By Christy

September 30, 2005 11:00 AM | Link to this

I love to hear the light-hearted side of things even though this is all in the middle of a “war”. Keeps my morale up here at home. Thanks Jeremy. You’re doing a noticeably great job already!

By Cammie

September 30, 2005 11:01 AM | Link to this

Speaking as a mom who brought her son’s stuffed Boarder Collie to work today, GO PELLET!! Thanks for all you do!

By CONFUSED

September 30, 2005 09:52 PM | Link to this

About a month ago I gave up reading the comments in the Blog. I cheated today, and read through the whole mess. I had hoped to find it had gotten better- was I off!!! If I were a General I would take away all internet and phone priviliges. If you people think you are having a positive affect on our soldiers- you are way off base!! You have succeeded in creating what litterally seems like a civil war among the 48th Brigade. It is sad. These guys started out as one and now, because of your bickering, everything seems to be a p** contest to see who comes up on the shortest end of the stick.
These are grown men and women- they are soldiers, they are trained for war. Their training was not done from the Holiday Inn.
Supporting them does not mean that you have to fight to make sure your little Johnny has all the comforts of home. It would make me feel like a Weenie the way some of you carry on. Leave them alone, and let them do their mission. Be positive. Listen to them, pray for them. But do not continue to undermind them, and their leaders. You are only harming their mission and yes, you are helping the enemy. Before you get all indignent about that- stop and think. Having a Brigade that is disfunctional because of all this bickering is helping WHO? A house divided against itself can not stand. Proverbs WHO’s SIDE ARE YOU ON?

To the Warriors of the 48th Brigade, you are in my prayers. I pray that God gives you the strength, courage and wisdom to meet each new day. That He will surround you with His Guardian Angels and keep you from harm. That He will guard your hearts and minds from that which would make you weak and falter in your mission.
He has you here, for such a time as this. Each of you are important, each of you are known by Him. Carry on your missions with pride, doing your best. Return safely to us with pride, in a job well done, when your mission is complete. GOD BLESS YOU ALL - HOOAH!!

P.S. One of these soldiers is mine.

By 48th family member

October 1, 2005 08:04 AM | Link to this

Well said! My prayers are with my soldier and ALL the 48th

By Spc's Wife

October 1, 2005 04:49 PM | Link to this

To Confused: To a large part I agree. I quit reading the blogs for a while because they were irritating. HOWEVER, I have spoken out on subjects my husband has asked me to speak about because he can’t without fear of retribution. I cannot be any more supportive of my soldier than to speak on his behalf when he is unable. He has said that the conditions are bad, frankly, they suck but, they are not as bad as many people make them out to be. We have become a nation of overweight, remote control using, cell phone talking, SUV driving, television watching, computer playing, lazy people for whom the loss of a small comfort is seen as a tragedy. Our grandfathers would be embarassed by this mess. They fought in WWII and didn’t complain all the time about the cold, heat, or the food, they just defended our nation and their families did their best to keep their spirits up. On the other hand, there were cover ups by the government and mistakes that were made. There were people who knew but, kept quiet. We have to think very hard and weigh our decisions about what to say. Perhaps by speaking out, we could be saving a life. It is a fine line to walk but, if this nation can’t buck up and get tough, we are in for a rude awakening.

By clearminded

October 1, 2005 10:23 PM | Link to this

I’d say about 4,500 48th soldiers are glad confused is not their general.

By wow

October 2, 2005 07:00 AM | Link to this

Clearminded: What makes you think that ALL 4,500 soldiers would disagree with Confused??? Thats the problem…you have one or two soldiers who whine and you say that includes all of the 48th…I think you should quit thinking for all the Brigade!!

By clearminded

October 2, 2005 09:39 AM | Link to this

Oh please…that was in reference to the comment that if confused was the general he/she would take away all the internet and phones. That’s all. Maybe they would all agree with her, you’re probably right wow, ALL of them wouldn’t mind a bit to be without any communication other than letters sent and received by regular mail. I was totally wrong I’m sure.

By Confused

October 2, 2005 12:04 PM | Link to this

Didn’t mean to start another war. I agree that there is a time to speak up. Maybe this is not the place to do it. As for me being a General, I am sure the 48th would not want me. I don’t have the slightest knowledge of what it would take. That is the point. None of us out here do, we are being back-seat drivers (We all know how obnoxious that is!)If we undermind their leadership publicly, how are we supporting our troops? Yes, we have freedom of speech, but with all our freedoms comes a responsibility to use them wisely. As for getting things done and solving problems, I have seen a lot of them clear up with prayer alone-after all He is the one with the ultimate control! I think all our leaders need our prayers for wisdom and guidance. Would we be achieving more for our soldiers by going to Him, than to complain publicly? I admit, I have this idealistic picture of all of us pulling together-positively to help our guys win this war. Personally, I think it is the only way it can be done. I think little Pellet (from the article) is doing a whole lot more to support our troops than all of this bickering that is so prevalent on the blog. When our soldiers voice complaints, I think they mostly need to let off steam, they need us to know what they are going through. I doubt they want to read it about it in the blog the next day.

I apologize if I came off like I was speaking for or about everyone in the 48th Brigade. The only thing I included All of the 48th BCT in was my prayer for them. I did state as an observance from reading the blog that it “seems like a civil war among the 48th Brigade.” That is the impression that I got. I apologize if I got the wrong impression. One writer brought up WWII. It seemed the country pulled together as one during that time. With the main goal being winning that war, with each American doing what they could to make that happen. Maybe I watch to many old war movies- but I think that is what we need today.

By Marie

October 3, 2005 01:16 AM | Link to this

I also agree with Confused…my soldier is not in the 48th… he is active army but the 48th replaced him at Michael and he is now at a Camp…it has way better amenities but in fact he is in just as much danger which is all that really matters to me and him. I have been accused of being a whiner in the past but in fact I am SO GRATEFUL for the experience that he and I have had. I would not trade it for the world. It is a blessing to be able to love a man that stands by what he believes in and let me say that his leaders have ALWAYS taken care of him and looked out for him. He is a combat soldier…enlisted….I have no complaints with any man or woman enlisted or not that is over there with him. ZERO. I only want to share my deepest gratitude to ALL of them. God Bless You All.

