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View Full Version : A day in the life of a soldier in Iraq


Txmom42
04-22-2008, 01:59 PM
I asked my son if I could share this you. It's part of a letter he wrote to me a while back. It is simply amazing to me how much he has grown up. I can't wait to get my arms around him this summer! (Spelling, grammar and punctuation are his!)


I am currently in Iraq were I go out every day to protect what I hold dear to me in my life.
Every morning I wake up I run 6 to 7 miles do some weight conditioning shower and prepare to go out. I put on 80 pounds of gear and grab my M4 and 240B and step in to a truck. Just then it hits me just like the day before that I am in Iraq and people want to kill me and as I think this I load my weapon and watch the faces of people as we pass them by. I see the disgusted faces of older men the shyness of the women and the smiles and waves of the kids. I see the hardships these people have like no running water or working electricity. I see 10-20 people living in one house thanking god that they survived another day without being killed by terrorist. But the hardest part of being over here boils down to TWO things. ONE: you have way to much time to think and when you do so emotions take over your body and you are constantly on edge. You begin to doubt things that before were so clear in your mind that you never had a second thought about. You become on edge with loved ones and make hasty decisions ... without thinking it through. Things TWO: you never know when you'll be hit or who to trust and who to be wery of. But when we roll out the gate its not fear that sweeps us its the uncertainty of what the day holds for us. The adrinalin rush of what lays head at that next turn of the road or in the next room. In a blink of an eye it could be over... I do have to say it is not all bad though I feel and look better than I ever have so this place can't be all bad it has made me want to better myself and made me realize whats important in life.

Nightflyer
04-22-2008, 06:57 PM
Txmom42;
It sounds so familiar to me..It reminds me of my family...Then and now. I currently have two family members in the sand box..My dad was there more times then I care to count. My cousin was home for thirty days and went straight back.

God bless...

Spc. ~ Nightflyer ~ Spec 4 Mafia
Army Aviation Air Assualt.
Black berets forever.

Exo1
04-23-2008, 06:41 AM
I asked my son if I could share this you. It's part of a letter he wrote to me a while back. It is simply amazing to me how much he has grown up. I can't wait to get my arms around him this summer! (Spelling, grammar and punctuation are his!)


I am currently in Iraq were I go out every day to protect what I hold dear to me in my life.
Every morning I wake up I run 6 to 7 miles do some weight conditioning shower and prepare to go out. I put on 80 pounds of gear and grab my M4 and 240B and step in to a truck. Just then it hits me just like the day before that I am in Iraq and people want to kill me and as I think this I load my weapon and watch the faces of people as we pass them by. I see the disgusted faces of older men the shyness of the women and the smiles and waves of the kids. I see the hardships these people have like no running water or working electricity. I see 10-20 people living in one house thanking god that they survived another day without being killed by terrorist. But the hardest part of being over here boils down to TWO things. ONE: you have way to much time to think and when you do so emotions take over your body and you are constantly on edge. You begin to doubt things that before were so clear in your mind that you never had a second thought about. You become on edge with loved ones and make hasty decisions ... without thinking it through. Things TWO: you never know when you'll be hit or who to trust and who to be wery of. But when we roll out the gate its not fear that sweeps us its the uncertainty of what the day holds for us. The adrinalin rush of what lays head at that next turn of the road or in the next room. In a blink of an eye it could be over... I do have to say it is not all bad though I feel and look better than I ever have so this place can't be all bad it has made me want to better myself and made me realize whats important in life.


Sounds like your son has grown up very quickly and is pondering the questions that we all have had to at some time in our lives.... Such reflection is healthy and a reflection on the character that is building in your son each and every day... You must be proud of him!!..

Exo..

mtomom
04-23-2008, 10:16 AM
I have heard over the years that it will change you. But hearing it in a soldiers on words, makes it real.

We have a reind that is there, going on four years. He takes his leave, but he goes back. He said he is not comming home till all of the work is done. He believes in what he is doing and says he can't sleep when he is home because, he don't know what is going on there. The noise he hears when he is there is now normal to him and when he takes leave he don't hear it.

He is single and he don't have family so he goes all over for his leave. So we fill up his emai and send cards and letters all the time. He was in for 15 years and left the army and now has been back for 4 years. SO I never thought everybody else would look at it the same, but I guess after awhile they all get there.

I sure am thankful for all of our soldier out there, living and fighting for me to be able to sleep in my bed at night.:)

Txmom42
04-23-2008, 11:40 AM
Sounds like your son has grown up very quickly and is pondering the questions that we all have had to at some time in our lives.... Such reflection is healthy and a reflection on the character that is building in your son each and every day... You must be proud of him!!..

Exo..

My buttons are popping for sure. This is a kid that was so into the "it's all about me" part of his life, I never thought he would get over it. He has definitely grown up.

Exo1
04-23-2008, 04:11 PM
My buttons are popping for sure. This is a kid that was so into the "it's all about me" part of his life, I never thought he would get over it. He has definitely grown up.

He stands as a freeman now!!.. you must be proud of him!!...:)

Fireball
04-23-2008, 06:06 PM
He stands as a freeman now!!.. you must be proud of him!!...:)

Hey - many people in general are still in the "All about me stage" of life... LOL It isn't ONLY a condition that teens suffer from. :)

Exo1
04-24-2008, 05:04 AM
Hey - many people in general are still in the "All about me stage" of life... LOL It isn't ONLY a condition that teens suffer from. :)

lol... is that an admission of liability??....:D

Txmom42
04-24-2008, 07:55 AM
Hey - many people in general are still in the "All about me stage" of life... LOL It isn't ONLY a condition that teens suffer from. :)

So True! Have you met my boss???

Fireball
04-24-2008, 03:21 PM
So True! Have you met my boss???

LOL ... management is TOTALLY still in that stage. ;)

Fireball
04-24-2008, 03:21 PM
lol... is that an admission of liability??....:D

COMPLETELY... redheads are always in that stage.