[W126 Coupe] IRAQ, they just keep shooting at us.

[Gary Green]

Similar story with Matthew.  He joined the National Guard to provide
assistance during natural emergencies, guard the bridges, stuff like that.
Who would-a thunk it that he would be sent to Iraq.  Luckily, his
"specialty" is payroll so he spends about 1/2 of his time in the office on a
very large base; Anaconda.  Of course, the other 50% of his time he is on
the road to outlying areas to pay the forces out there.  His mother is not
pleased.  Especially when she found out it was his head that was stuck up
through the roof of his Humvee manning the machine gun.
 
He is one of those "wanna be tough-guys".  But in reality, he's a softie on
the inside.  His mother and I worry that he will change while over there.  I
can already hear/see some changes.  He is much more angry than he ever was.
Oh well, such is life I guess...
 
Oh yeah, you'll love this (though I do understand the reasoning)...
 
The Rules of Engagement he must follow when locals get close to his Humvee
while on the road...
 
#1. Wave them off.
..... If they do not get the message
#2. Throw rocks at them.  (this one everyone just loves)
..... If they do not get the message
#3. Aim your weapon.
..... If they do not get the message

#4. Shoot out the engine/person.
 
He has never gotten beyond #3 and we hope he never does.  He's 27 and still
regrets the time, he was 12 or so, he allowed a turtle to hurt itself while
under "his watch".
 
  _____  

From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]
On Behalf Of JFlyer2 at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 12:57 PM
To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] IRAQ, they just keep shooting at us.


Dand Gary,
I too hope that your boys return safe. 

My son is a Staff Sgt. in the Indiana Nat'l Guard and just returned two
weeks ago from being in Afghanistan for over a year. He's a medic, and was
awarded the Meritorius Service Medal while there as well as earned his
combat medic badge. They sent him out with two Special Ops guys, three
Rangers and an Afghan interpreter, all around the country doing what he
called "drug and terrorist interdiction". They were in areas so rugged they
couldn't take a Humvee. He used an armored 4WD Ford Ranger he said was made
in Australia.

This has been his second deployment in three years. I can understand someone
being regular Army doing this sort of thing. It's their job. But a National
Guardsman has a civilian life outside of the military that has to be put in
limbo during these deployments. (He works in a hospital and has a wife and
kids.) Somehow this doesn't seem right. Given the fact the guardsmen don't
have the same benefits as a regular army soldier. I was Nat'l Guard during
Vietnam and never had to go out of country. 

Jay 


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