ABC Nightline For Friday -- R&R for troops in Iraq

[Bozita]

 
Nightline Daily E-Mail
October 17, 2003


TONIGHT'S SUBJECT: They come home to children they've never met, and a lifestyle that seems foreign. And they leave behind danger and chaos and death. For two weeks, soldiers are sent home from Iraq for what's called R and R. And then they have to go back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think some things are easier to take if you don't know what's coming. When Ted and I were embedded with the 3rd Infantry Division for the war with Iraq, we really didn't know what we were getting into. Once in, you can't turn back. You just deal with what comes. But then we got to go home, and perhaps more important, we got to decide when we went home. If you had asked me to go back a couple of weeks later, it would have been much tougher to go. Why? Because I would know what was coming. Sometimes it's easier to just be surprised. Which is a long way of getting to our show for tonight. Soldiers serving in Iraq, or at least some of them, are being given the opportunity to come home for two weeks. It's called R and R, rest and recuperation, or recreation, or recovery. But you get the idea.

The pictures of the homecomings are very emotional. Very emotional. Who can't be moved by the sight of a young soldier meeting his child for the first time, a child born while he was serving overseas? And it is a real culture shock to come back, too. Electricity on demand, no sandstorms, lots of light, American food, all the comforts of home, and above all, the presence of loved ones. And equally important is what is left behind, all of the stress and danger of serving in Iraq. It takes a while to re-adjust. Oddly, a lot of soldiers feel guilty about leaving their comrades behind. It's an emotionally powerful, and confusing, experience.

Tonight we'll follow a couple of soldiers through their two-week home leaves. And then comes perhaps the toughest part, going back. This time they know what's waiting for them back in Iraq. I can't think of a tougher thing to do than getting back on that plane. I hope you'll join us.

Leroy Sievers and the Nightline Staff
Nightline Offices
Washington, D.C.

[Bozita]

1. kick

[Bozita]

2. kick for the get-home-from-work crowd

[Bozita]

3. kick for the evening crowd

[Bozita]

4. coming up in 1 minute in the eastern time zone

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Thanks for the reminder!

This is going to be heartwrenching!

[jiacinto]

6. They look so happy to see each other

nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. What a beautiful family.

<sigh> Can you imagine them having to let him go back? ...his wife and mom? How he must feel having to leave his baby girl who he just met?

His mom sees things the way they are.

OMG...this is so sad. :(

[jiacinto]

8. This is very interesting

nt

[jiacinto]

9. And again this puts a personal face on the troops

Shame on those DUers--and they know who they are--who said that they "didn't support the troops" when the war started.

This piece should remind them how human they are and that they aren't "the baby killers" they denounce them as.

[otohara]

10. None Of Them Wanted to go Back

it was heartbreaking - I just knew when Josh's wife said well it will only be another 3 months and he'll be back for good, that it was a lie. In 3 months if he isn't dead or injured, he will be informed that his stay will be longer

[Bozita]

11. I'm afraid that you're right.

The troop reserves only last until March?

I don't see young Americans flocking to recruiting offices.

Either we re-institute the draft or we extend the tours of those already on site.

Or, we could bring them home

Dumbya can't see the last choice.

Probably due to my filter.

[lebkuchen]

12. I don't get ABC

Sorry I missed this. Thanks for the report.

[imax2268]

13. Dam...I missed it...

Where is Wonk when you need him...

Hey Wonk...where's the MP3 or mpeg for this...usually your right on time with it...?