This entry was posted on 8/10/2008 12:31 AM and is filed under All Posts.
I had the opportunity tonight, at a small party I stopped by, to speak with a young Army captain, on leave from his post in Germany, who is preparing to head off for his first tour in Iraq. We both studiously avoided politics. He said that his assignment was to be one of twelve U.S. soldiers embedded with an Iraqi military unit of 700+, to train them, and provide a quasi-leadership role as they went on raids together throughout Iraq.
While he wasn't exactly thrilled with the rather difficult and ambiguous assignment he had received, I couldn't help but be struck by how calm he was about the whole thing. He wasn't acting gung-ho, but he also wasn't coming off frightened. Going to Iraq was his job, and he had, at least on the surface, seemingly come to terms with the default responsibilities and dangers of joining the Army in this day and age. Somehow, I don't think I would be as even-keeled heading into the deadliest war zone of our time.
