Being a soldier I volunteered to deploy, I volunteered to protect this nation’s freedom. I chose to do what needed to be done for the safety of my family, for the safety of all families residing in the United States. I am proud of everything today’s Military is doing, I am proud to be called a soldier.
I have been in the US Army for over seven years now. Of those seven years I have spent thirty nine months deployed. I have been twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan and now am gearing up to head back to Iraq. I am not particularly excited to go nor am I ready to leave my family behind again but if the few of us in the military will not do it, then who will?
I am not here to show boat or brag. My intentions are to convey my thoughts on Iraq. The United States has fought a deadly campaign. Many lives have been lost, lives of people you know, lives of people that were like family to other soldiers. A lot of American’s believe that if the United States pulls out all troops in Iraq that things will get better. I see the attitude of “Let them deal with their own countries problem’s” far too much. If the United States pulls out 100% of troops it is fully my opinion that yes things might get better for a while, the economy may come back. What happens after those people we have been fighting get fully on their feet again? What happens when September 11th happens again but on a larger scale? Will all those soldier’s have died in vain?
I have been told thank you several times while out and in my uniform. Sometimes I say things like you’re welcome. Sometimes I reply with “thank you”. My wife has asked me several times why I didn’t say more. I always have the same reply. I know those people thank me for fighting for freedom, but at the same time do they really know what I or other soldiers go through to protect their freedom or do they just believe that what they see on the news is it?
I have a three year old daughter that I have seen for maybe ten months of her life. My one and half year old I have been around for 8 months. I know a soldier that for the first five years of his marriage had only been together with his wife for nine months. Nine months in five years. I’m not looking for sympathetic thank you’s or people to go out of their way. In short I am just saying that the news is not all that happens and without those thank you’s it would be a lost cause.
I remember my first deployment to Iraq. Studying up on the country and finding that some scholars believe the Garden of Eden to be in Iraq. “Oh it shouldn’t be too bad” I thought. Then getting there enduring the 140 degree sun and dust storms that are so thick you can’t see your hand in front of your face, the scorpions, snakes and bugs that will drive you insane all foreshadowed by people who are trying to kill you. I applaud all my brother’s in arms, all those who have fought and died, and all those who continue to fight. Keep up the hope and spirits of the United States, keep this country free. I will be back in the Sand’s of Eden soon enough.
