Weariness in Iraq

Hey old man you always ask me to describe what it is that I'm doing out here. Well I got an urge to write while I was on OP (observation post) yesterday and this is what I wrote describing what I was doing.

Ten hours into the mission and many more to come. The sun rose early
and the soldiers got to watch the color turn from grey covered black
into a silver dotted azure. The road continues to sit there undisturbed
throughout the night. They sit and watch as the native people start
going about their daily routines. Cars start moving up and down their
road and every one is gazed into wondering if there might be an enemy
sneaking by. Cows start wading through the palm groves just to their
right,  mildly annoyed by the dogs that enjoy snipping at their legs,
but continuing to chew on the weeds and grass. Off in the distance a
loud explosion breaks the otherwise normal chatter of life, an
inclination of a soldiers' head is the only sign that it even happened.

 One grabs the handmike close to his hand to report the
approximate distance and direction and then continues to look for
breaks in the scenery that he has memorized.

 Tick Tick Tick

The weather was chill and a slight breeze could be felt sweeping
therough the land. Searching endlessly into the distance the two
soldiers watch for an unseen enemy. The native population continue
about their daily tasks with weary eyes on the soldiers. They know as
the soldiers do that a perceived wrong will bring an utter disruption
of the life they lead.

 Telling stories and speaking of whatever comes to mind in hushed
voices the minutes crawl by. the mission is still far from over and the
soldiers continue to gaze into their surroundings searching for a
hidden foe. Then a change, something different from the usual civilian
traffic whips around the corner onto their road. The radio squawks and
a voice begins to relay information of an incoming convoy. The soldiers
now know the identity of the hmmwv's and loosen tensed muscles. Again
their gazes settle into their area of responsibility, still hours until
the mission will end. 

yeah well ok not  my best work and i couldnt get all that specific
of the area for security reasons but you get the general idea.. a whole
lot of sitting, a whole lot of watching.. yeah we do mission where we
drive up a certain stretch of road, raid a certain house, shoot at an
odd thing or two but a majority of my job involves sitting and
watching. hehehe hope u liked it.

  

In response,

This could be so many soldiers from so many nations in so many
strange and far away places.  My son has captured the tension between
boredom and duty and between danger and seemling placid scenes.  The
same emotive forces can be found in accounts from 'Nam or Korea. 
Probably, it is the same watch and wait soldiers of Rome had to
endure.  It seems basic training ought to prepare the recruit for hours
of monotomy as well as the time of terror.  Well, if I think I will
salute the stars and stripes, even if I have to get out my own to do
so.

George W. Heath