I have to say the second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and eigth pictures say more than a lot of articles I have read.

It makes me wish there was more ways the American public could help.

Good stuff. Keep it up.

Thank you. In my blog just yesterday I complained about lazy reporters. You, obviously, aren't one of them.

My youngest son is one of the replacements for these men. He, too, is 82nd and arrived in Baghdad three weeks ago. He already spent 9 months in Afghanistan, and understands the environment, although the mission is now different. Your photos and writing bring him closer to me.

Of all the news sources we have, your amazing on-line column with astounding photos is the one that is most personal, most informative and most appreciated. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!

Thanks for being our eyes and ears over there Kevin. Great work. Take care of yourself.

Mr. Sites,
  I have loved your updates. It make what we're (you guys) doing seem real. Not like the mainstream media partrays us as doing. I have had family doing the duties of the armed srevices in wars past, but have not fully realized that these are real men, like myself doing and seeing things they never really thought happened on our great planet. You brought it home. Thanks! And thanks to all you brave men and women who did the deed for us. You know... It HAD to be done.

It makes me wonder what makes a true soldier. All the blood shed and dying, or all the times promises to go home are broken, or perhaps maybe even a wife or girl friend that decided a week after her soldier left that she was not with him anymore. Leaves him to fight alone.I admire all our soldiers in Iraq and I say they have all done a great job. I hope they are okay when they finally return home.I respect seeing a story with feeling in it..great job buddy!Thanks

That was so nice to read and to see. My Husband is in Iraq now and I have no clue what he is going through. All I know is my children and I miss him and pray everyday for his safe return. Thank you for the insight.

You are truly bringing the reality of war with your pictures and stories. My heart goes out to these young soldiers who are America's new veterans. How I wish I could help them erase the horrors they have experienced. All we can do is try to understand them with open eyes and heart. And hope for a better tomorrow for them and our country's future.

As our soldiers return from Iraq, replaced by their peers, I find myself wondering the following:

1. How will these new veterans be treated by the civilian population, especially on college campuses?

2. Will the Media actually take the time to discuss the causal reasons why a soldier, be it male or female, uses the "killer switch" on a spouse? Or will it simply make money off of the tried and true headline, "Soldier goes nuts, kills wife and kids."

Being a veteran of the First Gulf War, I recall that we were treated very well.

Initially.

However, over time, especially once I left the Army to go to college, I found that many of the old Vietnam era stereotypes and prejudices were still very much alive.

Common questions included the following:

1. Why didn't you get a real job, instead of joining the Army for college money?

2. Did you kill anyone?

3. How does it feel to prostitute your body out to the Army for college money?

Then toss in the usual expletives and slurs about babykilling, mental illness and the like.

So, having been through that, I wonder how America will treat these new veterans of an arguably tougher war?

I have a bad feeling that some of them, especially when they get out and start college, are going to find out.

Respects,
Steven Francis Murphy
U.S. Army 1989 to 1993
North Kansas City, Missouri

recently rediscovered your site as the upcoming visit of a friend who works for cnn brought you to mind. so glad to find that your blog is active again--i have a great deal of catching up to do! thank you and stay safe!

To Steven Francis Murphy,

I am a 34 year old female - who at the time Vietnam ws ending was but a mere child - and I can never really recall what happened to our men when they came back from the war - but I know very well through documentation and readings of the frightful and unjust treatment. What surprised me most of what you wrote - was that you expereinced some of the same once you were settling back into civilan life after the Gulf War in the early 90's. I believe you, of course, because unfrotunately we all meet those individuals who can not take a moment to think beyond themselves, but I find it so unsettling. It is goes back to the statement of never judge a person til you have walked in their shoes..... but here I am preaching to the choir.... I just wanted to tell you that I was never one of those ignorant people who sat in judgement of you or the job you did - or the job our soliders are doing now. I applaud your courage and the sacrifce you made (and our current soldiers are making) for me and my freedom - for the country that I love. saying that - I must say that I was not for the first gulf war, nor was I in favor of this second fiasco - however, that would never give me the audacity to criticize the job that my fellow americans are doing over there. Mr. Murphy, I applaud you and congratulate you - for all that you have done and all that you will do - knowing it is all your expereinces that make you the person you are today. Special.

Kevin - Thank you - again - for your personal account and contribution. Stay safe!

Elle,

Thanks for the thoughts. To play a bit of Devil's Advocate, I tend to ride high in the saddle, as it were. My father, who was a Vietnam draftee himself, strongly advised that when I started college that I keep my military past to myself. Shove it into a closet, as it were.

I didn't, in fact, I tend to do the exact opposite. I tend to let everyone know I served. I don't embelish. I didn't do anything more special than pull guard duty for a Headquarters Battery in an Artillery Battalion. Maybe if my war had been, oh, harder on me, I'd behave differently.

That said, I did run into a fair amount of prejudice. Whether or not it is wide spread among Operation Desert Storm vets is not something I can speak to.

The only reason I even bring it up here is that we are talking about our newest generation of veterans (who have been through a hell of a lot more than I went through). I worry deeply about their treatment.

I also worry about how the media will handle them. I still remember all too clearly their reaction to Timothy McVeigh and John Mohammed (the Washington Sniper). Sadly, it only takes on vet doing something stupid to make the rest of us look like Rambos in waiting.

My father, by the way, was treated much worse than I was.

Thanks again, Elle.

Respects,
Steven Francis Murphy

Steven,

Thank you for your reply. My father served two terms in Vietnam... well in the Navy on an aircraft carrier. I never knew this until I was much older. He never spoke of it... until one day it came up in a conversation and my mother was saying how when my father had leave, she asked he boss for a week off of work to go and visit him and she was fired because she was married to a "baby killer". In fact, as I said, my father was on an aircraft carrier and did not (thankfully) see all the horrors of the war... but in his words: "We watched a lot of planes take off with fine pilots / men that never returned." When I asked my mother and father why they never spoke of my father's time in Nam, he said it very simply, because people are ill informed and prejudiced and they had a family to raise and did not need any undue stresses in trying to do so. I understand.

I hope our current soldiers will not expeience the "shame" that your father and mine experienced.... I hope they can hold their heads up high..... I wish for them the strength that you so obviously have..... and I certainly wish for them and for our country that no one stands in judgement of these men.....

Anyway... I am a bit on a soap box... and I do not know why...... So I wish to you all a good evening.... a great weekend... I can;t believe Friday is already here.....

Isn;t it interesting how a year ago we were all so aware of what was happening over there... and now you almost have to search for the news???? Hmmm.....

Great story about the soldiers, very touching. This war is much more dangerous than the 1st gulf war, and my heart goes out to the soldiers. I wish the media would pump these guys up more, instead of simply giving the daily body count. Do you think there is hope for this country? Can it be healed from the awful legacy of Saddam? Should we leave?
I'll put your site on my list of favorites. Thank you for your great work.

Thought provoking. Intense feelings. I wonder if, as time goes by and more and more of the national guard is circulated through these kinds of experiences and return to society they will intensify the identity of "American first, and everyone else should be grateful for it." Our guys may have done their best, but there is always another side or sides. Will anyone care about that, when they can easily identify with someone from their church or community who has returned from "fighting terrorists" as the story will probably be told. Who can sympathise with someone who isn't American, and doesn't necessarily appreciate what our foreign policy has done "for them"? From my experience, growing up in "small town USA" not many people will, I'm sure.
My greatest sympathy is with the folks in the guards units. I don't know if they expected this kind of thing when they signed up.