Home > Letter from a Soldier in Iraq to his Senator
Wars and conflicts Governments USA
From: B K
To: J C
Sent: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 00:29:57 -0400
Subject: Re: HMMWVs
J C
Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff
U.S. Senator Olympia Snow
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. C
We have not received all the 1114 HMMWV’s that are required for our mission.
I still head out of the gate in a 1025 Humvee that doesn’t have floor armor, basically all you have is armored windows and sub par armored doors. As evident by the bullet holes and shrapnel cuts that you can look directly through I would say they aren’t very effective.
Most of these trucks have been through two tours here taking numerous poundings and are starting on their third. We have inadequate maintenance manpower to maintain these vehicles having much less maintenance staff, and when I mean much less that is a gross understatement.
It is being felt at all levels, many vehicles have to be hot started which means a switching of the crews leaving no time for proper maintenance. Our maintenance guys are champions working there butts off to keep us going.
The command structure at the highly levels has grossly mismanaged this brigade.
The only thing we had going for us through the 6 months at Camp Shelby was that we were training together. At the last moment most of the groups have been re-task organized splitting us up. It amazes me that the command could not have foreseen this earlier since they could have talked and consulted with the group in this area.
Shelby taught us nothing and was a waste of the tax payers dollars, a tremendous misallocation of resources. Nothing we learned there is applicable here and I learned more in our "right seat ride" with the 1/9th than the whole time at Shelby.
General Honare (Sp) made the statement at our deployment ceremony we are the best trained, best equipped soldiers, ever sent from Camp Shelby. If that is true the Army is broken which it is and is quite evident.
My vehicle constantly breaks down, my turret which is the main weapons platform hardly spins and some don’t spin, and our tanks which have had problems since Shelby are now breaking down. I think the tankers would want me to tell you of their woes since no one else seems to care.
When I asked about my trucks condition to one officer his only comment was fix it, I am not a mechanic and spend 12 hrs preparing and working on my mission am I to spend the other 12 hrs fixing my vehicle.
The higher command leadership is gutless and appalling. They all seem to have 1114’s and I haven’t seen one of them outside the wire.
This is just the equipment issues.
The people here hate us and will always hate us until we go home.
Some officer might blow smoke up the proverbial ass and say that people like us but I work with them everyday.
They hate our interference in their government which only serves as a recruitment drive for the enemy and makes life miserable for the moderates.
I was talking to a friend of the 1/9th, the group we replaced, and he said when he first arrived the market was open and the economy was puttering along after the war, now the economy is gone and the lure of hard currency to become and support insurgent activities is more common place.
On top of things you cannot win a hearts and mind campaign here so every time we play that game people get hurt because it looks like weakness on our part and they take advantage of it.
We fight for survival my men and I. There is not greater or ethereal agenda, it is to survive. They have sent a National Guard unit in the worse place in the world according to the state department.
People here are tired of being lied to and are frustrated with the apparent lack or care of anyone.
The people of this land want us gone and if we support a democracy and true democratic processes then we should do as they bid and let them become a sovereign nation again.
I most likely will be reprimanded and or punished for telling you about the inadequacies of the Army and its run down nature right now but the truth needs to be heard and that is something that not one here or at home seems to want to face.
Our hands become more tied here everyday, we fight by rules of engagement that do not apply to the war being fought here. We were reprimanded for test firing our weapons outside the FOB the other day to see if they were in good working order. Then were apologized to when we told them what goes on out there and that you need your weapon up. Now we are hesitant to fire our weapons and here that will get you killed.
The commanders here exist and try to convince themselves that everything is fine which it is not. It is very frustrating and I look forward to coming home and leaving this broken Army.
Integrity, honor, selfless service, and many of the cornerstones of the Army are gone and they began their demise at the very top of the chain of command.
Please feel free to ask questions if makes it easier for me to respond.
I thank you for your concern and help and look forward to returning to the shores of Maine.
Take care, sincerely, SGT B K
Forum posts
26 August 2005, 21:26
Anyone remeber why the U.S. is in Iraq anyway?
26 August 2005, 21:46
Answer to the question: Why are we in Iraq? Easy. 1)Israel 2) Oil 3) International finance. Next question?
