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1433 Emerywood Drive
Chariotte, NC 28210
704.554.8861
Fax: 704.553.2256
6 NOVEMBER 4.2006 • Q-NOTES
A soldier’s story
from page I
just west of Baghdad. There I was reunited
with my original unit and basically did two
weeks of nothing. Officials pretty much give
you a shakedown and make sure you’re solid
enough of mind to be part of a civilization that
you haven’t been a part of for the past year.
Later I went to Kuwait. I was there for
three days before I boarded a World Air Flight
that flew through Germany, Bangor, Maine,
and eventually into Wisconsin. I stayed there
for four days before I finally got back to
Charlotte.
Q. How do you feel?
A. I don’t want to watch the news. When I
watch the news it makes me sick. I was very
close to where the guy was abducted recently
and it brings back the images of what I’ve
been through. I just thank God I’m not there
anymore. It’s good to be home, to be comfort
able, be yourself and know where your next
meal is coming from.
Q. I know you must have seen some
pretty horrific things while you were
there. What do you feel comfortable
talking about?
A. There were some indirect fire attacks and
an improvised explosive device that killed 19
people and injured 16 others. Some of the
things I saw were so horrible — total devas
tation. You could smell the burning flesh and
there were body parts everywhere. It was real
ly nasty. There was a huge crater where the
car blew up and all that was left was an axle.
I was shot at numerous times, but because
you’re not actually hit it kind of numbs you to
what’s going on around you. You know you’re a
target cause you’re wearing an American flag.
But it always rattles you a little bit.
I knew three Americans that died and a
number of Iraqis. One of the Americans was a
week from going home.
One of the most difficult things was when
my personal interpreter was killed. When he
left he had asked me if I wanted anything
while he was off base. I said 1 wanted some
homemade baklava from the bakery near
where he lived. When he came out of that bak
ery he was shot in the head and killed in front
of his wife and children. I know he was killed
because of his job. The entry and exit points
from the camps are heavily monitored by sub
versive forces and they took note of any Iraqis
that came and went. I felt very bad for his
family — they had to leave town — they
moved to Najaf.
Q. Did you have to kill anyone?
A. I fired my weapons when I was being shot
at — but I don’t know that I actually hit any
one. I don’t wanna know that. It’s bad enough
when I can still see in my head all these old
ladies crying after an explosion and body
parts all over the place. I don’t want to know I
may have killed anybody.
Q. I’ve heard a lot about corruption
among Americans — civilians working
there and the troops. What have you
heard?
A. There are some corrupt Americans that
are totally bleeding the system. They’re
‘Some of the things I saw were
so horrible — total devastation.
You could smell the burning
flesh and there were body parts
everywhere.’
overcharging for things they sell and they
have third world nationals working for them
and living in substandard conditions. They
make more money then they would in their
own countries, but I don’t think people
should be treated poorly and forced to live
in bad conditions.
Q. According to a lot of news reports
many gay men have been executed by
All Al Sistani’s Badr Corps — do you
know anything about that?
A. Since I came home I’ve read stuff in The
Advocate about that. I knew that Sistani had
issued a Fatwa against gays and anyone who
dressed in western style clothing.
Q. Did you meet any gay Iraqis while
you were there?
A. There was a gay interpreter on our base.
He never left the base. One of the bravest
men I know. He lived in a trailer with three
other interpreters, so I think he was pretty
comfortable there. I’m sure he’s petitioned
to get the hell out of the country.
Q. Do you think this
war was merited?
A. I don’t know that it was
merited. I do think there
could have been other ways
to get [Saddam] Hussein
out of office. President
Bush’s father is to blame for
this predicament. I think it
would have been much bet
ter if he had gotten
[Hussein] out of office back
then.
Q. Do you think this
war can be won?
A. 1 don’t know that there \ ,-ill ever be an
achievable mark to say we have won. If we can
get this government in control, that’s a victory
— but I don’t think there’s going to be an
absolute victory, no.
Q. What are your feelings about our
government now, as opposed to how
you felt before going to Iraq?
A. It’s changed a lot. As much as I love this
country — I think there’s a lot of corruption.
It makes me cringe to say this — but I was a
staunch Republican before I left. Now I’m
much more moderate, even liberal. This
administration doesn’t let soldiers be soldiers.
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