Photo By Spc. Courtney Marulli | A Soldier in Company D, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, looks out from the...... read more read more
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By Spc. Courtney Marulli
2nd IBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs
AR RAMADI, Iraq – Soldiers in Company D, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team have been working for almost six months to help bring security to Ar Ramadi.
It often means long hours in austere conditions, but the Soldiers know they are making a difference. Staff Sgt. Richard L. Sanchez, a squad leader, said keeping an observation point running smoothly requires teamwork. With sandbags to be filled and positions to be dug, "Everyone has to contribute in order to make it work," he said.
It can get boring when a firefight isn't raging, but Sanchez said the morale of Soldiers is kept up by working out as a squad and watching movies with one another. But most of all, the Soldiers tell one another stories.
"It's nice to not always be on the go," Sanchez said. But being in a defensive position, such as an observation point, isn't just a walk in the park. Firefights can erupt at anytime and, as such, everyone has to stay alert.
When Company D Soldiers first moved in, they inherited a building piled with trash and debris. But they cleaned it up, then created rooms and doors by using wooden scraps, tape, cord and just about anything else available. A recent addition is electricity. It's still far from glamorous, but Soldiers said they have what they need to carry out their missions.
Cpl. Josh N. Brown, a team leader from Centerville, Iowa, said an observation point requires one to avoid complacency.
"You're staring at nothing, waiting for something to happen," he said.
Brown said it is nice to know that he is relatively safe while at the observation point, but is anxious to get on the move again, which is something he misses.
Cpl. Joseph L. Hill, a team leader, said the observation point affords the chance to take a break from missions, although it can grow monotonous. But he knows being the eyes over Ar Ramadi is an important security role.
"Just our presence here discourages them," Hill said of the insurgents.
The night has a slight chill to it and both Soldiers don't seem to notice as they keep their eyes focused on their sectors. They take a drink from their cans or eat an occasional snack, but it's the conversations they have between themselves that get them through the shift.
This is Brown's second deployment, but first as an infantryman. During his first deployment he was a truck driver, but ended up doing infantry missions. He said that he did the job, just without the skill identifier. So, he decided to reclassify into the infantry.
"When you think of the Army, you think of the infantry," he said. "I like this job because the infantry is a tight-knit group"
For Brown, being an infantryman is fulfilling the role he played as a child when he pretended to be a Soldier. No one goes out to play Soldier and sits behind a desk, Brown noted, and he wanted to be a Soldier who is down in the dirt getting hard jobs done. He loves the high-speed weaponry and training such as airborne school and kicking in doors.
"It's the adrenaline-junkie stuff civilians pay a bunch of money for that we get paid to do," he said.
For Hill, the best part of the infantry is the satisfaction of finding improvised explosive devices or weapons caches.
"It's something you know that's going to keep someone else from getting killed because you found it," he said.
The anticipation before a mission can be nerve-wracking and scary, Hill admits. "If you say you're not scared you're either lying or stupid," he said.
But once the mission is underway and he's walking amongst buildings, Hill said his mind is no longer thinking about himself but watching the ground for IEDs, the rooftops for snipers, and making sure fellow Soldiers are safe.
Hill goes silent as he looks out into the night and Brown's voice breaks the silence.
"Hill and I have two other people we have to worry about beside ourselves," he said. "We spend more time worrying about if our guys are OK. You have to make sure your two guys make it back."
Hill nods in agreement.
"Their lives are in your hands," he said.
Once the mission is over everyone starts laughing and joking, but one scary part remains: the trip back to safety.
"The trip back after a mission is almost as stressful because you're done with the mission but still have to make it back," Hill said.
Brown said turning the horrific events into jokes helps keep things from getting too serious, which can drive people crazy.
"You have to put a comedy spin on everything that happens so you can deal with it in your mind," Brown said. "Me and Hill are good about making it funny."
While in sector, Brown said he and other infantrymen become a sort of machine where they aren't worrying, but thinking about completing the mission.
"The hardest part is losing someone that's part of your family," he said of losing fellow brothers-in-arms.
Brown said everyone felt the loss when the company lost Pfc. Albert M. Nelson and Pfc. Roger A. Suarez Dec. 4.
"It hurts," he said. "I can't really describe it. It hurts."
Despite the hardships and loss, the bonds these infantrymen have with one another will never break.
"Even when you go back home, there's always someone around," Brown said.
While many other Soldiers may be friends with some people in their section or squad, infantry Soldiers constantly hang out and even their wives all become friends. It forms a strong support group.
"You're away from your family, but you've got your family right there," Brown said of his battle buddies.
As the deployment passes the six-month mark, Brown said he and his fellow infantry Soldiers will still continue to do their jobs to the best of their ability.
"Me and Hill, no matter what, do our job the best we can," Brown said. "We do what we do because we wear this uniform. That's never been a question, never will be a question. I signed a contract. I'll do my job."
Hill feels the same patriotism.
"As long as I wear a flag on my right arm," he said, " I'll fight, regardless of the mission."
| Date Taken: | 04.16.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2007 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 9943 |
| Location: | RAMADI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 399 |
| Downloads: | 377 |
This work, Ar Ramadi through the infantryman's eyes, by SPC Courtney Marulli, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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