I copied this from another forum and was very touched by it: Well, I am still here in Iraq, and with reguards to this war, I can say I have seen and done some amazing things. I've seen both cowards and heroes both young and old Been both confident and terrified, both at the same time I've grown to love and hate people with a fierce passion I've given food to the starving, and water to the thirsty I've seen the pain and uncertainty in a man, woman, and child's face right before they died I've seen the terror in a man's face when my weapon was pointed at his head I've looked a man in the eyes right before I put a sandbag over his head I've tasted the burn of OC/pepper spray as I sprayed a man in the face I've learned Arabic from a 12 year old girl who was my friend I've waved hello back at so many passing cars, I felt like I was famous I've been on TV 4 times, then watched the media tell lies about us I've been in 3 papers, and was amazed at the innacuracy of my story I've seen dozens of marriages fall apart on both ends I've seen Iraqis cry, they were so happy that we were here I've had Iraqis swear me up and down because I had to search them I've heard the launch of mortar rounds as they left the tube I've seen those same mortar rounds blow up around me and my friends I had a friend show me pictures of his kids, and get killed the very next day I've heard the pop-pop-pop of gunfire, and then the ping-ping-ping as it hit around me I've seen people afraid to pull the trigger, and not kill...and I've seen people kill when they shouldn't have pulled the trigger I've seen men in the cross hairs of the scope mounted on my rifle and I've pulled the trigger so they will never ever be seen again I've laid countless hours on my cot trying to sleep but couldn't, because the helicopters were to loud, explosions were to close, their was to much gunfire I've taken prisoners, guarded prisoners, and released prisoners I've lost weight because my stomach couldn't handle the food here I've knocked on people's doors, kicked down people's doors, and almost shot off someone's door I've sat on a rooftop for 53 days straight looking for bad guys, and learned what patience really is I've lost all sense of privacy, but grew closer than a brother with my squad and platoon I've cleaned my weapon more than I have cleaned my clothes, because it was more important I've learned to appreciate all the things I once took for granted I've never worked so hard and got paid so little in my life, but even still worked harder I've watched videos of Nick Berg getting his head sawed off his body while he screamed, and never wanted to kill so bad in my life I remember when a young kid that called us "sadiq-i" (friend) brought us food each day at a checkpoint, and remember when a suicide bomber killed him and 18 other people days later I remember a crazy lady telling me lies to waste my time for no reason I remember a pretty girl secretly waving hello to me so nobody would see, fearing ridicule I remember the screams of people when a restraunt exploded with innocent people inside I'll never forget the smell of burning flesh for as long as I live...ever I've seen Iraqi people fight alongside us one minute, then fight against us the next I've captured dozens of weapons, some of which were gold plated I've been in a car accident that would've killed me if I wasn't riding in an armored hummer I've smiled and scowled, laughed and yelled at different crowds of people I've seen a 13 year old prostitute bring money home to her father to live I've smelled the crisp air of a new morning, and the soot and stench of cordite the next morning I've been so hot, that I stopped sweating and my body started to shut down I've been so tired and worn out, but still couldn't sleep for days at a time I've seen people accidently shoot their weapons and almost kill people, and I've seen people intentionally shoot their weapons and kill people I've never counted or carried so much ammunition in my life, and I've been around the world more than once or twice with the military I've sat back and enjoyed an ice cold Coke, and other times I've called on the radio begging for a resupply of water and food because we were starving literally I've seen guys "baby" their weapons, and I've seen guys treat them like hell, fully knowing it was the only thing that might save their lives I've said "I hate here" a thousand times, and heard it said a million more times I've seen a platoon leader curl up in the fetal position out of terror during a firefight, and a private in that same platoon fight like a savage for his life I've seen a medic choke-up and not be able to do his job, and an infantryman next to him bandage up a wounded child I've had kids throw rocks at me because I didn't have any chocolate candy to give them I almost shot a 14 year old kid that pulled a gun on another kid, the toys look very real here I've seen kids play in a virtual minefield of explosives and ordinance like they were at Disneyland I've heard shots fired and hit the ground, ducked, jumped behind cover, and flat out ignored them I've seen "new guys" in units come here so scared they point their guns at everything they see I've been on missions so long, that I've come back to my FOB (base camp) with a full beard I've sat up late at night waiting for a friend to come back from a patrol that got hit, like a parent waits for their child who's been out all night I've made best of friends with a 17 year old kid, and a 47 year old man, and talked to both like we were old highschool buddies I've cleaned my friend's blood off of his equipment, and turned it in because he was killed in an explosion hours before I've seen enough different people's body parts, that I could put them all together and make a completely new body with them I've laughed and joked with Australian soldiers, had conversations with British soldiers, and drank chi (tea) with Arab soldiers I've seen how well our bulletproof vest work, and they do stop bullets I've read the bible and figured I am in, or near the 'Garden of Eden'; but it hardly looks like paradise to me I've seen fisherman fishing, kids swimming, boats and dead bodies floating in the Tigris River I've asked myself dozens of times "Why am I here", but I know the answer, and I know if asked...I'd come back again no question I've missed my family and still do, and I regret not spending as much time with them as I should've before I left I've figured out who my real friends are back home, because they