E-mails from the war in Iraq

[cmd]

http://www.cleveland.com/iraq/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/108324180264571.xml

In January, The Plain Dealer published a profile and photo essay about Kristin Kretzler, a 20-year-old Kent State University student who had joined the Ohio National Guard to pay for college. The following month, her unit, the 1484 Transportation Com pany, shipped out for Opera tion Iraqi Freedom. Kretzler has kept up correspondence with family and friends through e-mail. This is an ed ited version of some of her lat est missives:

So it's been about two months since my last deposit to the Internet bank. I haven't talked on instant messenger or e-mailed anyone - at all! And to tell the truth I don't feel all that upset about it. I guess I'll begin at the beginning . . .


When we got in country, my thoughts were "man, this is gonna suck." However, since that day two months ago, things have made their way around. We lived here at Camp Virginia for four days and then we moved to the 35th Brigade, which is an active-duty Kuwaiti Army post. For those of you unaware, when I say "we" I mean my whole unit.

Women can't do without a male present. No shorts, no trips to the porto-potty unaccompanied, you can't do ANYTHING . . . without a man. This Army makes no sense sometimes. So after a month at the 35th (a very slow and boring month), our commander informed my platoon, nine others from 2nd Platoon and three from maintenance that we would be heading back to Camp Virginia for six weeks to take over missions for the 1087th TC .

much more.............. very interesting ...........wish I could post it all.

[skooooo]

1. ..another excerpt...

" If you stop on the road for any reason, the locals try to sell you things anything they have, they will sell it. Scarves, beer, opium, anything you want, these people have found a way to get it."

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I bet there are plenty of soldiers getting addicted just to cope with this madness.

[leftchick]

2. cocaine....

I hear we have a lot of cocaine in the ranks as well.