Like his father, Birkett is now a seasoned infantryman, having spent nearly a year in Iraq with the 1st Armored Division’s 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade.
He carries a rifle, but Birkett is also a “breacher” for Company B’s 2nd Platoon.
“I get to be a little more destructive than the other guys,” Birkett confessed.
The soldiers snooped around, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
They searched a men’s club, but Iraqis inside were more interested in dominos and an Olympic qualifying soccer match between Iraq and Saudi Arabia than they were in mischief making.
Each Iraqi household is permitted to have one weapon, and many on this night did. Still, soldiers always ask if a weapon is present.
“If they tell us the truth about what they have,” Newlin said, “they won’t go to jail.”
On this night, no one in this section of Baghdad went to the slammer, and Birkett didn’t have to breach much of anything.
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Spartans - "Deeds...Not Words!"
Moments of peace.