I asked my son in Iraq to tell me about the weather there, do you want to read it?

Question

People often ask what it feels like, of course I am happy to tell them what it's like. Imagine standing in front of your stove, turn it up to 130 degrees, now get inside of it, take your hair dryer and put it on full blast in your face. Don't forget to take a 500 watt light bulb and have it reflect off of sand colored surfaces into your eyes, no matter which diection you turn. For variety throw some talcum powder quality dust in your face. To complete the effect put on a 25 pound torso encompassing ceramic and syntehtic vest, add an 8 pound ceramic helmet, a T-shirt, long sleeve tunic, full length pants, wool socks and boots. Now imagine doing that everyday for 7 months, which is about the equivalent of the Iraqi summer. 130,000 men and women do it every single day, they don't do it for money, they don't do it for fame, they do it because they believe in something. They believe in an idea, an idea that America has a responsibility to do what we can to fight hatred, oppression and evil. We are a blessed nation to have so many give so much for so little in return. I am inspired everyday I am with them

Answer 1

Wow...

I have a nephew headed there next month. He's training in Miss. now. He's from Wisconsin, and he says the heat there is incredible, but knows it's nothing compared to what he's in for.

God bless them all, and good luck and godspeed to your son. I hope he comes home to you soon.

Answer 2

That description is pretty accurate, from what little I know.

I was in Egypt a couple of years ago. It was all I could do to get out of the air-conditioned bus, walk a few hundred yards to the tourist attraction that we were at, look at it for a few minutes, and *hurry* back to the bus. All this and I'm a 40 year old male in excellent health.

That's just the weather - a very tiny part of what makes life impossible over there. I don't know how they do it. I could never survive under those conditions. Thank God that these brave soldiers can.

Thank you for having such a wonderful son. Please pass along my gratitude to your son.

Answer 3

Bless him! I remember when my husband came home from a Tour there last Summer, it took him weeks to stop sleeping in a star shape. I sent out Cooling spray. You can buy it in non aerosol form, and it cools them for a few minutes. You can also buy cooling gel strips which help. By the way, my husband a Senior British Army Officer, was not there because he felt that 'America has a responsibility to fight hatred, oppression & evil'. He was there because our Government issued orders that we were to be deployed because there were WMD which there weren't. Despite the illegality of the War he went to help the Iraqi people get back on their feet which he believed was his duty.

Answer 4

Tell your Son our thoughts and prayers are with him. I truly hope he and everyone else will come home safe.

To you: Do not misdirect your anger. The majority of Americans want our troops, your son, home safe and sound. We do not want them they're period. Bush is a fraud and he has done nothing but harm this country since he has been in office. He sends our men and women to suffer for naught. If your angry about the "support" you feel the troops are getting, remember it's not the troops people are protesting it's the war itself. It may be beneficial to let them know that as well.

Answer 5

Well, the politically correct thing is to say how proud I am of him and thank him for his service.

But beyond that, having been there I can tell you that the average troop isn't in Iraq because he/she believes in the mission.

They are there for various reasons. They joined the military to :

- Get money for "you name it"
- Get away from a bad situation, drugs, no jobs at home..etc.
- Bored.
- Someone (dad, mom) was in and just felt they should too.
- Gung ho self test.
- Job training in a specific field they want to be in.

They are in Iraq because they signed a contract and Bush sent them. This includes the Natl Guardsmen who probably had no idea they could be shipped out.

I thank them for putting on a brave face for sure.

To: indianadude.... i remember that heat blast, it almost knocked my off the aircraft stairs..

Answer 6

God Bless the U.S.A. Tell your wonderful son MOST people back support what we are doing and NOT to listen to the vocal anit-war cowards. Remind him that the was protesters back in the 1960's are now as popular as a skin rash...and so will be the protesters now

Answer 7

when I was in the military, i took a plane from Italy to a desert landing strip on the coast of the red sea. When I stepped off the plane, my sinuses instantly dried out and I thought I was going to burst into flames. It is terribly hot over there.
Thank your son for his service.
And thank you for your support.

Answer 8

I'm proud of our men and women over there in Iraq. Thank your son for me. My sister is at West Point training right now. Thank God for people like your son and my sister.

Answer 9

Yeah, figures they'd be from the South huh? i have considered this previously....about 15 years in the past i imagine. i have also met human beings from the North that are extra redneck than everyone i have ever met previously!!

Answer 10

I believe that our men and women should only be suffering these conditions if we had a strong leader who knew how valuable these lives were, instead of one who lies to the country he is attempting to lead.