I really like this story! My husband and I are working for a contracting company overseas, which fortunately accomodates married couples. Right now, we're at different bases, and it gets really hard sometime. But I know once we're together and able to come "home" to each other at the end of the day, we'll feel the same way this couple does. Too many people think it's all guns and violence. Thank you for touching on the softer side of Iraq!

I am considering joining, and hoping that if we deploy, we can do at the same time so we don't leapfrog each other – he's back, I go, I'm back, he goes, etc. This would be nice, and I think it only makes sense in an Army that is deploying so often for so long. Soldiers who feel the Army is trying to work with them on the family issues are much less likely to get out because of perceived hostility or indifference to family struggles.

In general, the public tends to focus on the soldier – 'support the troops', 'pray for the troops', 'thank you for your service' - and that is all great. But don't forget that half those troops have families behind them (who are not in uniform), waiting and worrying and holding down the homefront while the soldier is gone. Remember to tell them thank you, too!

We need to bring the captain and her husband home along with all the other troops we have over there!

-John
http://www.patrioticactivist.com

[...] Married military life in Baghdad « – Blogs from CNN.com – They live at Camp Stryker, part of a massive military base in Baghdad, in an eight by 15-foot military trailer with two single beds pushed together. When we stop by to see them the electricity is out. [...]

This is quite a good website for us to know all about the world,but I still hoping for more and more good news

Sorry, but this isn't a new thing in the Army! While deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, my husband and I were given the opportunity to live together in Bagram. This policy was handed down by the 18th Airborne Corp who took over from 10th Mountain Division.

Who cares about these Americans in Iraqi. They are wasting their life fighting an unjustified war. What about the Iraqi civilians dead due to the war?

David,
I am sorry you dont care about the Americans in Iraq. As a military member and a spouse of a military member, I am disgusted by your ignorance. We are saving these people. What it have been better to leave them to genecide. The news doesn't show it but there has been great strides in these countries, woman having more rights, we have set up schools, and even giving medical care. You should be ashamed of your self for being so inconsiderate for people who put their lives on the line every day to keep your butt free.

David, 'These Americans' are people who do their duty to their country, whether they personally believe in the cause or not. Show a little support for the men and women who fight for you, even if you don't believe it's necessary. They put their lives on the line every day, it can't be easy for them, knowing they are scorned by their fellow countrymen at home.

to David...who cares about "these Americans" ?? I do.

Are you an American? If you are you should be ashamed. Those soldiers are there doing their duty and are not wasting their honorable lives. Don't associate them with stupid politicians.

You mentioned the deaths of Iraqi civilians, but fail to mention that ~Iranians~ are pumping weapons into the fray and in general sowing seeds of discord which have cost many lives. How many Iraqi civilian deaths have the Iranians caused? Many of the Iraqi civilian deaths have been caused by infighting between Sunni and Shia. Iranians and AQI and sowing seeds of mistrust and hatred. The Iranians and AQI are the two groups that need to get out of Iraq. They are causing death after death by planting seeds of hatred and giving weapons for the reaping of that hatred.

Americans are trying to help rebuild Iraq and heal the nation after years under the boot of a tyrant. Americans are there to help Iraq achieve peace and prosperity. Americans are there to give the Iraqi people a choice. A choice they did not have under the murderous Sadaam or would ever have under an Iranian or Islamic-fascist government.

David, I always laugh a bit when I see comments like yours only because those of us who have chose to "waste our lives" are the sole reason we as Americans can post such ridiculous comments. I for one hope that the people of Iraq will soon be able to show there ignorance like you in blogs on the internet. And if this ever does happen you should thank your protectors of freedom a.k.a life wasters

With lot more money and military muscle, we and the Iraqi government has not been able to provide security to the Iraq's innocent people... the civilians.

As we do on airport etcs, people are willing to give up some freedom for security. Iraqis were far more secure and at peace, albeit less free, specially before 1991.

Iraq of today is more dangerous and less secular than it was. Iraqis are free to roam the roads, but they don't, because of the fear of being blown up.

So what's the use of that freedom which they can't enjoy ?

