Pics from my tour in Iraq, Lots of pics! Options

[Verde97]

Here's some pics of my recent tour in Iraq.

Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
II Marine Expeditionary Force

Don't ask why it took so long to upload these so you all could look...but enjoy!

Going on patrol.



Main Supply Route Michigan (kind of like I-40 through the United States).



Sniper mission.



Sinh al Dhibban. This is a nasty, nasty place.



Truck Commander on a mission. We found an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) this day. Long night.



View from a .50 Cal machine gun. This was my baby.



About to leave on a mission.



Sitting in a box looking for ambushes.



My buddy Trent on the left. He was carrying an AT-4 (shoulder-fired rocket) that day, and scared the crap out of the locals.



Iraqi Police Cruiser.



Deadly Force Authorized bishes.



36 hours into a single mission with NO sleep.



Going home!

[Verde97]

it's so awesome that you do what you did safely. Were there no security issue with no pics anywhere?

No security issues with the pics I posted. I have some that you guys can't see, most involve pics with maps in them.

The hummer next to the one you guys are standing next to.
Is that a .30 cal m240?


Edit: 1st Pic.

M240B firing 7.62 Full Metal Jacket (haha). We had one on patrol with us (mainly for suppressive fire if we get ambushed, because we can always ditch the other weapons and take this one with us).

im glad you made it home safe and thank you for doing what you do!


here is something i alwasy wondered.... the political parties in america seem to be split about 50/50 on the war. some people say that we should stay as long as possible to get the job done, while others say that its time to pull out. so im wondering what most of the soldiers think is the best thing to do with iraq? since you guys are the ones who get to see it all 1st hand, i figure you would know best.

All Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen think the same thing. While their minds are not all the same, being that Marines want to get it firefights, airmen want to bomb, etc., they all joined the military to do one thing: serve our country.

I haven't met one person in the military that doesn't like going overseas and fighting for a worthy cause. While it sucks being away from our families, we all know what has to be done.

The "worthy cause" that I mentioned is this: If we weren't over there fighting right at this very moment, the insurgency would come over to the United States, Europe, and so forth. Even though we already have terroristic actions on a regular basis, we would be in complete turmoil caused by roadside bombs, random gunfire at innocent civilians, and things of that nature.

If we were to pull out now, the insurgency would see the United States as weak and cowards. Every Marine in my platoon didn't want to leave, because we felt as if our job was being left undone.

So my answer to my novel can be summed up as this: No, we cannot pull out at this time. We CAN, however, cut down on the number of persons in country right now. The Iraqi National Guard is highly trained (we did some missions with them), and they are kicking ass and taking names. We are already handing over some small bases to them, and I am sure that they will get the job done. I believe that by this time in two years, we can almost completely pull out, but as of right now, it is not the time.

I said almost completely because we will always have personnel in that country. It will soon be what Okinawa, Japan and Germany is at the present time.

I hope that answers your question Lagos, sorry for the long reply lol.

Mike