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"I am back in this s--t hole"Bryce Syverson is a tank a gunner on a Bradley fighting vehicle with the 1st Armored Division. Here, Traveling Soldier reprints an email from Bryce to his father on the extension of his deployment. Hey Mom and Dad, Well as you know now that I am back in this shit hole I will be as frank as I can be. I will not be on the airport but further south around that area that I mentioned last time. I do not think that mail would be able to get out to us there. But if I find out I will let you know what is going on. It is going to be very dangerous for us when we go down there. I have more rounds than I can carry and I know that I will be using a whole damn lot of them. They gave me Fragmentation Grenades, AT-4 Rocket launcher, High Explosive Grenades for a Grenade Launcher and a shit load of rifle rounds. Sound like there will be some shoot outs with the bad guys. I just hope that we are the good guys. Please do not go nuts because I am back over here. Just remember that you still have a life to live and a house to pay for so that I can stay there during my leave! What I am saying is PLEASE don't get arrested for something stupid. But tell all of the marchers that I said Hi and thanks for the support. Damn, Branden got very lucky! I was so fucking close that I could taste the German Beer on my lips again! I am sorry that this has happened to us and the pain that I know that it is causing on you and mom. I only wish that I will be able to make it out of here with everything that I came here with. And no modifications what so ever. Love Your Son, Bryce This is the email the Bryce's father, Larry, sent us. He is active in Military Families Speak Out and holds a protest every week outside his local courthouse against the war. Dear Traveling Soldier, Thank you for allowing me to write about my experiences in Dover and Washington. I hope it gets some of your readers to question what the administration is doing. Both my sons were able to make it out of Iraq. Branden arrived back at Ft. Hood with his family on March 11th. Bryce arrived in Kuwait on Friday, April 2nd. We all breathed a sigh of relief that both had finally left Iraq. Unfortunately, Bryce has been sent back into Iraq. He will be in Iraq for another 120 days. As you can tell by his e-mail, he will be in the units responsible for taking back the cities that the Shiites have captured. Needless to say, our family is devastated. Just when we thought our worries were over, Bryce is being sent into a situation even more dangerous than before. Because of this turn of events, I plan to intensify my outspokenness against the war. (If that is possible.) Bryce's 120-day extension officially begins April 15th. I plan to protest in front of the White House that afternoon in his honor. I feel it is the least I can do. It appears the quagmire in Iraq has turned into a whirlpool of violence that has sucked Bryce back in. I'll continue to do my best to get Bryce, and all of America's sons and daughters, out of Iraq. You may reprint my e-mail. More importantly, you may print all or any part of Bryce's e-mail. I think it is important that people know what is going through a soldier's head as he is being sent BACK into Iraq. Especially, into a country that is much more dangerous than when he first went in. It seems as if the administration is wanting things to get completely out of control. Especially if they decide to invade Najaf! We are just asking for trouble. I don't know if your readers are getting tired of my articles. But, if they aren't I'm sending along in a following e-mail an article of my most recent experiences while protesting at the White House with other military families. Thank you for giving me a voice. In peace, Larry Syverson Page 2--> |
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