This email is from a friend of mine. The young man who wrote it is 24 or so and is the son of a friend of hers. She thought this update was a very special one, so she forwarded it on. It is an interesting read from one of our boys...
>Subject: Hidden Beauty
>
>I was reading my past few updates I sent out and I sound angry and
>miserable! So I vow in this one not to complain but rather write about
>what I enjoy over here. Despite all the daily pile of crap thrown at us
>there are wonderful aspects to this deployment and I hope that I can
>paint the right picture without sounding like a lunatic or a war monger.
>
>Last night as we were on a night patrol I sat in the gunners hatch and
>realized that my time on combat operations is winding down. (The 10th
>Mountain Division will take over our Area sometime in the next 6 - 8
>weeks. Our actual departure date is going back and forth but we are
>definately heading home a month early.) The thought of going home keeps
>my spirits up and gives me reason to smile everyday - especially on the
>days I thought would be my last ones on earth. Despite the hunger to
>return home to Family and Friends I know that I will miss this. I will
>miss the incredible comraderie between soldiers, the daily routine of
>patrol, and the feeling of power we have when we roll out - as well as
>the rush of danger and the living of life from one minute to the next.
>
>While nothing occupies my mind more than going back to New York and
>living life with a new vigor there is no doubt that I will reflect on
>this experience everyday of my life and the impact of these experiences
>will cary over into almost every decision I make from here onward.
>
>Iraq holds little visible beauty, whatever Babylonian dreams and Arabian
>fairytales that spoke of the luster in the Land Between Two Rivers
>(Mesopotamia) is long gone and been replaced by a gaudy and cheap
>imitation of a Hollywood movie set. However, beneath all this there does
>exist a hidden treasure. Physically Iraq is one country built literally
>above hidden treasure - oil. The people themselves hide their daughters
>beauty behind the walls of their homes and veils when out in the street.
>The Elders hide their wisdom out of fear from a variety of warring
>armies, tribes and religous sects.
>
>I looked hard to find what has drawn people to Iraq and the desert. I
>could not locate the passion that many Westerners have for this land but
>I did discover my own treasure. I discovered the best and worst of men.
>I discovered for myself that our soldiers, despite numerous reports of
>abuse and cruelty, are honrable and decent and take an almost paternal
>interest in young children. I have discovered that the decency of
>America that is on display here is not for PR or for election year
>politics but pours out from a citizenry that believes in freedom or at
>least and opportunity for it.
>
>I found a great group of soldiers who have sacraficed for each other,
>fought, bled and killed for each other. I discovered the absolute
>uplifting glow in children who despite their horrible lot in life can
>find pleasure on a small soccer field or spend the entire day with an
>ear to ear smile over a tootsie pop.
>
>Whether the decision to invade was right or wrong is inconsequential, we
>now have an obligation to help this country and we cannot treat our
>efforts here as an unwanted pregnency that everyone in the family is
>telling us to abort.
>
>Another thing of beauty is a well coordinated raid. It is someting to
>see, not on a television screen but actual see from a participants view.
>The orchestration of air power, security and clearing elements all
>acting out their parts not as an independent body but as the arms legs
>and head of the same body. The elation of a successful operation is
>beyond the feeling of athletic victory - it is a rush of:
>
>1. Thank God I am alive!
>2. Did you see that blow up!
>3. We got that terrorist SOB!
>4. Holy crap no patroling tonight!!!
>
>I know that my memories of here will be filled with thoughts of my
>fellow soldiers and the times we just sat around and told lies and
>truths to each other. I also know that there are the events I won't
>forget but will wish I could. I can't help but think about the dying
>father and his dead baby girl. Last nights news about the deaths of over
>20 children brought those emotions rushing back to me. I hope that those
>innocent and wonderful young kids are remembered by anyone wishing to
>join the Jihad. If so their deaths may do more to end this war than any
>amount of patroling and raiding.
>Subject: Hidden Beauty
>
>I was reading my past few updates I sent out and I sound angry and
>miserable! So I vow in this one not to complain but rather write about
>what I enjoy over here. Despite all the daily pile of crap thrown at us
>there are wonderful aspects to this deployment and I hope that I can
>paint the right picture without sounding like a lunatic or a war monger.
>
>Last night as we were on a night patrol I sat in the gunners hatch and
>realized that my time on combat operations is winding down. (The 10th
>Mountain Division will take over our Area sometime in the next 6 - 8
>weeks. Our actual departure date is going back and forth but we are
>definately heading home a month early.) The thought of going home keeps
>my spirits up and gives me reason to smile everyday - especially on the
>days I thought would be my last ones on earth. Despite the hunger to
>return home to Family and Friends I know that I will miss this. I will
>miss the incredible comraderie between soldiers, the daily routine of
>patrol, and the feeling of power we have when we roll out - as well as
>the rush of danger and the living of life from one minute to the next.
>
>While nothing occupies my mind more than going back to New York and
>living life with a new vigor there is no doubt that I will reflect on
>this experience everyday of my life and the impact of these experiences
>will cary over into almost every decision I make from here onward.
>
>Iraq holds little visible beauty, whatever Babylonian dreams and Arabian
>fairytales that spoke of the luster in the Land Between Two Rivers
>(Mesopotamia) is long gone and been replaced by a gaudy and cheap
>imitation of a Hollywood movie set. However, beneath all this there does
>exist a hidden treasure. Physically Iraq is one country built literally
>above hidden treasure - oil. The people themselves hide their daughters
>beauty behind the walls of their homes and veils when out in the street.
>The Elders hide their wisdom out of fear from a variety of warring
>armies, tribes and religous sects.
>
>I looked hard to find what has drawn people to Iraq and the desert. I
>could not locate the passion that many Westerners have for this land but
>I did discover my own treasure. I discovered the best and worst of men.
>I discovered for myself that our soldiers, despite numerous reports of
>abuse and cruelty, are honrable and decent and take an almost paternal
>interest in young children. I have discovered that the decency of
>America that is on display here is not for PR or for election year
>politics but pours out from a citizenry that believes in freedom or at
>least and opportunity for it.
>
>I found a great group of soldiers who have sacraficed for each other,
>fought, bled and killed for each other. I discovered the absolute
>uplifting glow in children who despite their horrible lot in life can
>find pleasure on a small soccer field or spend the entire day with an
>ear to ear smile over a tootsie pop.
>
>Whether the decision to invade was right or wrong is inconsequential, we
>now have an obligation to help this country and we cannot treat our
>efforts here as an unwanted pregnency that everyone in the family is
>telling us to abort.
>
>Another thing of beauty is a well coordinated raid. It is someting to
>see, not on a television screen but actual see from a participants view.
>The orchestration of air power, security and clearing elements all
>acting out their parts not as an independent body but as the arms legs
>and head of the same body. The elation of a successful operation is
>beyond the feeling of athletic victory - it is a rush of:
>
>1. Thank God I am alive!
>2. Did you see that blow up!
>3. We got that terrorist SOB!
>4. Holy crap no patroling tonight!!!
>
>I know that my memories of here will be filled with thoughts of my
>fellow soldiers and the times we just sat around and told lies and
>truths to each other. I also know that there are the events I won't
>forget but will wish I could. I can't help but think about the dying
>father and his dead baby girl. Last nights news about the deaths of over
>20 children brought those emotions rushing back to me. I hope that those
>innocent and wonderful young kids are remembered by anyone wishing to
>join the Jihad. If so their deaths may do more to end this war than any
>amount of patroling and raiding.
