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This place really sucks, but I guess I kind of hit the lottery for missions. Of course I haven't been able to take a shower for t hree days and I've been walking around in full battle-gear for three days in a 110+ degrees. But everybody has to do that. You've never sweat until you sweat in Iraq with a helmet, flak vest with ceramic plates, 330 rounds, a camelback and an M16. It's draining. But it could be way worse.

This is a good attitude from someone who has to do a really hard job. He's got a good perspective on things. Reminds me of a letter written by a young officer who assisted in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp:

Incidentally, your griping about my going to the South Pacific. I have only been in the Army a couple of years. Some of these people were in the hell hole of Dachau for years. If I spend ten years in the Army during war I will never go through what those people go through. Even if I were killed, I would be lucky compared to those people. So if you still feel the jitters remember the people of Dachau and think how lucky I am no matter what happens.