Riaz, Do you really think that we can take years of abuse and dictatorship out of power and immediately the country becomes as free as America? Get real. These things take time. Remember, even we had a Civil War in our past. Iraqis are able to enjoy their newfound freedom, it's just slow in beginning. At least they don't have to worry about ticking off the government and thier whole family being slaughtered for it anymore.

As a former Marine, I understand why you would be comfortable hiding behind your computer David. Those Americans are deployed, because nasty little civilians like yourself who most likely don't vote, know someone has to get your oil to drive yourself to McDonalds.

David,

..."who cares about these Americans...?"

I do!

"Who cares about these Americans in Iraqi. They are wasting their life fighting an unjustified war. What about the Iraqi civilians dead due to the war?"

David, Millions of people care... millions!

These fine men and women are NOT wasting their lives.

This war IS justified... if Slobodan Milosevic HAD TO GO... Then WHY NOT Saddam???

BTW... UTOPIA doesn't exist!

I could empathiesed with the people who are deployed thier in Iraq.

But I could not really digest the reason for this war.
Here everyone wants to justify by thinking that they are ,they were doing great things.

The purpose democracy,equality,freedom are great.
But look what are thier intentions
Wait,wait goto recent history.
first country in world to use atomic bomb(ww-2 had already finished)
millions died in vietnam war. one of famous vietnam monk tells that war was not necessary at all.

Your country have hand in all the major murderous work on the earth.one estimate tell 11million already dead in iraq.

Now tell me many of you have tried to justify death by saying that it was created by Iranian.
Tell me, what is solution for it.Another invasion?
No other solution,isnot it?

America talk about equality.
It has highest per capita on thearth.
it is the major polluter.
Inspite of great wisdom of such powerful country,africa and other asian are reeling under poverty.

In the name of freedom and equality it has brought only death.

Problem is with American politics and civilization.
It handsover mightest militray power to single man for four years.
Then that person may get changed after election,see the outcomes,only death.

The human rights issue has become the centerfold of media disinformation.

Russia, North Korea, Iran, China are no model of human rights but neither are the US and its indefectible British ally, responsible for extensive war crimes and human rights violations in Iraq and around the World. The US and its allies, which uphold the practice of torture, political assassinations and the establishment of secret detention camps, continue to be presented to public opinion as a model of Western democracy to be emulated by developing countries, in contrast to Russia, Iran, North Korea and the People's Republic of China.

Human Rights "Double Standards"

While China's alleged human rights violations in relation to Tibet are highlighted, the recent wave of killings in Iraq and Palestine are not mentioned. The Western media has barely acknowledged the Fifth "anniversary" of Iraq's "Liberation" and the balance sheet of the US sponsored killings and atrocities perpetrated against an entire population, in the name of a "global war on terrorism".

There are more than 1.2 million Iraqi civilian deaths, 3 million wounded. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) indicates a figure of 2.2 million Iraqi refugees who have fled their country and 2.4 million "internally displaced persons":

"Iraq’s population at the time of the US invasion in March 2003 was roughly 27 million, and today it is approximately 23 million. Elementary arithmetic indicates that currently over half the population of Iraq are either refugees, in need of emergency aid, wounded, or dead." (Dahr Jamail, Global Research, December 2007)

david: I have been to Iraq twice, I can say that the deaths will be significantly higher once we leave.

My impressions of the media is that a large number of media folks look specifically for the stories that demonstrate how bad the US is and are not necasarily balanced in reporting.

If there can be a fair, somewhat honest government in Iraq that allows Iraqi's to live without fear of murder and intimidation then I believe history may show the Iraq war as just.

If the current trend of Al Queda & Sadr (Iranian?) militia's carving out voting districts via the murder of innocent civilians, then not so much.... The question then will be are Iraqi's in a simmiliar situation than they were under Saddam or worse?

~ joe

Jill Dougherty, do you have an email for the Hegenbarts? I served with Brian back in the 10th Special Forces and have been looking for him again.

Thank you,

Michael Pedder

michaelpedder@yahoo.com