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Quiet Nights in Al-Asad

Red skies at night are
A sailor’s delight,
But a star-filled sky gets
This soldier high.
Even Orion’s belt fails as the
Star showers sail
These thousand points of light
Make for wondrous nights
As I go to greet with open arms
A combat sky Filled
with peace and hope and love.
Almost makes me believe in
Some power up above.
Whatever created this sight
Did so out of love.

—Sgt. Katharine S. Dahlstrand, U.S. Army Combat Medic
Al-Asad, February 2006