The War on Iraq March 2003

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The War on Iraq

Operation Iraqi Freedom
March 2003

He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred
from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war.
He stands tough, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath.
He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this...
I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.
I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.
I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues,
because it might be bad for business.
I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.
It's the soldier not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press.
It's the soldier not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech.
It's the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag,
whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!

Pictures of our troops in Iraq

The average age of the military man is 19 years.
He is a short haired, tight muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society
as half man, half boy.
Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country.
He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's;
but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left,
or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.
He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm Howitzers.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or
fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.
He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.
He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and
use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity.
He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other.
He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.
He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food.
He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime.
He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat,
or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom.
Beardless or not, he is not a boy.
He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood

Funny Pictures

What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce (a friend of a friend)
about her nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):
"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip,
but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas.
The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays,
a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons.
There was lots of military brass and an eloquent Baptist preacher.
There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well
as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery.
We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and
some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic.
Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars,
and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts, some had small flags.
Shop keepers came outside with their customers and did the same thing.
Construction workers stopped their work, got off their equipment and put their hands over their hearts, too.
There was no noise whatsoever except a few birds and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the road.
When we turned off the highway,
suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so,
all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts.
We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4F Club or something, but it continued .... for two and a half miles.
Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags.
At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside,
shoulder to shoulder holding flags ... kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone.
Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags.
Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road.
No one spoke, not even the very young children.
The last few turns found people crowded together holding flags or with their hands on their hearts.
Some were on horseback.
The military presence...at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and
representatives from every branch of the service,
plus the color guard which attended James, and some who served with him.
It was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community
who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness.
I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like.
Thanks so much for all the prayers and support."
Notice the UPS man standing outside his truck with his hand over his heart.

For our Military
Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in
Iraq, Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air.
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.
Amen."
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one.