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DEL.ICIO.USVoices from the 48th
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Camp Striker, Iraq — By the time Iraqis vote Saturday on a proposed constitution, many of the soldiers in the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team will have completed five months of a yearlong deployment in the Middle East. Here is what five citizen-soldiers say about Iraq:
Staff Sgt. Ron DeLoach, 37, a civilian tank mechanic at Fort Stewart who lives in Glennville
He’d consider making Iraq three regions — Shiite, Sunni and Kurd — that would govern independently, police their borders and share in the nation’s oil wealth.
“Sunnis don’t mind policing Sunnis, but when you take one ethnic group policing another, it becomes war. Eighty percent of these insurgents are coming from outside. Let the Iraqis patrol their country. They know who’s foreign and who’s not better than we do. The neighboring countries have got to secure their borders.”
Spc. Charles Flowers, 36, a mechanic for Delta Air Lines who lives in McDonough:
“We’re walking on soil that people from the Bible walked on. The Garden of Eden is 400 kilometers up the road. The funniest thing is if [the insurgents] quit blowing us up, we’d leave. But they don’t realize that. But that has to do with outside influences. We try to push it with locals that they have to help us catch them.”
Sgt. Annmarie Bielefeld, 25, a biotechnology student at Kennesaw State University:
“Kids here are taught horrible things. It’s like growing up in a household where there is abuse. You grow up skittish. The kids see their neighbors being shot or get kidnapped. They have so much chaos from the time they are born to adulthood. Iraq as a nation is a disaster. From my standpoint you don’t have a nation that’s willing to push to make it better.”
Sgt. 1st Class Allex Hutchins, 40, who works for the Transportation Security Administration at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport:
“This place is no better off than when we first came in. Everybody needs necessities in life — water, food, electricity, a place to lay your head. Are we supplying that right now? No. Are we working on it? Yes. But we are not focusing on that. We are focusing on occupying their country. People are grateful that we come to deworm their sheep, but I think they would rather have electricity for three hours a day.”
Spc. Taura Montgomery, 29, a certified athletic trainer from Hinesville:
“I’m in awe of people who have to live with fear every day. They still go on and do whatever they have to do. I commend them for that. It takes a lot of courage.”
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Reid
October 12, 2005 02:00 PM | Link to this
Sgt.1C Hutchins, as a tax-paying citizen of the U.S. I am grateful for your service to our nation. However, I do not agree that Iraq is “no better off than when we first came in.” The elimination of Saddam’s regime was, by itself, enough to make Iraq (and the rest of the region) better off. Is it the mission of the Armed Forces of the United States to provide “water, food, electricity, (and) a place to lay your head” for the Iraqi people? I should hope not. It is my understanding that your mission is, primarily to provide security and secondarily keep your troops alive; not swing a hammer or install power. That is what contractors are for. The Iraqi nation must build (NOT REBUILD) itself, or it will remain dependent on my tax dollars and your dedicated service. I know that, as an NCO, you are vital to the success of each and every mission and are expected to shoulder more than your share of the burden. I applaud your sacrifice and I admire your courage.
By anthony poteet
October 12, 2005 09:32 PM | Link to this
spc anthony todd poteet i am a medic with c co. 148th assigned to mitt-1 in lutayfiyah iraq. for the last 5 months i have trained with the iraqi army and went on dangerious missions and have witnessed some of the bravest soldiers i have ever seen. we have become close to these guys and feel honored to have served with them and getting the iraqi army trained is the key to mission complete for us here any seeing the improvement of their army in the last 5 months the future seems to be on the right track we just need america to stay the course and believe as most of us who work daily with these brave men believe.
By Marilyn
October 13, 2005 11:15 AM | Link to this
I have a son with the 48th infantry who does not see things at all like these five you picked out to satisfy your agenda. I wonder how you came to choose those five?? Possibly because that is the way the media likes to slant all the stories on this war? Why not ask some of the ones in the middle of the battle?
By Marilyn
October 13, 2005 11:23 AM | Link to this
I wish to retract my first comment, as it just hit me the wrong way, when I see other mothers bury their sons, and you have someone like the NCO saying what he did—when I know things are better. I apologize to the other four, and I am truly thankful for the service of all five. But I didn’t send my son to die for people over there to have electricity (that never had it), there are people in America without it! I pray this war will be over soon and they can all come home safely. Until then, know you are appreciated and prayed for.
By Cathy Godwin
October 14, 2005 08:30 AM | Link to this
this is to the family of fallen soldier Army Sgt. Nathan K. Bouchard killed in action on Aug.18. in Samarra after a bomb detonated his vehicle. I’d like to express my deepest sympathy. Nate visited with us during Thanksgiving, ‘03 at the beach in Destin, FL on our annual holiday trip. He was very much a character and we enjoyed his company. We were very much saddened to hear of this. God bless our soldiers, and their families.