This afternoon as I returned to my classroom at the end of the day, I saw a person in military garb standing in the hallway outside my room. As I approached, I realized that it was a former student I first met 10 years ago when she was a freshman in high school.
Abby looked every bit the professional she is. As it turns out, she is stationed in Baghdad and is home on a two-week leave. In chatting with her, I found out that her unit of military police provided security for Saddam Hussein from the beginning of the trial through the execution.
The women in the unit had less contact than did the men, but she frequently encountered him in the hallways. I told her that I had read a news report that said Hussein was very complimentary of his American custodians. She said that he was quite gracious to them, his English was very good and he wore very nice suits.
She was in the secure area during the execution and witnessed the immediate aftermath of Iraqi reaction.
“Abby,” I said, “you realize that you are living history, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
As our visit concluded, she said, “Do you remember my freshman year when we had to write those research papers on a famous person? You handed me my topic and I asked, ‘Who is this guy with the funny name, Saddam Hussein?'”
Pretty amazing . . .