Griffin writes:
I decided to ask for volunteers to see which crew was willing to take the lead in the patrol. It was a last-ditch effort to spark some motivation in the platoon and a desperate search to find just one person who was willing to take a risk. That is when Specialist Merced stood up. "It's us sir," he said, "We'll take point." I couldn't believe it. While the platoon leader typically is not supposed to be in the lead vehicle, I was not about to argue with him. I was just happy to have someone who wanted to fight.
Our tank led the patrol that day and continued to lead each patrol for the next week. With Specialist Merced in the driver's hull, we patrolled as aggressively as possible. He drove the tank like I had never seen before, running down enemy fighters in speeding cars, charging through I.E.D.'s, and using the tank's heavy armor and superior weaponry to draw insurgents into fights that they were certain to lose. He took control of our tank like an experienced NCO would, showing poise under fire.
Read more at The New York Times' At War blog.
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