This is an e-mail from Sgt. Adam Wickerman sent to a local Milwaukee radio station I listen to, 620 am. The Sgt sends e-mail on a somewhat regular basis. He is not a journalist, but a Soldier.
They, we are amking a difference.
LETTER FROM ADAM WICKERSHAM 1/23/04
Let me begin by apologizing for not sending an email out for the program last week. The pesky Army decided to send me on a mission on Thursday without any warning. The 24 hour mission ended up becoming 4 days. I spent my time in the Biblical region of Nineveh, the land of Jonah and the Whale. Although upon return my in-box was filled with disappointment for not emailing you, I see it as an opportunity to tell a new story about a very different mission.
In preparation for another day of translation and analysis on captured documents, my OIC told me to grab my gear and get to the A-Pod (airport). Three of us took a Blackhawk ride to the Mosul region in Northern Iraq (the province of Nineveh). Upon arrival we were told of numerous computer problems. After we capture and translate documents, we scan them for permanent storage. I created a database that tracked these documents by a gist of the contents for easier recall and these PCs weren"™t working at our satellite unit in Northern Iraq. After a few hours of hacking, I was able to retrieve their documents and instructed the staff how not to break it again. Not a glamorous job for the Army, but it is what I do in the civilian world at MPS, so I thought I"™d take on the additional duty of computer maintenance (commonly referred to as "S6" for the vets out there).
The Mosul folks told me about a mission they were going on and asked if I could be the translator. Knowing the mission would be scrapped without an interpreter, I agreed. Geared up and ready, we set off for a 45 minute Humm-V convoy. We reached our destination without incident. We arrived at an orphanage. The kids we all bandaged, malnourished, and overwhelmingly happy to see us. We talked to the person in charge and they handed over many documents that were dropped off by former insurgents and disgruntled citizens. I asked about the children and they stated that these kids were injured not because of the war or bombs, but because the Fedayeen and Ansar Al-Islam members killed the parents because they either quit the organizations, gave assistance to the coalition, or cheered when Saddam was captured. I was speechless. These children were beaten because their parents sought freedom and a better life for their kids. They were left to fend for themselves in a country that has nothing to offer them. This orphanage was established jointly by Moslems and Christians. They set their religious differences aside for a greater motive; finding unity in the major cause of division in this part of the world. It was inspiring. I can"™t lie, I was moved.
I originally went to Mosul with boxes of items that have been sent to me to share with other soldiers. The guys took the boxes out of the back of the Hummer and gave them, unopened to the children. One of my friends looked at me as if to ask if it was OK. How could I say no? How could anyone? It was amazing and it is probably the only time it will receive any media attention. We"™re not politicians that need press corps assistance every time they do something good, but the benevolent event that I witnessed is worthy of recognition. I was proud to be apart of it. The children ripped open the boxes like my children at Christmas. They grabbed toothbrushes, soap, magazines, and candy, but not surprisingly the shaving cream and razors were left behind! The kids were so happy. The soldiers were equally happy. Even in the dark corners, a little light can shine. Be proud of the soldiers.
On my helicopter ride back to Baghdad, I couldn"™t help but think that maybe this was a little bit of the Shock and Awe that my Commander in Chief had talked about. Whatever your thoughts are on the war itself, know that we are winning the peace.
A letter fron the Front.
