I had been having some problems with my hand and some pain around the wrist so I was sent to the aid station to get some X-rays. Just as I arrived at the aid station here on the FOB an Iraqi man carrying a young boy arrived, he arrived about ten minutes after I did. The boy had a large bandage over one of his feet and was about seven years old. I was a bit suprised to see an Iraqi civilian since the rule right now is we don't give any medical aid unless it is "Loss of life, limb or eyesight". The purpose for this is to encourage Iraqis to seek help from other Iraqis.

Well the boy seemed rather excited to be around the Americans and the father also seemed quite pleased. It was another one of those things I wish all Americcans could see. Three really big beefy American medics just waiting on this boy like royalty. I inquired about the boys injury and it seems that he was run over by an Iraqi in a car near our patrol and the medics had rushed to the scene. The boys foot had almost been ripped off from the shin down. And luckily the Americans had been in the area to save not only his foot but his life as well.

I could not understand what the father and son were talking about but I could tell from their eyes that both were pleased to be in the company of American medics. As the bandage on the boys foot was removed the medics, through a translator, told the fafther to try and have the boy walk. The boys foot was pointed downward from having been set that way to heal, but the boy manged to hobble on the injured foot. I could now see the wound clearly and can only say that it must have been horrific for the parents to see. After the boy managed a few steps the big American medics naturally produced a bag of chocolate bars as a reward for the boys effort, the father and son both thanked the medics for their kindness and seemed very happy as they left.

It is disturbing to see so much attention being given the woman from California, Mrs. Shehaan, when so little is mentioned in regards to all the kind things and progress that is being made here in Iraq. I don't want to die here nor do I want one more American death, but this fight must be fought and this it what soldiers do. I find it discusting that members of the press should exploit ones grief simply to make money. I am reminded of quote from a Kelsey Grammer movie not long ago, "If it bleeds, it leads". There are some military people here that might sympathize with Mrs. Shehaan and of course all that have lost love ones, but we as soldiers do not ignore history and it's lessons.

Americans have been targets of terrorist since I can remember. Have we forgotten Mr. Klinghoffer or the American sailor that was blugeoned to death over twenty years ago, they were killed because they were American and nothing more. We must have stability in this region and put and end to as much terror as possible. 9/11 was the second attack on the World Trade center and Clinton was in office then. And could Mrs. Sheehan explain the bombing of peace keepers in Beirut in 1983, what about the U.S.S. Cole? We are targets because we encourage people like Mrs. Sheehan to say what they believe, but it is a shame the media seems to ignore the sacrafices made by people like the medical staff here at O'Ryan.

We are making progress here with the IA and it is definetly frustrating at times but we really must stay the course. The people of Iraq suffer incrdible losses from mainly people outside the country and a great deal from people that believe violence and fear are the primary tools for controlling the population.

I was recently at one of the IA bases when word arrived that one of the soldiers in the room had lost a relative in a gun battle with insurgents. As the man wept openly he was surrounded by fellow IA soldiers and comforted. Afew days later the unit pledged to finish the job we have started and make the country safe for their families. People the want to cut and run really ought to talk to the soldiers coming home and find out what sacrafices the IA also makes.

Although none of us really like to admit it, if there is to be peace in this region in the decades to come then it will take more sacrafices and effort from those like the men from Wisconsin,Tennesee and Hawaii that are here on FOB O'Ryan. Americans are the most caring people these Iraqis have ever met and in time the whole of the Arab world will see that also.