Sunrise Over Fallujah: List 1

At one of our orientations (and we have at least two a week) an officer said that guys who fought in Nam wouldn’t even recognize today’s army.

"I'm Major Spring Sessions and I’m overjoyed to welcome you to sunny Kuwait. If we actually have to enter Iraq, you will be playing a crucial role in achieving our objectives by interacting with the civilian population."

"I'm Major Spring Sessions and I’m overjoyed to welcome you to sunny Kuwait. If we actually have to enter Iraq, you will be playing a crucial role in achieving our objectives by interacting with the civilian population."

"There are many different areas of expertise among you but together you make up a very strong team—and that’s a concept that will be stressed over and over again—and you have all expressed an interest in the Civil Affairs unit."

"Right now we have one medical team, one construction team, an intelligence team, security personnel, and a flex team that will work directly with the native population."

"Captain Coles will brief you on your assignments, your mission, and your relationship to the Infantry while you’re over here. Thank you.”

Tall and thin with blue-gray eyes, Coles always looked sincere, as if he really wanted to know about you and was interested in what you were saying.

“Operation Iraqi Freedom has four phases. The first was the understanding and assessment of the area. This started way back during the first Gulf War that ended in February 1991."

"The third phase, if necessary, will be the forceful removal of the present regime in Iraq and neutralizing their weapons, especially their weapons of mass destruction."

"The third phase, if necessary, will be the forceful removal of the present regime in Iraq and neutralizing their weapons, especially their weapons of mass destruction."

“I’ll be point man for our operation and I will answer to Major Sessions. Major Sessions has a nice voice, pretty eyes, and a very nasty disposition."

The guy was about five-seven with smooth brown skin and a round face. Solidly built, he looked like he could take care of himself. But when I saw his camouflage do-rag and dark shades I knew he was a little different.

Sergeant Harris, a black soldier who had switched to Civil Affairs from Quartermaster, along with Captain Coles, sorted the dozen of us into three Humvee squads, giving us a choice of who we wanted to ride with.

Third Squad consisted of Love driving, Danforth on the gun, Pendleton, and a really quiet guy named Corbin who had worked in a rehabilitation center in civilian life.

Ahmed Sabbat was our field interpreter. He was American, but his parents were from the Middle East.

“You know, the Iraqis are talking about how they let the UN inspectors in and how their people are suffering from the sanctions,” Evans said.

“Saddam’s clever.” Captain Coles’s voice was soft, measured. “He has to remember the Gulf War and he’s savvy enough to understand that he can’t stand up to the United States. No Iraqi general is going to give him a different take on things. If he lets it get to the point where we start going in, he’s going to be taken out.”

“As you say, Saddam’s backed himself into a corner.” Captain Coles nodded as he spoke. “He understands power. If he backs down now, every gunslinger in the Middle East will be after him. So he might as well stay and fight it out.”
“Stay and get wasted, you mean.” Harris did seem anxious.

When I saw the Grand Mosque with its golden dome, it took my breath away.

One of the guys I was with, a civilian contractor, told me that I would never get used to the architecture in the Arab countries.

Saddam looked like a sweetheart of a guy. Always calm looking, distinguished. In most of the pictures there was no change of expression on his face.

"You can do a great job over here or you can undo any gains we make by acting without thinking, acting out of fear instead of logic, or acting in a manner that betrays American principles."

It was a little hokey, but standing there at attention with all the other soldiers, I did feel a sense of pride.

The Hoodlums were what we called the Special Ops guys who went on secret missions in enemy territory. We had asked a few what they did, but they weren’t talking. Actually, most of them just grunted.
Marla continued, “Some women from the Engineering Battalion near the post exchange told me. They got them up around two in the morning. They were all blacked up and in every kind of uniform you could mention.”

The Hoodlums were what we called the Special Ops guys who went on secret missions in enemy territory. We had asked a few what they did, but they weren’t talking. Actually, most of them just grunted.
Marla continued, “Some women from the Engineering Battalion near the post exchange told me. They got them up around two in the morning. They were all blacked up and in every kind of uniform you could mention.”