War	Write for The Iranian Editorial policy

Can't forget or forgive
War scars: Photo essay

By Farid
December 6, 2001
The Iranian

These pictures of my childhood in Abadan and the war with Iraq are still so vividly alive in my memory.

Two weeks ago I had a patient, a 38 year-old Iraqi man with chest pains secondary to a wound from a G-3 bullet still in his chest cavity clearly seen by x-ray. He had sustained the wound at Bahmanshir River right behind Abadan, exactlly on one of the days I was on the other side of the river during my service in the war.

I examined him, kept my professional look up and wrote some pain medicine and referred him to a thoracic surgery consultant. When he was leaving he held my hand and looked deep into my eyes. He had that same smile all Iraqis have. I remember so well. For a second hatred came back to me. I said to myself "I wish the bullet had gone little to the left!"

For an hour after he left I felt nauseated and my spine felt cold. I was just not myself. I just can't forget and forgive. Sorry, I can not!

>>> NEXT photo (13 total)

Noruz in Abadan with my family.

>>> NEXT photo (13 total)

Comment for The Iranian letters section Comment to the writer Farid