Today I escorted an Iraqi interpeter to the dentist for a toothache, where I met a soldier from Mississippi. As the terp (Interperter) and I stood on the entryway discussing the ancient record of Iraq and its historical/biblical standing. A young American soldier named Jeravic joined in. He first said how beautiful he thought the country around Balad was and he was suprised at the greenary.

I asked him where he was from and he replied "About forty clicks south of Bagdad." (That's Kilometers) And I said "I meant the real world." I learned he was from Mississippi. He then said how he'd been here since late December and all he wanted now was to go home. Of course, I asked him "Why so soon?." And he let me know he'd seen enough to last the rest of his life and that he would never take for granted what "home" meant.

It's important that I explain the young man's eyes were far beyond his 24 years. He had been "In the shit!"

One encounters many wannabe-heroes here, the person that's always talking about "getting in the shit" but doesn't really think about the consequences.

I have been in Iraq since Febuary, and he got here in December. I told him that we had guys that asked to stay another year because they missed the chance to get in the s---. As I told him this he replied "You tell them and all the other badge hunters they can replace all of us if they want. I want to see my wife and kids again."

He went on to share with me the death and pain he had seen and how he was slowly seperating from his sense of compassion. The tragic loss of life and finality it brings made him change forever. I know this is there for me to see, and I am prepared for it, but in no way want it.

This is my first entry so please bear with me, oftentimes I will cut things short and leave the wire for days. I will do my best to stay current and not sugarcoat the truth. I will tell you more of my specific situation soon, I just was taken by the pain and strength in this young man's eyes and will pray I never see his name in our daily casualty reports.

That's all for today St. Patricks day 2005 from Balad, Iraq