[merrin]

As there are two of them and only one of me, they tend to win these battles.

The fact that they're Marines may have somehting to do with it as well.

[Cicero]

It's been a long time since I've read such good basic reporting, which allows the reader to feel that he is there. This is the kind of gritty detailed background you sometimes got during the Second World War, as I vaguely remember it.

[HairOfTheDog]

Although nobody has bathed at all for at least 10 days, we don't notice the smell -- maybe because everybody is the same.

G'nad, this story brought a tear to my eye!... snif!

[Travis McGee]

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

(And this reporter too.)

[WVNan]

Gee, this reminds me of the good ole days on the road with the band; six big guys and me in one little van pulling an equipment trailer. One gets quite used to sleeping sitting up. But I never did get used to the smell after three days non-stop travel. I don't think we did smell the same. Those guys stunk much worse than I did. LOL. I think about those grunts over there and pray for them without ceasing. They are some tough dudes.

[Missouri]

Both my Uncle and Father are WW2 vets. Though my Father was on convoy duty on the Atlantic and seen little action, he would talk about the storms and how his destroyer was being tossed about in the huge waves.
My uncle is in the process of writing a book about his time in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, and into Germany and I've got a copy of the manuscript. He goes into great detail on the hardships of the average soldier such as fighting a fanatical enemy, sub-freezeing temps., deaths from friendly fire, etc.
Everyday I pray that our troops in Iraq find the streagth and courage to finish the job like great American service men did before them.
More detailed reports like the one you just posted may help people realize what these guys are going through.

[FreedomCalls]

The conditions are absolutely appalling. But the Marines are quite used to it. They don't complain. They laugh and shake their heads about it, and get on with the job.

More than I can say about the reporters.

[Happygal]

Maybe it's a good thing the French aren't part of the Allied troops. Could you imagine sharing a truck with those stinkin' b******

[Chu Gary]

War is not a party and I am very sympathetic to the plight of the troops now waging war. However, the reporter might appreciate a little perspective. The troops now have the best war conditions troops have ever had, it's been worse in every war prior to this one. I was in Vietnam and the things he talks about were common. BUT, during WWII and WWI, conditions were horrible. During the Civil War, they didn't have sulfa, it had not yet been invented - get an injury, you're either going to die with gangrene or they would just cut that part out/off WITHOUT anesthetic (also not yet invented). Let's not even think about the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War, much, much worse.

Still, our brave men and women currently fighting the good fight around the world deserve our prayers - they have mine and they need every prayer they can receive!

[DainBramage]

Those marines aren't complaining at all about the reporter taking up the extra space they usually have.

[Crusader21stCentury]

In front of me to my right is the main gunner's M-16 semi-automatic rifle, a fire extinguisher and a tool box.

Anybody seen Chuck "The Shmuck" Schumer lately, he may be over there changing our soldiers weapons.

[greydog]

I was talking to a buddy of mine and he said they are starting to use flea collars on thier wrists and ankles to keep the bugs off.

[2Jedismom]

These guys remind me of you! LOL

[jwalsh07]

Send baby wipes, the Marines and Grunts will ove you for it.

[WaterDragon]

American men are simply the best on the planet Earth, and our military is the creme de la creme.

[Mystix]

You'll love this :)