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April 14, 2006

Gad, I loved soldiering. I miss it.

I really do.

1st BCT, 34th ID

Whether we're harkening back to old traditions, or establishing new ones, we help break old paradigms, or simply reaffirming old truisms - we like to do stuff you wouldn't expect to see us doing, boldly go where few have gone before, or work with allies trying to git 'er done, it was mostly fun to be a soldier.

Oh, sure - we tend to take it personally when you shoot at us,

27 March 2006: Sergeant Edmund Susman with BCT 2 along with Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 3rd Bn, 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, prepare to engage AQIZ insurgents after taking small arms fire near a glass factory being used as a recruiting office for the Iraqi Army in the city of Ar Ramadi in the Al Anbar Providence, Iraq. Soldiers with HAC 2nd Brigade are deployed with I MEF (FWD) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq (MNF-W) to develop the Iraqi Security Forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic government reforms, and continue the development of a market based economy centered on Iraqi Reconstruction.<br /> (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photograph by Sergeant Francisco Olmeda)<br /> Soldiers with HAC 2nd Brigade are deployed with I MEF (FWD) in support of Operation in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq (MNF-W) to develop the Iraqi Security Forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic government reforms, and continue the development of a market based economy centered on Iraqi Reconstruction.<br /> (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photograph by Sergeant Francisco Olmeda) (RELEASED)

and sometimes, well, we can make a mess with our litter...

US Army Sergeant 1st Class Len Tidey (left) from Bravo Co.7158 Aviation 244 Regiment watches as Sergeant 1st Class Tom Rees (right) from the 1st Information Operations (IO) 10th Mountain releases a box of leaflets at a drop at Helmand Province, Afghanistan, April 1, 2006. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Leslie Angulo) (Released)

But we generally get along with the kids.

Army SGT Erin Hyland, a 91WM6 Army Nurse with the 729th Forward Support Battalion Maryland Army National Guard entertains local kids waiting on line to be treated during a Medical readiness exercise (MEDRETE) in Anaimatejed School in Barahona, Dominican Republic on March 22, 2006. New Horizons 06 is a humanitarian assistance project held in Barahona, Dominican Republic that will benefit the rural towns and populace with the construction of 4 clinics and basic medical care. NH06 is sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and executed by U.S. Army South alongside the Government of the Dominican Republic. (US Army Photo by Miguel A. Negron, GS-9) (Released)

But I'd do it again. Hell, if we get into a war with Iran, they may knock on the door.

John | Permalink | Comments (5) | Observations on things Military