By Sgt. Easy

October 3, 2005 11:52 AM | Link to this

Talking about confused, If our politicians and generals are not confused then they are just plain out lying to the troops and America back home. Someone needs to bring this Leadership to the attention of the American people or should we just be silent and let our sons or daughters continue to die in a country were they hate us and cannot wait until we are gone. It has been over 2 1/2 years and we were supposed to have 3 Combat BNS of Iraqi soldiers ready for battle, just yesterday on Meet the Press our Top General says,”we only have one Combat Battalion ready to fight on there own”, now the President and other politicians and Top Generals either lied to us a year ago or they don’t know what is really going on in Iraq. I think it is high time to shed some light on all of our Commanders including Gen. Rodeheavor to the Pentagon and then the White House and Congress. GET IT RIGHT OR GET OUT !!

By confused

October 5, 2005 10:24 AM | Link to this

I was upset when I heard that the Combat Battalions had gone down from 3 to 1 also. But, We have to remember that the Iraqi soldiers are dying in numbers even larger that our own. Many are killed standing in line to join up! Whole units of graduating Iraqi police have been killed at one time. They are fighting for their country. Many have had their wives and children killed in thre sleep, by terrorists, for fighting to gain their country’s democracy. When you look at the whole picture, it does not surprise me that the Combat Battalion has gone down to one.
If this battle were on our soil, would you want our leaders, our soldiers to give up and look the other way? Would you want them to throw up there hands and say ” This is our destiny to be in the hands of terrorists and their laws” and just accept it. Sure the Iraqi people want this war over (I’m sure more than we do) they want us gone and there lives to return to “normal” wouldn’t we? But they have also asked us to stay on until they can defend themselves alone. How many years did we fight for our freedom in this country? Did we not have help? How many lives were lost? Did they not endure extreme hardships for this cause? Would you say it was worth it? Why would we think that freedom today would cost us any less?

By Sgt. Easy

October 6, 2005 08:49 AM | Link to this

Well, Confused’ it really sounds like you are confused or haven’t taken the effort to educate yourself of what is really happening in Iraq. Did you know that the Iraqi judges turn loose about 85% of detainee’s to return to the battlefields to do the same thing to soldiers and marines again and again. Oh’ I know that there are fighters from other countries that have taken up the fight against us in Iraq, but you can say that same thing for Saudi Arabia, did we go and invade that country, wasn’t 15 of the 19 hijackers from Saudi Arabia?? Please let me know in a very short few years when the Iraqi government tells the U.S. to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine and that this war was the right thing to do in the first place. Have you ever watched how the Iraqi army performs in their military operations on the news (including Fox News Network),they just don’t have what it takes nor do they want to have what it takes to defend their own country. The people over there have lived thousands of years under such rule as Saddam, they like it and nothing we ever will do will change that fact. I could take one of my Marine Company size units and wipe out any Iraqi Army Battalion that is supposed to be “Battle Ready” today according to our politicians. Any one “Battle Harden” Marine or Soldier could take on 30-50 Iraqi Soldiers and wipe them out alone if given the order and the ammo to do the job because of the training they have but most of all what they have inside of them, these Iraqi soldiers just do not have that “IT” within their souls or minds to do this. I would be willing to wager that 80% of the Iraqi’ soldiers will don their uniform (as some already have) and join the other side to kill us whenever the momment and opportunity is right for them. The Iraqi politicians will do the same and some are working boths sides of the war now for personal gain. Educate yourself Confused,only believe half of what you see and nothing that you hear unless you get it straight from the ones who are induring the real battles in Iraq and not sitting on their behinds waiting for U.S. politicians to show up to pat them and the Generals on the back for a job well done. Ask the battle worn foot soldier,the ones who are on patrol day in,day out for 16-18 hours a day and sometimes more, don’t ask them if they are winning the battles (which they are), ask them if they are loosing the war. If you run the enemy out of an AO and leave the AO unsecured,then the enemy will just return to do the same harm that he was doing before you ran him out. I thought that our Generals in charge would have enough “Common Sense” to know that from what happened in Vietnam.

By Katie

October 6, 2005 03:54 PM | Link to this

Well Sgt. Easy, If that is not the most negative defeatist attitude here that I have seen yet I do not know what is. I for one(my soldier for two) do NOT believe we will fail in Iraq regardless of statistics or numbers or your personal view of the Iraqi people or our chances. I have heard plenty of things from both ends and certainly we are fighting a difficult and lonely battle but to me the bottom line is good and evil right and wrong and in my ever so humble opinion you NEVER fail when you do what is right and your heart is pure no matter the level of your percieved worldly success. Is it right that people everywhere should be free…YES…is it right that we should assist the oppressed and abused…YES….is it right that we should not turn a blind eye to cruelty torture and oppression….YES….no matter our governments reasoning or motivations our mission is just. Our soldiers hearts are pure and their efforts no matter the outcome can never be in vain. We can only fight evil where we find it with what we are given. We can never be assured the outcome we can only have faith that in the end our sacrifices will be rewarded. Ithink if you ask the Kurds if we have been successful they will answer with a resounding YES. Their infrastructure is improving daily. Their quality of life is improving and the safety of their children has increased a billion fold. I think along the way we have had many successes…read Michael Yons online Blog he is out in the field everyday and is noted world round for his bravery honesty and truthfulness. He seems to see a positive side of things that you have completely missed. There are so many little success stories amongst all the difficulty and loss that collectively add up to something bigger. Success and failure in the end are all in how you measure them. Will we see the outcome we prefer in Iraq? I do not know. What I do know is that no matter the result in the end when our soldiers meet their maker (many many prosperous years from now) they can look him in the eye and say “I did what was right no matter the cost and I made a difference to someone…I have been a champion of justice and a warrior for the weak.” What other measure of success is there in the world? We do not have to “win” this war to count it a success. That is my opinion. God Bless You.

By Confused

October 6, 2005 08:36 PM | Link to this

All I am truly “confused” about is the lack of faith that seems to be coming with so much prayer. As Jews and Christains, do we believe our G-d is the same yesterday, today, and tomarrow? If so, then our lives will be lived in a way which acknowledges the fact that He is King of the universe. “The battle belongs to the L-rd.” David said this before he slew Goliath. David did not have faith in the stone he threw or his own ability, his faith was in his G-d, and that G-d’s will would be done. For our Warriors, I pray for you this kind of faith, His courage, His wisdom, His strength. For us on the sidelines I pray the same prayer. Without faith, our prayers do not reach the Father. We too, need His courage, wisdom, and strength to carry us through - what ever His will may be. When our faith falls short, we can pray “L-ord, I believe, help my unbelief.”

