Weary but Determined [Reserve Officer from Iraq: "Let's see it through to the end."]

L.T. SMASH

LIVE FROM THE SANDBOX

08 July 2003

Weary but Determined

Several people have written, asking what I think about the almost daily media reports on attacks against Coalition forces and low morale amongst the troops.

My unit deployed here to perform a specific task, and we’ve been doing that same job since we arrived in December. What we do is somewhat more dangerous than working in a logistics office, but significantly less dangerous than kicking in doors and dodging RPGs. Sure, it got a little bit scary during the height of the conflict, with the constant air raid sirens and security alerts; and there is no denying that the threat of terrorist attack is omnipresent in this corner of the world, especially for folks like us. But I can’t pretend to know what it’s like for the guys out at the very tip of the spear, and I certainly won’t pretend to speak on their behalf—I can only write about what I have personally experienced.

We’ve been here for a long time, and we’re looking forward to going home. We’ve been given a tentative date for our return, but we’re pretty guarded about getting prematurely excited. One of our sister units recently found out that they are going to have to stay several months longer than they had expected, and we don’t pretend that something similar couldn’t possibly happen to us—although it appears less likely the closer we get to that magic day.

We’ve adjusted to our lifestyle here, as uncomfortable as it may be, and we make the best of it. People tell jokes and laugh at mealtimes, we get together to watch movies in the morale tent, and we share our care packages from home. Some people play basketball or volleyball after the sun goes down, or just sit outside at a picnic table and chat with their buddies. Sure, we hear a lot of complaining—but complaints are merely the background noise of military life.

Just like you folks back home, it hurts us every time we hear about soldiers being hurt or killed in an ambush. I’ve been fortunate in that with the exception of my brother’s friend Tom, none of the deaths or casualties have been anyone close to me. But I try to put these events in perspective. We’re engaged in a war, fighting for what I believe to be a just cause: the elimination of a hostile regime, and the liberation of Iraq. We knew we would take casualties before it began, and we prepared ourselves for that eventuality.

It really all boils down to this:

Just about everyone here would rather be at home right now—but nobody wants to go home a loser.

If we gave in to the snivelers and peaceniks who cry, “Bring our troops home now!” Iraq would undoubtedly descend into a bloody civil war, and God only knows who would come out on top. Saddam might even emerge from hiding, claiming to have driven the “infidels” out of his country. The United States would have suffered another black eye, and our enemies would be further emboldened to attack us again. We would have lost the war, and all of the brave Americans and British who gave their lives in this operation would have died in vain.

I am not willing to accept that scenario. You shouldn’t be, either.

We are the mightiest military to ever walk the face of the Earth. We have the capability and the will to finish this job.

Let's see it through to the end.

TRANSMISSION FROM LT Smash 1303Z |

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