Interview with a Soldier: An American Soldier Answers Questions About Iraq

Recently I was able to corner my husband and get him to actually grant me an interview. My husband spent an 11 month tour in Iraq and I had some questions that I wanted to ask him that seem to be heavy on the minds of many people.

Should We Be In Iraq? Why?
Yes. I can't and won't comment on the right or wrong of going in to begin with but I can comment on what I have seen and been through. There are people there who are willing to kill Americans just for the sake of killing an American. It's a badge of honor to them. There are also a large number of people who are grateful that we are there. There are many here at home that speak of the innocent civilians and talk as if we are killing them; we are not.

There are civilians who want peace in their country and they want democracy in their country. Democracy is new to them but they are embracing the fact that it is something that is being offered to them. They have lived their entire lives being terrified of a monster and feared ever saying anything. Now they see a chance to live their lives as they choose. Everyone deserves the chance to live in freedom.

Big Question: Are We Winning?
It depends on how you define winning. In my opinion every time someone here in America walks out their front door without fear of being attacked by a terrorist we are winning. What people do not understand here is that if we weren't fighting the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan we would be fighting them here on our own ground. Either way, we will be fighting them until they are all gone.

Do you have any good memories of Iraq?
Yes. The day I stepped on a plane to come home. Actually, it wasn't all bad but I can't say any of it was what one would call good. I was with a good group of soldiers and we got the job done, but there wasn't a day that any of us didn't think of where we would rather be.

What was the worst part for you?
All of it. If I had to pick one thing, it would be that I was away from home and the people I loved. Nobody ever expects that all of us will come home and we have no way of knowing who will and who won't make it back, I think that made it harder for everyone the not knowing if we would ever see our family again.

What was your greatest fear?
Dying. I am not brave, I am human. I was scared silly of dying. I also feared having to tell someone's spouse or parents that I did something stupid to get their loved one killed. I'm not sure which I feared more but they both weighed heavily on my mind every day. Luckily, I never had to face either of those fears up close.

Do you regret going to Iraq?
Not for a minute. I am a soldier, I have been a soldier since I was eighteen years old. I hate war as much as anyone can possibly hate it but I served my country to the best of my ability and I hope that in some small way that has made some kind of difference to someone. I believe in the things America stands for and I am glad that I was able to do my part to ensure them.

Do you have anything to say to the protestors?
Yes. Every time you speak out, I hope you will remember that you have something that many don't have including the Iraqi people during Saddam's reign. You have the right to speak out, protest and change things that you don't like. That is a priviledge that too many people in this world do not have; I hope you will use it wisely. I don't agree with your opinion, but I am willing to lay my life on the line to ensure that you will never lose the right to say what you say and do what you do. I can only hope that you will understand and appreciate what it cost to have those rights.

One last question: I notice when people stop and thank you for you service you get really uncomfortable. Do you wish they would stop?
This is a tough one. Part of me does wish they people didn't see me as any different than anyone else. I don't feel as if I have done anything special. I served my country, they paid me every two weeks to do that. That is my job and I hope I do it well. I do get very uncomfortable but mostly because I don't know what to say and sometimes I get emotional which of course is not what I want to do in front of other people. It means a great deal to have someone thank me especially since I know there are many who hate me for what I do. Yes, part of me does wish they would stop thanking me but a larger part of me would be disappointed. About as clear as mud right?

I have to admit some of the answers that my husband gave to my questions surprised even me. He doesn't talk much about Iraq short of telling about some of the pranks they pulled on one another to pass the time. He is not one to tell about the things that troubled him or scared him; he simply says "I did my job as they asked me to do, no more; no less." I don't expect anything said here to change anyone's mind but I do hope that it gives you a little insight to the mind of a soldier and why they do what they do even when people criticize them.