Do not fear, the L-rd your G-d will fight for you. (Read Dueteronomy) The G-d of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob- He is faithful.

By Waiting

October 6, 2005 11:13 PM | Link to this

Katie, is the improvement in the Kurdish infrastructure and quality of life worth 1,947 American lives? Your diatribe on “right” is a real dreamy mindset but I have to wonder if the soldiers doing the dying would, in the end, agree with you. I know for a fact that a lot of the soldiers doing the front line duty would not. It’s true that our soldier’s hearts are pure and their motives are high but for the guys who are thrust into the horrible experiences of the Triangle of Death, lofty goals and “saving the world” become replaced with trying to stay alive. The real truth of this war becomes all too evident to them. The real truth is not handing out Beanie babies or helping a farmer or even getting a school up and running; it is IEDs, mortars,16-18 hour days,endless patrols and missions, and knowing that the insurgents that are trying to kill you and who you managed to foil this time will be back out there tomorrow. Katie, you continue to live in your perfect world; our soldiers(mine at least), do not have the time for such luxury. They have to live in the truth.

By real truth

October 7, 2005 11:37 AM | Link to this

Waiting has posted one of the most truthful comments on the blog. I also have family and friends in the triangle. What I hear from them is the same. Exactly. Add six more to the 1,947 lives lost. I agree, we’re paying a high price for improvements in the lives of the Kurds. If this war was necessary, those in charge should have made sure we were prepared with enough troops and supplies before starting it and the draft should have been started to make sure we would have enough soldiers. I would like to see the draft begin again, tomorrow. I think then there would be an outcry against this war bigger than any of the protests in the 70’s. I think too that a lot of people who comment on this AJC blog either don’t have soldiers in the 48th, or don’t even have any military family at all so they don’t really understand what we are talking about.

By Katie

October 7, 2005 01:15 PM | Link to this

Waiting, Oh my world is not perfect….far from it. I do not live in la la land nor have we (my soldier and I) escaped the pain suffering and hardship this war has brought. I just think it is WRONG to be so negative. There are soldiers that read this that believe in what they are doing…not all of them agree that we are losing nor do they want or need to hear that. I speak for them just like you speak for the nay sayers. There is always something postive in every difficult situation I choose to see that and appreciate it. I respect those of us here who are hurting and scared. I really really do. It breaks my heart to see so much pain and disillusionment. We are all in this together and no matter your opinion I respect your right to have it….and may I say that the LOVE OF MY LIFE is a combat soldier in Iraq right now for those that think that I could not possibly be truly affected by this war. I respect Sgt. Easy’s blog as well…I just wish that we could all see that all the negativity is damaging the morale of our troops. We will not be leaving Iraq UNTIL there is a draft (which I will venture to say will never happen) so there will not be enough outcry to stop it so in the end I think we have to support the positive side of what our soldiers are doing because if we don’t no one will. God Bless You All.

By confused no longer!!!

October 7, 2005 01:36 PM | Link to this

I am so thankful that your “Real Truth” is not mine, nor Katie’s. If your truth prevailed down through the ages this country would not be here today. My husband would not exist because his people, the Jews , would have been wiped off the face of the earth.(his family that were still in Europe were) Isn’t it ironic that this is the goal of the people he is over there fighting? This is the goal of Islamic Extremists who terrorise the world. They hate Christians even more than Jews, so do not think that you are safe and all this will go away if we were to back down. Personally, I am so thankful that we have a President, and at least a majority of military that have some Balls! (excuse my languge). The Hebrews wondered in the desert a needless 40 years before obtaining the Promised Land. That was for the faithless, COMPLAINING generation to die out. Only then was Joshua able to lead them in. (He and Caleb were the only two spies who had gone, to give a report of the land and it’s peoples, who came back with a “With G-d we can do this!” report and spirit. Am I preaching - NO! It is a fact that if we do not learn from history, we will repeat it. AND THIS IS NOT VIETNAM!!!!!!!!!! And for those out there who think that only those who have no one over there think like this- I have two, a husband who is infantry, and a daughter who is an MP that is a turret gunner on convoys. My husband volunteered for this from another unit in Alabama that had just gotten back from a year at GITMO. My husband will be signing up Active Duty while he is still in Iraq. My daughter is serving her second tour in Iraq and allready knows that after 8 months stateside see will be going to Afghanistan. The only thing that I have been confused about is the lack of faith and all the complaining that comes from a supposed Christian nation. I am with Katie and the Mother who wrote that if she were to lose her son in this conflict that she would hold her head up high. That is the cost- it is a shame to waste it on so many whinners.

By just wondering

October 7, 2005 05:05 PM | Link to this

all you ?truthful? venters…really??? from your perspective it is better to kill the terrorist here in the states? Not that we are now exempt here but we are certainly better off than we would be if the different groups and camps would have been able to continue to succeed as they were previous to the beginning of this war.
The previous president did nothing about Iraq and let me remember what was the result? were you pleased truthful and real truth with those results? Or were those results just easier for you since they required no committment on your part? Just wondering….

By real truth

October 8, 2005 01:31 AM | Link to this

ummm, let me think just wondering. ok, I thought about it. As Sgt Easy said, the 9/11 hijackers were not all from Iraq. It’s too bad that this has happened, but the US is now more hated around the world than we were before the war. There’s an unending supply of insurgents now. Just think if our government had taken all the resources that have been spent in Iraq and used them on securing our borders. Just a thought. I am really tired of everytime anybody questions this war, they are attacked with the “do you want to fight them over here” line.

By just wondering

October 8, 2005 09:45 AM | Link to this

Dems…might as well stop wishing for the draft…aint gonna happen. You dems just love forcing people to not pray, enter the army, and pass their arms to the enemy, against their will.

Sorry, under this president it aint gonna happen.

