Army Post Road

     The following is a guest editorial that appeared in the Iowa City Press-Citizen on Wednesday, October 11. I’ll let it stand on it’s own.

     I am thankful for my incredible parents who loved and taught me well, for the fantastic education the Iowa City School District provided and the outstanding experience I had at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point — but nothing could fully prepare me for the struggles, pain and triumphs of war.

     Every morning I try to prepare for another day as an U.S. Army captain from an Iowa City family of five. Stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, but currently serving for a year in Iraq, I think back to my days at West High and how far removed I feel from playing basketball, performing with The Good Time Company show choir and cheering on the Trojans to state championships.

     I now carry an M-4 rifle, being ever attentive to the history being made all around me and praying continuously for joy and wisdom. Although I never would have imagined I’d be serving in this War on Terror, I’m glad I am. I hope to share a few thoughts to give you one Iowan’s perspective from the ground in Iraq.

     There is death. I learn of my fallen comrades in real time and grieve for their loved ones, but I believe their deaths are not in vain, as I believe mine would not be should I die here as well. There are daily triumphs in the midst of the pain and positive things are happening here every day. I have had the privilege to witness and interact with the Iraqi army commanders who sacrifice daily to try to provide stability and security for their people. Many of them have suffered through sets of intimidation and terrorism against their families. I am in awe of their dedication to create a better life for their country, even after they have lost so much.

     I don’t have space in this article to write about every Iraqi child who received school supplies from U.S. and other Coalition Forces on the opening day of their new school, or of every Iraqi who was able to vote for the first time, or the thousands of Iraqi military and police forces we are helping train to protect their people. However, a few key things to remember: there is more to this conflict than you see on CNN or read in USA Today.

     Thousands of Iraqi military and police have given their lives fighting alongside us to help their country be safe and secure. If insurgents came to Iowa City and terrorized my family and friends, tortured and killed them, and I wanted nothing else but to live and raise my family in a safe community, I would pray that anyone, no matter their country of origin, would come and help me rid our city of the terrorists. People here want the same for their families.

     As you watch the news and read about the war in Iraq in the newspaper, please remember there is a soldier from Iowa City who is proud to serve here. Proud to serve a nation that protects our freedoms to live and worship as we choose. Proud to wear the American flag on the right shoulder of my uniform. And thankful that it is me here instead of family.

     Because I am here to help prevent more attacks on our country, so hopefully someday I may return safely and raise my own family in Iowa. I want to tell my future children how their mom and dad served so they could live without fear of terrorism. It is for them and for you back home that I am here.

     To the many people in Iowa City who continue to support the troops — thank you. Thank you for your prayers, letters, care packages and encouragement. We appreciate all you do to support the military. We will do all we can to protect you and make you proud.

Jennie Balmer Wunderlich is a captain in the U.S. Army assigned to the 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. She is currently serving in northern Iraq.

     Sitting here at the coffeeshop, a man walks out of the restroom and says to the table of two men sitting next to mine, “I wouldn’t go in there for a while.”
     Would you ever be so gross as to say something like that? More than that, would you stink up a public restroom like that if you could help it?

     I don’t know what inspired me to recall it, but during the Irish Potato Famine, British satirist Jonathan Swift wrote an essay proposing a solution to the plight that ensued after the year-after-year failure of the main source of sustenance for millions of Irish families. His solution: canabalism. Have fun, it’s an excellent read.

     I went looking for some news articles to write about this afternoon and couldn’t find anything. The Press-Citizen has it’s usual banal blather about pumpkin festivals and life-size chess games and the Register isn’t much better. Even the Drudge Report doesn’t have anything good. About the only ongoing news stories at the moment that seems important (besides the Iowa football team that I covered below) is the Mark Foley story and considering current circumstances I don’t want to go on about it. Right now our unit has a soldier that was caught by the FBI in a sting for soliciting minors over the Internet so considering that and the Foley story at the same time is quite troubling for me since I have a 15-year old sister and personal experiences.

     While it wasn’t a total redemption for their loss to Ohio State at home last weekend, Iowa did give Purdue a revenge trouncing worthy of Homecoming. In a 30-point, near-total domination win over the Boilermakers the Hawkeyes demonstrated they had no hangover from last weekend’s draining loss to the Buckeyes.
     Next week the Hawks travel to Bloomington, IN to play Indiana. Be prepared for that game to be an even more complete thrashing than yesterday’s was.

     I have Internet access today because we have a four-day weekend from work so I’ took the opportunity to go to one of the coffee shops in Junction City and use their wireless Internet. I’ve been here since about 1100 this morning so I’m making all the use of it I can. Earlier, I ran into the admin NCO for U of I’s ROTC Battalion. It was really cool and random, he just happened to’ve walked into this coffee shop with a female on his lunch break. I haven’t seen the guy in 2 years. Even in a 1.5 million man total Army, it’s still a small Army. We talked about how one of the guys who was in my class in ROTC is going to be stationed here once he finishes OBC.
     Part of the suffering that has been the cause of much tearing of clothes and gnashing of teeth concerning our living quarters has been solved: I have satelite TV now. Thank Heaven.
     Also, the really big, really good news it that I finally got promoted a week ago.
     That’s all for now. I should probably leave the coffee shop since I’ve been here for three hours or so. I’ll probably come back Sunday sometime.