Staying Sane In Iraq: A Soldier's Story

I got a remarkable letter last week from a soldier in Iraq named Shaun Feingold. I found his words so inspiring, I asked him if I could post them, and he agreed.

At the start of the letter, Shaun says he had read some articles describing me as a humorist. He continues:

"I thought to myself, 'What exactly is a humorist' and as far as I can tell, it's someone who finds the little everyday things in life that make you smile.

I have now been in Iraq for many months and I have found myself to be what I believe is a little bit wiser. One of the things that this wisdom has presented me with is what I think of as little pictures and big pictures. It's very easy to look at the big picture over here and be pessimistic. I'm away from my wife and family for over a year. Every day when I roll out I might get hit by an IED. It's hot. It smells. I can't just relax and drink a beer or a glass of wine. The average American cares more about their $600 tax rebate than the War in Iraq. Just writing that kind of makes me depressed.

That's why I don't look at the big picture. Every day, without fail something happens, something small, that makes me smile. And that's all it takes, that one laugh a day, the little picture, makes it all doable. It's kind of like ignoring the forest so you can see the flowers.

There was one time when myself, another soldier, and an Iraqi Policeman were manning a small traffic checkpoint. It wasn't very busy, maybe a car every ten minutes or so. Mostly it was boring and hot. Anyway, a car pulls up and I said to the driver 'salam.' He looks up at me and says 'How are you, sir?' I ask him if he speaks English and he gets this smile on his face and says to me in a chipper British accent, 'I was on the faculty of Oxford, I bloody well hope I speak English, friend.'

Another time we were patrolling, and of course it was hot. Suddenly in the canal next to us we saw and heard a puppy that we thought was drowning. My company commander, ever the dog lover, unhesitatingly jumped into the waist deep water with all 70lbs of gear on. The puppy was so startled by this that it swam to the other side of the canal and ran away. My commander climbed out of the canal soaking wet with this smile on his face and said, 'Well, I guess I got him out.'

But my favorite moment was one day when we were doing a patrol through a village. There had recently been some sectarian violence and so all of the villagers were scared or angry, none of the adults were out to greet us like they usually do. Anyway, we're walking through this village and I looked over this short stone wall into someone's back yard, and I saw this group of little kids, maybe four or five years old. And they were just being little kids, playing with dolls and toy cars. The violence, the war, the US Army, Sunni, Shia. They didn't know and didn't care.

I could go on, about things like how our two pet dogs always sleep in front of our vehicles, so before a combat patrol we have to wake up or drag these lazy dogs out of the way, or how the wives' club still manages to circulate rumors about and to us from half way around the world while we're in a combat zone. Or how I was pulling security outside of a Nahia Council meeting (think: City council), and one of the Iraqi Policemen we were with pulled out his cell phone and started playing that Celine Dion song from "Titanic." (It was funny at first, but then he played it three times.)

Maybe I'm just optimistic, maybe I'm too young, but maybe I'm a humorist myself in a way. Even over here there's always a reason to smile, that one little picture a day, and it helps break that big, ugly, 15 month long mural into a bunch wallet sized smiles. Sure, there are still a lot of frowns, but I don't concentrate on those.

Comments

[tracyrose]

Shaun, thank you for sharing your stories with us. I certainly enjoyed reading them. It's impossible for people not serving in the military to understand what you are going though, but reading experiences like these help.

I know that the major media outlets do not cover the wars as they should, but among my group of family and friends, the war is still a major topic of conversation. Please realize that you are not forgotten.

[Paprikapink]

Shaun, write more! Thank you for bringing us into your life in Iraq in a small way.

[picodegallo54]

shaun, as an infantry officer back in the 1980s, i know first hand your perception that the general public does not care. all i can say is, we do care. we want you home. we want you home, safe and in one piece. we do not take your sacrifice for granted, and the best way to honor it is to vote in national leadership that won't misuse your service and provide you the benefits you deserve upon your return. we won't let you down. not this time. take care, and may God bless...

[egal]

Thanks, Shaun.

Keep it up; there are a lot of families and soldiers who've lost so much that seeing even one soldier press on, find his strength, and (hopes that you all do again) come home safely and sane is a reminder that everything it really was worth it because the soldiers aren't fighting for a cause, but for the men and women beside them and coming after them, like you.

[white mende man]

Great letter reminds me not to take my life and problems here too seriously. God speed Shaun, I do not agree with the war but you I hold with the utmost respect.

[levibatgirl]

You remind me of my son who was there for a year and has been back in the states since January.

My thoughts are with you and your family. Your sense of humor and observation are wonderful gifts.
Thanks for sharing them with us.

Believe it or not, there are countless Americans thinking about you every day and counting the days until you are all safe and home with your families. : )

[jewel4Obama]

Thanks Shaun. That was beautifully written and should remind us all to enjoy the little things. Thank you for protecting us all.

Stay safe!

[editrix66]

Please keep safe, Shaun. Please keep writing. And we do care.

[seawolf77]

Interesting post. I'll have to remember that when things get tough.

[arkgrfx61]

What a touching letter.
This young man reminds us that even those of us not in a war zone praying for our lives every day should still be grateful and enjoy the little things life has to offer.
I hope he knows we appreciate him and hope for his speedy return!

[talyn530]

Wowwww!!!! Very moving, very touching....very powerful, powerful stuff.

[sisterdebmac]

Hey Al, you know you gotta stay in touch with Shaun and get him to write lots more, don't you?

[hopeless277]

Sounds like fun. Good thing if he's gonna be going back for 4 more tours.

[jewel4Obama]

What a fitting name, you are hopeless.

[char19145]

My son is over there and reading this article helps (if just a little) to know that there are at least some moments that are "normal?" Thank You. And may they all be home sooner rather than later.

[BBackSoon]

“The average American cares more about their $600 tax rebate than the War in Iraq. Just writing that kind of makes me depressed.”

Yep that depresses me also and I am merely going about my daily life in the midwestern United States.

Keep safe and I for one hope you get to come home and stay home sometime soon.