By Katie

October 8, 2005 10:55 AM | Link to this

Oh Good Point “real truth” and then we could all wear body armor every day and carry weapons and build cages around ourselves to keep the world out. We could sit behind our bars and think about what it was like to be a free nation. Then the evil in the world could run unchecked all around us but we would be safe in our self made prison. Who cares about another mothers son after all. We could refuse all foreign access and close ourselves off in a little cocoon of safety. Please could you tell me how a free nation can secure itself any other way? I would submit that there is no way. If we continue to stand for what we believe in then we are vulnerable and no amount of border checking will change that. Maybe they could not bring the bombs over…they would have to make them here…of course the 9/11 hijackers did not need bombs at all did they? They needed a couple of box cutters and some pilot training. There was an unending supply of insurgents before….trust me…these are not the “newly converted” it is just that we never challenged them before. The evil is skulking out of its holes into the light and it is finding itself out manuevered and out manned so much so that in desperation they have resorted to mass murder of innocents via what we call “suicide bombings” in the hopes that a people with a concious might back down at the site of children blown to pieces. Are we forgetting that these evil monstrosities TARGET children in particular…drag innocent teachers out of classes in front of their students and murder them with wanton depravity? And with cowardly pathetic snake like actions take and hold hostages for ritual and meaningless blood shed…killing them in the most horrific and unholy manner possible in order to oppress and terrorize the world? They have no conscience no soul and only eternal torment to welcome them in the end…but perhaps if we just kept them out of America they will just go away…find better things to do like collect garbage or clean toilets. They could feed their vile souless selves on the weak and the unprotected. The “real truth” is that evil left unchecked will feed upon itself until we are an oasis of bars and gates and barbed wire in the middle of a world run over by barbaric murderers. Sounds like a good time to me. Attacking you? No I am not…challenging what you believe…Yes. I am.

By Michael Wife

October 8, 2005 11:35 AM | Link to this

To Real truth, the US was hated before the war DUH, hence the attacks on 9-11 and before then. I am so glad that people like you are not soldiers or run this country. It is ok though to be ignorant because this is my husband’s third deployment so you can keep your freedom of speech. The “hate” which you speak of has gone on for years, we are not here to be liked. Also, these countries that hate us, who are the first ones they turn to for money and support when something happens??? Umm let me see USA!!
Sgt Easy, I really don’t feel that you are actually in the Army. I think you are just using this blog to put out your political views in every story you can. I for one do not care what you have to say. Quit hiding behind a real soldiers title, it is a complete insult to them. Why don’t you take real truth and go live in another country that is not “hated”. Infact maybe you should go live in France, you would fit in.

By real truth

October 8, 2005 02:22 PM | Link to this

Do you have trouble reading and comprehending Michael Wife? You’re absolutely right, Sgt. Easy is not in the army. HE said in his comment that he was a marine.

By Delores Mnisme

October 8, 2005 10:10 PM | Link to this

As a Christian who prays daily I resent the remark that anyone who votes Democrat believes in forcing people not to pray. How dare you make such generalizations.

By Michael Wife

October 8, 2005 11:32 PM | Link to this

Real truth, what I meant to say is I don’t believe that Sgt. Easy is anything in the military and never has been. He just uses this blog to put his views out there and hides behind the military, which is a disgrace to anyone who actually wears the uniform. Yes, I can comprehend fine and I also comprehend that you both are on this site where it is for family members of the 48th and other soldiers. I comprehend that neither one of you support our soldiers and their mission so get on a blog where you can bash all day and leave the 48th alone.

By Katie

October 8, 2005 11:52 PM | Link to this

Michael Wife… I do not think anyone misunderstood your meaning but Real Truth. I do not know who Sgt. Easy is or is not but unfortunately I do think that Real Truth is picking at inane particulars in order to avoid the argument presented to them.

By Katie

October 8, 2005 11:56 PM | Link to this

Amen Dolores,

The implication being that democrats are somehow less Christian…..now that is just a bunch of BS and really laughable. It is so ignorant that I find the brevity of your response appropriate.

By Katie

October 8, 2005 11:57 PM | Link to this

PS. I do not follow a “party” so I am not personally offended just generally irritated.

By Veteran's Wife

October 9, 2005 02:28 AM | Link to this

Michael Wife,please don’t display your ignorance by presuming you have any idea who Sgt. Easy and Real Truth are or what they stand for. I believe I know Sgt. Easy, and if so, know for a fact that he is a veteran himself and has loved ones and friends serving on the front lines in Iraq with the 48th.You want to know what a real disgrace to anyone who wears the uniform is? It’s the ignorance and insulting attitude of people like you who think our soldiers are fighting in Iraq for our freedom of speech. It’s the “sheeple” mentality of people like you that allow the president to believe he has a mandate and continue to send our military into a war on a never ending string of lies. It’s the narrow-mindedness of people like you who can’t see that wanting the best for our military personnel and wanting them not to have to go to war unescessarily IS, I repeat, IS supporting them. You are the picture of an insult to every person who is serving now or who has served our country in the past…you and confused and Katie among others. Anyone who considers the loss of their loved one in this war to be “the cost” is absolutely an insult to that military person and all of them.(Yes, confused, that was you that said that.)Sign me,a not believing that this is happening all over again(Vietnam type war)Veteran’s Wife.

By real truth

October 9, 2005 11:16 AM | Link to this

Let’s all become neoconservatives because to have another opinion is un-American. Michael Wife, Katie and some others seem to think that way. As soon as someone says something critical you jump on the “you don’t support the troops bandwagon” I want you to know Michael Wife that I do have a member of the 48th in my family and I have cried many tears of fear for him and the rest of the troops. I support the troops but I do not fully support the policy and absolutely do not support the tactics in Iraq. As an American, I can think and believe any way I choose. The tribal and religious conflicts in Iraq have been going on for centuries and was overlooked in the planning of the war and the aftermath. The US wants to give freedom to the Iraqi people, but the Sunnis don’t want the Shiites to have it, the Shiites don’t want the Sunnis to have it, the Kurds want to do their own thing too. It seemed to be a huge surprise that our soldiers weren’t welcomed with open arms the way troops were when they liberated countries in Europe in WWII. As for Sgt. Easy, his comment was written in language that only someone in the military would use. Also don’t be so mean as to say Sgt Easy should take me and go to France. If you think that every decision that has ever been made by any US president & congress was always right then that’s ok. Just go ahead and support the troops your way, and I will support the troops my way. TRUCE.

