- Soldiering

Watched A Company of Soldiers on Frontline on PBS last night, the real and raw experience of a company of soldiers serving and surviving in Iraq. The crew was there for a month, inbedded with Dog Company.

What we take for granted because our experience for most of us in reading about it or watching it on the nightly news in a place that is so very far away, was made a little more clear and personal. This let me get in close and see what this small company must go through on a daily and nightly basis. Being on the lookout for car bombs every second of the day must be nerve-wracking. One of the soldiers in this company was killed in action and his buddies, of course, took it hard, and personally. It was emotional for me, and to think that this has gone on well over a thousand times -- the news from the commander that one of the guys you fight, eat, sleep, laugh with has been killed; the memorial service; the thoughts of his wife and/or family...

All for what? I may not agree on any level with our troops being in Iraq. But this insight has made me more aware that now they are over there, we must hope that they can do their job and do it quickly and do it right so they can all come home. We must support them in the midst of all that insurgency. I can't help but wonder if Bush is able to comprehend the countless number of lives he has changed by sending 19- and 20-year olds to Iraq...

Obviously not.