27 August 2005, 02:24
4) 4 Major permanent military bases, plus ’lily pads’ for rapid deployment forces.
5) Largest US Embassy in the Middle East ( Intel, Spy, Spec Ops & dirty tricks center)
6) Iraq shares borders with Five Countries. ( geopolitics and things, neat eh!)
7) Bush 11 vs Bush 1.
8) Military, Industrial Complex needs the work.
9) So ex soldiers can make $1,000 a day as security guards (eg 20,000 mercenaries)
10) On the job training for prison guards for future US positions at home.
11) Expression of " Manifest Destiny" & demonstration of "The New American Century"
12) Good is stronger than Evil.
13) Just because.
27 August 2005, 02:42
4) 4 Large Permanent Military Bases plus ’lily pad’ for rapid deployment forces.
5) Largest Embassy in Middle East. ( Intel, Spy, Spec Ops, Dirty Tricks Center)
6) Iraq borders on Five Countries. ( Great way to be neighbourly)
7) Military Industrial Companies need the work.
8) On the job training for prison guards for positions in the US.
9) "Manifest Destiny" and a demo of "The New American Century"
10) So ex soldiers can earn $1,000 a day. ( eg 20,000 mercenaries)
11) George 11 vs George 1.
12) Play in palaces, be a King for a day, and get cheap drugs.
13) So Good may triumph over Evil.
14) God willed it.
15) Just because.....
16) Your turn:
27 August 2005, 03:42
4) 4 Large Permanent Military Bases plus ’lily pads’ for rapid deployment forces.
5) Largest Embassay in Middle East. ( Intel, Spy, Spec Ops, Dirty Tricks Centers)
6) Iraq borders on Five Countries. ( Great way to be neighbourly)
7) Military Industrial Companies need the work.
8) On the job training for prision guards for positions in the US.
9) "Manifest Destiny" and a demo of, "The New American Century."
10) So ex soldiers may earn $1,000 a day ( eg 20,000 mercenaries)
11) George 11 vs George I
12 Play in Palaces, be a King for a day, get cheap drugs.
13) So Good may triumph over Evil.
14) God willed it.
15) Just because.
16) Your turn...
27 August 2005, 05:33
NEXT QUESTIONS:
How many Americans have really died?
How many Iraqis have really died?
What is the "Noble Cause" Bush Lite talks about?
27 August 2005, 07:12
4) 4 Permanent Military Bases plus ’lily pads’ for rapid deployment forces.
5) Largest Embassy in the Middle East. (Intel, Spy, Spec Ops, Dirty Tricks Center)
6) Iraq borders on five Countries. Imagine the opportunities to be neighbourly.
7) Military Industrial Companies need the work.
8) On the job training for prison guards for future positions in the US
9) "Manifest Destiny" and a demo of "the New American Century".
10) Employment for ex soldiers at $1000 a day. ( eg 20,000 mercenaries)
11) George 11 vs George 1.
12) Play in palaces, be a king for a day, get cheap drugs.
13) So Good may triumph over Evil.
14) God willed it.
15) Just because.
16) Your turn...
27 August 2005, 08:28
As a korean vet. all I have to say is sending beer belly, flabby middle aged part time soldiers, unequipped to a combat zone is an abomination. I feel sorry for these guys, really!
26 August 2005, 21:41
Iraq on brink of meltdown click here.
26 August 2005, 21:53
What a whimp-BK,if it was me,I’d point my scope on the Israelie agents ,who sent me to kill and possibly die for the greedy suckers. who’s war is it,what the sh!t ,I get sent into this nomans land for the interests of Bush’s handlers. Piss on it, be a man-aim your rifle-starting fragging—that will send a message home.
By the easy way—why not just say no and stay home.which is worse—not getting a free education or your ass blown off. Wise-up whimp—tell them Jews to fight their own wars—we don’t need their dirty $cash. Worse thing that can happen—jail time—3 meals a day and a bed, for 8 months. I take that and tell them to stuff their HUMVEES up their kisters.
