Day 5 - A Winter Walk

Contrary to popular belief, the desert isn’t continuously hot. In the early days of December, temperatures reach the 30s and 40s by sundown. Its not exactly the type of weather you’d want to walk in to get everywhere you need to go. At my camp, I was fortunate to have some type of transit system. There were five different buses, five different routes, all which I rode hundreds of times to get to my destination. Unfortunately, unlike the Chicago CTA, there is no set schedule when buses will arrive or depart. Playing a game of hit or miss can be the difference between a warm ride and a frigid, often lengthy, walk.

Early in December, there was an exceptionally cold night that I remember. Though I was bundled in my typical gear, the unusually strong winds cut through open seams, taking advantage of any exposed skin. As I left the morale tent after hours of searching the web for aftermarket parts to my motorcycle, I would ultimately play the waiting game, only to find myself victim to mother natures wrath.

30 minutes had passed as I stood against a port-a-john, trying to block the fierceness of the wind. Not a single bus had passed. Those who drove by in vehicles paid no attention to me as I stood on the roadside, watching the warm breath escape my mouth. I could continue to wait, standing as my legs stiffened and my eyelids grew heavier. My other alternative: walk a mile back to the warmth of my “can”.

Another ten minutes elapsed and headlights came and went before I decided to make the trek back by foot. The first steps were brutal as a strong gust roared, wind temporarily preventing me from moving forward. As I prepared to for the long walk ahead of me, I began to think about how far the military has come since we began this war several years ago. The challenges we’ve had to endure and the road that lies ahead.

Ever since the planes hit in New York and Washington DC and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, our country has been at war. We have sent thousands of souls to man the front lines of Iraq and neighboring countries, many on several occasions. The United States of America would not falter in the eyes of defeat, we would not fail against any adversiy, and we would not give into the evils of terrorism.

4,200+ deaths since the war first “officially” began back on March 19th, 2003. Initially estimated to last only a few months, with the following year or two left to rebuild, we were led to believe that things would get better. We were led to believe that the majority of us would return home after a few months.

As May 2003 rolled around, President Bush announced total victory in Iraq. Could a war on terrorism possibly be won in only 3 short months? In all actuality, it was only the beginning of what would later be known as Operation Enduring Freedom. Enduring translated into years trying to rebuild a broken nation, years of casualties, years of a nation left to question the legitimacy of the war.

Along with the majority of the country, I too questioned the motives and necessity of troops being in Iraq. After seven long years of conflict, we are still sending our loved ones to fight for reasons unbeknownst to the majority of the human populace. But in six short weeks of being in Iraq, I have seen the change. I have noticed the progress, paid attention to the difference we are making, and seen the lives we’ve touch on a daily basis.

As supply trucks roll in, civil engineers are building infrastructures alongside Iraqis. Homes and schools are being repaired, work centers erected, roads paved, sewage lines buried beneath the ground. Not only have we been aiding in the rebuilding process, we’ve been providing jobs to those who have next to nothing. We’ve provided a source of income for a man to be able to support his family. We’ve trained people in construction, which will benefit them long after we have left this country. The road to self-preservation begins with the will to care for oneself. With training and guidance, the Iraq people are well on track to rebuilding a more stable area.

Brave Iraqi men and women have stepped forward to protect their homeland against those who have chosen to do harm to them. Not only do these forces fight for themselves, they fight for a better tomorrow. They train alongside the troops of several nations. Freedom is never easily attained; there will always be setbacks and challenges along the way. What matters most is they have chosen to stay true to their vision, not straying for a second.

For years we have been at war, now teetering on the brink of war with yet another country. The progress we have made has come at a significant cost to us dearly. Our nation has fallen into a near-recession, the American dollar has weakened while the cost of living has steadily increased, jobs have been terminated, and homes have been lost. The once most powerful nation in the world now struggles to survive into the next day. Unable to see victory in the near future, we are blinded by the dense fogs of combat. Will we ever end this war? Will our country ever go back to how it used to be, before the all the bloodshed?

As I finally arrived to my room on that cold December evening in Iraq, I had a sudden realization, an epiphany. The walk, much like the war, seemed to be a long and dangerous one to complete. It was a road rich in disappointments, false hopes, and a gloomy overcast. Though times had gotten hard and I wanted to give up several times, I pressed on to eventually reach the warmth and safety of my room. Had I given up, all of my efforts would have meant nothing, proving only to be a waste of time and energy.

Seven longs years, accompanied by slow progress and a multitude of setbacks, the warmth of home seems faint. Accomplishments appear minute and insignificant. However hard it gets out here during the holidays, every mission brings us closer to success. Every victory brings us closer to family. For now we press on, looking ahead to the warmth of peace, reuniting with loved ones, hoping our winter walk will soon end.