I received this e-mail from a friend and couldn't help think of NookieD's boy and all the men and women over there making us proud.

RVW

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This was posted by a member (doorkicker) of another Forum, which is
currently stationed in the "sand box",
>
I wrote, and continue to write this as an account of some of the things
I have been through here in Iraq. I wasn't sure if I should post it, but
decided what the hell...I can't think of a better group to share it
with. It's long, but read it if you give a damn.
Well, I am still here in Iraq, and with reguards to this war, I can say
I have seen and done some amazing things.
I've seen both cowards and heroes both young and old
Been both confident and terrified, both at the same time
I've grown to love and hate people with a fierce passion
I've given food to the starving, and water to the thirsty
I've seen the pain and uncertainty in a man, woman, and child's face
right before they died
I've seen the terror in a man's face when my weapon was pointed at his
head
I've looked a man in the eyes right before I put a sandbag over his head
I've tasted the burn of OC/pepper spray as I sprayed a man in the face
I've learned Arabic from a 12 year old girl who was my friend
I've waved hello back at so many passing cars, I felt like I was famous
I've been on TV 4 times, then watched the media tell lies about us
I've been in 3 papers, and was amazed at the innacuracy of my story
I've seen dozens of marriages fall apart on both ends
I've seen Iraqis cry, they were so happy that we were here
I've had Iraqis swear me up and down because I had to search them
I've heard the launch of mortar rounds as they left the tube
I've seen those same mortar rounds blow up around me and my friends
I had a friend show me pictures of his kids, and get killed the very
next day
I've heard the pop-pop-pop of gunfire, and then the ping-ping-ping as it
hit around me I've seen people afraid to pull the trigger, and not
kill...and I've seen people kill when they shouldn't have pulled the
trigger
I've seen men in the cross hairs of the scope mounted on my rifle and
I've pulled the trigger so they will never ever be seen again
I've laid countless hours on my cot trying to sleep but couldn't,
because the helicopters were to loud, explosions were to close, their
was to much gunfire
I've taken prisoners, guarded prisoners, and released prisoners
I've lost weight because my stomach couldn't handle the food here
I've knocked on people's doors, kicked down people's doors, and almost
shot off someone's door
I've sat on a rooftop for 53 days straight looking for bad guys, and
learned what patience really is
I've lost all sense of privacy, but grew closer than a brother with my
squad and platoon
I've cleaned my weapon more than I have cleaned my clothes, because it
was more important
I've learned to appreciate all the things I once took for granted
I've never worked so hard and got paid so little in my life, but even
still worked harder
I've watched videos of Nick Berg getting his head sawed off his body
while he screamed, and never wanted to kill so bad in my life
I remember when a young kid that called us "sadiq-i" (friend) brought us
food each day at a checkpoint, and remember when a suicide bomber killed
him and 18 other people days later
I remember a crazy lady telling me lies to waste my time for no reason
I remember a pretty girl secretly waving hello to me so nobody would
see, fearing ridicule
I remember the screams of people when a restraunt exploded with innocent
people inside
I'll never forget the smell of burning flesh for as long as I
live...ever
I've seen Iraqi people fight alongside us one minute, then fight against
us the next
I've captured dozens of weapons, some of which were gold plated
I've been in a car accident that would've killed me if I wasn't riding
in an armored hummer
I've smiled and scowled, laughed and yelled at different crowds of
people
I've seen a 13 year old prostitute bring money home to her father to
live
I've smelled the crisp air of a new morning, and the soot and stench of
cordite the next morning
I've been so hot, that I stopped sweating and my body started to shut
down
I've been so tired and worn out, but still couldn't sleep for days at a
time
I've seen people accidently shoot their weapons and almost kill people,
and I've seen people intentionally shoot their weapons and kill people
I've never counted or carried so much ammunition in my life, and I've
been around the world more than once or twice with the military
I've sat back and enjoyed an ice cold Coke, and other times I've called
on the radio begging for a resupply of water and food because we were
starving literally
I've seen guys "baby" their weapons, and I've seen guys treat them like
hell, fully knowing it was the only thing that might save their lives
I've said "I hate here" a thousand times, and heard it said a million
more times
I've seen a platoon leader curl up in the fetal position out of terror
