AJC.com > Iraq coverage > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMoni Basu’s farewell blog
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Baghdad, Iraq — I never imagined I would feel such mixed emotions when the wheels of the C-130 left Iraqi soil.
I was thrilled to be on my way home to Atlanta, leaving behind a nation in turmoil and yet, it was difficult to leave behind a place I had called home for the last two and a half months.
I arrived in Baghdad in July knowing that I would see a different Iraq though the eyes of the soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team. I knew it would be an experience like no other in my life — embedded with a brigade of 4,400 soldiers from all walks of life.
Over the last 10 weeks, I got the chance to make new friends and perhaps, even a few enemies who didn’t care for the images and thoughts in the stories I filed for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Photographer Bita Honarvar and I arrived at Camp Striker at a difficult time for the brigade — soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment were rehearsing for a memorial service for four fallen comrades.
I had to ask difficult questions of grieving soldiers. I wanted so much to not interfere in their moment of pain and loss.
I wanted to let the world know they were committed soldiers who would carry on with their mission. They were strong. They were courageous.
But they were also human beings gutted by the horrific nature of war.
After that first service, came another. And another. In all I covered five tributes to Georgians who died for their country.
It was a solemn introduction for me. But one that helped forge friendships that I hope will last a lifetime.
My time here was not always easy. A stranger to the military before this assignment, I sometimes felt swallowed up by rules, regulations, procedures and a hierarchy that seemed mind-boggling. At other times, the pace, physical hardships and constant fear of the unknown almost seemed overwhelming. It gave me new appreciation for the life of a soldier at war.
Over the last 10 weeks, many of the 48th Brigade soldiers showed me kindness and generosity for which I am grateful. This assignment was challenging enough; I needed all the help I could get.
There were soldiers — I think you know who you are — who bared their souls to me, who were brave enough to speak not just about their experiences but about fears that kept them awake late into sweltering Baghdad nights.
Freedom of speech and the press are hard-won rights we sometimes take for granted in the United States. If the American soldiers who are in Iraq to help bring about those freedoms for the Iraqi people cannot themselves be honest, the intent of this war is all but gone.
To the soldiers who spoke openly to me, I say, thank you. They made my stay with Georgia’s citizen soldiers all the more worthwhile.
Goodbye, 48th Brigade. Stay safe.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Robert
September 28, 2005 07:29 PM | Link to this
Hi Moni,
Going to miss your columns on our people in Iraq but I’m glad your coming home safe. I always started my day here in Georgia by checking for your latest blog entries. You did a great job. And Bita too! Welcome Home!
Robert of Rex!
By angry soldier
September 28, 2005 07:31 PM | Link to this
my comment isnt directed towards this article but i thought i would release some stress as previuosly mention in another blog i agree with those individuals that say the battalion that has been on the wors FOBs will probably stay in the worst of FOBs. Anyone who knows these soldiers knows which ones i am talking about. back in june we had a soldier injured due to a mortar attack on our FOB. after that we had to fight with the 48th to get the CAB (combat action badge) for the soldiers who were there and helped the individuals injured. brigade said the soldiers had to be in a certain radius of the blast to acquire their CAB’s. four months later brigade is sending soldiers from striker who work in brigade down to FOB ST.Micheal for two or three nights then putting them in for their CAB’s. when there are those of us who go out everyday get caught in an ied blast or small arms fire and still fighting to get ours. not only is it not fare but in my thoughts make the CAB worthless for those of us that have to go out everyday and risk are lives outside the FOB’s. for now that is all i can complain about that hasnt already been said.
By Schreck
September 28, 2005 08:30 PM | Link to this
Thank you for all you’ve written.
By oconee
September 28, 2005 08:56 PM | Link to this
… I am glad she was able to complete her assignment without any harm coming to her and welcome her back to the good old US.
I only wish all of our heroes over there would be as lucky as she was but now, please, give us someone to write the blog without a lean to the left.
By another soldier
September 29, 2005 06:11 AM | Link to this
If the fob is so dangerous that a 2 or 3 day stay is good enough for a CAB or CIB then EVERY SOLDIER assigned to the fob would automatically qualify and Bde HQ can cut a blanket order based on the unit roster. Total time for the orders to be cut should be 3-5 days. so every one on the fob should get theirs next week. yeah, right….