have taken the time to write me a letter or an e-mail I felt sold out by my chain of command because I made a decision to shoot, and sat through an 'inquisition' for making a judgement call that I would again I've gone on my 2 weeks of R&R and enjoyed the downtime, however was anxious to get back to this strange place I've been to far too many memorial services of our fallen brothers, and choked up everytime, even if silently so nobody could tell I've seen an enemy sniper cause so much pandamonia, that without a shot being fired the sniper was winning a psycological victory over us I've traded 'war stories' with my best friend who worked in the private sector up north through countless e-mails I've been disgusted by the double standard that I have seen day in and day out I've lost a friend to an enemy sniper's bullet and felt helpless I've been given a urinalyses test because people were doing drugs over here I've seen the Iraqi people respect the military, and I've seen them totally disreguard our presence and "walk all over us" I've searched a car we stopped in sector and found an Oklahoma license plate in the trunk with '04 tag stickers on it I've felt my stomach knot and my heart skip a beat when a vehicle speeding by, cut his wheel and came directly at me...I was going to be blown-up for sure I thought I've been terribly sick, but continued to work and patrol through it...mission first I've gotten packages and letters from people I don't know, and a smile was brought to my face each time I've had my comfort zone tested and violated by these people time and time again I've had Iraqis throw fireworks at me on New Years, thinking it was funny that I couldn't tell it wasn't a gunshot I've come to the conclusion that some soldiers here will return home by the grace of God, and other soldiers will come home simply because the man to the left or right of him did their job I've seen lousy soldiers awarded medals for no reason at all, and other soldiers who rightfully deserved recognition for gallantry under fire passed over with not even a pat on the back I've seen the clear difference between competence and arrogance in my leadership -doorkicker ]
A Soldiers View.......... It's kind of Amazing what this Warrior has written here . Quite a Reality Check .It sure as He!! is NOT Hollywood ! I'm not a Combat Vet . I feel for him and his Buddies . I understand the "Let Down" in the Failure of Command and the End Result in the Loss of Morale , equipment . No one country is actually a winner in war . But thankfully I have not witnessed the loss of life due to poor leadership & planning . I'm sure it has happened & is happening on a daily basis .In my eyes , the ones that do not support these warriors in the field or at home are just as much a "Terrorist" as the ones they fight on a daily basis over there . There are thousands of Service Members that will be able to come home alive alive but not well . As they come back to us remember their sacrfices . No draft , Volunteers ,all of them . I started to use the words "Come back to us Whole ",but for those of you that may be Combat Vets can attest to the fact if you've been directly involved in combat you're never coming home whole . There's a Major part of your soul lost in what's transpired . I pray to the Lord that he comforts the ones who are sacrificing themselves so we can post our views in places like this . What WOULD be nice is to be able to pay tribute to this men & women by seeing stories etc . run in our News Papers with their permission and no repercussions to them for expressing their views .Let others hear their true feelings & what they've witnessed ! Not some "Canned" statement from Washington or a Skewed News Agency . God Bless & God Speed them back to us ................ Steve SSgt. E-5 U.S. Air Force 81-91
Amen to that. Good luck finding a newspaper though, that would print anything that any vet had to say positive about their experience over there. A soldiers words would be certain to be edited to death to make the entire experience seem worhtless. As horrible as it is, it will, i hope, ultimately, in the end, be worth it and prove all these nutcase newspapers wrong as usual.
Please keep them all in our thoughts As I read this story I began to think of my Son who was in the Marines and was in quite a few firefights in Iraq during the Invasion . I got a few letters sort of the same as this young HEREO wrote. I am not ashamed to admit the tears that came from reading his letters, As a parent it is so hard to live your life everyday while you know that your children are in harms way. My son had finished his hitch back in August and he went to College for a few months and did very well,But as time went on I could see in his face that he was troubled. He and I had a real Man to Man talk and he told me that he wanted to return to the Marines and join back up with his Old Gunney who will be going back to Iraq at the end of this month, Well my son has reenlisted and will be going back to Iraq. I wanted to scream and yell at him and the whole world but I could'nt do that because My Son is a Man now and I can not tell him what he can and can't do. It was a hard lesson for me to let him go and stop thinking of him as my Little boy. He feels that right now he belongs back with his Men and if that means going back to Iraq and fighting then his feelings are even stronger that he is doing the right thing. My son was and still is a Sgt in a weapons platoon in the Marines and he has won many medals and all types of Honors. I am proud of him and all of the young Men and Women that are fighting this war. I just ask that everyone take a Mintue or two everyday and think of these Warriors and Thank them for what they are doing even if you don't agree with the war. Thank you for posting that Letter from the Hero/Warrior, GOD BLESS THEM ALL! Don
Warriors! I read the post with a tear or two in my eyes. My son came home from his second tour the Wed. night before Thanksgiving. He will be going back in June. He was there before and during the start of the war, but this second trip ws harder on me and the next one will be also. If God is willing he will make it back. I worry about him but, also very proud of him. When I heard of the bombing of the mess tent before Christmas, I asked him about it as I knew he had been there and he said he had eaten there for 3 months. You never know. War is no fun and for sure not like the movies. I salute all troops and pray for all their safety. Jim N.
