There is much work that lies ahead, and we will not rest upon our laurels with the watershed success of the elections. A day does not go by in which our base (renamed from FOB Danger to FOB Liberty) is not the target of a mortar, gunfire, or propaganda attacks by the few who violently resist the dawning of democracy for Iraq. However, despite this harassment, which at times takes the lives of both U.S. and Iraqis, most of the soldiers serve vigilantly, knowing that we are truly making a difference as opposed to trying not to lose a war.
Fortunately, I have thus far been spared the horror of seeing the unnecessary loss of life due to the realities of combat.
One of the most unpleasant sights I have seen is my own convoy being ambushed by a suicide driver in a truck filled with explosives. Our soldiers performed wondrously and, although one vehicle was lost to the attack, no loss of life or life-threatening injury occurred, mainly due to soldiers’ actions and our up-armored Humvees. Our taxpayer dollars for soldier protection equipment are well spent.
On the converse, I wished I had had a camera to capture the moment in which my team sergeant got out of our vehicle to quell a small disturbance, only to find they were angry children. His huge smile and boisterous laugh disarmed their fervor, and a bridge of friendship was built with the offerings of candy and toys.
It truly has been an amazing adventure here, and I have only been here for a little over two months.
Maj. Lloyd T. Navarro Jr.
Tikrit, Iraq
