista served as a Marine Corps machine gunner and prison guard in Iraq. His experiences range from the build up and initial invasion to his interaction with Abu Ghraib prison and a brush with the battle of Fallujah when the whole area seemed like it was on fire. "Untitled" is part of an upcoming memoir. "Rapid Fire", another selection from Kubista's memoir, was recently published at therumpus.net.
I saw you there, crouched on the ground, cradling your knees in your arms. You in your long white robes, dirty at the hem from walking the sandy streets. You with your skinny long body, gaunt face and wispy black beard. You with your hands covering yours eyes, like if you couldn’t see, it wouldn’t be true, like somehow you… Read more →