Letters To An American Soldier

Emrys · Forum Stalker Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 1544

Sorry, i started off on the wrong foot with some of you, therefore, since now everyone knows i'm a 21 year old, testosterone infested, guy, then maybe i should tell a little bit about myself and ask if any of you have any questions of me that i can answer because i'm sure, considering the ages of the people around here, that many of you have questions about what can be seen first hand in a warzone.

My name is Mitch. Most call me Em, or M. I've been known as Emrys for almost 7 years now, when i started playing archmage back in highschool *sigh (RIP archmage... may MARI gaming bring you back one day)* Back then i was a flirty happy go lucky, nerd... yeah i was a nerd... in highschool. I had my friends but most of them were online. I did good in school and graduated with honors from a small hick school in Tennesee where i went on to join the National Guard there and started my career.

Basic was fun in my opinion. I already ran track and played soccer so the physical training wasn't nearly as bad as i thought it would be. In fact, the drill sergeant one day decided he was going to make everyone run sprints until I got tired. We almost missed breakfast because i wouldn't pant... talk about a good workout though... i need someone to push me like that now...

AIT was even more fun. Spent 7 months in the great state of Georgia learning to be communications support specialist to deal with the radios and computers used in todays modern battle field. Again my ability to run long distances got me in trouble. Drill Sgt Camacho decided that in the last two weeks he wanted to race me around barton field (~3 miles) and if i won the whole platoon didn't have to do any more physical training. If he won... he dogged the crap out of all of us till we graduated. I beat him by a good long stretch got smoked for it (dropped for pushups) but he was true to his word and we did no more pt for the last two weeks.

My job's fairly simple, I do alot of computer support and more times than not. Radio support. Since i've been deployed i've had to learn alot of new things about the culture and about some newer technology that we've adapted in today's battlefields. Some of it is still classified so i can't really elaborate but i can answer any questions that you might have.

And i'll cover the basics first.
Have you been shot at? yes
Did you like it? no
Did you shoot back? no never positively identified the target
What is the scariest thing about being over there? everything could kill you. Luck plays a factor here
What is the scariest moment you been in..? well i'll answer that if it's asked but i'd rather not talk about it.
What's the most fun you had? Went to arifjohn, Kuwait to complete a mission and got laid over due to a backlog. Saw um.. that american idol chick sing the national anthem... don't remember why... Kelly Clarkson or something... (i hate female singers they sell music with sex. And most can't really sing all that well Razz

)
Spent most of the time there at the pool and got to go to the Mall in Kuwait City where i proceeded to play corridor shooter video games (which i have this uncanny talent for) for the local kuwaiti kids who loved watching me and thought i was totally awesome. Specially after i gave them all my unused coins.
Moment i really appreciated my job? handing out much needed supplies to the local population... their faces brought tears to my eyes.

So... ask away... i'm sure you're curious Razz

_________________
"Pain is the only way to know you're still alive." ~ Elscol - [i]Star Wars Rogue Squadron The Bacta War[/i]

Akidaz: My world. NO YOU CAN'T COME!
Emrys: but?
Akidaz: Okay, you can, but NO ONE ELSE!

Mountain_Dewroo · Forum Stalker Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 1274

What Are the Standerd Weapons you use?

gerandes, Automatic Weapons, Etc.

BrainDead · Forum contributor Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Posts: 740

[quote]What's the most fun you had? Went to arifjohn, Kuwait to complete a mission and got laid over due to a backlog. [/quote]

Just how recently were you there?
Do you know a girl named Agnieszka? JW

: )

I think army people rule <3

Beatlechick90 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 3:36 pm Post subject:

How does it feel to know that you are contributing to the conformity and brainwashing of a nation?
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Inu-Yasha-fan · Very bored Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 218

my cousin is in Iraq, how strange. the last time i talked to him he said something about writing to our governers because they going to shut down a swimming pool
if this makes no sense ignore.