By truth
September 29, 2005 08:16 AM | Link to this
Thank you Moni for putting yourself in danger in order to provide articles on the 48th. You have been criticized too much. Thank you for trying to “tell it like it is”. All I ask of you Mr Redmon as you take over as embedded reporter is to be truthful even if that’s considered leaning to the left by some.
By Shawn McAfee
September 29, 2005 11:52 AM | Link to this
From a Combat Medic in the Triangle of Death - Thank you Moni for covering the 48th at war. I’m sure you tried your best. This was probably a once in a life time opporunity for you. I can’t imagine how you must have felt during your stay here in Iraq. I never saw you at FOB Row in Latafiya and didn’t expect to. What was it you said in your good bye letter? Here is your quote. “There were soldiers â€â€? I think you know who you are â€â€? who bared their souls to me, who were brave enough to speak not just about their experiences but about fears that kept them awake late into sweltering Baghdad nights. Freedom of speech and the press are hard-won rights we sometimes take for granted in the United States. If the American soldiers who are in Iraq to help bring about those freedoms for the Iraqi people cannot themselves be honest, the intent of this war is all but gone.” End quote.
Well, here’s some honesty and freedom of speech for you that I never had the opportunity to share. You never came to FOB Row. You had two and a half months to relay real-life from “one of the front lines of war” and you chose chose not to. I know you hit some hot spots here and there. But did you stay up all night in a sniper position? Did you go out on Patrol every day week after week and get hit by an IED? Did you sit on an Iraqi Army checkpoint and wait for the unknowing? Did you storm a house at 3am and hope not to catch a bullet? If you did, then I would expect you to have some perception as to what is going through the minds of soldiers that venture outside the wire every day for half their life in this war. You see, I’m not only a soldier but a seasoned business man back in the US. I know people. And you Moni came to Iraq and reported what you wanted to see and what you wanted everyone back in the states to see. You wanted to see tears and apathy from the soldiers. Stories of how we miss the candy cane forests and gum drop seas. These soldiers you have bravely dubbed honest. And those soldiers that more than likely gave you a stone faced stare and an apathetic yes to an interview, you have bravely dubbed dishonest and unwilling to excercise their freedom of speech. We don’t expect you to understand war or how people behave in war. We just expected you to report what is happening. Not delve into a psychoanalysis of the affects of war on man, woman, and family. I can sit in a business meeting with 20 associates, all of them listening to the same speaker. But afterward we will all have a different perception of what was said and what the true message was. When really there was only one message to take home “the facts”. “The Facts” are what we expected you to take home with you, not your unqualified psychological profile of what a honest person is. The Facts are it is extremely dangerous over here and we are fighting a determined and well trained enemy that commit unspeakable acts of violence. And you chose to report back the ice cream parties at Stryker, the lounging around baby pools at Taji, the laundry drying, the muddy floors of trailers, and the opinions of soldiers that can only dream of the nightmare. I did see pictures of the fly ridden village you visited. I commend you on that one (If you were there). You were never expected to understand what’s behind those stone cold faces you have so bravely dubbed dishonest and unwilling to exercise free speech. Your minds eye is just as blind as mine as to what is going through the mind of every soldier that goes on patrols and missions every day. As a soldier that has gone outside the wire too many times to count, I only know what goes through “my” mind before, during and after patrol. God, Family and Country. We expected you to not take a blind eye to the true hellish intentions of our enemies and not train your pen in on what we call the extranious details of rear echelon living. You see, the Facts are that if we soldiers don’t face this determined enemy here on their land and on our terms, they will be on the streets of American soil introducing our loved ones to sights that they should never have to see. You were free to accompany me to the site of a car bomb attack and see the devastation. But you were no where to be found. Instead, you seemed to have followed the lead of past reporters and dutifully tried to pick away at what is armor, guts and courage and tried to expose what in your minds eye is weakness in human character and not a true understanding of what it takes to fight violent thugs that won’t hesitate to walk into your living room with a bomb strapped to their chest all in the name of their god. You can’t ignore the fight when you’re standing in the ring. What we face here is bigger than my opinion and the opinions or any soldier or reporter. This war will go on here where it belongs while you drive to work back in the USA. And I can only hope that you won’t have to worry one day about hitting an IED coming out of your subdivision. We soldiers here are just as determined as our enemies to keep the fight where it belongs. Off our streets at home so that our children can dream of candy cane forests and gum drop seas. The dreams belong off the battle field and in the future of American legacy. We soldiers signed up for this responsibility and our opinions of life in this hellish environment are just opinions. Duty and mission is what will keep our devilish enemy on thier heals, not whether or not my chicken actually tastes like chicken. Or whether you recieved what you perceived to be an honest interview. We also expected you not to compare a soldiers silence with the freedom of speech that we hold so high as one of the natural wonders of our great American society. And we expected you to respect that individual soldiers silence as quiet down time between missions. I’m happy to make this sacrifice and most of the soldiers here are. Seek otherwise and you shall find. But seek a committed soldier proud to defend our freedoms at home, you shall find too.
