Comments:  On a main drag in Al Batha we stopped our convoy and dismounted the Humvees, I heard the gunner on our truck say, “Hey here comes Rainman” after I got out of the truck I was approached by this young man who I can only describe as mentally challenged. He was nice enough and only wanted to talk and perhaps get soccer ball or a pen or pencil. Then, out of the corner of my eye came this masked man, Instinctively, My heart raced up to about 120bpm and my right hand reached for the 9mm pistol at my side. It was not a man but a boy and he was just trying to be funny, he struck a pose with Rainman and I took the photo, the 9mm remained in the holster.

Keywords:  al bath,iraqi children,rainman