By Michael Wife

October 10, 2005 09:15 AM | Link to this

Veteran wife, you are the one that is ignorant and a disgrace to this site. You talk about me being narrow minded, well go look in the mirror. You want to say others are narrow minded because they don’t believe like “you”. So unless we all feel that this war is wrong and the president is stupid, we can’t be in your club? Well, that is fine because you don’t speak for my soldier or many other soldiers over there. Many of them feel that they are making a difference and they will continue. They are using their training again, which is kind of what they have been practicing since they became a soldier. What exactly is your definition of what military is supposed to do? If you have a soldier, was he drafted? You want to call all of us out that support our guys and call us “narrow minded” because we don’t agree with you. You and real truth, Sgt. Easy continue to spew your vinegar and political views and then act all shocked and holier than thou because other people call you to the carpet. “For those who fight for it, freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know…â€? Author Unknown

By Deana Thompson

October 10, 2005 02:29 PM | Link to this

I really hate what is happening on this blog.My husband is with the 48th in the sunni triangle of death and i myself am a ten year veteran flight medic.He called me the other night just to hear my voice after he had lived through a night of searching for ieds on the road in the dark!he had found a very big 500lb.bomb by finding the copperwire leading to it and saw he was standing right on top,waiting to see if it would go off.By the grace of GOD ALMIGHTY it did not.Have any of you done this and lived through it and considered it your duty and just another part of your day?!If not thank GOD my husband does it for you if you have thank GOD you are still here and able to b*** about it.My husband puts his live in the ALMIGHTY hands of GOD and he does not need any armchair generals to support his mission or his duty.I think we all just need to stop and say THANK YOU TO THE BRAVEST HUMAN BEINGS GOD EVER PUT ON THIS EARTH!!!And I would like to THANK GOD FOR BLESSING ME WITH THE BRAVEST MOST NOBLE

By Veteran's Wife

October 10, 2005 02:38 PM | Link to this

Michael Wife, thank goodness you are not in my club as you seem to be the one that believes that we,as varied and diverse Americans,cannot differ in our beliefs and still maintain the peace among ourselves. I refer you back to your own hateful, name-calling comments to Sgt. Easy and real truth. You obviously need to inform yourself about what is really going on in the world and more specifically what this war that my soldiers(yes, I have soldiers in this war)and yours are in and what it is all about. I have to repeat to you, it is not about our freedom of speech. My idea of what the military does is just exactly what they are doing now. It is their job and their responsibilty to do as they are called to do by their commander-in-chief, however misguided he may be. This definition is the very heart of the refusal of understanding by you to see that support of our troops does not necessarily mean following along blindly and ignorantly and without question as our military does their duty. We live in America, Michael Wife, and we already have the freedom to disagree with our government officials and ask questions and protest, especially when the lives of our loved ones are at stake. I, for one, have a problem with an administration that sends my soldiers to war when it didn’t have to be that way, most especially, by an administration full of people who essenitially rejected their call to duty when they should have been serving during a time of war. My husband had to serve as did thousands and thousands of others that didn’t have someone powerful arranging them an “out”. Can you not see beyond your idea of supporting the troops to realize that there is another line of thought and way of support? I absolutely support our troops and will always be on their side but I do not always support what is done to them or why it is done. Finally, Michael Wife, being able to use their training is an inane argument, and your use of the “freedom and fighting for it” quote is certainly a use out of context for surely you are no warrior fighting for my or anyones freedom.

By Sgt. Easy

October 10, 2005 04:21 PM | Link to this

WELL,Michael Wife, I guess you can not stand the TRUTH! FREEDOM OF SPEECH SEEMS TO ONLY APPLY TO YOU AND THE LIKES OF YOU INCLUDING MOST IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS!!! Let me give you a couple of your own quotes on one of these blogs Sept.22, 2005 article and posted Oct.04,2005 by you, “DON’T TELL ME WHAT OR WHAT NOT TO SAY, OR WHAT IS SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE I WILL MAKE THAT DETERMINATION MYSELF”. “THANK GOD THIS IS AMERICA AND I CAN SPEAK OUT”. NOW’ we seem to have a problem here, Michael Wife,Rodeheavor and GWB, FREE SPEECH IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST A FEW OR JUST ONE PARTY IN THIS NATION,NOT YET,BUT GIVE IT A FEW MORE YEARS OF GWB AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU, WE’LL GET THERE. I suggest that you quit trying so hard to sound like you are highly educated and well versed in World Affairs and go back to whatever hole you crawled out of! You and others like you including this president can say all you want or like to about whether I am a patriot to this country or not. But,I am not the one who ran and hid when it was his time to go and fight a war (most in his administration did also) and a war that a Republican president promised to end with Honor but failed to do so. You or your husband must not know nothing about the Horrors of War just as this president does not know,if any of you did then, WAR WOULD BE THE LAST THING THAT ANYONE WOULD ORDER. I was ordered to go and fight and I went,most politicians of both parties have never seen or felt the Horrors of what War Is or Does to a man. I would be willing to bet none of the Real Truths of what I have stated has ever been related to any officer above the rank of Colonel. Most of all because that is the way the military trains it’s soldiers and marines, “DO AS YOU ARE TOLD” no matter right or wrong. Those days are gone,or it is for me as I question my superiors when I am in doubt,even the Military Code of Conduct tells one to do so, even though a high percentage never do. But I do question when I can,and it is my life or my sons lives on the line and I have taught them to do the same. I STILL SAY, GET IT RIGHT OR GET THE HELL OUT! YOU DON’T KEEP SENDING MEN OUT TO DIE IN THE SAME AO WITHOUT TAKING OTHER MEASURES TO SECURE THEIR SAFETY AND WELL BEING AND THIS IS BEING DONE TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND AGAIN. WAKE UP AMERICA AND LISTEN TO WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN IRAQ!

By Stacey

October 10, 2005 06:44 PM | Link to this

To Sgt Easy and Real Truth, you really told me off and now I totally understand and believe EXACTLY how you do……NOT. All you want is for everyone to say you are right, and you will never get it. You both go back into the holes you came from because if you notice, the only ones supporting you on this blog is each other. Bye now………..

