Above and Beyond

Our job here in the last few weeks, has been something less than busy. It in fact has been almost a complete bore. We've left our wire to go on pointless patrols a total of three times over the last 23 days. January through June, we probably would've gone out a total of 40-50 times in that same amount of days. We are definitely not going above or beyond the call of our duty. Or maybe, because of this, we are.

Some people would view this as us in fact not going above and beyond. But what does that really mean? Our battle focus, yea putting battle on the front of another word just makes it sound so much more military, is to engage and destroy the enemy of the United States at whatever cost. We have not been allowed to do that, but have been handcuffed by the laws of the tired war regime that is now realizing their first mistake of trying to bring democracy to a people who don't deserve it, who probably don't even want it. Perhaps we aren't going above and beyond the limits of our duty, I would venture it would be more the the side rather than above.

I really don't want to get into the semantics of this situation, other than it sucks. Not just for us, but for our loved ones. They now feel the pain of us being able to do nothing, and not being able to be with us. They can't even really say that they are proud for us fighting for democracy or freedom, because we quite frankly are not. We are sitting, starving and sweating for freedom. The perspiring is not just from our pores, but from the hope of being home soon.

My family, my girlfriend, the loved ones of platoon mates are the ones at this stage in the deployment that have now been forced to go 'Above and Beyond' the call of their normal duty. When we had patrols everyday and were quote unquote busy, they were there to help support us. They sent us care packages, and listened to our griping on the phone, but we were not in the same spirits as now. The care packages for the most part have been cut off to us due to our remote situation. Our mindset is entirely different. We have no sense of purpose anymore, and therefore for most have a new need, a new support that was not needed before. It is now most certainly needed.

This new above and beyond support, I know at least my family and loved ones have met. They might not even know that they have, or maybe they know that they made the time, or did the deed that was in no way convenient for them, but in all the ways they did or did not know, they have helped me tremendously. All I, all the rest of us can do, is thank you. Thanks for you hard work and dedication to us over here, for renewing your commitment in anyway shape or form, and proving to me, to us that we can always count on you.


"i want a rich young dumb nymphomaniac, to drive me around in her cadillac..."