By sw
September 29, 2005 12:10 PM | Link to this
To the soldiers, I hear you. I know what the FOB’s are like because of a loved one there. To others reading this validate what they say, do what you can to make things better for them, and write the DOD.
By Father of a combat soldier
September 29, 2005 09:33 PM | Link to this
Moni, I shed no tears over your departure. You reported on some of the most trivial episodes - the 19th birthday of a fomer cheerleader, an autographed baseball - and managed to ignore the real story - our brave soldiers are making a difference, they are making progress, they are WINNING. …
By my name is faith
September 30, 2005 02:29 AM | Link to this
Moni, two and a half months, at times seemed like an eternity, yet past by with the wink of an eye.
Your experience is granted to a very few. You will carry those mental images for the rest of your life. That is both a burden and a blessing. Your eyes have been opened to a whole other world, and a very different list of priorities.
I was suprised to see two women, reporting in Iraq, a country where women have been viewed as chattle. I may be showing my ignorance in this statement, so please correct me, on this, if I am wrong.
You both reported what you could, with limited mobility, and wrote what you could without a beard and a total cloak of your gender.
I hungered, as did many, to hear more of the soldiers away from Stryiker.
You cannot please everyone, that is not in your job description. If that where the case, there would be a blank spot on the “AJC web page.”
Thank you for giving us a semblance of connection with our soldiers in Iraq.
Welcome home, turn on the hot water, flip on the lights and thank God you live in America……..I do every day. Thank you
By A Soldier
September 30, 2005 07:51 AM | Link to this
To Jeremy Redman … Are you going to risk it all to see how life is outside the wire? Come see how life is daily for the “Combat Soldiers” The ones who day in and day out spend 16 hours a day, get hit daily by roadside bombs, see and smell death, or hear the buzzing of bullets over there head but still muster courage to go into the unknown. .. {Go] to the notorious Triangle Of Death, or take a ride with the Devils of 121. we are the ones seeing the War on a daily basis. Be a man and show Georgia and the nation the REAL WAR. Not Taji or Styker where the biggest choices they have is to eat 3 or 4 meals a day or whether to play volleyball or horseshoes. But still wear their combat patch and Combat Action Badge with pride. The ones who dont even realize there is a war going on. They think they are still back home on the block. Show the world what’s really going on.
By An American Mom
September 30, 2005 09:35 AM | Link to this
Wow, I cannot believe American Soldiers blasting other American soldiers. As for you that voice harsh opinions against other soldiers…no matter where they / you are, Stryker or where ever…just know we(Americans) are proud of you all. There are families grieving severe losses of American Soldiers from the 48th and many other areas. You need to support each other and know we love you all for your sacrifices and dedication. You are all away from your families and you are equally important to us.
By Name Withheld
September 30, 2005 11:32 AM | Link to this
So now you’re only a “real” soldier if you are stationed at certain camps, and don’t miss your families, and never watch a movie when you have down time? … GET OVER YOURSELVES and get back to work. You are all doing the same job. If you can’t support each other, why should the Iraqi people support you?
