By Major (Ret. U.S. Army) Drew Webb
Editor’s note: Moral injury doesn’t always come from what we do. Sometimes it comes from what we couldn’t do. For combat medics, paramedics and first responders, there are moments when the outcome is already decided before we arrive — and yet the weight of responsibility still settles on our shoulders. This excerpt from “Unbreakable Valor,” by Major (Ret. U.S. Army) Drew Webb, captures one of those moments: when training collides with reality, and the mind absorbs a truth the heart isn’t ready for.
Reflections on moral injury
He wasn’t going to make it.
Other medics ran in — Americans, multinational forces. Someone shouted for a stretcher. Another screamed into a radio for a medevac bird. But deep down, we all knew the truth: this man was already dying. We were just witnesses.
Jim dropped beside him anyway. One hand on his shoulder. A gesture. Human. Final.
His uniform was soaked. The Danish flag patch was smeared with blood. He was coalition, but in that moment, he was ours.
I stood there, fists clenched, guilt pounding behind my ribs. I had walked out that morning thinking I didn’t need to carry medical gear.
Thinking Kandahar was “safe.”
Thinking wrong.
His breaths slowed.
Then stopped.
The last sound he made was a soft exhale — less a breath, more a surrender.
And then… silence.
Jim stood up. Blood on his hands. Eyes unreadable.
No words. No tears. Because Green Berets don’t cry.
But we remember.
We watched as other allied medics and doctors transported his dead body to their military hospital, conducting useless chest compressions even as their vehicle disappeared down the dusty road.
No words were spoken between me and my junior 18D. We both knew what we could have done, what needed to be done, what we failed to do.
That’s moral injury.
The chipping away of values, the erosion of humanity, and the inability to act.
Our minds didn’t react to the brutality of the injuries, as in PTSD; our minds packed away the memory of preventing a man from dying.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Drew Webb is a retired U.S. Army Major (O-4) and former Special Forces Green Beret, with a distinguished military career spanning over three decades. Originally from Australia, Drew began his service in the Australian Infantry, rising to the rank of Corporal and serving as a section commander in Reconnaissance with 1RAR and 6RAR. He was the commander of the winning Duke of Gloucester Cup team—awarded to the best infantry section in the Australian Army — and was recognized as the 6RAR Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
“Unbreakable Valor” is Webb’s first book — an unflinching account of sacrifice and survival. Through raw and honest storytelling, Drew shines a light on the human side of warfare and the moral complexities faced by soldiers in combat.
Today, Drew is committed to raising awareness about the challenges veterans face after combat and advocates for healing, resilience and a deeper understanding of moral injury. He continues to support military communities on both sides of the Pacific and remains passionate about bridging the gap between service members and the societies they defend.
This excerpt is reprinted with permission from “Unbreakable Valor,” by Major (Ret.) Dave Horowitz, available at Amazon, published in 2025 by Callaghan Publications.
