Entry # 63: July 26, 2006

Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq

I’m in Baghdad. It feels kinda cool compared to the desert of Kuwait, considering it’s only a refreshing 115 degrees out. I might feel the need to put on a pullover. Maybe not. Well, we finally took off from Ali Al Salem at around 0700 yesterday. We spent a full day waiting for a plane with no sleep. I spent my first day in Baghdad napping. Not exactly how I envisioned it.

Nonetheless I am here. I finally get to actively do my job instead of passively doing analysis and tasking out my guys to units already in Iraq. This time, it’s my show. Needless to say I am excited. I will be operating a compound along with another lieutenant from the 101st Air Assault. He’s a friend of Shawn’s from Officer Basic Course and hails from Camden, SC, site of the Carolina Cup horse races. We should get along just fine.

In a garrison environment, the platoon sergeant runs the show, taking care of the day-to-day activities and training the Soldiers. It’s the officer’s job to schedule the training and making sure the Soldiers are able to get proficient in their respective tasks. In a wartime environment, it’s time for the officer to emerge from behind his desk and take the reins from the platoon sergeant. Now, I’m the jockey and my platoon is the thoroughbred.

So good morning Baghdad. I’ve arrived. I’ll give it my best. Nobody likes war. But sometimes it happens, like other things in life. I hope I can do my best and help restore a sense of normalcy, not just for Iraqis, but so we can all go home. In a sense, that’s really what we’re fightin’ for. To go home. Where our mommas and daddies are. Where our brothers grow up and go to college and get jobs. Where family and friends get married in our absence. Where future love awaits. Where there are seasons besides summer. Where life is really lived. And so the Soldier’s life continues…