By not confused

October 10, 2005 09:42 PM | Link to this

Yes, Veterans Wife, I did say our freedoms have a “cost”. I did say that I understood that my soldiers may be a part of that cost. I stand beside it. The blood of soldiers from the start of this country of ours has been the “cost” of our freedoms. How could you miss that? The United States of America did not appear out of nowhere. The soldiers who fought in Vietnam paid the cost for Freedom. Who is to say how far Communism would have spread in this world if they had not gone and served. Who is to say that those young men might have seen a different outcome of that war if politicians had not had to tip toe around drugged out protesters who did not mind violent protests, but would not fight for their country. If military leaders could have done what needed doing instead of fighting a war on a popularity poll- who knows? I have no delusions that any President is perfect and has all the answers. But I do know that he has a lot more information on the status of things than we do. He must have our best interest at heart or he would definitely say, ” The Hell with you all!” and walk away from such an ungratefull people. Wars are not won by popularity polls-countries can not be run appropriately by them either. Complaining,grumbling and tearing down the the moral of our soldiers accomplishes nothing but a “What the Hell am I here for?” attitude. It brings them disgrace. Didn’t Vietnam teach us that? Why do you think so many turned to drugs over there and fell between the cracks when they came home? We were ungratefull, that hurts more than death, more than amputation, or the other horrors of war.

It’s ironic how the very people who scream, are the very ones to point out that they have “rights”. Veterans wife, those “rights” have “cost” every American soldier that has ever lived “something”. Some their lives. But you should know that, you are a veterans wife. Our “rights” are nothing to be taken lightly. Your soldier, all soldiers, have paid the “cost” the “price”. We who have the “privilege” of these “rights” have a “responsibility” to support those who bore that “cost”. How many of us on this Blog would literally “loose our heads” for what we say, if it were not for those who are willing to pay the “cost”? Sgt Easy still has his, it is obvious he has no love lose for his President. Does he have to live in fear that he will be dragged from his bed in the middle of the night? Not yet. But what if there were none willing to pay the “cost”? What kind of leader would we have then? We have a responsibility to stand beside our soldiers, to lift them up.

Reality? What if our soldiers were to all come back? what if our country were to be attacked? Massively. What if our soldiers all said, “To Hell with this country, we went to fight. You said it wasn’t worth it - why is it now? Let the civilians fight for themselves - let them pay the “cost”, if they think it is worth it. Sgt Easy’s attitude is living proof of our lack of understanding of “the cost” that he and other American soldiers have sacrificed for. Think about it. We have sent the message - it isn’t worth it. We don’t appreciate it. We don’t want the inconvenience of it -Especially if it is going to cost “me”. Isn’t that what it all boils down to?

By A.F.

October 10, 2005 10:46 PM | Link to this

Sgt. Easy, I’m with you and I think a lot others are too!

By Sgt. Easy

October 10, 2005 11:06 PM | Link to this

I also meant to say to the people who read this blog and have the opinion that I or people like me,should leave this country and move to France or somewhere else. You of that Train of Thought do not and NEVER WILL Deserve the Freedoms and Rights that I myself and others like me that came before have given to you and this Nation. I never mentioned any political party in my first comment,though I did mention one of the 48th generals(in my opinion he well deserved to be mention) but since I was attacked by the UNEDUCATED PUBLIC,I attacked back! This is what I was trained to do,even if it is with words on a blog,this country taught me from the first day of school to speak up for the wrongs done to this nation and it’s peoples and others also. But,let me say most of all that people who are of this mentality who think that we should leave this country aren’t much better than those that followed Hitler before WW II and do not even deserve a response from me. But again,that is what the German people did(and most of the World)before WW II,they let Hitler have free reign to do as he pleased and allowed him to keep people that disagreed with him from speaking out either by intimidation or by exile or by death. So,go ahead and speak your posion and hate of people who think different and think that this war was wrong. But,I will be the first to be exiled by our government or the first to die fighting for the weak in this nation as that is what I have been taught to do. NEVER MIND,we went to war on Baseless Lies Conjured up by this Administration, NEVER MIND,that we NEVER sent enough troops to protect the ones we sent in or secure the areas we took going into Iraq,(that is where most of these IED’s are coming from now!)NEVER Mind,that we still don’t have enough troops there to do the job and protect them as they should be, NEVER MIND,we sent them into a WAR without the proper equipment from day one,(and still do not have these issues solved by anyone’s standard). WE ARE THERE,IT IS TOO LATE TO DO OVER,BUT AGAIN,I SAY,GET IT RIGHT OR GET THE HELL OUT. RETIRED and OUT, this not worth my effort,but a Warning,when you knock on my door for speaking out and to exile me from this nation,you may meet thou GOD sooner than you think! Sgt.EASY

By just wondering

October 10, 2005 11:11 PM | Link to this

Sgt Easy, How is it that you “know” that this country we are fighting in we are hated and wanted to leave? You been listening to the wrong recording brother. How is it that you are “in” the know? You talk about others putting on airs……mmmm

By Marie

October 11, 2005 12:43 AM | Link to this

Veterans Wife… I am trying to grasp the point of your comment….here is what I got….you wanted to insult people and share the fact that you made up a cool new word….”sheeple” how very clever. I have one of my own….. “bullcraple”. Your entitled to your opinion for shizzle…fortunately other people have different ones. Now Sgt. Easy….I see the point you make as far as the “catch and release mentality” if that is in fact the case…I am interested in learning more about it. However you yourself said Oct 6. “only believe half of what you see and nothing that you hear unless you get it straight from the ones who are enduring the real battles in Iraq” well… my soldier just wants to know when a new shipment of cheesecake is coming through because since he has spent two months out of 20 at a camp instead of a FOB he is no longer in danger and pretty much is living a rock star life…..ok I am being facetious. I wish I had an answer for you….but I am just too busy following the lead “sheeple” around to think for myself. In conclusion …. I would like to respectfully ask BG Rodeheaver….where the heck is the cheesecake?…. cause when my soldier is getting shot at all he really needs or thinks of is if there is going to be gravy with the mashed potatoes tonight…ok since I can not seem to snap out of BS mode I will stop. Side note to BG Rodeheaver…..to hell with the cheesecake..it was a bit of sarcasm (if anyone missed it)…please just keep doing what you do. But when is the pool going in?

By my name is faith

October 11, 2005 03:59 AM | Link to this

let’s take this down a notch! This article is about a hampster, who goes out every day, strapped the the front of a humvee. My kinda’ fun…. not.!

