How does this Soldier feel about our Withdrawal from Iraq?
Recently someone asked me how I felt about the United States withdrawing from Iraq. I wasn’t really sure how to respond. I guess I really hadn’t thought much about it. For me Iraq has been an afterthought for many years. My focus, much like the Army, has been on Afghanistan. Since I’ve spent plenty of time in Iraq, I suppose I should have an opinion on this topic, so here goes.
As a professional soldier, my charter isn’t to debate the merit of our nation’s war. I’m simply a cog in the wheel of a high speed locomotive. That locomotive, the United States Army, has a clear mission: to fight and win America’s wars. Period.
When the government says we are done, then we are done, regardless of what our military leadership believes. The military does what the civilians who run the Army direct. Our Commander in Chief is the President of the United States.
This is why you generally don’t see active duty service members publicly voicing their opinion on what our government should or shouldn’t be doing. You should never see an active duty service member publicly lambasting the President or his policies. Heck, we could get court martialed for this. 
But to answer the original question: I feel relieved.
For two reasons:
- I’m relieved that we won’t lose anymore service members in that alien country for reasons I have yet to rationalize in my head.
- I’m relieved the crazy nightmare of a deployment schedule our Army has been enduring will ease. Believe me: our Soldiers need some relief.
Some may see this as a narrow view of this historic event. That’s OK with me. We’ve all lived with our nation fighting two simultaneous wars for the past eight years. But these wars have consumed my family’s life and those of my closest friends since I crossed into Iraq on the first evening of the ground war in 2003.
Will Iran influence Iraq? Will Iraq erupt into civil war? Can Iraq sustain the western democratic government we emplaced? Will the Iraq security forces be able to secure the country and its borders? Will we be able to influence Iraq in the future?
I don’t know. In fact no one does. Only time will tell. But for now I breathe easier knowing I won’t lose any more of my brothers and sisters in that country.
Note:
According to the Defense Department, 4,487 service members were killed in the Iraq war. More than 30,000 were wounded.
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18 comments on “How does this Soldier feel about our Withdrawal from Iraq?”
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Very good capture of the events. As a caregiver, sometimes we feel we are fighting wars ourselves which is not about winning or losing, its the human toll which often gets lost from focus. Everyone’s soul rest in peace and thank you for the ultimate sacrifice.
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Kevin Hanrahan says:
Thank you very much. I did what I could while I was there. So did my fellow service members. I don’t take anything that happens to/in Iraq in the future personnel.
Jim Hewitt says: Another good article, Kevin. Good to get the soldier’s perspective on things, rather than some politicians idea.
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Thank you very much Jim.
Well said soldier! Mark I was in back in ’82 at Ft. Dix. Unfortunately a female Drill Sergeant put 3 fractures in my back the 4th week of Boot Camp (long story) and I was sent home with Honorable Discharge. I suppose it was a good thing because I am very opinionated and could have gotten into trouble if I spoke out. Thankfully you have brothers and sisters no longer on Active Duty and they CAN speak out for you and all of our soldiers. Perhaps with them taking up a cause they can better y’all’s situation wherever the fight takes you. I have nothing but admiration, respect, pride and thanks for all of you including your families. Job well done!
Trish
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Thanks so much Trish…sure your story is better told over a few beers! I have my own boot camp stories as a young 18 year old kid!
Michael Leavitt says: As one of your former Spees and Power soldiers I want to thank you for your leadership and perspective on this difficult issue. This is something that I have been struggling with finding an answer to.
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Hey brother. I am always here for my Speed and Power family. You have me on FB if you every need me. Don’t hesitate. Don’t struggle with those questions beyond your control. Be proud of what you did and who you are. Let the rest fall off of your shoulders and move on to your next goal.
Kevin,
You and all your fellow soldiers did the very best job you could which is all anyone asks or should ask of you.
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Thank you very much Angela. You do your very best with what you have……
Here’s how I feel – we did some good, made some mistakes, and won’t know the full impact for 10-15 years(if not longer). I’m glad we finally made them stand on their own, and from what I saw of what Hussein did, I’ll go to my grave knowing we did the right thing.
At the same time, I won’t lie and say I wish I was still deploying over there. Nice to not be on the patch chart.
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Absolutely Russ. It will be nice to know you won’t miss another Christmas, your daughter’s birthday or another of her milestones.
As an Army we’re ready to go anytime….but as Soldiers we would rather not. We have a completely different perspective than ten years ago.
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Thank you very much Earl. It was really hard to articulate to folks how I felt at first. But once it came to me…….the words flowed.
I completely agree. It’ll be nice to know that a few of my friends will be home a little more and I might actually get to see them while they’re on leave. That’ll be a nice change. A little more time at home will do everyone connected to the military some good. I’ll sleep a little easier at night.
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You are so right Hannah. I am very much looking forward to our withdrawal from Afghanistan now. Our military has maintenance requirements. (I don’t mean just our equipment) When you run your military ragged for ten years there are consequences.
Jani Muhlestein says: I know I’m commenting a year late, here, but you are the one who provided the link. 
