When I got back here to LSA Anaconda I, along with the rest of Task Force Konohiki, was put into transeint billeting. This is were soldiers coming in and out of the local theatre of operations stay and wait for flights home or permanant quarters. One of the first things I noticed was the very large numbers of Army ACU's (All Climate Uniform) These are the latest style of uniform issued by the Army and are desinged to phase out the current uniform in Iraq, the DCU (Desert Camoflouge Uniform). What this meant was that we had been here in Iraq long enough for the whole Army to phase us out, it also meant very many people would be starting their tours here.

One would think that this meant alot of inexperienced people were here to replace us, not so. Near the wooden shacks desinged to accomodate up to twenty peeople were two buildings most of us transeints gathered for coffee, reading, smoking and some television. As I stood there drinking my coffee I overheard many conversations dealing with many of the soldiers first trip here in 2003, they were now rotating in for the second time. Most people that do this are regular Army or full timers. I began talking to a fellow Staff Seargeant and we were very open with each other, we both expressed support for the "cause" but frustration with the loss of life. The "Takfiree" are not stupid and will never stand and fight, they will only commit cowardly acts of terrorism against us and the people of Iraq. This particular man seemed to have a certain air about him that is hard to explain, he seemed very relaxed and professional but also very concerned about the uncertainty of what 2006 will bring. We talked some tactics and talked of home, shook hands and wished each other well. I felt a closeness that felt very unique and probably shared by many soldiers throughout history.

The next morning I came across two fellow Staffs that had served out this year here on the LSA, both were Infantrymen but did very different jobs. Both of these men serve in the 442d. The first Seargeant I talked to is well respected and liked and has a very csaual style of leadership. He is also one of the few men that saw what I will call "Combat", the kind of place were rockets are landing, bullets ( thousands of them ) are cracking overhead and hitting the dirt all around and men are dying. He ran many long range patrols "Outside the Wire" and narrowly missed death several times, those that went in his stead were killed. We had both agreed that this past year wasn't what we had expected but weren't complaining, we are coming home and some never will. We also felt that we wouldn't make it a point to wear our "Combat" decorations, we both have to much knowledge of those that have gone before us and realize there was never any "Omaha beach" here in Iraq. But I think the most important thing was we both knew that there is no glory to be found "Outside the Wire", reality perhaps but no glory.

The last Seargeant I will mention is much like the last except he never really left the wire. I was walking through one of the transeint tent compounds when he called me over, I hadn't seen him since February. As we talked he said he felt that he not only wasted this entire year but the last twenty years of his life. For an Infantryman the ultimate test of what you are is determined in the face of the enemy and during the heat of battle (Combat). It is not something we look foward too it is just something that is supposed to eventually happen to all those that choose to live the life of an Infantryman. We as Infantrymen take offense to those in todays Army that believe that simply because they have been called upon to defend themselves in an Army stretched to the limit are now deserving, if not entitled the badge of the combat Infantryman. We in the Infantry have dedicated our lives to the life of the Infantry and have too much respect for those before us to simply handout Infantry awards to people asked to defend themselves, especially soldiers. I could tell that this last Seargeant felt cheated by duty on the LSA, but he doesn't have to prove a thing to to his brothers in the Infantry, he has walked the walk for twenty years.

These three men have all lived very similar lives in the Infantry and have three very different stories to tell about Iraq. But I am sure that no matter what badges, ribbons, pins and shiney objects they receive for their uniforms the most important thing we have, and will never be taken away, is respect for our comitment and each other.