Posted on 09/23/2004 12:17:16 PM PDT by EggsAckley
A Santa Cruz soldier’s story
By SARAH QUELLAND
sentinel correspondent
SANTA CRUZ — Twenty-three-year-old Michael Little was born and raised in Santa Cruz, but he grew up on the road to Baghdad.
Little, a communications officer in the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment based in Encino, joined the military to get an education and serve his country.
"I joined the Marines because I wanted to be the best," he said. "I wanted to put myself to a challenge. I’m constantly giving myself challenges and trying to push myself harder each time to reach those goals."
In Iraq, his troop, among the first to be sent to the Middle East, achieved its mission of bringing humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people by supplying food, rebuilding schools and restoring electricity, and was among the first to be sent back.
Now at home, he’s set his sights on graduating from Cabrillo College, attending law school and owning a business one day. Before joining the Marines, he graduated from high school in Vacaville but attended Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville.
Though Little has been home for more than a year, his time in Iraq is never far away. Media coverage, political campaigns and his thoughts keep it all too close.
"I never want any of my family or friends to see what I had to see," Little told a few dozen members of the Daughters of the American Revolution at the Odd Fellows Lodge in Santa Cruz on Wednesday.
Advertisement
Intelligent, personable and self-assured, the 6-foot-2 Little seems mature far beyond his 23 years. During his 45-minute talk, entitled "On the Road to Baghdad," occasionally he paused to read passages from pages of the red journal he kept while on duty.
Dressed in black trousers, a gray shirt and tie, the blond-haired, green-eyed college student spoke of his four months in the Middle East, from February to June of 2003.
"There were plenty of times where we felt like we would not be getting out," he said.
The thing that haunts him most is the aftermath, "That’s probably going to stay with me the rest of my life. People that were once alive that aren’t anymore.
"It’s not a pretty sight," Little said of the combat his unit saw.
"I still support the war," Little said. "If we leave now, then all the work and effort we put into it is going to be for no reason. A lot of people would have lost their lives for no reason."
On a mission When Little joined the Marines in 2000, his unit was in the Reserves. Despite receiving a medical discharge for a bad back, when he found out his unit was headed to Kuwait, "I basically begged to be able to go with my unit."
He’s been off active duty for one year and eight days, but could be called up at any time. An infantry radio operator, Little’s job was communications. Conditions were grueling. He spoke of driving constantly with little or no sleep. Supplies were rationed, so members of his unit were often limited to one meal and one large bottle of water a day.
The heat was unbearable, he said, dropping to a mere 100 degrees at night. Sandstorms inundated tents and sleeping bags with choking, blinding granules. Terrorist activity was an ongoing threat and he and his company were on constant alert.
From their heart Despite the hazardous situations, he said the reward was the response they got from Iraqi citizens who cheered them and offered them gifts. He said usually, they couldn’t accept such offerings of gratitude, but an exception was made when someone offered them a bottle of Dewar’s scotch that had been looted from a giant warehouse similar to Costco.
Little said they were able to accept the gift because alcohol’s not a "necessity" for anyone. That night, he said he and the men in his unit shared the bottle, and it’s the first time he could remember having a smile on his face and being able to relax a bit.
Sensitive and guarded, Little spoke openly about his feelings, how his personal relationships have suffered since his return. When he left, he was engaged. Since his return, he and his fiancee have gone their separate ways.
"I’ve noticed a lot of times, it’s hard for me to get close to people," he said. "No one really realizes what it was like."
While Little says before the war he and his father, Robert, had their differences, he always wanted to earn his father’s respect. That came in Iraq in the form of a letter from his dad, who lives in Vacaville.
"My father was able to finally say he was proud of me," Little said.
Life has been challenging for Little since he rejoined the civilian ranks, and it’s not what he expected.
"The effects of being in a war are a lot different than I ever thought they’d be," he said, referring to the emotional trauma he still feels every day.
He doesn’t really watch the news.
"Once in a while I will," he said, "but then I’ll have to change it. It brings so much back; things that I don’t really want to bring up."
Little says he distracts himself from thinking about combat by staying busy and trying to surround himself with supportive people.
Most of his time is divided between work and school. He works two jobs — one as a waiter at Peachwood’s Steakhouse and another doing construction for Westport Construction in Santa Cruz — and studies public relations and communications at Cabrillo College.
He also spends time with his 4-year-old son, Ian, who lives in Walnut Creek, visits the beach, hangs out with friends and manages the local band Drive.
Still, everything he’s working toward could be put on hold at any moment, if he’s re-activated.
Though he’s not anxious to go back to Iraq, he said, "I’d be proud to go. I’m a U.S. Marine. It’s my job."
Contact Sarah Quelland at jcopeland@santacruzsentinel.com
Michael Little, a member of the Marine Reserves, says he believes in the war in Iraq: ‘If we leave now, then all the work and effort we put into it is going to be for no reason. A lot of people would have lost their lives for no reason.’ (Shmuel Thaler / Sentinel)
Wow, here's something you won't find very often -- a patriotic Santa Cruz person.
Considering that he's from Santa Cruz, this is amazing. And encouraging, too.
*ping*
Let us strive to be worthy of his service.
You gotta understand how VERY MUCH it pained this newspaper to have to print this.
heheheh.
"My father was able to finally say he was proud of me," Little said.
Kid, the whole damn country is proud of you.
Marine Bump!
Right on, RB!!
Good post. Given the disproportionately loud voice the left has here its easy for many to forget that California - the bay area even - still produces men like Pat Tillman & this marine.
This story has to come from SeeBS news. No way is this Marine comes from Santa Cruz,
*ping*
I'm proud of you too, Marine Little. Thank you for your service!
Agreed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.