By Poet Warrior
September 30, 2005 06:12 PM | Link to this
He who makes the bronze sword 1st wins - Winners get to write history - History tells the story of time, the cycle repeats, only to end and begin again.
The ultimate manifestation of Mankind’s competitive nature - “Go, Go tell the Spartans!”
All for the power and glory of Rome - May the best tribe win!
I don’t see soldiers bashing soldiers. And I don’t believe it’s as trivial as a FOB competition. Such as whose dirt is deeper or who has more skulls stacked up like rocks to block the desert dust from settling in on thier cupcakes.
Everyone just wants their story told the way they see it. The stone was cast from a glass house. Do we dare let it be shattered?
We 48th soldiers love each other. We band of brothers and sisters.
By Another surprised at the soldier in-fighting
September 30, 2005 06:50 PM | Link to this
I, too, am shocked at the comments against fellow soldiers and against Moni’s reporting. What makes anyone think the soldiers at Taji and Striker aren’t going out on missions and patrols? And what makes someone think they’re not doing rotations at the FOBs, training IA troops, and working in the prison system? Not dangerous jobs? I’d have to disagree. But, like always, it takes a strong support group to make any good group or corporation run. The “business man” should know this for himself. There are always personnel in the rear echelons who are committed to making sure things run as they’re supposed to run, things are delivered as they’re supposed to be delivered, and they’re doing whatever is needed to assist the forward troops. You in the forward positions wouldn’t make it without rear support, or cooks, or transportation specialists. Are they out on missions with you? Perhaps not, but they’re retrieving your vehicles and fixing them for the next run. Your negative comments do nothing but produce a bad attitude in yourself and everyone around you. Our support for our troops is never-ending, but will be harder to rally if there continues to be such negativity and “I’m in a more dangerous area than you are” in-fighting. To Moni and Bita, we appreciate your reporting and photos more than you will ever know, regardless of what a few people have said. Thank you.
By A Striker Wife
October 1, 2005 12:11 AM | Link to this
Dear Angry Soldier, I would like to remind you of something you must have forgotten. Nine soldiers from 2-121, which are housed on Striker, have died “outside the wire.” That means that 2-121 has lost more soldiers than any other unit in the 48th, including yours. Therefore, I believe it is only fair to say that Stiker soldiers are engaged and “risking their lives going outside the wire” right along with you. I know that the soldiers on Striker read this blog, so please refrain from making comments that appear to be “soldier against soldier.” I thought the insugents were the enemy in this war, not fellow soldiers. I pray several times a day for the safety of ALL of our soldiers stationed on foreign soil. God bless you and your family for your sacrifices for our country.
By pam
October 1, 2005 12:33 AM | Link to this
Oh , It’s all true…my brother Mike has been home on RR and I’ve heard the same exact stories….20 hour days mortars, IEDs are daily activities,He is within the ” Triangle of Death”, they have been hit many times,that title alone says all i to know…not to mention the horrible conditions…If you were to compare conditions of living and enemy activities, Yusufiyah and CampStriker it could not begin to compare. This is of no fault of our soldiers …if you are or have family at Striker, Thank your God, because it does get worse. I seriously wanted to hold onto my brother and beg and plead for him not to go back…But, he is a soldier first and then my brother. It breaks my heart daily knowing The “Triangle Of Death” is where my brother hangs his hat. Lets have a reporter go to Yusufiyah, lets hear their stories and see the photos …void of propaganda, and feel good stories to make all of us in the USA feel better. God Bless all of our troops no matter what part of Iraq they are serving in …
By Devil's advocate
October 1, 2005 12:39 AM | Link to this
I am not shocked at these soldiers, they are venting their frustrations. The soldiers at Joe, Roe, Michael are on the front line, sorry but they are. There is a difference being there then in Stryker, Taji, and Liberty. You can try to debate it all day, BUT there is a flat out difference in the living conditions. There is also a BIG difference with the missions and combat that the ones on the front see. There are plenty of soldiers that have not and do not go outside the wire. You can try to debate that too, but you can’t. These soldiers at these camps were ignored by the press and any other visitors like the General. Why? Because it was TO DANGEROUS with no creature comforts. When you are busting your hump day after day on the front and no one pays attention to you, that causes frustration and resentment. When you are trying to stay alive and you see the pool side lounging, horseshoe playing, big food eating articles on foolishness it causes one to have some anger. You all that have your soldiers at the country club bases get over yourselves!!! Our soldiers are in the crap and with the changes your lucky soldiers will stay in their little country club and will NEVER know the living conditions that others had to endure for months. It is a shame because I think everyone should have had a turn at one of those lovely bases and then you might shut up and understand.
