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Tuesday, July 5, 2005
Two-week leaves coming! But expect some necessary adjustment to being back in States
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CURTIS COMPTON / AJC
Spc. Jenna Simmons, Milledgeville, prays over July 4 meal at Camp Stryker. Next to her is U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall.
— Driving: In Iraq, U.S. soldiers drive down the center of the road and ram or shoot cars that don’t get out of the way. They jump curbs and barriers to avoid traffic and perform frequent U-turns to see if they’re being followed. (In Atlanta, they should fit right in.)
— Flushing toilets: Most of the Georgians here haven’t seen a toilet that flushes since May. Expect a few surprises.
— Acronyms: Soldier language is peppered with words and acronyms that only make sense to other soldiers. If one says he’s going to the DFAC (pronounced D-fak), he’s hungry. An “SP” is a planned departure time. “PT” is exercise. “Roger” means yes. All bathrooms are “latrines” and all food is “chow.”
— Changing clothes: In Iraq, the Georgia soldiers wear the same kind of uniform every day. Most soldiers wear their uniforms at least two or three days in a row - and someone else does the laundry.
— Beer drinking: The soldiers here only have access to alcohol-free “near beer,” and they get no hard liquor whatsoever. Their tolerance for the real thing is likely to be greatly reduced.
— Leave my weapon? Soldiers are required to keep their rifles with them at all times and are subject to severe penalties if they show up anywhere — even the DFAC or the PT area — without them. Expect them to feel uncomfortable going outside without their constant companions.
— Car keys? Military vehicles from Hummers on up don’t require keys to start. There’s going to be a lot of fumbling around looking for misplaced keys at home.
— Nasty habits: Many soldiers say they smoke and chew tobacco much more in Iraq than at home. They promise to reform immediately upon their return — but who knows?
— Out of practice: Most of the Georgia soldiers haven’t cooked, washed dishes mowed the lawn, changed the oil or gone to a grocery store for months. All those mundane activities will seem wondrously new.
Rep. Marshall, a Vietnam Vet, pays visit
U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall (D.-Macon) ate a July 4 dinner with about 30 hand-picked troops from the 48th Brigade. During a tour Monday of the U.S. military camps surrounding Baghdad International Airport, he told the troops to ignore critics of U.S. policy in Iraq.
“Disregard the stuff you’re hearing about a quagmire,” said Marshall, a Vietnam combat veteran. “We’re going to be here as long as it takes to get the job done.”
Marshall’s job was done quickly.
The member of the House Armed Services Committee left Baghdad for the United States the same day he arrived.
