2008.11.19
Conversation with Iraqi Soldier about Family (Pictures per Reader Request)
Recently, an Iraqi Soldier asked about my wife and children. These are very common questions. Iraqis have a hard time understanding how Americans can settle for only one wife, and very much do not understand single Soldiers. "Is something wrong with your manhood?" is perhaps a proper way of wording their questions for the single Soldiers.
My conversational Arabic is quite good. I have no trouble describing my children, their names and ages. But what made this day so unique is that it was the first time that an Iraqi looked at me and asked, "When did you last see your family?" To answer, I had to stop and think.
"Three and half months ago," I replied. The Iraqi immediately looked confused. "How long have you been in Iraq?" he asked, confused because he remembered how my team replaced the old team three months ago. "Three and a half months ago," I said again.
Looking like he understood, he said, "Wait, but you get to go home regularly, I thought." Now it was my turn to look puzzled, replying, "No. You see me here every day. How could you even think that?"
The Iraqi Soldier explained, "Well, I figured that you went home on the days that you guys did not come to meet with us or maybe when I was on leave with my family. That you guys went home on your American planes or helicopters." He paused, gave me an expression of surprise and asked, " So, when do you get to see your family next?"
I replied, "February."
Hearing this, all light-hearted expressions dropped from the conversation. "I can hardly handle going ten days without seeing my family, but you will go seven months being thousands of miles away from yours? I could not handle this."
To this my only reply was a nod. In the days following this conversation up until now, this particular Iraqi Soldier looks at me differently. He no longer returns my playful smile. He shakes my hand a lot.
On the same note, a few have requested to see updated pictures of my family. I am posting them below. To answer another regular question, "No, I am not going home for Christmas." Generally speaking, a unit will not have more than ten percent of its men on leave at one time. I requested leave just over halfway through the deployment.
All smiles. Devon snags both of our babies, Lucas and Meredith.
Lucas and Meredith. 20 months and 6 months. Lucas at 21 months, shortly after his first haircut by Mommy.
Lucas loves wearing big people shoes. He couldn't get far in these boots!
Meredith loves her jumper!
Lucas at 21 months, shortly after Mommy gave him his first haircut.
Meredith is starting to cruise--aided walking.
08NOV08 in Roanoke, VA, my six-year old niece, Tavia, holds her newborn sister, Brianna.
"Look Mom! No trans fat!"
Special thanks to my wife, Devon. She tirelessly keeps me connected to our growing babies with pictures and vidoes. Also, she proofreads and edits every article that I submit to the Roanoke Times for publication.
I do hope the Iraqi soldier shares this with his fellow soldiers and they grasp an understanding of the sacrifice you and your family(ies)are making for their freedom and ours.
Comment by Wendy Jones — November 19, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
Rich (and Devon),
What a beautiful family. It is because of our families — your children, my children, your Iraqi colleague's children — you have such an important job. I know that the long days at my job (not so long in the light of your work) it is the thought of my wife and children that keep me from being a bear. Hang in there, Rich, for all of us.
Comment by Tony — November 20, 2008 @ 9:51 am
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 11/20/2008 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2008/11/from-front-11202008.html
Comment by David M — November 20, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
Rich,
This is a wonderful blog. It sounds like you have a good prospective on what is going on. Devon and you are lucky to have each other. Grandpa and I often talk about you. I have been out here to your blogs several times and have always that whatever I would write would seem insignificant compared to what you are doing.
Be safe.
Iris and Grandpa
Comment by Iris Butterfield — November 20, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
What a beautiful family! Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Comment by Melanie — November 21, 2008 @ 8:26 am
God bless you, your family and fellow soldiers. The debt owed to you is immeasureable.
Comment by Terri — November 21, 2008 @ 11:22 am
Wendy, I bet that he does share this with others. It will be interesting if another Soldier asks me about it, like to verify what he heard.
Tony, thank you for the encouragement. It is nice to hear that you can relate to me on the fatherhood level.
Melanie and Terri, the pleasure is mine. Thank you for supporting your troops.
Iris, I often wonder how Grandpa Bob and you are living. I wonder what you guys do and what your lives are like. I think about how I wish that I knew him better and how he's not getting any younger. The opportunities for me to get together with him or hear about how he sees things are getting fewer all the time. Particularly, I am interested in the story of his hair loss, for reasons of certain paranoia.
I am troubled about how you might feel insignificant compared to the stories of my days. This could not be further from the truth. You are a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Make no mistake, you have done more than your part as an American. Don't be too long getting back to me now. I would love to hear about your days.
Comment by richconnaroe — November 21, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
I shake my head as I read this story,Rich. It would be nice if you could just hop on a plane for the weekend. Thank you for helping the Iraqi soldiers to see the sacrifices that Americans make for their freedom. We as Americans appreciate all of you.
Cam
Comment by Cam Srpan — November 21, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
I know people are surprised by this story of Iraqis not understanding the sacrifice that you and your family experience.
However, there are many Americans who do not understand this great sacrifice as well. Thank you for sharing this story. I hope that it opens the eyes of many as to what you are doing for their freedom as an American.
Comment by Renee — November 22, 2008 @ 10:19 pm
Cam, it is our privilege to serve.
Renee, I hope so too. This war has been going on long enough now that people forget what it means. That it is more than just the headline on the newspaper. Honestly, it bothers me that people know more about the lives of celebrities, like Paris Hilton, than they do about Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I am not going to lie, Renee, I wrote the article intentionally to convey the exact point that you are sharing.
Comment by richconnaroe — November 24, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Rich,
The kids are beautiful!! Thanks for sharing them and your stories with us back home. You and your fellow soldiers are in my prayers and thoughts daily. Merry Christmas
Comment by Paula — December 21, 2008 @ 11:10 am