Almost Like Home [L.T. Smash's July 4th in Iraq]]

Almost Like Home

Yesterday was the Fourth of July.

Every camp had its own celebration. In our camp, there was a traditional Independence Day meal with your choice of steak, chicken, or pork ribs (believe it or not), corn-on-the-cob, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, etc. In the evening, a few amateur bands and would-be rap artists made some noise for the boys.

At another camp, Ah-nold Schwarzenegger stopped by to kick off his new film Terminator 3 at the camp theater. Several folks from my unit made the trip, and reported that it was a good show.

But I didn’t partake in any of this. Along with a handful of others from my unit, I accepted an invitation to attend a traditional barbecue down in Kevin’s little fiefdom. As luck would have it, he wasn’t there—he actually went to ANOTHER party somewhere else. Seems that getting away was the plan of the day.

The gods must have been in a kind mood, because we were allowed to travel and attend the celebration in civilian clothing. Most of the guys wore shorts and t-shirts, as was appropriate for the weather. A couple of the girls actually put on sundresses and perfume. It was like being on a different planet, I tell ya.

It was a decent party, all things considered. They had some juicy grilled steaks, mashed potatoes, and beans, plus all the chips and salsa you could eat. I searched all the way to the bottom of the cooler, but alas, there was no beer. I did manage to get my lucky hands on some Vanilla Coke, one of the best non-alcoholic beverages ever created, in my humble opinion. Your own mileage may vary.

As the sun dropped below the horizon, the temperature dipped into the double digits, and a nice breeze picked up off of the water. Some folks took part in a darts competition, while others played spades at the picnic tables. Most of us sat around and enjoyed each others’ company, talking about stuff other than work for a change.

After dark, there was a pyrotechnics display, of sorts. Apparently, the Navy SEALS had a few extra illumination rounds and signal flares they didn’t get to use, and thought this would be an opportune time to dispose of them safely. So, we got the rockets red glare, but unfortunately, the bombs didn’t so much burst in the air as fade out. But I’ll give them an “A” for effort.

I hope everyone back home enjoyed their Fourth, and I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to write to me on this holiday. Next year, I hope to be back there celebrating in the Land of the Free with the rest of you.

* * *

Today, everything was back to normal. We’re wearing our uniforms, doing our jobs, and the chow tent is serving the same old low-grade burgers, dogs, and freedom fries. At least we have enough fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and onions to make a decent salad.

After lunch, I surfed over to Misha’s place. Like many naturalized American citizens, Misha is a fierce patriot for his adopted nation. The comments in response to his question “What makes America freest nation on Earth” are highly recommended reading.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

"Your Thought For Today"

While LT enjoys his day off, go visit Dean. He discusses the "American Empire" in this Independence Day message.

Independence Day

It’s not the most visited monument in Washington, but it is easily one of the most impressive.

Built of marble and granite, and reflecting the architecture of his home in Monticello, the memorial to the author of the Declaration of Independence and our third President lies due south of the White House, across the tidal basin from the National Mall.

As you climb the granite steps and pass underneath the marble dome, the statue of Thomas Jefferson stands tall before you. Surrounding the base of the dome, in deeply inscribed roman lettering, is the following declaration:

I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY AGAINST EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN

This is a mission statement for all Americans, and every person in the world who loves Liberty.

This is why I serve.

As Long As It Takes

Rob writes, asking what I think about these recent remarks by President Bush:

Anybody who wants to harm American troops will be found and brought to justice. There are some that feel like if they attack us that we may decide to leave prematurely. They don't understand what they are talking about if that is the case. Let me finish. There are some who feel like the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring them on.

George W. Bush is President of the United States, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is our leader. He sets the tone for every man and woman in uniform. If the President says we are a bunch of bad-asses, then that is the attitude we will adopt. It sure beats the heck out of the alternative.

Meanwhile, President Bush is taking some heat for these remarks, being accused of using “shoot-from-the-hip lines,” with some urging him to bring the troops home “as soon as possible.”

His response: “We're not leaving until we accomplish the task.”

How refreshing.

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