Be proud of nation and support troops by Spc. Kenneth McBean With the Rakkasans in Iraq

The following is a letter written by Spc. Kenneth McBean of California, now serving with the 187th Infantry Regiment ("Rakkasans") of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). This letter first appeared in the June 22, 2003 issue of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, and comes to us through the generosity of Kenneth's mother, Tina, who is fiercely proud of her son and his fellow soldiers, and of what they are accomplishing in Iraq... as we all are. God's Speed, Kenneth, we look forward to the day we can thank you in person for what you've done.

When people watch the news and read the papers about war or what is going on in a war, they get scared about what is going on. Families are afraid and worried about those they love and know that are at war. They don't know all that is going on, where they are at and how they are doing.

From a soldier's eyes at the front line, we always think about our families and friends and those we are with, always waiting for a letter, a package or just something from back home. Those are the things that lift our morale more than TV, the Internet, or games. We always wait to use a phone to call our loved ones, but we never know when that chance will come.

This is my second deployment overseas to a major conflict. The first was to Afghanistan/Pakistan. However, I was only there for about 2-1/2 months. It was an honor going there to help defend my country, to die for it if I had to.

It's the same way with this conflict. It's what I signed up to do... infantry. However, it's not all that wonderful at times. A lot of "hurry up and wait" going on. I don't regret it one bit.

I'm doing my three years and I'm getting out, going back home to good old California, going to college, starting work and hopefully to finally get into acting just like I've dreamed of since high school. I'm 21 years old, loving life, missing my family and enjoying things one day at a time, no matter how bad it could be. After all, it could always be worse. Expect the worst, hope for the best.

On another note, I don't appreciate hearing about people of my nation degrading us or what we do for a living, protecting you all from this kind of crap happening again. They sent in the best to make sure the job gets done this time. We're here now so our children and your children or yourselves don't have to go in the future.

Also, as retired Lt. General Hal Moore once said (and in We Were Soldiers), "American soldiers in battle don't fight for what some president says on TV, they don't fight for mom, apple pie, the American flag... they fight for one another."

I respect the President and his decisions greatly, but he is not here by our side fighting and killing the enemy; we are. We sleep on the ground, in buildings when we get the chance, eating those terrible MREs (meals ready to eat). We are always on the move, having to spoon with each other on those cold nights; we depend on each other when it comes to fighting side by side.

This is what we've been trained to do. We deserve some respect from those who have never had the guts to join, who are too scared or too lazy.

As far as we all see it now, everyone should be made to join some service for a minimum of two years at some point in their life. Two years go by real fast. I reach my two year mark on August 20 of this year. It's been a blast. You travel for free and get paid for it. You get to do a lot more than you could ever think.

For soldiers on the front line - don't discriminate against us, congratulate us and thank us for what we are doing. Support us 100% all the way. We support you by dying for you and the rest of our country.

Wave the American flag high and be proud of us and our country.