Iraq combat: What it's really like over there

[reprehensor]

Previously posted in GD, this deserves a post here as well. -r.



By Joseph L. Galloway

Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - The Internet, which fills our inboxes with spam and scams every day and keeps our delete keys shiny, occasionally delivers a real keeper, such as the words below, which were written by a graduate of West Point, Class of 2003, who's now at war in Iraq.

We tracked down the author, who gave us permission to quote from his letter so long as we didn't reveal his name.

Old soldiers in the Civil War coined a phrase for green troops who survived their first taste of battle: "He has seen the elephant." This Army lieutenant sums up the combat experience better than many a grizzled veteran:

"Well, I'm here in Iraq, and I've seen it, and done it. I've seen everything you've ever seen in a war movie. I've seen cowardice; I've seen heroism; I've seen fear; and I've seen relief. I've seen blood and brains all over the back of a vehicle, and I've seen men bleed to death surrounded by their comrades. I've seen people throw up when it's all over, and I've seen the same shell-shocked look in 35-year-old experienced sergeants as in 19-year-old privates.
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well worth a read more@link

[NMDemDist2]

1. ok if there's any typos here its cuz i cant see the keys thrumy tears

thissucks

[NMDemDist2]

2. kick

:kick:

[NMDemDist2]

3. kick this is too moving to let sink eom

[teryang]

4. How romantic

is it war or art?