1. What's going on right now? I just finished a guard shift at a Joint Security Site, an Iraqi police station where we have a base, We are preparing for Iraqi elections tomorrow, (Jan. 31.) 2. What's your job? I'm an infantryman for the U.S. Army, stationed with 2nd platoon, A Troop, 5-73rd Cavalry Regiment, out of Ft. Bragg, N.C. We are now deployed to the Rusafa district in Baghdad. Rusafa is pretty much the heart of Baghdad, with the two largest markets in Iraq, Shorja and Sadria, and almost all the Iraqi Ministries.
3. What's it like? This will sound bad but, well, it sucks being here, our living conditions started out horrible, but in the two months we've been here, we've done much to improve the police station where we stay. I enjoy my job and at the same time hate every minute of it. It's just one of those things that you have to complain about, but wouldn't change it for anything. We patrol, on foot and in the Humvee, five out of nine days. Of the other four, one is for maintenance, and the other are guard shifts. As far as the heat, it's been cold here, go figure. However, it's starting to warm up.
4. What's the best and worst? The best thing is definitely my fellow soldiers in my platoon. The worst is a combination of the smell and lack of sleep. The smell stems from all the trash, which is everywhere; you almost have to see it to believe it.
5. How did the Governor's School help prepare you for this tough job? The Governor's School can't really help out too much preparing someone to be an infantryman, but I do think the atmosphere of tolerance at school has really helped in accepting and understanding the culture and people of Iraq. All the language classes have helped my communications with the Iraqis as well.
One of the highlights for US soldiers is receiving mail, so a letter or post card can make a day:
PFC King, Jesse T. or Bravo Section
2nd plt, Atrp, 5-73 cav, 82nd ABN
APO AE 09313
