My personal War on Terrorism-an account of being in the War Zone in Iraq.

Well, where to start, hmmm, let me think. I was in Baghdad, Iraq. First when you are in a war zone, for me, when bullets and mortars and RPGs, car bombs start hitting around you, politics amongst other things go out the window so to speak. You try to survive and for me to help others through the experience of it. I could of cared less what race, gender, creed, religion, or political affilation they were, it didn't change the fact on why I was put on this Earth, to serve others as He did.

I tell you for an example, being only 50 to 150 yards from being hit from a mortar, and feeling the shockwave of one, will make you think. I couple of guys (whom I didn't know) were wounded in other attacks, thankfully no one was killed.

I'll be truthful to you the Iraqi nationals I did work with were happy that Saddam was ousted from power but, they had a face of concern now on where their country was headed. Some think the US can't do this alone., and is quickly losing control and they do understand Sadr's and other anti-American group's plight. They don't agree with it, and they are tired of the killing and want it to end. Most of the people realise that now the US can't leave yet or the country will fall into anarchy. The US has to finish it in some way.

I don't condone my president's actions in the beginning with his lies and do not support him now. I do support my comrades in arms and those veterans past US wars and I will serve with them anytime. War changes people, I know it has changed me to be more thankful on what I have amongst others.

Not all in the military are gun totting war mongering fellows, I'm not for one and there many like me.

It will be interesting on what happens on election day.



[edit on 10-25-2004 by Cearbhall]

Glad to hear you are home in one piece man.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and I will tell you, your story sound more like the ones my husband's friends have form Iraq after they returned home. I believe you.

Cearbhall, what were the troops around you saying about Bush and who they're gonna vote for? What is their general mood?

Hey, I was in Iraq in the Army as a 31F (25F). Glad you made it back, and I'm glad another Iraq vet can tell people what's really going on!

[edit on 25-10-2004 by curme]

Originally posted by curme
Hey, I was in Iraq in the Army as a 31F (25F). Glad you made it back, and I'm glad another Iraq vet can tell people what's really going on!

[edit on 25-10-2004 by curme]

I didn't know you were over there, too. When exactly? How do think the troops are gonna vote this year?

Thanks for serving.

Originally posted by EastCoastKid
[
I didn't know you were over there, too. When exactly? How do think the troops are gonna vote this year?

Thanks for serving.

I was there since before the invasion, and was over there for about a year.
I got out and I'm in the IRR now. All of the people I went over with are voting Kerry.

ECK,
The USAF personnel were in generally better spirits and all given our 4 month rotation compared to who knows how long for the US Army. The Army personnel seem to be down in spirits though because for most they've been their for quite a while. It was generally mixed on their views of Bush, it seems though most want to elect Bush because they just don't trust Kerry and they don't want to change "the horse in mid stream". They just want to stay the course. They don't get alot of info like we do on the forum perhaps.

Curme,
Well met brother! I'm a 3C171 (radio operator) I'll be cross training in Jan. to something else, radios aren't to my likening.

[edit on 10-25-2004 by Cearbhall]

I'm glad for you and for your family that you made it back in one piece, physically and mentally.

And I hope the U.S. Administration gets the international help it needs to stabilize Iraq, no matter whose fault it was that so many things went wrong with the Occupation. The Iraqis deserve some peace and security, then they can work on democracy.

Originally posted by curme

Originally posted by EastCoastKid
[
I didn't know you were over there, too. When exactly? How do think the troops are gonna vote this year?

Thanks for serving.

I was there since before the invasion, and was over there for about a year.
I got out and I'm in the IRR now. All of the people I went over with are voting Kerry.

Very interesting. Thanks. Sounds like the guys in my brother's guard unit.

Thanks to you, too, Cearbhall. I worked near and knew Air Force. They generally had it made compared to us. Damn Chair Force! J/K!

I could see how the Army grunts on the ground would be mad as hell. It got tough for us at times during the Gulf War even with clear goals and an exit strategy. The confusion and the lack of a clear mission must be extremely aggrivating, to say the least.

Originally posted by marg6043
Thanks for sharing your experiences, and I will tell you, your story sound more like the ones my husband's friends have form Iraq after they returned home. I believe you.

Cheers!

Love that Avatar today, Marg.

Cearbhall - I'll join with the others in saying that I'm glad that you've returned to your family safe and sound.

Since you've been there, I want to ask a question out of curiosity... some war correspondents say that the worst could still be to come in Iraq, and that the "battle of Bagdad" that didn't happen in April 2003 could happen soon.

What's your take on that?

Cearbhall good to hear you made it out in one peace!
what was the AF duties in iraq? mainly sneaky stuff : reacon etc.. or more ground support?

curme ,gd to hear u made it out, although im a bit late in saying it though what was it like for the army out there?

Originally posted by devilwasp
curme ,gd to hear u made it out, although im a bit late in saying it though what was it like for the army out there?

I was there in the beginning, before even all of Iraq fell. I remember having a pit-stop in Baghdad watching the rest of Iraq fall on CNN. I also remember being over there and hearing Bush say "Mission Accomplished" and telling the terrorists "Bring it on". It was pretty miserable. I was in Mosul and Balad, and didn't have showers and had to go to bathroom in a bucket. The bugs, the heat, it was miserable. It was so hot, magazines and books, the pages would fall out, because it was so hot, the glue that held the pages together melted. I was in communications, and every month had to get new security codes for our communication devices. We'd have to go to HQ, the 'green zone' in Bagdad, and all of these cats would have showers and hot food, and complain about how dirty we were. It really made me mad. When I left, late of last year, things had gotten a lot better, living-wise. Some places looked so good, showers, cafeterias, PX's, that they almost looked like bases in the US. Well, maybe not that good.

I posted some pics HERE

wow sounds pretty bad, sounds like a sea cadet national camp on steriods.
is that u with the SAW?

Originally posted by devilwasp
wow sounds pretty bad, sounds like a sea cadet national camp on steriods.
is that u with the SAW?

I was the only guy on my team qualified to use the 249, so I volunteered for it. I lugged it around in Korea, and knew it pretty well. I didn't want some kid learning how to use it for the first time in Iraq!

Originally posted by curme


I was the only guy on my team qualified to use the 249, so I volunteered for it. I lugged it around in Korea, and knew it pretty well. I didn't want some kid learning how to use it for the first time in Iraq!

lol, a bit heavy is it?
yeah wouldnt want a new guy with the most powerful gun in the squad.

thank you for serving our country. Thank you for sharing your true feelings with us and not being afraid to tell it like it is.

Welcome home brother. So glad that you are safe, hopefully my brother will make it home in one piece. Thank you for defending our country.

I thank you all for the great comments, and i was thinkning about you guys over there.

ECK,
Well we didn't have it better there, I was living in a tent with 8 other guys and the AC would break because of the high temps and all a lot. I had to eat MREs almost everyday a some point. Bathrooms were horrible and the 3 min combat showers turned into 1 and a half minute ones sometimes! (i know you were just kidding bro!)

Otts,
The Battle for Baghdad, when talking to the locals, might happen if the insurgents get more support but, the militias are scared of the retribution of the US, thats why they are bellowing about the fall of Fallujah and America will pay if they storm it, they are trying to buy more time and hope more will come to their aid.

Devil,
My job there was to escort nationals to various camps around Baghdad to do jobs, I helped search them for weapons and the like, and to escort high level dignitaries.