Emrys · Forum Stalker Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 1544

@ James, We use the automatic weapon called the M16. It's rather a 3 round burst version of the AR15 which i'm sure people have seen on TV. They don't fire fully auto but if you're fast on the trigger with 3 round burst you can go through 30 bullets in 8 seconds. We also got a what we call a SAW. That stands for Squad Automatic Machinegun. We normally mount it on the vehicles but my roommate carries one on his person just because he loves the thing. What's not to love though. 900 bullets a minute... that's like a soldier's stiffy... if you get my drift Razz

Then we have the 50 caliber. If the first didn't make you happy this one will. Automatic weapon that fires i'll say 90 bullets a minute. But these ain't no normal bullet. I've seen them rip through the hoods of cars, Tear the engine all to heck and still blow the driver's leg off. That's alot of metal. Scary things can be done with a 50.

@Lynette... I was there about a month and a half ago. And i really didn't meet any of the people stationed there. We were tourist so to speak. We were still fascinated they had a Taco Bell... god i want a burrito :P

@ BeattleChick. With that outlook, i can tell you watch CNN. I'm going to give a little advice. The people on CNN, they're only going to tell you what they think will cause a big riot and get people all roused up over nothing. For example, CNN would have you believe that every swinging Iraqi over here hates the US and wants to kill us. That's not true but rather quite the opposite. There's only a few that hate us and for no more reason than the freedoms we enjoy seem blashpemous to them. Most of the normal Iraqis, if you ask his opinion of America he'll bow down and graciously tell you he loves America. he'll tell you F**k Saddam, and that if he sees a terrorist and then he'll smile real big and you just know that guy is looking out for you. You know the sad part of my job, Is handing out gifts, school supplies, food, water, and clothes to the local communities. The looks on those kids faces when you give them this little hotwheels car. You know that look you have at Christmas when you just got what you really wanted. This kid has no idea what a Hotwheels car is. He's never seen one before but he's got that look times 10. It melts any man's heart to see that and just feels you with so much joy, you just wanna cry.

Coming into this country from Kuwait, you have to pass through a place called Navastar. On the other side of that border is a small noname Iraqi town where they have alot of children that stand there and really live in poverty on the side of the road. These kids aren't like most Iraqi kids though. These don't make motions to their mouths and beg for food or water. They just stood their and waved. Or saluted. Or held up peace signs, thumbs up, or whatever they had seen other soldiers do. The welcome in the hearts of these kids, and their parents behind them, made each and every soldier aware of what we came here to do. Some of us, it gave extra motivation to help these people succeed in Saddam's hideous aftershadow. Some of us broke down and cried. One of these is a good buddy of mine. He's been married twice and he's a police officer back in the states. He's seen some sicko crap in the force but that broke him apart. Amazing what it looks like through a soldier's eyes, isn't it?

Tell me though? Have you seen that on CNN?

_________________
"Pain is the only way to know you're still alive." ~ Elscol - [i]Star Wars Rogue Squadron The Bacta War[/i]

Akidaz: My world. NO YOU CAN'T COME!
Emrys: but?
Akidaz: Okay, you can, but NO ONE ELSE!

Mountain_Dewroo · Forum Stalker Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 1274

Woah. M-16s eh? Cool. I do hear them SAWs are perty powerful.

You'd think you'd be useing p90s by know. it's the Wave of Now! All the CTs are useing it! Very Happy

Beatlechick90 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:59 pm Post subject:

I don't watch CNN. And the country I was referring to was the US, just so you know.

Sorry if I was bitchy, it's just that I don't have a very high opinion of the military. . . . .

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Mountain_Dewroo · Forum Stalker Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 1274

And Why not?

Beatlechick90 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:31 pm Post subject:

Just because I don't like the attitude it breeds.
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Mountain_Dewroo · Forum Stalker Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 1274

Really? and what attitude is that?

Emrys · Forum Stalker Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 1544

Actually i think the attitude she's referring to is the "I'm better than you are attitude." i could be wrong... but trust me, i've been through enough in life that the attitude didn't really carry over. I try to treat everyone with an equality. But that's just me.

