A Soldier Speaks

This is the first in a continued series of profiles of some of the tens of thousands of Iraq War veterans who have come home bearing the scars of battle -- emotional and physical wounds that may never heal unless the nation pays them the attention and care that they deserve.


Iraq combat veteran talks about his motivations for joining the army, the horrors of war and the anguish of returning home.

Zechariah, 25, of Lynnwood, Washington, enlisted in the Army when he was 21, and was deployed to Iraq from March 2003 to January 2004 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a medic.

Zechariah grew up in a military family; both his mother and father were medics in the Army. Zechariah wanted to work in the medical field as a nurse, but couldn't afford school. So he signed up to be a parachute infantry medic for the job experience, money for school, and a little adventure.

He spoke to AlterNet about the war, his hopes and fears, and the hard road ahead.

http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/23882/

I recall seeing SOLDIERS on the news with missing limbs wishing they could be back with their brothers in arms! You can take one person out of any given situation and get a different interpretation.

As far as the exit stratagy is concerned. The boss at my work place surely doesn't consult with me as to when a project should accure and how it should be done....why the hell does anyone think that the powers in Washington, London, and Bagdad have to consult with a soldier in the field about an exit stratagy? :confused:

This is simply one soldiers story. There will be many more as they start coming back...
If you don't want to hear about it, don't read it.