Good post dekeguy.

Good to see you're safe.

KellyB369
Appreciate your kind words, but I am one of the lucky ones who had a short deployment over to the AO and took my unit home as part of the early returns. Its the guys who are over for the long pull and who are having their deployment extended who have it tough. They deserve our support and encouragement.
(I suppose its sort of like "survivor syndrome", but I feel a little embarrased to be back home in law school while guys I served with are still there). Anyway, you can bet that any spare cash I turn up goes to Army Emergency Relief and to the USO.

I won't lie, I'm scared for all our men and women serving our country. I'm glad I read your post because I am really on the verge of wanting to take the people and shake them-slap some sense into them. "WHY can't you rise and fight for yourselves?" keeps echoing through my mind each time I turn on the news. Fear-they must be so fearful of showing any loyalty. Then I read that Al Jazire (sp?) is really doing a number on us as they portray our acts od self defense as being against civilians. Our own media isn't reporting the successes, only the hot spots and death count. Never have the political parties been so divided during war. To me, it is the ultimate show of disrespect for our men and women. Not to mention fodder for our enemies. I don't think we, as civilians, ever realized the true nature of terrorism. Because we didn't see it, we didn't believe it. IT wasn't tangible... I just hope that there is an end in sight. I'm so happy for you and so sad for those who remain. If this is our WWlll, then we need to prepare for more sorrow.:(

Do you think we need more "boots" on the ground as some are saying?

Good Morning JAM,
Yes, its going to be a long hard fight and we will have more to be horrified by and cry about. Most of these people are really clueless about any Westerners and they are easily led both out of fear and frustration, not to mention bewilderment. They have a bunch of so called "clerics" telling them that we are the bad guys despite the fact that just a few months ago they were so happy we got rid of Saddam for them. The Arabic news media aren't being either helpful or objective and this not only annoys, it hurts as our guys laid it on the line for the very people who are now being led astray by these (expletive deleted).
The basis of terrorism is moral cowardice. The Islamic doctrine of the obligation of hospitality is absolute. These guys are going to be in sorry shape when they come face to face with their Prophet. I am confident that Muhammad was a sincere man who served God to the best of his ability and conscience so my Catholic (Jesuit) training argues that he is happily esconced in paradise. I can't help wondering what he must think of all of this.

As to more boots on the ground. Who are they going to fight? We have enough combat power in country to defeat any army on earth. I think its not the numbers but the specialty traninng that we need to look at. We need intel types to sniff out who is planning what, we need Special Forces types to get involved at the grass roots level, and we need civil affairs types who can help build a responsible infrastructure of local leadership. Also, we need engineer units to keep the physical infrastructure running. Off hand, I'd say we have plenty enough grunts to handle things. Most of all we need to get our side of the story to the local people in a way that makes sense to them. This is an ancient and in its own way a sophisticated culture, but it is fundamentally different from ours. We need to find common grounds of understanding to establish in the minds of the ordinary Iraqi people that we really are the good guys. Unfortunately, we do need to keep a reasonable troop strength there to handle matters until the locals can take over and run their own show. That will take some time but it can be done. Like I said, its going to be a long hard process. Well, what the hell, like my sergeant said, "We're the U.S. Cavalry and that's our job"!

Thanks dekeguy. I see what you mean.

One thing I wholeheartedly agree with Bush on is-
We can't afford to lose this fight. Prayers of thanks to you and prayers of hope for all waging this battle.

wow......so glad to hear you were able to come home. thank you for your service!!!! we all owe so much to you and everyone in the armed forces!

just a question, and i may have missed the answer in here, but how likely is it you will have to go back?

