Camp Victory, Iraq

Sunday 25 July 2004

A thought from Iraq – Your Troops

Every day I see them, talk to them, work with them.  Most of them are soldiers, but some are airmen, sailors & Marines.  They look like troops from any unit you’ve ever seen, with some odd exceptions.  I’ve seen some older personnel with very junior rank on their collars.  These are mobilized National Guardsmen who have been with their unit for years and didn’t want to get promoted because they liked the billet they were holding.  Now they are in their late 30s & early 40s with rank on their collars that 19 year-olds on active duty are wearing. 

In general, the troops I’ve seen here at Camp Victory are doing very well.  But I think I need to clarify what life aboard Camp Victory is like.  If you can imagine a continuum on which to place US military personnel in Iraq that has imminent routine danger on one end and relative safety inside a protected compound, those of us on the MNC-I and MNF-I (Multi-National Corps – Iraq & Multi-National Force – Iraq.  Two separate staffs on different command levels) staffs here at Camp Victory are at the very far end of “safe & secure.”  We do our combat with email and Powerpoint. 

Here at Victory, however, reside other troops.  They are the ones that don’t know a thing about staff work.  Their “day at the office” includes getting into an armored HMMWV (High-Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicle – “Hummvee”), strapping on body armor and leaving the relative safety of Camp Victory and conducting patrols and other combat missions.  I see their convoys headed for the main gate, or heading back to their areas, every day, and I am humbled.  Often they have no incidents, but more than likely, someone took a potshot at them, or an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blew up around them without doing any damage.  I don’t have any idea what they go through when they learn about their missions.  How do their commands decide who goes?  How often do these kids, and they are kids, head out the gate knowing that there are people out there whose day would be made by killing them?

They are well armed & well supported.  None of them are new in country, so they’ve been doing this a long time, and they are good.  The seriousness with which they take their missions is palpable.  They have learned to be less intense, but the cavalier attitude which often permeates field exercises back in CONUS (Continental US – “the world) simply doesn’t exist.  None of these kids wants to get an enemy marksmanship badge (Purple Heart).  But they do well. 

On the other hand, except for the uniforms, haircuts & the fact that everyone is carrying a weapon, all the time, you might walk into our exchange (retail store for the troops) and have no idea of the seriousness of what these wonderful young Americans do every day.  Why do they do it?  Because it’s their job.  Do they believe in the “cause?”  Most of them do, especially those who have had an opportunity to interact with Iraqis who are genuinely appreciative of the fact that Saddam is no longer in charge.  But when it gets down to it, when things get bad and enemy lead is inbound, these heroes do what they do because they simply do not want to let their buddies down.  They fight for each other.  Skin color, religion, ethnic background and all those superficial ways that we categorize each other mean absolutely nothing in a firefight.  At that point in time and space, regardless of what differences those individuals might have had before, they are blood brothers, and a bond is created that cannot be explained, nor easily be broken. 

And it continues in their free time.  I have yet to see young troopers arguing over the stupid things that cause squabbles back home.  I’m sure it happens occasionally, but it is very rare.  There is a camaraderie and a brotherhood between these young men that is marvelous to observe.  As they pull their vehicles up to the chow hall, heavy weapons still loaded, they peel off their flak jackets and banter back & forth.  Their mirth, surely hides anxiety or displays relief, depending on whether they are coming or going on a patrol, but these are the men I am proud to serve with.  In spite of the fact that they know an officer like myself is too senior to go on their patrols, they jump to attention and salute when I walk by, unless I’m quick enough to stop them, yet they are the ones that I respect the most. 

They are your troops, whether part-timers called to active service, or full-time personnel, they are mostly unsung heroes who will finish their tours and then go on with their lives, whatever that may bring.  Most of them will downplay what they did in the war.  In fact, if you come upon someone who is quick to spout off about all he did in Iraq or Afghanistan, he probably did very little, if anything at all.  That’s just the way they are. 

So if you see one around your neighborhood, especially the younger, junior troops, let them know you respect & admire them.  I consider myself fortunate…. I get to live with them. 

© copyright 2004 WJ Truax

The views are my own and do not necessarily represent the position of the US military or the US Marine Corps. or this website.
 
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