Memorial Day

"The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart. . .should swell into a mighty chorus of remembrance, gratitude and rededication on this solemn occasion."
-- Abraham Lincoln

On Memorial Day we remember those who gave all so that we could enjoy the fruits of freedom in this Great Country. It is good that we give pause and remember, because it ensures that those heroes who gave all are not forgotten. Julie Gunlock has some Memorial Day suggestions for how to remember this day at National Review Online.

One of the activities I most enjoyed in my trips to Washington, D.C. was traveling to Arlington National Cemetary. There is something powerful about seeing the row on row of white tombstones on that hallowed group that loudly declare that while Freedom is Not Free, there are many who have answered that call to serve something greater than themselves.

Remember.

Jazzah

I will be going on Mid-Tour R&R this week. Needless to say I am quite excited to finally be going on my Jazzah. Jazzah is the Iraqi term for leave. I'm not sure what it exactly translates as, but it's one of the Iraqi Words for vacation. Now, the Iraqi Army and other Security Forces have a quite liberal Jazzah Policy. It seriously seems like they get a day off for every day or two they work. It's a shame our Jazzah policy isn't the same, LOL. Then again, if it was, we wouldn't be able to accomplish anything, which might explain some of the problems the Iraqi Security Forces tend to have.

I've recently come across an excellent site for getting information on the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. It provides more historical context and has some great references to see the progress in the conflict in Iraq.

The Institute for the Study of War (That definitely sounds like a dream job: What's your Job? Oh, I Study War) in partnership with the Weekly Standard offers an incredibly broad comprehensive reference for individual operations, politics, and maps to track the various battlefields in the War on Terror. Here's the link and I heartily encourage everyone to check it out and play around the site. I have spent quite a bit of time on it putting together an Offier Professional Development on the History of Diyala. I can't email the product out, because its 13MBs. I wish I had known about the site prior to the deployment because it would have been an incredible resource in educating myself about past-CF operations in the area. The next link is specifically for Diyala Province.

It is an example of some of the heavyweight scholars who are doing some serious scholarship and research on the War in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would recommend adding this to one's reading of the Global War on Terror (joining the Long War Journal, Michael Yon, and the Iraq Report).

Guarding the Pass

It hasn't been in the news lately (for various reasons), but the Military is doing phenomenally well in terms of retention. My battalion is only a few soldiers away from completing its mission for retention for the entire fiscal year, and April isn't even over yet. So far my Brigade has had over one thousand soldiers re-enlist. In a Brigade of around 4500 soldiers, that is a phenomenally successful retention rate.

The 172 SBCT retained 1200 soldiers last deployment (in and of itself, a significant number), a number my current brigade will likely pass. While less than 1% of the United States population serves in the US Armed Forces (at any one time) and at most 10-15% have served, that population is certainly incredibly dedicated. I am personally impressed by the strength that enables some individuals to serve their third or fourth deployment in the GWOT, while I'm tuckered out at 2. The re-enlistment in the military has been going strong since 2001, even if recruitment did not always follow suit.

Recruitment is picking up as well and the military is tightening up restrictions to slow the numbers entering the military. I am definitely impressed by the numbers who are willing to re-sign to do this again, because even as Iraq winds down, Afghanistan will spin up and they will be back in the field again.

Military Service is essential to the survival of any nation. Our Republic is built on the sacrifice of those who have gone before and worn the uniform. Our nation's proud tradition of Citizen Soldiering is part of the very fabric of our past.

It is certainly a blessing that this country has so many young men and women who are willing to stand up and serve their country. It would be nice if there were still more.

Lifeblood of the Army

Interpreters are the life-blood of our Operations in Iraq. Due to the lack of Arabic speakers in the United States and in the Military, we are forced to rely both on contracted U.S. Civilians and on LN Iraqi interpreters. Without these interpreters, we would be unable to communicate with the Iraqi people, and the already substantial cultural barriers that exist between us would be even greater and compounded by the complete inability to share ideas.

We are especially indebted to the Iraqi interpreters. These patriots (who are also doing it for the money) are helping their country while they help themselves as well. They are definitely targets for terrorists who view them as dangerous collaborators who must be punished for working with the infidel. While we might be annoyed at times by the interpreters, though we can communicate, there is still a large chasm between us culturally, socially, and hygienically. Yet, we overcome that and work together because without them we could not conduct any of our day to day operations. They are that essential. These human dictionaries are a combat multiplier in the COIN environment.

We had a great moment this week when one of the interpreters started translating our English into . . . English. He was so used to operating and moving back in forth with language, that he didn't notice it. The confused look of the Iraqis eventually brought about the required Arabic translation.

The Great American Race

Ask any Marathoner which Marathon they must want to run, and the answer will nearly always be Boston. Boston has achieved mythic status among runners. Heartbreak Hill is part of our common everyday language.