IsraOil
26 August 2005, 23:36
Damn... It’s too bad many of us cant smell the shit until its right in our face or until... we’ll u get the point, if not know this -these tactics arent new. they’ve been lying about war from the beginning -the war at home has been wage silently against the working class africans of America for centuries -the enemy is always villafied -remember the black panthers... ooooh scary a bunch of poor teenagers who had to take public transportation across town = the number one threat to national security, then what this government MURDERED FRAMED of EXILED them all, all they wanted was a better community, White america stood by while the civil librties of Africans born in america was decimated -now things seem to be evening up -with mr. George "God...Fuck America" Bush, huh -lol ya’ll in shit creek right with us now -wire taps the whole nine -we’ll LETS GET FREE!!!! Lets organize against the bitches and bring the soldiers home ourselves -when we govern.... ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE - BLACK POWER TO THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY
27 August 2005, 01:05
I wonder who is selling the delapidated equipment to the armed services?
27 August 2005, 03:31
What would happen if the soldiers that know the score started their own protest. They are trained and have weapons. Start a coup I say. Those military leaders will just get them killed. Its appalling. I support the troops and trust their view of the status in Iraq. Bring them home now!
27 August 2005, 04:17
Anyone know any contact info for this soldier?
27 August 2005, 06:33
BK if you are reading this, please know that the majority of us here in America are SO SORRY that the poor excuse for a president in the now tainted white house sent you guys over there without the proper equipment! PLEASE KNOW that lots of us are working very hard to get you guys HOME and SAFE!!!
In the meantime, go check out www.booksforsoldiers.com and at least sign on for the things that we can help you with. I hope your tour is over soon, I’m sure it’ll be hard to leave your guys.. I’m hoping that we can get all of you home and soon!
God Bless You for telling the TRUTH! A lot of people like to gloss it over, and are determined that Iraq wants us there... hearing the truth is refreshing, and I’ll spread the word as much as I can. Maybe it’ll help turn even more people against this quagmire, and maybe we can apply enough pressure to get you all home.
Peace,
Linda
dazey@charter.net
27 August 2005, 06:39
You never got that stuff they promised you because they don’t care.This war was so Cheny’s and Bush’s friend could get Richer.Every time they get into to office thet take about a trillon out of our pockets.They don’t care abut you,me the dead or the vast number of wounded.They are not going to spend money on you that they feel belongs to them.Thay stole it and now there going to buy you an armoured humvee.I don’t think so.I care but all I can do is write my congressman and I have.Do not let this bunch fool you:Bush, Rove ,Rummy,Cheney,Condi,Scooter.These are really bad people,they are not even Americans.They are Globalist,and they follow the money.
27 August 2005, 08:53
Thank you for informing the world sgt. B. K. I wish you the best of luck and hope you return safely and quickly. Remember, the mainstream media is not on your side and if there should be reprisals from publishing this letter, do not waste time seeking their help, seek a brilliant and couragous lawyer instead. Again, thank you.
27 August 2005, 10:07
The conract for military protective gear was a non-bid contract that went to Cheneyburton....
27 August 2005, 17:25
The chickenhawks want us to think that, by protesting the "war," we demoralize the troops. Sounds like, to me, the troops would appreciate it if we could succeed in bringing this debacle to a speedy end so they could come home to their families. They, above all others, can see firsthand what a disaster this whole exercise in "spreading democracy" has been.
If you take away all the "spin" and lies, it all equates to nothing but naked agression against a defeated people who have endured more than a decade of punishment - bombing, boycott, embargo, genocide through Depleted Uranium and now occupation and unwarrented detention while the billions made from the oil of their country is stollen.
My heart goes out to the troops who are scared spitless 24/7 and are doing the best they can under the worst kind of circumstances. Human nature being what it is says that there are some who fluorish in this situation and kill for the "fun" of it, as one of our Generals was quoted as saying. Thank goodness they are not in the majority, although war does have a way of deadening the humanity that is an important part of our make-up.
We have a moral duty to pass on to succeeding generations that war is immoral and to be entered into only as a last resort. The warmongers for profit have to be stopped and expelled from the human community or the human race will not survive them.
27 August 2005, 17:55
I do expect things to become worse and I hope that Americans killing bystanders are being brought to justice or being killed themselves.
We are very digusted by the Nazi like practices at Fallujah and the other sites thelike. It was and will be an illegal war, or does your version of the bible and UN and Geneva convention tell you something different.
Hope America will suffer and burn for its crimes.
No thanks,
dan