I know we all disagree on politics….who doesnt! Ouch! It is getting painfull here! Do we all need to be strapped down, to see? I sure dont want to see what Pellet sees.

It is cut and dry, we are at war, and it stinks! We all hate it. Politics or not. War is not a social gathering, where are the tea and bisquits? Not here. It is humanity rearing it’s ugly face, it is history that we live in.. it is today.

By Irony

October 11, 2005 09:32 AM | Link to this

Does anyone else notice the irony in all these people (i.e. Sgt Easy, Micheal wife, etc…) attacking each other for exactly the same thing? Each person is expressing him or herself and telling others they should not censor what is being said….yet each person is doing it. Hypocrisy is alive and well here, and unfortunately, the people that need to take that to heart probably will not. It is a shame that there are such personal, ideological, and vile attacks on a blog read by many of our soldiers. Just because you have the right to say anything you want to say, does not mean that you should not exercise some restraint and good judgment in saying it. Enough already! There is an old saying that it is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

By Sgt. Easy

October 11, 2005 09:37 AM | Link to this

For the last time, EVERYONE, WE WOULDN’T NEED “GOOD LUCK HAMSTERS” If we had the proper equipment,troops and Generals who had guts enough to stand up to Donald Rumsfeld and GWB!! AGAIN, I WAS ATTACKED FOR SOMETING I NEVER SAID IN MY FIRST COMMENT,BUT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH,YOU GOT IT IN MY LAST COMMENT AND THIS ONE! This is for the “Just Wondering Crowd”, I guess you must be on the same dope that GWB,WJC (Oh’ yes that stands for William Jefferson Clinton!)DC,and Dum Rumsfeld (and no you did not misread nor did I mis-spell),I did write DUM! So Dum Wondering,get off the dope you’re on and do something for the troops that are there in Iraq,(and the ones who are back fighting GWB for their VA benefits)war or not this nation can and should do better for those deployed to any nation in combat. Oh’ by the way,the Cheesecake is on the way,Dick Chaney’s company “Halliburton” is providing it at $20.00 per soldier,Halliburton makes $5.00 per soldier after Dick Chaney and GWB get there cut and I didn’t mean cheesecake either!!! To: Confused, better do your research again Confused,NO, most Vietnam veterans did not turn to or come back from Vietnam drug addicts or whatever you think that they were. They also had that additude of “What the Hell am I doing Here” because of the same TYPE of Leadership that we have in Iraq now,sending soldiers and marines to die back to back in the same area that they just lost 40-50 guys in after pulling back and letting the enemy take it over again. Don’t write about something that you know nothing about, I’ll be willing to debate any of you in a public forum with my evidence on Vietnam or Iraq,bring yours,set the time and place or get off my case! By the way Michael Wife,your Cheesecake is on the way also, GWB is certainly sharing all his rewards with you, I am sure,as he can afford it,since all his OIL COMPANY COHORTS ARE FILLING THEIRS AND HIS POCKETS THESE DAYS. Oh’ I am Sorry,you’re on some of that dope too, you haven’t noticed what the price of gas is at the pumps is yet. GOODBYE,FOR GOOD,AS I KNOW NOT THE FIRST ONE OF YOU HAVE THE [GUTS] TO MEET ME IN A PUBLIC FORUM TO DEBATE THESE ISSUES!

By Stacey

October 11, 2005 10:33 AM | Link to this

Sgt. Easy, it is obvious that you have way to much time on your hands. You continue to talk about the public being uneducated, so basically YOU are the only person in America that knows what is going on?? Seems to be since your rantings continue to go on and on. What level is your education that makes you the all knowing “expert”? Why are you not the general or at that matter the president since you know everything there is to know? Gosh if only you were in charge, America would be so different!! please OH, and nice threatening to everyone I am sure that won you brownie points and got your point across to everyone.

Marie, your post was hysterical girl!!!shizzle manizzle

By A.

October 11, 2005 06:24 PM | Link to this

I agree with you Sgt. Easy my boyfriend left today for Iraq and it is awful. But as i see you are being attacked, I just thought I would voice my opinion that i agree with you!

By my name is faith

October 13, 2005 02:46 AM | Link to this

Sgt Easy, I would gladly meet with you for an enriching “non debate.”

I do pack what is required!

We would not disagree at all, I belive we would agree on all topics in the debatical arena.It is refeshing to do so…, I do love a good debate!!!

You walked into a forum, not meant for you, and were met with vehemence, that was just.

Do not take from us that is ours. Not That “ours” comes from the ” uneduacated or uninformed”. It comes from the hearts and souls of families without a coalated network.

We live in small towns all across this fine nation, some from islands that make great rum… and others that are always get “leied!”

We have little support, let alone people that know what we are going through. We are National Guard, and we are proud.

These are men and women that have served their time, and then, given more.

We are without a voice, , without “a base,” and without a day to day support system that would keep us all in cohesion. Notice on all the above comments………

Sgt Easy, we may share your passionate views, yet we cannot on this AJC Blog. Perhaps your delivery lacked the PC commentary that, we as NG family members must abide by.

Who knows, there is no right or wrong. Where is the definition getween good or evil?

The victor will write history, as has been done through out the ages.

Can you change this? I wish I could.

Sgt Easy, be assured, unfortunatly I get it

By Sgt's friend

October 13, 2005 10:57 AM | Link to this

You made some insightful comments Faith. I just want to clarify one thing. I know who Sgt. Easy is. He really is a Vietnam veteran and he has 2 sons serving with the 48th. This forum is meant for anyone with a connection to the 48th, and surely with 2 sons in the sunni triangle he qualifies even though his opinions may differ from those of others.

\\\\\, even though his views might conflict with others

By my name is faith

October 13, 2005 06:46 PM | Link to this

SGT’S Friend, no wonder his words are so passionate. In my frustration, I walk out into the woods and yell at the top of my lungs. Sgt Easy does it with words. Bet his neighbors like him better than mine.

By sgt's friend

October 13, 2005 10:24 PM | Link to this

(continuing my post 10:57) Several references have been made to Sgt. Easy that he doesn’t belong on this blog, that he’s in the wrong place, basically that he must be pretending to have family in the 48th. Everyone seems to have missed the post by Marie that said her husband is not in the 48th, never has been, he was based at Michael with the regular army and our guys replaced him there. Does she have more of a place here than Sgt. Easy? I was shocked when I read her comment because she has been very adament in her opinions and pretty rude at times for someone who isn’t part of the 48th. Marie, you need to find the blog for your husband’s brigade and post your comments there, with those who have more in common with you as regular army family and you should have told us a long time ago that you’re “just visiting” here.

