One Marine platoon, 25 miles of road, danger lurking around each corner

[lebkuchen]

The platoon routinely runs nine-hour missions that entail driving up and down the road a dozen times or more in an amphibious assault vehicle, or AAVs, scouting for anything that looks out of the ordinary.

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The armored vehicles vibrate so much it seems enough to shake the teeth right out of your head, he said. Feet ache from the jostling, not to mention sore backs and rear ends. Blowing sand and exhaust fumes burn the eyes, nose and throat. His nose drips the entire mission, since he sits right next to the exhaust pipe.

The noise is deafening, and leaves your ears ringing for hours afterward, even with the use of earplugs. The engine burns so hot, vehicle mechanic Lance Cpl. Rocky Archer, 20, uses it to light his cigarettes.

It’s a grueling, miserable way to spend eight, 10, 12 hours a day. But they do it. Every day.

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Twice, Archer has seen a dead dog, veiling a bomb, blow up.

“When the first one blew up, that’s when it hit me,” he said. “We’re not fighting an army. We’re fighting bombs.”


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=28695

Where are the flowers for the troops? We were told we would see an improvement in Iraq after Saddam was captured. We were told we would see an improvement after the election. We were told we would see an improvement after the Iraqi government was installed. Today, another political leader was killed. What bar are we aiming for today?

[bemildred]

1. And this accomplishes what? nt