The military did an incredible job in spite of the situation they were put in. This includes fighting two wars simultaneously, and dealing with people who didn’t know what they were doing. The fact that Iraq has survived as an actual nation, triggering the Arab Spring, is kind of incredible. And while the Arab Spring hasn’t managed to blossom into a gorgeous summer, I still have hope for them. When you haven’t had freedom, it takes a while to figure out what it is, and even longer to know how to keep it.
In the software world we think of things this way: is it better than what was there before? And while that’s a really simplified example, I do feel it works here, too. It isn’t perfect, by any means. But it certainly is better than what was there before.
I, too, felt a great relief in our withdrawal from Iraq. I will feel even greater relief when I am no longer sending packages to any soldier stationed there. Just as I will feel a great relief when I’m no longer sending any packages to Afghanistan. You have given enough blood. It’s time to be home. After all that time far from home, I bet it feels wonderful to walk into the door every night to Meg and Brady and the pups.
I won’t rest easy, and I know you won’t either, until all of our brothers and sisters can do the same.
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Very good capture of the events. As a caregiver, sometimes we feel we are fighting wars ourselves which is not about winning or losing, its the human toll which often gets lost from focus. Everyone’s soul rest in peace and thank you for the ultimate sacrifice.
Thank you very much. I did what I could while I was there. So did my fellow service members. I don’t take anything that happens to/in Iraq in the future personnel.
Another good article, Kevin. Good to get the soldier’s perspective on things, rather than some politicians idea.
.
Thank you very much Jim.
Well said soldier! Mark I was in back in ’82 at Ft. Dix. Unfortunately a female Drill Sergeant put 3 fractures in my back the 4th week of Boot Camp (long story) and I was sent home with Honorable Discharge. I suppose it was a good thing because I am very opinionated and could have gotten into trouble if I spoke out. Thankfully you have brothers and sisters no longer on Active Duty and they CAN speak out for you and all of our soldiers. Perhaps with them taking up a cause they can better y’all’s situation wherever the fight takes you. I have nothing but admiration, respect, pride and thanks for all of you including your families. Job well done!
Trish
Thanks so much Trish…sure your story is better told over a few beers! I have my own boot camp stories as a young 18 year old kid!
As one of your former Spees and Power soldiers I want to thank you for your leadership and perspective on this difficult issue. This is something that I have been struggling with finding an answer to.
Hey brother. I am always here for my Speed and Power family. You have me on FB if you every need me. Don’t hesitate. Don’t struggle with those questions beyond your control. Be proud of what you did and who you are. Let the rest fall off of your shoulders and move on to your next goal.
Kevin,
You and all your fellow soldiers did the very best job you could which is all anyone asks or should ask of you.
Thank you very much Angela. You do your very best with what you have……
Here’s how I feel – we did some good, made some mistakes, and won’t know the full impact for 10-15 years(if not longer). I’m glad we finally made them stand on their own, and from what I saw of what Hussein did, I’ll go to my grave knowing we did the right thing.
At the same time, I won’t lie and say I wish I was still deploying over there. Nice to not be on the patch chart.
Absolutely Russ. It will be nice to know you won’t miss another Christmas, your daughter’s birthday or another of her milestones.
As an Army we’re ready to go anytime….but as Soldiers we would rather not. We have a completely different perspective than ten years ago.
Enjoyed the thoughts. Thank you for your service to our country.
Thank you very much Earl. It was really hard to articulate to folks how I felt at first. But once it came to me…….the words flowed.
I completely agree. It’ll be nice to know that a few of my friends will be home a little more and I might actually get to see them while they’re on leave. That’ll be a nice change. A little more time at home will do everyone connected to the military some good. I’ll sleep a little easier at night.
You are so right Hannah. I am very much looking forward to our withdrawal from Afghanistan now. Our military has maintenance requirements. (I don’t mean just our equipment) When you run your military ragged for ten years there are consequences.
I know I’m commenting a year late, here, but you are the one who provided the link.
The military did an incredible job in spite of the situation they were put in. This includes fighting two wars simultaneously, and dealing with people who didn’t know what they were doing. The fact that Iraq has survived as an actual nation, triggering the Arab Spring, is kind of incredible. And while the Arab Spring hasn’t managed to blossom into a gorgeous summer, I still have hope for them. When you haven’t had freedom, it takes a while to figure out what it is, and even longer to know how to keep it.
In the software world we think of things this way: is it better than what was there before? And while that’s a really simplified example, I do feel it works here, too. It isn’t perfect, by any means. But it certainly is better than what was there before.
I, too, felt a great relief in our withdrawal from Iraq. I will feel even greater relief when I am no longer sending packages to any soldier stationed there. Just as I will feel a great relief when I’m no longer sending any packages to Afghanistan. You have given enough blood. It’s time to be home. After all that time far from home, I bet it feels wonderful to walk into the door every night to Meg and Brady and the pups.
I won’t rest easy, and I know you won’t either, until all of our brothers and sisters can do the same.
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