My conversations with Iraqi War Veteran

I went to visit my alma mater, Ohio University this past weekend to see old friends, and to spend time with a Marine who just got back from Iraq last week. After hearing his stories and experiences over there for almost 8 months, I love our Military even more and am confident we are there for the right reasons.

He lost 16 of his brothers and engaged in some horrible firefights. He had friends die in his arms, and had to carry their burning bodies, skin falling off, away to safety. He warned me that sometimes he wakes up screaming and has nightmares. I hope this will subside but he's only been home a week. I heard him hyperventilating and tossing and turning. Why am I sharing all of this? I'll tell you.

I asked him while sharing a beer: What are your feelings about the War on Terrorism and the War in Iraq? He believes they are one and the same and answered something like this:

"We are not over there to free the Iraqis. Sure thats an added bonus but thats not why we're dying over there. There is a lot of oil in Iraq thats worth billions. We cannot allow the bad guys to gain control of that oil. They will sell it for billions and use that money to buy bad shit to kill us." Even after everything he saw and experienced, both good and bad, he still believes down to his core in our cause there. By killing insurgents and preventing Iraq from harboring and training any future terrorists, we can put a serious dent in the War on Terror.

I see and hear all the anti-war people and it upsets me so much. We are over there to keep the bad guys from hurting us here, I don't see whats so difficult to understand. I've very sensitive when it comes to our military, probably because I've had 2 students die, I have their sisters in class and my friend went through so much and thank god came home safe. He may have to go back and he is prepared for that. I couldn't be more proud of our military and I will do whatever I can for them anytime.