Louisiana guardsmen in Iraq yearn to help victims at home

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050903/WIRE/209030326/1117/news

BAGHDAD - Capt. Terrence P. Ryan has made a career out of helping Americans dig out from storms up and down the Gulf Coast. But now, with his own house under water, he is stuck at Camp Victory in Iraq waiting for a flight home.

He and 5,000 other National Guardsmen from Louisiana have finished their yearlong tour of duty. Their replacements began arriving last month. But the Louisiana guardsmen do not expect to fly home for at least another week, maybe two, and the journey itself could four to ten days.

[fujiyama]

1. Arrrrrggggg!

It's impossible to say how angry I am reading this.

This is what those people signed up for - to help save lives of their country people.

Not get caught in some Godforsaken clusterfuck thousands of miles away.

I feel terrible for them. They know they have the training and expertise to help in their own hometown and instead, they're helping no one. It must terribly frustrating to be stuck over there and hear about what's going on back here.

[jus_the_facts]

2. no worries....all is bein' handled in short order here at home.....

[expatriot]

3. I just woke up and already almost crying just because of the word "yearn"

what an appropriate word, "yearn." That is what my heart has been doing for the past 6 days.

[SoCalDem]

4. I wonder what they think of their CINC now?

Of course Gasbag on the only radio they get, will convince them that it's somehow all Clinton's fault:9

[Bluerthanblue]

5. more here- from the mouths of the guys themselves...

http://www2.operationtruth.com/dia/organizations/OpTruth/blog/comments.jsp?blog_entry_KEY=20015

the comments are particularly telling-

blu

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Bush doesn't care as long as Iraqi kids have new soccerballs

to kick around.

He has more concern for Iraq that he does for Americans.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

7. Support the relief effort, bring our troops home. Now!