tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post2009821780236101934..comments2024-02-09T00:13:51.906-06:00Comments on Army of Dude: An imperfect worldAlex Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-45309897866733928762008-11-02T17:16:00.000-06:002008-11-02T17:16:00.000-06:00Its truly amazing to see how quickly and how beaut...Its truly amazing to see how quickly and how beautifully your writing has matured.<BR/><BR/>Of all the comments, good and bad, from professors in college the one that sticks with me is "insightful".<BR/><BR/>So dude - INSIGHTFUL!<BR/><BR/>~P~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-62877261167500484102007-12-18T18:26:00.000-06:002007-12-18T18:26:00.000-06:00Brilliant writing - I just stumbled into your blog...Brilliant writing - I just stumbled into your blog and I am glad I did. It's among the best writing on the war that I've seen...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-18430414386055133062007-09-11T22:26:00.000-05:002007-09-11T22:26:00.000-05:00I am glad to see that you are exercising your righ...I am glad to see that you are exercising your right to speak out on what you believe and describe life as YOU experience it in Iraq. As a fellow soldier, I feel that it is necessary to question why things are happening around us and why we are ordered to do certain things. It is important to be informed, intelligent, and political. As much as I disagree with you on a lot of things, your writing on life in Iraq is interesting. It is amazing how two people from the same MOS working in the same unit in the same location can see things so differently. Maybe in your team or squad there is a concensus on how things are. In most units that are not heavily influenced by their leaders (politically), they all have very different views on what is going on around you. It really depends on where you are from, how your beliefs were formed, your backgroud, education (or lack of), religion (or lack of), etc. I just hope that everyone knows that not all soldiers feel the way you do about what the US Army is doing in Iraq. Sometimes, you just need to take a step back and see the big picture. When you are there with your head in the smoke its easy to choke on the politics of it all. Take a good look at the big picture, do some research, gather some real intel, and understand that not everything is as it seems to you. From the intel side, I can tell you there is a lot more to a story than what you see and hear on the ground. There is a lot more GOOD being done than you can see when the bullets are flying. I've lost buddies over there as well. I agree that war is a horrible thing, but you must understand the bigger picture in order to understand that our battle buddies did not die in vain or for a dead cause. I knew what I signed up for, and I knew that it would not be easy or short. I also know that as screwed up as things seem sometimes, there has not been a homeland attack in 6 years. Maybe we arent doing all that bad, Alex.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-83956132853778257422007-08-29T11:49:00.000-05:002007-08-29T11:49:00.000-05:00Alex... Your eloquence is remarkable. You have a ...Alex... Your eloquence is remarkable. You have a carreer in litrature or journalism ahead of you. Use it. bill (US Army Air Corps 1943-46)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-38227164486361606462007-06-14T23:38:00.000-05:002007-06-14T23:38:00.000-05:00this life you are living and expiriencing all arou...this life you are living and expiriencing all around you right now is only temporary and don't ever forget that brother. you are smarter then any of the soldiers i have ever met before, just keep doing your job and you will make it home and then the rest of your life is all gravy from there brother.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030836095320908545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-50349794862683009712007-06-06T15:57:00.000-05:002007-06-06T15:57:00.000-05:00Great writing, keep on the great work. The hardshi...Great writing, keep on the great work. The hardships you face overseas are just prep for the BS you will come home to with the VA.<BR/>-Machetti<BR/>blog.porkabilly.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00369674144286946595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-84071902612555697702007-06-04T13:03:00.000-05:002007-06-04T13:03:00.000-05:00Alex: An imperfect world--you got that right! It ...Alex: An imperfect world--you got that right! It applies to the civilian world I live in, too, but it's not literally a life and death situation. When I get even close to whining about one thing or another it is quickly stifled by what you and our troops are undergoing.<BR/><BR/>You are learning valuable lessons, albeit hard ones, about human nature, including your own. Keep up the good writing--you have a career in journalism awaiting you.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11671714885765020608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-3653775979676627122007-06-04T00:21:00.000-05:002007-06-04T00:21:00.000-05:00For what it is worth, I stumbled across your blog ...For what it is worth, <BR/>I stumbled across your blog and have been extremely impressed with you views and writing as well as the support your family is sending you. I used to be a sergeant in 82nd airborne division and it was pretty rare to come across a trooper with your brains (and most of my guys were pretty smart). Buddy, you keep your head down over there. When you come home go to college. Claiming your GI bill can be a pain in the butt, and professors know about half of what they think they do--stick with it. You got a story to tell and way to tell it that no-one else has.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-81027011042234086092007-06-03T22:41:00.000-05:002007-06-03T22:41:00.000-05:00I forgot to leave that web site..so you know that ...I forgot to leave that web site..so you know that us Army Mom's are really crazy :) <BR/><BR/>Stay safe,<BR/><BR/>S.<BR/><BR/>operationpittsburghpride.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-62318073485642446312007-06-01T19:19:00.000-05:002007-06-01T19:19:00.000-05:00I know exactly what you are talking about. I remem...I know exactly what you are talking about. I remember that day. We were among the bradleys that responded. I remember feeling so damn helpless as those men were being shot at from that mosque. They were just trying to get the fallen. And you are so damn right about this areaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-43685856571868365642007-05-31T12:04:00.000-05:002007-05-31T12:04:00.000-05:00I salute you.I have heard much he same from those ...I salute you.