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Gad, I loved soldiering. I miss it.

By The Armorer on April 14, 2006 | | Comments (5)

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.

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5 Comments

By BloodSpite on April 14, 2006 8:49 AM
Ditto for me. Was hard thing to part ways with. I'm reminded of that even more today as I'm packing for my flight on Sunday. Duffel bag, rolling my clothes while my kid plays with my rolled t-shirts on my bed. Some habits never change
 
By Rosemary on April 14, 2006 10:01 AM
Dear John, Thank you for all you have already done for our country. If war breaks out in Iran, shouldn't we step aside and let the Iranian people take the creeps out? Hey, I can hope, can't I? lol. Someone has to do something soon. I'm tired of the CIA always getting it wrong. At least the ones we hear about, because it always seems to be Prez Bush' fault, for some reason...hmm. I wonder who got it wrong during WWII? Could it be? (FDR!) LOL. No, I'm only kidding. That is one difference between then and now. I miss the 'then'...Have a Happy Easter!
 
By MM2 on April 14, 2006 11:42 AM
Well I was going to say " I know what you mean." But maybe I don't. I only spent four years in the Navy but I sure wish I would have made a career of it. Hindsight strikes again.
 
By kat-missouri on April 14, 2006 12:17 PM
No hi fires today? I had an excellent post on the fundamentals of counterinsurgency from a document I found that I am not sure anyone has covered widely on the net that goes along with this post about soldiering. My closing take on the document is that this war will be won over a glass of chai tea in a mud hut in a village with a name no one can pronounce. Not in washington, Baghdad or Kabul.
 
By Toluca Nole on April 14, 2006 3:40 PM
Outstanding pix.
 
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