Slow shift 'OK' for platoon on Baghdad patrol

[lebkuchen]

So much can happen here in 12 hours. Ambushes. Car bombs. Drive-by shootings. Mortars. But sometimes, nothing happens at all.

Platoons of soldiers roll out at all hours in an effort to secure the streets and curb violence. Often their jobs put them in the line of fire. Often their jobs put them in a cycle of patrolling the same neighborhoods again and again, waiting for something awful to happen.

The mix of stress and boredom wears on everyone differently, even within one platoon. First Platoon of Company A, 1st Battalion, 156th Artillery is made up of Louisiana National Guardsmen. On a typical Sunday this month, a convoy of armored Humvees leaves Camp Liberty before 7 a.m.

Its mission is familiar: Show a presence to ward off insurgent attacks while being ready to respond if they, or anyone else nearby, gets hit. The streets are familiar — they’ve been patrolling this area for about a month and a half now.

The platoon hasn’t taken fire in the past few missions, and some in the group think that means their due.

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“It’s a slow, cool day,” Meziere said. “But that’s OK in Iraq. One day down, one day closer to going home.”


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=29744

more...(an atypically informative article, as opposed to the usual hearts and flowers, by a Stripes reporter who is on the scene)

[jeff30997]

1. That must be hell !

:scared:

[unhappycamper]

2. This sure sounds familiar.

"... One day down, one day closer to going home.” He forgot to add "One day closer to coming back here for another tour of duty."

RVN, class of 67~68, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, Chu Lai
RVN, class of 70~71, 25th Infantry Division, Cu Chi