AlphaGamDiva,
Thanks for asking. To review the bidding, I am a reserve officer who was in second year of law school when I got called up shortly before Christmas 2002. I reported for duty on 6 Jan 2003 and after a very quick refresher orientation I was assigned to a composit augmentation unit supporting the 3d Infantry Division. I commanded a Cavalry Troop (in today's army a cav troop is an armored recon company). We deployed with the division and when the 3rd ID came home the decision was made to send us back with them since we were a composit organization and could be used to flesh out our parent organizations. Since I was a reservist who was not assigned to a specific reserve unit on active duty I was released from active duty when my unit was inactivated. I suspect this was done since I had already served 3 years active duty between college and law school and had done some active duty for training while I was getting an MA in the UK. I was offered the chance to remain on active duty but decided to return and finish law school. I am currently a second semester 2L. I have not joined a reserve unit to preclude the possibility of being called up as part of that unit thus interrupting school once again. I still hold a reserve commission and am seriously considering requesting return to active duty when I graduate. I am undecided as to whether I should request Army JAG or return to the combat arms as a Cavalry officer (Armor branch). To specifically answer your question, if our involvement in Iraq goes as long as I suspect it might I'd say the chances were pretty good for a second tour in country.

What a difference a year makes!

Last time I posted to this thread was a little over a year ago. Now I have finally graduated, got my JD, signed up to take the Bar exam in July and have to make a decision about what to do now.
I figured that I would be recalled to active duty when I finished Law School but so far no recall notice. It was way too late to apply for transfer to Army JAGC for this year's upcoming intake and I had discussed my options with Armor Branch some months ago. Now it looks like I won't be called up as an individual reservist, at least for now, since I already served three years after graduating with my BA and then getting called up and deployed to Iraq when I was in the middle of Law School.
Now my Dad has made an offer that is really tempting. He and his partners have a small but very busy practice representing American clients, including the DoD, in international jurisdictions, primarily in the UK and the EU. Dad is dual qualified as both an American Attorney and an English Barrister and spends a lot of time on the other side of the Atlantic where he is co-head of chambers of a Sett of Barristers. He recently turned sixty and wants to ease up on his constant travel. So, he has offered to arrange for me to be admitted to one of the Inns of Court and take the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) to enable me to be called to the Bar of England. Apparently he discussed this with the Bar Council and they feel that my American JD coupled with my English MA(Oxon) in Comparative Law would satisfy the requirement for academic qualification. The BVC satisfies the vocational training requirement, and assuming I did well on the BVC, I would be able to secure a pupillage either in his chambers or in a similar one engaged in the same sort of practice. Pupillage is the first year of hands on training one does when called to the Bar in England. You are a Barrister but work under close supervision for the first six months and general supervision for the second six months. Dad said I could use his flat in London and my two English cousins, one of whom is a Barrister in Pupillage and the other will be doing the BVC this Fall, offered to do a flat share with me if I do the BVC in London. So I am well fixed for digs. As my GC friends know I love England and have spent several years over there, so this is a very strong temptation. I registered for consideration for the BVC as a late applicant so I should hear soon if I made the cut. If so I think I will jump on this as it would give me access to an international practice and open all sorts of doors for me.
I received an offer to join a firm based in New Orleans and was sorely tempted, even with the requirement to take some additional courses in Louisiana Law which is based on French Civil Code, but I think I will thank them politely and go for the international route. I did not want to jump into "Daddy's firm" but what he is offering is too good to turn down. I still keep my reserve commission and can be "on call" if really needed, but I would be in a position to do some interesting work and make some interesting fees. For now I will keep my fingers crossed and see if the BVC is possible.

Just a quick Christmas note to the men and women of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq. May you come home safe and sound as soon as you have accomplished your mission, and may that be very soon indeed. May you have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and successful New Year. Drive on troopers! I am filled with awe and pride at the way you carry out your duty! God bless and protect each and every one of you.
dekeguy
Captain, USAR

Bless Them One and All!:cool:

Glad You are Doing Well!:)

dekeguy, please pass our grateful thanks to each and every person with whom you are serving! Most of us realize the sacrifice that you're making, and appreciate it greatly! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Safe Journey to ALL of our Armed Forces!!

(especially you, dekeguy!)