[teena]

Originally Posted by dekeguy

From what I hear from the guys coming back most recently they say that there have been some good improvements to flak vests, but that still leaves your arms, legs, gut, and butt, not to mention your head (helmets do a good job but don't cover everything) pretty much hanging out in the breeze.
I gather you have been there?

Naw.

Originally Posted by dekeguy

The thing that amazes me is that so many people can't quite grasp that war is loud, dirty, dangerous, and not really much fun. There are no easy fixes and no cure-alls. In my outfit we pushed training, training, and more training. I inspected gear again and again to make sure it was in good working order and not liable to malfunction when you needed it. I'm sure my guys thought I was a real pain in the butt about all that, but I got them all home alive. We got quite a few "scratches" but no KIAs. I firmly believe that good and continuing training and maintenance of your gear really load the odds up in your favor.
I never wanted to write a NOK notification letter and, thank God, I never had to. Please God, that I never will have to.

I think that, generally, Americans will go along with a war-as long as it over quickly and there will be some tangible benefit to us. But the number of casualties, the monetay cost AND we arent getting much out of the deal- is wearing on the American public.