Holiday in Cambodia!

I figured the title of a Dead Kennedy's song would be quite appropriate for today's Blog.

Well, It's the 4th of July, American Independence Day, and here I am in Iraq working to help the Iraqi's fight for their Independence from tyranny and oppression. Kind of resembles exactly what We, as Americans did over 230 years ago when the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence!

I woke up this morning to a beautiful new day. The sun was rising just over the tops of the buildings as I exited my hooch(2 man room of a trailer), allowing the morning light to sparkle off the sand crystals which cover approximately 80% of the surface of pretty much everything. I walked over to Green Beans Coffee House for a refreshing cup of freshly brewed coffee and met up with my boss and the people we are replacing here. Laughing at some stories of exciting experiences over the past year, we relaxed in the early morning sun while the ambient temperature slowly began to climb. By the time we headed off for breakfast at 8am, it was close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The dining facility was decorated in a spattering of red white and blue with streamers full of stars and stripes adorning most of the support columns. Conversation ranged from IT issues all the way through Facilities Maintenance, but all in all this morning has been quite pleasant.

And now here I sit, tap-tap-tapping away on this keyboard preparing myself for the days ahead while thinking about what it means to be fighting for freedom for a people who have known nothing but fear for more than a millenia. In a world of greed and animosity, there are many here who stand up against those who will try to oppress the freedoms and rights of those who can not, or do not know how to protect themselves, and I can proudly say that I am standing here with them.

We who struggle are not properly represented. We are labeled as killers, murderers, power hungry, and even oppressors, but this is not the case. We Soldiers die for the freedoms of others. We have died for the American people to tell these stories about us, no matter how slanderous and fictitious they are. If not for the American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, those who freely spread the hate about us would not have the ability to speak freely!

As you sit there and read what I write today, reflect on the freedoms that you take for granted every day, and remember that we are here to help another people to get those same freedoms!

Happy Independence Day!