By From the Soldier / Medic / Business Man
October 1, 2005 03:54 AM | Link to this
I see that everyone has just as I pointed out that happens in business meetings. Perceived what was said all in your very own and very different ways. Which is perfectly natural. If you re-read what I wrote (that was directed to a reporter and not other soldiers) hopefully you will see what this medic was truly trying to say. I simply restated her quote. Here it is for anyone to read again.
Here is her quote. “There were soldiers � I think you know who you are � who bared their souls to me, who were brave enough to speak not just about their experiences but about fears that kept them awake late into sweltering Baghdad nights. Freedom of speech and the press are hard-won rights we sometimes take for granted in the United States. If the American soldiers who are in Iraq to help bring about those freedoms for the Iraqi people cannot themselves be honest, the intent of this war is all but gone.� End quote.
I was simply stating to a reporter that I don’t believe that is was fare that she place the outcome of this war on whether or not she believed she received an honest interview from a soldier. I perceive what she was saying as, she believes she encountered soldiers who were not completely honest with her or simply silent. And that this would lead to loss of the war “in her mind”. My reference to other FOBs or rear echelon living where never meant to be belittling. I’ll be the first to tell you (if you choose to ask me) that we are all in this together. We all paint pictures with words. The references I made were simply included to repaint the picture I saw the reporter painting. I was stating that perhaps it’s not as easy for a soldier who directly engages the enemy to have an open and candid conversation with a reporter. So, why doesn’t the reporter go see for themself the truth they seek? This isn’t a football game, so why just take the ball and run with it? I don’t think I expected to witness the exact analogy I conveyed. Which is, we all see a different picture from what we read. It’s too simple to state “all you have to do is take the time to read and understand what is really trying to be conveyed”. I can understand the support for Moni, but this soldier doesn’t appreciate the reporters comment. Again, we all paint pictures with words. The intent of my painting was to show that there are reasons some soldiers choose to remain silent or choose their words carefully when in the presence of a reporter. Perhaps reporters perceive this as dishonest? A soldiers opinion is a very sensitive subject in a time or war and shouldn’t outweigh mission sensitivity. Because as you have all been witnessing ever since I wrote my “blog” (whatever blog means), I spoke and now everyone is free to pick and choose to look at an isolated part of my painting or some of you will see the whole picture. Whatever picture that may be. This, “my experiment” of trying to communicate from the war zone has reinforced my thought before I opened my mouth. This soldier is going to keep his mouth shut. God Bless you all. Because, as all of you over here know, we’re all on the front line in this battle. We band of brothers and sisters.
By knowing
October 1, 2005 07:48 AM | Link to this
We think there have not been rotations at the FOBs because we know there have not been. Maybe one of us has the word wrong but I thought rotation meant everybody at the FOB packs up and leaves and another group of soldiers come in to take their place. That hasn’t been done at Row and they are not all doing the same job. Some have jobs that take them on patrol every day sometimes more than once a day and some never have to leave the base.
By knowing
October 1, 2005 06:53 PM | Link to this
I meant to say not all jobs in the 48th are the same. I don’t know if all jobs at the smaller fobs are the same or not.
By my name is faith
October 1, 2005 09:36 PM | Link to this
Devil’s advocate, General R did pay a visit to Joe just recently. Ask a soldier based there about his visit.
