Thoughts from the Ground
Over the past couple of days I have received over 300 emails, about 290 of them positive and supportive, pertaining to my “Speaking with President Bush,” blog posting. I want you to know that I’ve read each and every one of them.
Due to the huge number of soldiers that are on the FOB at this time, the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) computers are hard to some by. When you do have the chance to use one, it seems like it’s slow as Christmas due to the load on the bandwidth (but it’s still better than nothing at all). We’re continuing our orientation with the replacement unit along with our joint operations with the Iraqi Army. For these reasons, I cannot answer each and every email but I do want you to know that I’ve saved them and will be printing and scrap-booking them all.
By now, you should know that the Iraqi voting went very well, as the people of Iraq voted on their proposed constitution. Voter turn-out was high in our Area of Operations as I believe the Iraqi security forces and local governments were successful not only with distributing copies of the constitution but also with securing polling sites and making the citizens of Iraq feel safe. I don’t have “hard” numbers to post, but the Commander of the Iraqi Army battalion here told me that, “…at least 70 percent of the people voted.” It was cool to see the soldiers come back from voting day operations with their index fingers inked purple, from voting themselves. Again, the 278th RCT has humbly played a very small part in the history of the world.
In January of 2005, as medical support for the elections, I was able to snap some photos of locals lining up to load buses that would take them to polling sites. This is one of those pictures. We could actually see with our own eyes, the fruits of our hard work and efforts as the people of Iraq made their way to vote (freely) for the first time. During this past referendum, we took a much more supportive role as the Iraqi security forces paved the way for their own people to safely vote.
Again, it is my belief that the success of our joint missions with the Iraqi Army does not depend on the passing of this referendum (as some MSM may think). Even if it does not pass, the people of Iraq have spoken and they have exercised their FREE right to vote!
I’ve hesitated to really post my opinions about why we’re here and what we’re doing, but I feel like I’ve been forced to do so. For the life of me I can’t understand how people cannot see that our presence here alone is deterring terrorism all over the world. How can you not see it?? Maybe it’s because you’re not here. That must be it: You’re at home or at work, taking your freedoms for granted and all the while being spoon-fed your information by the MSM. I’m not saying that everyone could or should serve in the military, but some just seem to be so anti-military and anti-President Bush that it’s like you WANT us to fail here. Sorry, but we’re not. How could Iraq’s success NOT positively affect the rest of the Middle East?? Would not the people in Iraq’s bordering countries see that freedom is SWEET and that it’s nice to have a VOTE in regards to your OWN FUTURE and the FUTURE of your children??
Working with the Iraqi Army has been one of the many, life-changing experiences for me during this deployment. I’ve been exposed to a much misunderstood culture and people. I’ve made some good friends and I hope that the IA soldiers have learned as much from me as I have of them. I still haven’t gotten used to drinking HOT tea instead of ICED tea, especially during the 130 degree days. Man, that iced tea will taste GREAT!
Soon (God willing) I’ll be back at home with my wife and daughters and I hope we’ll be enjoying the holidays with the rest of the family. I’ve never thought that I had taken advantage of the freedoms that we enjoy, but I now have so much more to be thankful for. As a Combat Medic, I’ve seen the good and the bad in Iraq. I’ve been out on Medical Civil Assistance Programs within local villages, treating men, women and children for various injuries and illnesses. I’ve also seen and treated those same people, along with Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces for injuries sustained by hostile action. Many things I may want to remember, some I may not, but ALL have changed me in some way.
Due to the huge number of soldiers that are on the FOB at this time, the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) computers are hard to some by. When you do have the chance to use one, it seems like it’s slow as Christmas due to the load on the bandwidth (but it’s still better than nothing at all). We’re continuing our orientation with the replacement unit along with our joint operations with the Iraqi Army. For these reasons, I cannot answer each and every email but I do want you to know that I’ve saved them and will be printing and scrap-booking them all.
By now, you should know that the Iraqi voting went very well, as the people of Iraq voted on their proposed constitution. Voter turn-out was high in our Area of Operations as I believe the Iraqi security forces and local governments were successful not only with distributing copies of the constitution but also with securing polling sites and making the citizens of Iraq feel safe. I don’t have “hard” numbers to post, but the Commander of the Iraqi Army battalion here told me that, “…at least 70 percent of the people voted.” It was cool to see the soldiers come back from voting day operations with their index fingers inked purple, from voting themselves. Again, the 278th RCT has humbly played a very small part in the history of the world.
In January of 2005, as medical support for the elections, I was able to snap some photos of locals lining up to load buses that would take them to polling sites. This is one of those pictures. We could actually see with our own eyes, the fruits of our hard work and efforts as the people of Iraq made their way to vote (freely) for the first time. During this past referendum, we took a much more supportive role as the Iraqi security forces paved the way for their own people to safely vote.
Again, it is my belief that the success of our joint missions with the Iraqi Army does not depend on the passing of this referendum (as some MSM may think). Even if it does not pass, the people of Iraq have spoken and they have exercised their FREE right to vote!
I’ve hesitated to really post my opinions about why we’re here and what we’re doing, but I feel like I’ve been forced to do so. For the life of me I can’t understand how people cannot see that our presence here alone is deterring terrorism all over the world. How can you not see it?? Maybe it’s because you’re not here. That must be it: You’re at home or at work, taking your freedoms for granted and all the while being spoon-fed your information by the MSM. I’m not saying that everyone could or should serve in the military, but some just seem to be so anti-military and anti-President Bush that it’s like you WANT us to fail here. Sorry, but we’re not. How could Iraq’s success NOT positively affect the rest of the Middle East?? Would not the people in Iraq’s bordering countries see that freedom is SWEET and that it’s nice to have a VOTE in regards to your OWN FUTURE and the FUTURE of your children??
Working with the Iraqi Army has been one of the many, life-changing experiences for me during this deployment. I’ve been exposed to a much misunderstood culture and people. I’ve made some good friends and I hope that the IA soldiers have learned as much from me as I have of them. I still haven’t gotten used to drinking HOT tea instead of ICED tea, especially during the 130 degree days. Man, that iced tea will taste GREAT!
Soon (God willing) I’ll be back at home with my wife and daughters and I hope we’ll be enjoying the holidays with the rest of the family. I’ve never thought that I had taken advantage of the freedoms that we enjoy, but I now have so much more to be thankful for. As a Combat Medic, I’ve seen the good and the bad in Iraq. I’ve been out on Medical Civil Assistance Programs within local villages, treating men, women and children for various injuries and illnesses. I’ve also seen and treated those same people, along with Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces for injuries sustained by hostile action. Many things I may want to remember, some I may not, but ALL have changed me in some way.
posted by SSG Ron Long | 01:15
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