<BR/><BR/>I have heard much he same from those that have come back.<BR/><BR/>As for the driver you descirbe, I am convinced he is one of mine. I am his uncle and brother to S Wardezak. <BR/><BR/>I do believe you all are making a difference but it is with great sadness that I listen as we adopt the same failed posture that led us to disgrace in Vietnam.<BR/><BR/>We can neither leave nor stay it seems. <BR/><BR/>May God watch over you. <BR/><BR/>RonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-65303124914257256602007-05-29T20:24:00.000-05:002007-05-29T20:24:00.000-05:00If BB, doesn't block your ability to blog for the ...If BB, doesn't block your ability to blog for the next few weeks (months?), please email me at Suzisharpshooter&yahoo.com. <BR/><BR/>If your story matches up, to what I've been told, I believe I grew the drivers head. I am outraged, sad beyond recognition & concerned for the safety of all. As an AM for B-co. I am on egg shells with no word since this incident. Email me, please for details. perhaps, we can formulate a plan of attack, which will place this AM in the headlight, and not the fine soldiers on the ground risking everything. I am praying for you soldier & for all everyday.<BR/><BR/>Godspped,<BR/>SLWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-68917490981680717642007-05-29T16:43:00.000-05:002007-05-29T16:43:00.000-05:00It's tough to read confirmation of what you think ...It's tough to read confirmation of what you think might be actually happening. But it needs to be said and I'm glad there are people like you who are not afraid to say it. Keep it up. And the growing numbers of us will increase our efforts to get you all the hell out of there. Peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-91342719911653621862007-05-29T10:11:00.000-05:002007-05-29T10:11:00.000-05:00Wow, once again, excellent work Alex! Keep it up,...Wow, once again, excellent work Alex! Keep it up, we'll do what we can on our endHal Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06436615739937572663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-35429256414604978022007-05-28T12:53:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:53:00.000-05:00Great writing. Yes, another case and point where ...Great writing. Yes, another case and point where stealing oil is more expensive than buying. When is the bush think tank, going to let the troops and pilots fight. A bathtub bomb and speaker wire shouldn't even be a factor to us, if you weren't supposed to fight with your hands tied. But don't get me started. Do your job and get home safe.mrtrthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05798645735507213332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-36653306115088950352007-05-26T16:40:00.000-05:002007-05-26T16:40:00.000-05:00It's one thing to think you've been lied to, it's ...It's one thing to think you've been lied to, it's another to have it shoved in your face.<BR/><BR/>Keep writing. The American people have a right to know!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06972549764159598225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-34169209252408982022007-05-26T09:23:00.000-05:002007-05-26T09:23:00.000-05:00i'm new to your blog but i like your writing alrea...i'm new to your blog but i like your writing already, alex. thanks for taking time to do it.<BR/>i was a hospital corpsman during viet nam, working at the great lakes navy hospital for most of my time, taking care of hundreds of guys coming back from the grinder. the last few months i was on a carrier, so my duty was pretty lucky all in all. i got the benefits of being radicalized by war and the military without getting my ass shot off.<BR/>these days i write. you can check out my stuff here: www.mikeferner.org including the book i wrote based on two trips to iraq, before and after the invasion. i spent a few days with a battalion of the 4th ID near balad and wished it had been a little longer. if we strike up something here, i'd like to eventually ask you some questions comparing experiences.<BR/><BR/>what's this about myspace and other sites being blocked to military email addresses? is that the case? apparently it doesn't apply to blogs like yours?<BR/><BR/>this is the first blog i've ever signed in to, so i don't know if you can contact me directly or just by leaving a comment, so i'll give you my email address in case you want to reply. (it's already on somebody's list, so what the hell...) mike.ferner@sbcglobal.net<BR/><BR/>be well, brother.<BR/>mikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-53224660249529272632007-05-24T17:13:00.000-05:002007-05-24T17:13:00.000-05:00I'd love to get in touch with you about your exper...I'd love to get in touch with you about your experience. I'm part of 3rd ID and I leave for Iraq in September. I'll be involuntarily extended for about 7 months, if I do a 15 month deployment. Have you found any good web sites that oppose stop loss specifically? Great writing, keep it up. Sorry to hear about the incident. They need to come up with both a time line and a clear set of achievable goals. Danny.j.jones@gmail.comDannyboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09852115043021041702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-54564541370106830192007-05-15T14:13:00.000-05:002007-05-15T14:13:00.000-05:00God Alex, you are such a beautiful writer. All of ...God Alex, you are such a beautiful writer. All of this frightens me a great deal, but nothing compared to what you must be feeling. I miss you.<BR/><BR/>-LaurenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-44630694631409943752007-05-15T13:03:00.000-05:002007-05-15T13:03:00.000-05:00We have a long history in this country of sending ...We have a long history in this country of sending our soldiers, sailors and airmen to their deaths needlessly. Miscalculations, errors of omission and CYA-ing have killed almost as many as actual combat. It's very hard for me to deal with that your life depends on a daily roll of the dice thrown by someone with an American flag on his shoulder.<BR/><BR/>Love,<BR/><BR/>DadUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14653306181340320701noreply@blogger.com