Many people think that the military is a bunch of high-faluting, gung-ho, wannabe killers for hire. And trust me, i've met a few like that. Do i believe in killing as the best method to solving a problem. Not really which is why you'll see that most of the times when i'm at the range. Everyone of my shots are grouped for the shoulder. I have a mental lapse against shooting the little black guy in the head or the chest. Dunno why...

But a friend of mine gave me a challenge last range to see if i could actually hit the head. I put one dead center and he left me alone after that.

Now granted shooting for the shoulder often causes me to miss the target entirely when i'm at the range. but i just call it scaring the guy :P

But yeah... any more questions...

Oh and a p90? ... a CT... hmm... you're canadian? don't they use the same weapon as the british?
_________________
"Pain is the only way to know you're still alive." ~ Elscol - [i]Star Wars Rogue Squadron The Bacta War[/i]

Akidaz: My world. NO YOU CAN'T COME!
Emrys: but?
Akidaz: Okay, you can, but NO ONE ELSE!

ThePrettyDictator · Newb Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 2

Army National Guard, eh? I'm in a JROTC program like that. Odd thing with me is, I'm in both a ANGJROTC and a Navy JROTC, but I am a firm Marine Corps kind of chick. ~shurgs~ I love anything to do with the military. I pretty much understand what it's like to live a military life. My father was in the Army, so I've been raised in a military environment since day one.

M16...M16a2...M16a4...~foams in the mouth~ I adore any military weapons or artillery...I have no idea why, but I have a HUGE interest in anything military related.

Hey! I'm a nerdish type. Currently in high school. But I'm the cute kind of nerd. ^_^ Think of the anime girls with the really cute looks and really high IQs...and add 100% military attitude, and you have yourself Alyson. Laughing

I don't know you. O_o So I cant say you've gotten on my 'bad' side...but at any rate, you seem like a nice fella. I just joined fanart-central the other day.

Testosterone?! ~ROFL~ You're a guy...I dont know any guys that arent testosterone-crazed. Just dont let it get the better of ya. Razz

I'm planning on going in Medicine and Pediatrics/Maternity. Other than the fact my parents are against war (since dad was injured) and my boyfriend would kill me if I joined the armed forces, I can't join the Marine Corps. Otherwise...you're looking at the future General of the United States Marine Corps. ~muahaha~

...Or the future world dictator. ^_^

DragonicFlames · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:43 am Post subject:

WAIT A SECOND!!!

Your a dude...

and your 21...

I was thinking like the opposite, Girl, 12 years old. Surprised

Now you have permentately damanged me. >/ Lmao No just kidding...

But really i did think you were female and 12. Surprised

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[u]Thank You, Layz :heart:[/u]

Inu-Yasha-fan · Very bored Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 218

O_o
you didnt know he was a guy!? look at the signature! gah!
besides im a guy, my cousin made this account and i took it over when she didnt want it...hence name

Mountain_Dewroo · Forum Stalker Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 1274

No. I'm not cannadian. When I say 'CTs' I mean to say, Counter Torrorst. Smile

Like in The game, Counter Strike.

Beatlechick90 · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:27 pm Post subject:

I have some respect for you now, Em. Thanks for clearing that up. Smile

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Mountain_Dewroo · Forum Stalker Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 1274

I'm not a Mad-dog Killer Type! Smile

Emrys · Forum Stalker Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 1544

lol... James... I'll tell you the two coolest weapons i have had my hands on aren't ours. The british have the most awesome weapon. to clear it and cock it you twist the barrel and pull it in. And that loads a round in the chamber... awesome design. I love it. The australians is the same way almost. Both are respectable weapons.

And i don't play corridor shooters, i play MMPORPG, or RPG strategy type. think Zelda, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, Champions of Norrath is my thing right now. I have a level 76 archer female... oh.... she rocks :P

But other than that...
Any more questions about the situations i've seen here in Iraq.
_________________
"Pain is the only way to know you're still alive." ~ Elscol - [i]Star Wars Rogue Squadron The Bacta War[/i]

Akidaz: My world. NO YOU CAN'T COME!
Emrys: but?
Akidaz: Okay, you can, but NO ONE ELSE!

Mountain_Dewroo · Forum Stalker Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 1274

Corrordor Shooters?