U.S. soldiers learn to live with incoming fire

[bigtree]

U.S. soldiers learn to live with incoming fire in troubled Iraqi city

Associated Press
June 30, 2006 10:14 AM

RAMADI, Iraq (AP) - {snip}

The Iraq war for most troops is fleeting; brief ambushes or sudden, powerful roadside bombings. But in this troubled city, the capital of deadly Anbar province, the conflict is nearly constant. Gunbattles in the streets are common and mortars rain down on the bases every week.

On the eastern edge of town at Camp Corregidor, a base named after a famous World War II battle in the Philippines, U.S. soldiers regularly hunker down during ''indirect fire'' attacks or what they generally call ''incoming'' - military vernacular for inbound rockets or mortars.

The attacks happen at least three times a week, soldiers say, and usually end with explosions that miss their target. Sometimes the mortars hit nearby neighborhoods, maiming and killing civilians.

But the insurgents also have taken a toll on U.S. troops. This week a soldier at an outpost a few blocks from Camp Corregidor was killed by a mortar. Several soldiers have been wounded by shrapnel.

Many soldiers say they have adjusted to this life under regular fire. They say the attacks rarely injure soldiers or hamper operations, although they have many tales of near-misses.

full article: http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=564761145693832517

losing hearts and minds

[uppityperson]

1. welcome to occupations

[Javaman]

2. Imagine what life will be like for these poor soldiers trying to...

readjust to daily life back state side.

[bigtree]

3. we don't have to imagine . . .