Heat, sandstorms hit soldiers hard

New experiences: Pfc. Brian Damien Rhodes, left, is fed native food by an Iraqi military leader.

[huh]

Thank-you to all the troops and their families for your many sacrifices. We owe you a great deal. May God Bless you all.

[For What Its Worth]

I've seen photos of the sand storms & heard firsthand from a friend's daughter stationed in Iraq about the conditions there this time of year.

All I can say is 'Thank You!' to all the young people who volunteered. We can't wait to have you home!

[Marine Mom]

Glad to see the local paper reporting these kinds of stories. Our military needs our support and by doing stories on it keeps it to the front of our minds. Thank you to the troops and the families who live with it every day, not only when it is a headline. God bless our troops and hang in there families!

[Marine Aunt]

God bless all of you. May you get done, what needs done and return home safely!
I pray EVERY evening with my little children, so they know to appreciate all of the soldiers and what they are doing for our country & all the sacrifices that are made for us.

[Ex MARINE]

Suck it up grunts, Quit crying to Mommy back home, You were all getting easy money before the war, Now that you have to do your job all you want to do is whine !!!!!!

[Curious]

What is an ExMarine??

[GetReal]

Marine Mom wrote:

Glad to see the local paper reporting these kinds of stories. Our military needs our support and by doing stories on it keeps it to the front of our minds. Thank you to the troops and the families who live with it every day, not only when it is a headline. God bless our troops and hang in there families!

Why didn't the republicans support the troops with their votes? When democrats didn't vote yes they were called un-American, Un-patriotic and accused of wanting to loose the ill conceived wars. Why is that?

[baffled]

Curious wrote:

What is an ExMarine??

yea!!! what is an exmarine i think those guys & gals over there are fighting for your freedom ( x marine )you should be thankful for that. did they kick you out of the marines or what. you sound like you are bitter or maybe you wasnt in during wartime.so why dont you lighten up and pray for those soldiers to come home safe and no damage done to them.

[ex military]

I agree with baffled,ex marine needs to show some compasion and understand that the young men need all the support and prayers we can give them.Thank god that we have brave men that give the sacrifices of there time and sometimes there lives to protect the freedoms most of us take for granted.I for one cannot praise them enough,keep up the good things your doing over there and we look forward to seeing you come home.I have two grandsons there now with the Stryker Brigade from Chambersburg and I can't explain how proud I am of those two guy's.Waiting to see you soon Ryan and Weasley.Pap

[Army mom]

It amazes me what Ex Marine said! How you can you be so uncaring and with no compassion?? The soldiers are not crying to their mommy's--it's the understanding, always lending an ear, support, the many prayers that are uttered, and yes the love that moms give to their sons that help give them the strength to carry on in such harsh conditions. My son served 15 months at Camp Taji (Iraq)--just recently got back--I am very proud of him for serving his country--maybe you call yourself an ex-marine because you never had to serve in a combat zone--suck it up and admit that these soldiers deserve our respect, admiration, support, and prayers. Thanks to all of those that serve--and a special thanks to all of those moms out there supporting their sons, and daughters----you all are heroes also.

[Be Nice]

Ex MARINE wrote:

Suck it up grunts, Quit crying to Mommy back home, You were all getting easy money before the war, Now that you have to do your job all you want to do is whine !!!!!!

Boy do you ever got the nerve. If you were in the Marines, are you one of those who came out with a cold heart and no compassion toward other people.

Thank goodness not everyone turns out like you. Get over you hateful, hardhearted ways and act like a compassionate civilian.

These young people over there have the right to get support from their families. That may be what is keeping a lot of them going. They are doing their job, and doing it as safe as they possibly can, because they know that there are love ones waiting at home for them.

Do you even have any one loves now, or have you chased them all away with you cold, insensitive personality.

I can only feel sorry for people like you!!

[WOW]

How does being in Iraq fight for OUR freedom?
Isn't it a land grab for multiple launch bases in the Middle East, and a way to invoke domain over Iraqi Oil?(and a payback for Saddam not being our proper puppet anymore?).

Save our children's lives, bring them home, please!

They are not fighting for the freedom of America. They are fighting for the military/industrial/political complex.

God first, family/friends/neighbors/stran gers second, country third.

(chickenhawks, please refrain from responding)

[local soldiers mom]

Just for the record, my son knew what he was getting into & I have supported him all this time. These soldiers are NOT 'crying to mom' about what they are doing. They talk about what they are going to do when redeployed, the family or just talk about movies just to be able to talk to family is a God send on both parts. Yes they are homesick after what they are seeing & going thru. They are tired, dirty & ready to get out of there for a while. My sister sent me an e-mail that said on a part of it 'There is one thing harder than being a soldier, that is loving one', well I happen to be one of those. I respect all of our soldiers & am proud of them for what they are doing. Why do you even read these articles if it bothers you so much? There are other sections in the paper for you to read. Get into the Iraq news & you will see what's happening. I read them all the time & have learned a lot. What happened to you that you are so bitter against the military? I feel sorry for you.

Ex MARINE wrote:

Suck it up grunts, Quit crying to Mommy back home, You were all getting easy money before the war, Now that you have to do your job all you want to do is whine !!!!!!

[Dan]

I always thought once a marine, You were ALWAYS a marine. Get over it Ex marine.