First Week In Country
What to say? I'm finally here! I have to admit I'm in awe at everything I look at. The army can train you how to shoot a rifle, start an IV, and live out of a bag but a lot of what I see is people learning to adjust. It isn't as easy as most people would think, getting used to a whole new culture, land and way of acting. I live in the suburbs of Buffalo where I had my SUV parked in my two-car garage with my green lawn where I would get up and go to work at a doctor's office. This morning I looked out of my tent and finally a break from our week of rain, I finally got my first look at the mountains surrounding our camp. Breathtaking. Later on in the day when I went on a convoy, we went outside the wire and all you can say is wow. Never at any moment in life could anybody be more grateful for what you have until you see how some of these people live.
Since this is still our first week, we mostly have been doing our ride-alongs with the current force, who will be leaving shortly so we can take hold of the reins. Our training did a good job showing what to expect and how to do our jobs in confidence. One thing that always goes through my mind everytime I have gone out the wire is, this country has the potential to be such a beautiful and prosperous place. One can only hope that someday these people will have the fortitude to step up and make it happen. I do believe, though, that they're off to a good start.
--Spc. James Gustas
Thank you for everything you are there doing. I wish you the best, please take care of yourself and stay safe. You know where to find me! :)
Posted by: Suzanne | November 24, 2008 at 10:57 PM
The best of luck James i hope you have a good tour and return unharmed.
Posted by: Paulie d | April 26, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Mr. Clemens Since the moment I saw your comment I have been trying to think of what to say but of course there are no words that can ever come close to describing what I truly feel in my heart for you and your family. You have given the ultimate sacfifce for your country and I grieve for you. I am sure you are proud of your son. Yet you are still able to think of my husband and others still serving and I thank you for that. That takes more courage than I am sure I will ever have. Your son would be proud of you too.
Posted by: armywife | April 19, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Now that you are incountry in Afghanistan--KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN. That is what I always told my son before he was KIA in Ghazni in Jan 2004. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. COME HOME SAFE
Posted by: Bill Clemens | April 18, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Kitty: armywife and simonsez both said exactly what I would have said. I thought long and hard about repling to your comment but I felt I needed to do so. I will go one step further though. Although this is my first deployment for my husband and this is his second I understand his purpose over there. And as armywife said, non-support of the war is non-support of the troops. I have learned a lot from my husband over the last 3 years since his last deployment. What he has done, what he will be doing. It all has a purpose. The media does not cover accurately what our troops do over there in detail. I will not go into this on this site as this is not what this is for. Suffice it to say that our troops are guarding OUR way of life, OUR values, and attempting to give the land BACK to the people to which it belongs. MY husband is a part of that as are many other soldiers who are over there. So, yes, I take offense at people who say that they don't support the war but they support the troops. Listen sometime to a soldier's story of what he/she did during their tour of duty over there. You'll get a new appreciation for their purpose.
Posted by: Stephanie Stafford, FRG Troop B 2/101 CAV | April 18, 2008 at 10:40 AM
For every soldier having served, now serving and for every wife, mother, father, son, sister, brother, son or daughter of a serving soldier...It DOES make a difference to those serving to hear the words "I don't support the war, but I support our troops", its all the same to them and non- support of the war is non support of them any way you try to sell it, and it hurts their morale whether those that say it want to believe it or not. I know because I'm married to a soldier ( Reservist) who is serving in Afghanistan, after of course having served in Iraq. To all the men of the 2/101 CAV. We miss you all!!! Stay safe!!
Posted by: armywife | April 17, 2008 at 07:46 PM
Re: Kitty
So why don't you be a "nice Kitty" and leave ALL of the political BS out of it? Just can't bring yourself to do that can ya? Nice sentiments, but you ruin them with the political comment. Maybe you should think about something bigger than yourself every once and a while and praise someone just because they deserve it. It sounds like you could learn a thing or two from those who volunteer for our armed forces. Oh, and what part about hunting down Osama Bin Laden and his Taliban enablers was unecessary after 9/11? You might have a point in Irag, but not a leg to stand in in regards to Afghanistan. Next.
Posted by: simonsez | April 17, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Oh, Stephanie. Those who "hate and despise the war effort" are not against the soldiers. We are against the hubris of the Bush admin who got us into an unnecessary war. I support the soldiers, I pray for their safety, I hope to learn from these blogs. But I will never believe that this had to be. I will say no more because this is not a political blog. I just want the soldiers to know that no one with a brain blames them for the war, nor hopes for any less than their safety and survival and a return home to their loved homes. In the names of my father and grandfathers and uncles who fought WW II, I pray for your safe return, and soon.
Posted by: Kitty | April 17, 2008 at 02:02 PM
I am from Amherst, NY and a member of the 1st Infantry Association. The BIG RED ONE.
I served in the Vietnam war with 2/28th Infantry, 1st ID as a combat medic. I know what you all are going through, for I experienced similar circumstances. I support you 100%. Keep up the good work. I am here if anyone would like to talk. I'm a good listener. DocLOU
Posted by: lou | April 16, 2008 at 01:02 PM
I am from Amherst, NY and a member of the 1st Infantry Association. The BIG RED ONE.
I served in the Vietnam war with 2/28th Infantry, 1st ID as a combat medic. I know what you all are going through, for I experienced similar circumstances. I support you 100%. Keep up the good work. I am here if anyone would like to talk. I'm a good listener. DocLOU
Posted by: lou | April 16, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Please know that all of you soldiers are thought of by everyone here at home. We all hope and pray daily that you come home safely, whether we know you or not. Take comfort in knowing that while you take care of your fellow soldier there we will take take care of our fellow soldiers(families) here. Just as you will leave no soldier behind, neither will we. Your families will be cared for to the very best of the FRG(family support group) abilities. God speed for a safe journey and speedy return home to your families - every soldier in every uniform over there. Know that for every one person who hates and despises the war effort there are a hundred more who love and support everything you do. HOOAH!!
Posted by: Stephanie Stafford, FRG Troop B 2/101 CAV | April 16, 2008 at 11:15 AM
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 04/15/2008 News and Personal dispatches from the front lines.
http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2008/04/from-front-04152008.html
Posted by: David M | April 15, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Thank you for helping make the world a safer place!
Posted by: Mike | April 14, 2008 at 03:35 PM