One month has come and gone here in southern Iraq and my deployment is 25% over. I’ve gotten used to being here and gotten use to my routine, so I finally feel comfortable in my temporary surroundings. I’ve kept clean, been in good health, and have been eating better than I would have, had I stayed home. Deployment has also helped me to focus in on my goals after the military and better myself in the short term in terms of exercising both body and mind. I’ve been keeping busy by playing computer games, watching movies, and reading about the idealogical origins of the American constitution. I’ve also begun to collect information concerning the development of my resume and will hopefully have a working resume by the time I leave here.

It’s interesting to note that while I’ve been here, I’ve fielded several questions from high school students concerning what my experience has been since I’d gotten here. I feel honored to have been asked various questions and I feel priviledged that I am able to answer them. One student from Kansas asked me what this war means to me:

I was wondering if you could maybe give me some insight on what this war means to you. What is “Freedom’s Challenge” in your life?

This was my reply:

The beginning of our country basically started with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. I think one of the things that people forget is that the men who signed that document - if they were caught, they would’ve been hung as traitors to the crown. I believe the quote before they signed the Declaration was:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Those men would’ve been hung, still defending what they thought to be right. They took a huge risk in declaring the American colonies free. And so, I think freedom’s challenge to me is living up to that legacy - to be willing to sacrifice my life and honor to be a part of history, to be a part of something that has freed 25 million people and made an impact all around the world. And of course, proving that we as common people, have the balls to govern ourselves and don’t need the tyrants of history screwing up our principles of self-determination and liberty.

As I conclude one month in the new, free Iraq, I feel honored to be part of the historic events taking place in the Middle East. Though being deployed to Iraq came as a surprise to me at first, I am glad I am here upholding my oath to defend our constitution and the glorious American republic.

We make war that we may live in peace. - Aristotle