'We don't feel like heroes anymore'

[Rose Siding]

'We don't feel like heroes anymore'



I am a private first class in the Army's 671st Engineer Company out of Portland. I just wanted to let you know a little bit of what we are up to, maybe so that you can have another opinion of what's going on over here in Iraq.

We have been in country since Feb. 14 and were a part of the Third Infantry Division's march into Baghdad. In fact, as a result of some serious miscommunications, we were the front line of the charge on two very distinct occasions.

We haven't been a huge part of the war. We are bridge builders, and we were here in the event that the Iraqis blew up the bridges on their retreat. They didn't, so we didn't have to do much.

We were scheduled for 13 missions at the start of the war. We did three or four bridge-related missions. We fill in where we are needed, whether it be guarding enemy prisoners of war, operating traffic control points, patrols on the Tigris River or guard duty of police stations. Our primary mission at this point is transportation, because we happen to drive very large trucks.

A lot is being said about poor morale. That seems to be the case all over the place. It's hot, we've been here for a long time, it's dangerous, we haven't had any real down time in months and we don't know when we're going home.

http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1060084742325390.xml

[prolesunited]

1. Very interesting letter

The task is daunting, and the conditions are frightening. We can't help but think of "Black Hawk Down" when we're in Baghdad surrounded by swarms of people. Soldiers are being attacked, injured and killed every day. The rules of engagement are crippling. We are outnumbered. We are exhausted. We are in over our heads.

The president says, "Bring 'em on." The generals say we don't need more troops. Well, they're not over here.

It would take a group of supermen to do what's been asked of us. Maybe people back home think we are. Hell, maybe we are. I'm 20, and I can't help but think that serving in a war is a rite of passage, earning my generation a place in the history books.

It really puts a human face on this war. However, it wasn't totally supportive of the administration. I wonder if he will face any repercussions for speaking out and telling the truth?

What was most ironic to me is the statement about earning a place in the history books is probably true, but most likely in ways he hasn't imagined.

[TolstoyAndy]

4. Good point

Yeah, they will be in the history books, it's true. Will Iraqis ever get to write their own history books? What will they say?

Something very sad is going on here (ok, a lot sad things). This guy believed the lies, all the hype about the mission of liberation etc and the dancing in the streets that would occur. He (and most of the US population) ignored the glaring fact that there was no exit strategy, because there would be no exit. This was never meant to be anything but a land grab, a new colonization.

And colonizers don't leave unless they are kicked out. This young idealistic person didn't get the memo: the army is not for protecting us, it is for oppressing the world. They get people enlisted with the patriotic hype, but their deaths and suffering mean nothing to the puppetmasters.

A thousand curses on the House of Bush.

[Cheswick2.0]

10. exactlty what I was going to say

welcome to DU..... or welcome back under your new name, which ever the case may be

[gratuitous]

5. The Sell Job

"Yup, gonna earn our place in the history books!" A careful reading of most history books usually tells you that getting into one is not nearly as desireable as reading one. Things like the Black Plague in Europe or the Killing Fields in Cambodia had real, live victims. People dying left and right for no reason, and the only reason you hear about such things is because someone had to survive to tell the tale.

[samsingh]

2. meanwhile the 'bring em on' President

is on vacation - again.

[zbdent]

11. "Bring 'em on" - to Crawford Texas

I'm reminded of the old "Welcome Back Kotter" episode where Horschak is goading the tough guy.

He tells his buddies "Hold me back!" and then jumps at the tough, claiming he will knock him out.

Funny thing was, Horschak actually had the balls to get into the boxing ring and have his clock cleaned.

* shouted "Bring 'em on!" and hid behind the people who have to protect him, as usual.

[TahitiNut]

3. "Army Of One"?

:eyes:

[MaineDem]

6. Exactly

And is it just me or have there been a lot more "What it's like to be a soldier" ads on tv lately? It seems I see one or two each day.

They show the soldiers on Jet-Skis. How insulting!

[Flubadubya]

7. That is actually quite apropos...

when you consider it is really a case of "every man for himself." No support from the top, that's for sure.

[TahitiNut]

8. "Be careful what you ask ...

... for you may get it." :evilgrin:

[symbolman]

9. Did Somebody say ARMY OF ONE?

http://www.takebackthemedia.com/onearmy.html

Pass it around

This poor bastard, all these poor pawns.

I know it well.

[ninkasi]

13. I saw it, and have been sharing it.

It's great!

[SuffragetteSal]

14. At first I thought you said...

ARMY of LOVE...wouldn't that be nice.

What moved me the most was the bio on this soldier:

Pfc. (could be any of hundreds of thousands) of Cornelius enlisted in the Army at age 17 before his graduation from Valley Catholic High School in Beaverton.

My nephew has been hounded and pestered by the recruiter in his 11th year of high school. Only a short time ago he was ready to sign up and go right after graduation next year. I pray he and his parents wake up and smell the dead before they send their child or any child into the desert to 'become an Army of One'.

[Robin Hood]

12. I live in Portland and that's my paper, and this is huge...

There are a ton of flag waving freeper morons around here. To see this getting printed in the paper is absolutely huge. I can imagine the local freepers heads exploding.

[rocktivity]

15. He DIDN'T have his name witheld????

Does he realize he's flirting with a court martial--or worse? Well, I say that he SHOULD feel like a hero!

rocknation