Boston is also a race where Americans have not fared well. Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach was the last American to win the race. That was in 1985. Marathoning today is a sport dominated by the great African runners from Kenya and Ethiopia. The majority of "America's" competitive Marathoners the last decade have been immigrants from Morocco and other countries in Africa. America is a long-way from the great Duel in the Sun on the streets of Boston.

The future is looking up. There is a great new crop of American Marathoners and this years Boston Marathon headlined that hope. Ryan Hall, the new wunderkid of running, finished 3rd. Kara Goucher finished 3rd in the women's race and led the lead pack up until mile 25. It was a great day for American distance running and a sign of brighter days to come.

Introducing the new Archbishop of New York

Archbishop Timothy Dolan has taken the reins of the Archdiocese of New York. Archbishop Dolan has been an excellent messenger of the Gospel.

Having just completed the "Election of Change" (seeing how both President Obama and SEN. McCain ran on change) it is amusing to see the Media asking the Archbishop if he would be an "Agent of Change" to change in the Church to bring it more in tune with modern times (the typical request of so-called Progressive Catholics as well). When questioned about whether or not he would be an “agent of change,” on issues where society disagreed with the Church, Dolan firmly stated that as a bishop his “goal is to change [the faithful’s] lives to be in conformity with Jesus and his Church, not to change the teachings of Jesus and the church to be in conformity with what we want.”

The Media cannot understand the Church's timeless position on fundamental questions of morality. Sadly a great many Catholics fall into the same category, but it is this group, that Dolan will seek to reach with his humor and pastoral touch.

As Kathryn Jean Lopez wrote: 'Rather than a voice of disapproval toward the world, Dolan’s is a voice of challenge. He challenges not only Catholics, but every person. He declared, firmly and lovingly, “The Church is at her best, faithful to her mission, when she invites people to open the door and ask Jesus in. That’s precisely the invitation this Archdiocese of New York extends; that’s the proposal the Church makes to the world. As Bernini explained the massive colonnade surrounding St. Peter’s Square, ‘Those are the arms of Mother Church reaching out to embrace all people!’”'

The Church's teaching is not a no, but a yes to God.

Thank You!

I just wanted to take the opportunity of this update to thank everyone who has kept us in your thoughts and prayers. We've had some updates in my shop as well. SPC __________ has been promoted to Corporal (CPL) following his successful passing of the board. We will soon have another officer join the shop; an opportunity to mentor someone after being stuck at BDE for so long. Two of my soldiers are now living down at the Company JCOPs (Joint Combat Outposts) providing forward deployed Intelligence Support to the Rifle Companies (This is cutting edge for a BN S2 shop). Some soldiers have already completed their leaves (or environmental morale leaves –EML), while others still have that to look forward to. Another soldier, SPC ______________, will be going before the board at the end of this month (hopefully). So there has been some growth in the shop.

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who has supported us in thoughts, prayers, and/or with care packages. It really means a lot to get something from home. Our office now has a great Harley Davidson poster on the ceiling (we were out of wall-space). Some would say the ceiling poster features Marissa Miller a bit more, but the Harley is still prominent (and as a Milwaukeean, it's the focus). SFC ___________ is a big Oregon State fan and received the official wall calendar of their Dance Team, so his desk space is properly adorned with Beaver Pride. We've also got a Brewers wall poster. There are Packer hats throughout the office, a Cowboys hat (SSG ________'s), a Camouflage Cubs hat and there are still some Christmas Decorations up.

Hardly a day goes by that one of my soldiers does not receive a package. In many cases it is from someone who they have never met, but who took the time and care out of their busy lives to adopt a soldier. They received holiday packages with gifts and candies at Christmas and it definitely brought many a smile to a soldier's face. It meant a lot and I cannot begin to express my gratitude for that adoption. Packages continue to roll in with candy and magazines. (Thankfully, I think overall the shop is at a net-weight loss, despite all the candy.) We've received boxes of books which have helped bolster FOB Legion's mini-library at our Morale, Wellness and Recreation Center (MWR). There is quite an eclectic reading collection, something for everyone. The number of Hunting and Fishing magazines we've received (a staple in Wisconsin) really resonates with the soldiers in the battalion (we are Alaskan after all). There is so much in common between Wisconsin and Alaska.

We've also begun to receive many packages of school supplies and beanie babies. The compassion of the average American to people in hardship is something that highlights a true positive of American character. Whether it is Hurricane Katrina or the Tsunami, the American people open their hearts. Iraqi children love to receive school supplies, soccer balls and stuffed animals (less so the boys of course). The boxes of school supplies and beanie babies we have received will enable every patrol that leaves the wire to carry at least a few gifts for the children.

Again, just let me say thank you to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and/or care packages. They have boosted the morale of all of us in innumerable ways.