By Timothy Gunnin
October 3, 2005 09:26 AM | Link to this
Guess what..yeah we have a chow hall at styker and a px..when we can hit it. 12 to 16 hours a day outside he wire is alot of MREs. Living in a GB Large with 16 other guys. Yeah we have it great at Styker. Picking up the remains of 4 guys who just drove by you. Mortar attacks at the lions Den Vbieds and small arms fire. We all bleed in the same mud and we all have a common enemy. The insurgents and our upper chain of command. Lets hang in together guys.
By Jenni
October 3, 2005 06:58 PM | Link to this
All I have to say is, boy…I am sure that your general would be proud of what you are saying about another brother and sister..they dont have it as hard as you. I’ll tell you what, in that case, I guess my husband isn’t needed, so bring him on home…I mean, you guys dont need any of them unless they’re from your camp, because you’re the only soldiers that are real men..because what? you CHOSE to go there? i think not. Before you make very hurtful comments for other soldiers and the families to read, please stop yourself. Many soldiers from Striker have unfortunately been killed, and I think this is plain rude and ridiculous. If you have such a problem, take it to your superior. If life is so bad, don’t reinlist..and GET OVER IT..because YOU signed up! I think you are ALL doing a great job and I think you are all in danger, and I pray for all of you, because you are ALL in harms way….and when you go outside the wire, it doesnt matter what camp you live at..because you can still get hit. Please just stop and think before you post.
By pam
October 3, 2005 07:47 PM | Link to this
comments for Timothy…There is not a safe place in Iraq for anyone, i don’t care who you are, this isn’t your fathers war, where you know who you’re enemy are.those of us that wathch and read everything we can about this war know that… I would feel alot better though, if tomarrow, my brother(God forbid)became a casualty, i’d want him smoking a marlboro and not an iraqi cigarette, because he was unable to get marlboros, i want him to have what he needs and wants,who knows what tomarrow holds… hey Tim, don’t get so defensive, no one is blaming fellow troops here, because some have better living conditions, look where the general lives. do you smell what i’m stepping in? it all rolls down hill. but… please have a little compassion for those less fortunate than you…God bless you Tim
By anonymous
October 3, 2005 10:02 PM | Link to this
Moni, I have read that quote that everyone seems so hung up on and have interpreted it COMPLETELY different. Freedom of speech and press IS a very difficult right to achieve within the military. I have learned that you can only believe very little the news tells you about what goes on over there. The truth is what you get from the soldiers actually living and experiencing the day to day horrors of Iraq. So thankfully, you DID get the chance to meet some soldiers that opened up to you and told you really how it is and shared feelings that most soldiers do NOT share with reporters. But unfortunately, since freedom of speech and press IS such a hard right to obtain, that’s the reason why the news is so unbelievable. Everything is not put out in the press, the true feelings and the REAL things that happen in Iraq. If I interpreted that all wrong, i’m sorry, but that’s how it seemed to me. I don’t feel like you were trying to insult any of the soldiers and point out that some weren’t honest with you. I got the impression that you were thanking those very special few who DID pour their hearts out, which created very special bonds. I appreciate ALL the stories you reported back to us and I think you did the absolute best you could according to the circumstances and VERY strict guidelines you have to follow as a reporter. Thank you, and welcome home :-)
By HCP
October 3, 2005 10:08 PM | Link to this
Timothy, I agree, but with one correction. The common enemy we all share should be listed as (Worst to least) THE UPPER CHAIN OF COMMAND and then the insurgents!!! Something happened to my Grandson that shouldn’t happen to any soldier. His first “upper chain of command” got ticked off because he complained too much about his guys not having enough equiptment to ensure their saftey, so they stripped him of his leadership position and sent him to another area. After 16 months of trainning and fighting with his group, my grandson is cut off and sent where he knows no one. Great morale booster for the whole team, wouldn’t you say? That’s the great leadership we have in the 48th. And this is only one of many stories! No, the insurgents aren’t the worst enemy our troops face. All they can do is injure the body. The upper chain of command is not only putting them out there with no sleep, inadequate nourishment, insufficent ammo and inferior equiptment, but they are also hell-bent on destroying their minds and souls! The troops can hold their own with the insurgents! But how you going to fight your own LEADERSHIP? Ret. and out!