during a firefight, and a private in that same platoon fight like a
savage for his life
I've seen a medic choke-up and not be able to do his job, and an
infantryman next to him bandage up a wounded child
I've had kids throw rocks at me because I didn't have any chocolate
candy to give them
I almost shot a 14 year old kid that pulled a gun on another kid, the
toys look very real here
I've seen kids play in a virtual minefield of explosives and ordinance
like they were at Disneyland
I've heard shots fired and hit the ground, ducked, jumped behind cover,
and flat out ignored them
I've seen "new guys" in units come here so scared they point their guns
at everything they see
I've been on missions so long, that I've come back to my FOB (base camp)
with a full beard
I've sat up late at night waiting for a friend to come back from a
patrol that got hit, like a parent waits for their child who's been out
all night
I've made best of friends with a 17 year old kid, and a 47 year old man,
and talked to both like we were old highschool buddies
I've cleaned my friend's blood off of his equipment, and turned it in
because he was killed in an explosion hours before
I've seen enough different people's body parts, that I could put them
all together and make a completely new body with them
I've laughed and joked with Australian soldiers, had conversations with
British soldiers, and drank chi (tea) with Arab soldiers
I've seen how well our bulletproof vest work, and they do stop bullets
I've read the bible and figured I am in, or near the 'Garden of Eden';
but it hardly looks like paradise to me
I've seen fisherman fishing, kids swimming, boats and dead bodies
floating in the Tigris River
I've asked myself dozens of times "Why am I here", but I know the
answer, and I know if asked...I'd come back again no question
I've missed my family and still do, and I regret not spending as much
time with them as I should've before I left
I've figured out who my real friends are back home, because they have
taken the time to write me a letter or an e-mail
I felt sold out by my chain of command because I made a decision to
shoot, and sat through an 'inquisition' for making a judgement call that
I would again
I've gone on my 2 weeks of R&R and enjoyed the downtime, however was
anxious to get back to this strange place
I've been to far too many memorial services of our fallen brothers, and
choked up everytime, even if silently so nobody could tell
I've seen an enemy sniper cause so much pandamonia, that without a shot
being fired the sniper was winning a psycological victory over us
I've traded 'war stories' with my best friend who worked in the private
sector up north through countless e-mails
I've been disgusted by the double standard that I have seen day in and
day out
I've lost a friend to an enemy sniper's bullet and felt helpless
I've been given a urinalyses test because people were doing drugs over
here
I've seen the Iraqi people respect the military, and I've seen them
totally disreguard our presence and "walk all over us"
I've searched a car we stopped in sector and found an Oklahoma license
plate in the trunk with '04 tag stickers on it
I've felt my stomach knot and my heart skip a beat when a vehicle
speeding by, cut his wheel and came directly at me...I was going to be
blown-up for sure I thought
I've been terribly sick, but continued to work and patrol through
it...mission first
I've gotten packages and letters from people I don't know, and a smile
was brought to my face each time
I've had my comfort zone tested and violated by these people time and
time again
I've had Iraqis throw fireworks at me on New Years, thinking it was
funny that I couldn't tell it wasn't a gunshot
I've come to the conclusion that some soldiers here will return home by
the grace of God, and other soldiers will come home simply because the
man to the left or right of him did their job
I've seen lousy soldiers awarded medals for no reason at all, and other
soldiers who rightfully deserved recognition for gallantry under fire
passed over with not even a pat on the back
I've seen the clear difference between competence and arrogance in my
leadership

-doorkicker

RowVSWade.. thanks for posting. That young man's post was a mirror reflection of what my son has described to me.. Excellent read. Bless our troops!

I love most of all how the author begins each to his experiences with "I", yet it is said without self promotion.

Was it "Lovin' Spoonful" who sang, "Do You Believe In Magic?" There's a line in the song that goes, "It's like trying to tell a stranger about Rock and Roll......"

I wouldn't for a moment even consider shaking a soldier's hand and saying, "Thanks, but......."

I have no idea exactly how to express my gratitude, so I simply look every uniformed soldier straight in the eyes, offer my hand, and say, "Thanks." Some are unsure at first, but see quickly that I mean it, and always seem to smile back and say, "You're welcome, sir."

Can't buy a better feeling.

I forwarded that post to some of my friends.