By Veteran's Wife

October 13, 2005 11:01 PM | Link to this

Marie, can’t help it if you can’t grasp hot glue; also, sorry but I can’t take credit for “sheeple”(read other things besides this blog,Marie). not confused, I really don’t want to appear to be arguing with you, but support for the military (my own troops) is clearly understood by me, whether you get what I mean or not. You don’t need to explain sacrifice to me either as I live everyday with a Viet Nam veteran who is still sacrificing; I also see it in a very close friend of the family who is also a Viet Nam vet. I was raised by a WWII veteran (my dad) who was never able to conquer his war demons and now my whole family is again sacrificing double time for this war in Iraq. I think I am qualified to speak up in support of the troops and it doesn’t have to sound politically correct; it doesn’t have to mimic the administration’s skewed press releases. I don’t know whether you were around during the Viet Nam war or not but the politian’s tying the hands of our military and all of the hypocricy that went on(by our government) was not what should have gone on. So much senseless loss of life (take a hill and let it go back under the enemy’s control; go back out and take the hill and lose more American lives and let it go back to the enemy again)! This is the kind of thing that SURELY wouldn’t go on in Iraq, would it? This is the kind of thing I’M surely going to speak out against as I support the troops. DID we learn anything from Viet Nam, not confused? I wonder. Are we showing gratitude for our veterans’ sacrifices by treating our troops with the same “dismissal”, “replaceable” attitude? Last point to you,not confused; in the end, after 58,000 American lives lost, Viet Nam IS a communist country. Communism did spread that far. Stacy, can you MAKE a valid point or are you just on the site to stir up an argument and be sarcastic?

By Enough already

October 14, 2005 10:48 AM | Link to this

Veteran’s wife, blah blah blah….. You and Sgt. Easy are not the only ones that have or are Vietnam veterans in their families. You are not the only ones that have family that have sacrificed in this or previous wars. You are the one that wants to continue to argue and keep this blog going that was originally about a stuffed hamster. Sgt. Easy not being PC would be an understatement, especially when he calls everyone uneducated and says we are all on dope. I don’t give much credence to opinions that are chastizing, I don’t care if he is a veteran or not. Being a Veteran of any war does not make you the guru, nor does it put you in the position of saying you can have “freedom of speech” BUT if you don’t agree with me you are on dope. As for you, you want to say nasty things to people but when they retaliate you are all wounded. Freedom of expression or speech just does not apply to you or Easy. I am sure we will have another 10 paragraph response from you to look forward to.

By Proud Mom of a Potato Factory Soldier

October 14, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this

Hello to all. First of all let me verify that I do have a son in the 48th, but that is not the reason I am posting here today. I have spent an hour or so reading everyones posts, and want to thank you all for your passionate views. There are only a few points I want to make - targeting no one person - in hopes of toning down things a bit.

First, for those that are concerned that the soldiers over there might read some of this and get discouraged - dont. There are many more positive than negative on this site, and many other sites that are nothing but possitive. They know what they are doing is for a good cause - for this Nation, as well as for the Country they are at war in right now, and the opinions that are not supportive, are not going to change their minds. So rest easy and just continue to show YOUR support and all will be good for them.

The second thing is that for the most part - you all seem to be hell bent on disagreeing. Try to understand what we all are going thru - those that have loved ones over there, or have fought in a war in the past. It brings out the worst kind of “fear” in us - for our loved ones over there. The “anger” that is coming out is only a characteristic of that “fear”. Might it be better to pick out the positive in a post and respond to it rather than picking the negative and responding. You all seem to agree that we have the right to freedom of speech, and you all should know that we are never going to agree on “everything” someone else says. In my opinion, it would serve everyone better to sit back, take a deep breath and set you minds to be alittle more positive towards each other. Just agree to disagree, respect the comments of others, stop the name calling, and attempt to keep at the forfront of your mind, that we are all scared, tired, and in need of the support of others, as are our loved ones in the 48th and beyond. Prayers to All trooops, family members, friends.

By Marie

October 14, 2005 08:15 PM | Link to this

Sgt. Friend, First of all I did say something months ago about MY SOLDIER and who he is….guess you missed it … however I do in fact have a connection to the 48th… I am a volunteer for WW as a representative for the 48th, I also have a very good friend whose husband is in the 48th sooo ummmm talk to the left hand cause you ain’t right. Please do not tell me where I belong and I will pay you the same courtesy…furthermore I did not see anything on here anywhere that said who may and may not post a comment…when I do, and it excludes me that is the day I will quit. It is like you think you are somehow more knowledgeable or entitled to an opinion and I assure you you are not. If you think that the issues being debated here are unique to the 48th I am afraid you are mistaken. Nor did I ever once tell Sgt Easy what he may or may not post for one or another reason. You were shocked? Now THAT is funny….seems like a pretty strong word for a rather mundane realization. I do applaud you however on your superior detective work in ferreting out my TRUE identity…. (insert ominous music here)….have you thought about going into intelligence or perhaps rocket science? Veterans Wife…you continue to amuse me with your endless wit and charm…but personally I thought Stacy made a great point especially the part about how my comment was hilarious….LOL !! I gather you did not appreciate my humor….ah well you can’t please everybody I guess. I am so disappointed that I have missed reading the incredibly cerebral literary work that introduced “sheeple” into the American language… apparently I do not read the work of the masterminds that you so clearly enjoy and prefer. What was I thinking? Perhaps I could have done my masters thesis on the use of quasi compound words in the 21st century…. ah well why regret what I can not change. Still could you pass along some of these obviously insightful missives…I trust there are plenty of pictures?…perhaps even one of the notorious “sheeple”? I would love to comment to you on the Vietnam War however I am afraid it was WAYYYY before my time. Of course my father was a marine in Viet Nam and two of my uncles were scouts but I just do not have the firsthand knowledge you so clearly possess. To Proud Mom of a Potato Factory Soldier….I apologize…I do get your point however I am just not equal to the task…(the flesh is weak and all that) I do however respect your very valid point even as I ignore it.