1000 Words from Iraq

Back post from Jan. 31

Sorry, I've been away from computers and haven't been able to post, but this is something I wrote while I was in the airport last week...
I've been traveling from Minnesota to California to see the fiance. On Sunday, I got a hotel outside the Mall of America before my flight out on Monday. When I checked into my room, I immediately turned on CNN to see the progress of the elections. For the rest of the night and the following morning, I watched the reports of Iraqis voting at the polls and I cried. I cried uncontrollably- with relief mostly, I guess.
Every Soldier in Iraq or who has been to Iraq has invested a part of themselves into what happens there. Whether it was the time spent away from their families- missed birthdays, anniversaries, deaths, births- or the things they saw, the friends they lost and the efforts they went to to make Iraq free.
Everyone who has been there has a stake in the elections and wants democracy to be achieved in Iraq- if only just so their efforts, their sacrifices were not in vain.
I had great fears for when this day would finally come. I saw the death and destruction the insurgents were capable of and I knew the world would be watching on this important day to see if elections could be pulled off without any major catastrophies. Not only did the people show up to vote in percentages greater than we can muster here in the US, but the violence that was expected never materialized.
I think my greatest surprise was the performance of the Iraqi security forces. My experience and what I saw in Iraq left me with little faith in these people who seemed to run at the slightest sign of danger and who left the services to help the insurgents, bringing uniforms, weapons and equipment purchased by us with them.
I admit that seeing the ISF securing the polling stations and doing their jobs- providing security, searching people and keeping order, was very encouraging.
Everything we worked for the last year, and especially in the last months, was to prepare Iraq for elections. Our heart and soul and countless lives went into accomplishing this mission. Our mission may not be over, but to have this task complete and successful is a huge relief.

I'm sitting in the Minneapolis airport, two weeks after I last arrived here en route to Fort McCoy and the civilian world. Looking around at the other passengers on my flight to San Diego, I see four military guys dressed in civilian clothes- Marines probably. You can't miss them. At this point, I can see beyond the haircut to the person's eyes, his manner, personality and the way he carries himself sets him apart. There are also many elderly couples here- old ladies I want to hug, old men I want to take by the arm to steady their gait. They make me miss my days in the nursing home and look forward to working as a CNA again. There's also a young woman with a baby sitting across from me, as she stares out the window, her child looks over at me and smiles.
After spending time in my small town, airports make me aware of our diversity, of the different people that make up our world.

posted by Blair Heusdens @ 1:29 PM