In the virtual world of online journals or blogs, communication has become literary, graphic and immediate. As the “Blogosphere” continues to grow, so do personal military blogs from soldiers deployed in Iraq. Read excerpts and get links to soldier sites below.

Danjel Bout, a captain and logistics officer stationed in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division, writes the blog 365 and a Wakeup Photo: Wired

“I shall never forget the 10 minutes I spent with this [Iraqi] family. No conversations of substance transpired, no earth shattering foreign policy formed. Simply hospitality and gratitude; just smiles, body language and handshakes. For a while, there was no fighting, no explosions, no terrorist possibly lurking around the corner. Even though I was in full combat gear, sharp steel sheathed, ammunition and explosives strapped to my chest, rifle slung at my front, for a moment, I was just a guy enjoying a hot beverage and some candy with the neighbors.”
—Excerpt from Ma Deuce Gunner

“Every time a convoy leaves that gate it breaks my heart. I see them return with wounded. I see their destroyed vehicles dragged back in tow… in pieces…. I came here to sacrifice, to pay for freedom... to bring justice to those who wish to take that away from my nation and my nation’s friends.”
—Excerpt from Boots in Baghdad

“I feel like I am the ghost of a father right now. Two of the last three years I have spent away from my wife and children. There are times I am amazed that Tara my wife is still around waiting for me. To her it must feel like so much of our marriage has been spent just waiting for me to come home. Praying that I live through the times I am not there.”
—Excerpt from A Soldier's Thoughts

“I can hear small arms fire right now coming from outside the wire as I write this entry. On my way to the internet cafe that they have set up for us on this FOB (Forward Operating Base) I heard three loud explosions, about 5 minutes apart, followed by some brief small arms fire….”
—Excerpt from My War

“Grief has hit like a sledgehammer these last few days, leaving deep gouges in the collective memory of our battalion. A lifetime of anguish, bravery, loss and regret were compressed into a handful of days…. I will not forget our honored dead, someday when I am safely ensconced in the familiar I will grieve properly, in a way that is fitting for so painful a loss. But for now I’ll accept the stilted range of emotions I’ve been left with and focus on the missions at hand. To do anything less would be courting disaster.”
— Excerpt from 365 and a Wake Up

Read blogs about the war in Iraq, and more—from a soldier’s viewpoint

A Soldier's Thoughts
Writer: Zachary Scott-Singley, Sergeant, Arabic Translator, currently in Tikrit, Iraq

Boots in Baghdad
Writer: Mark Partridge Miner, National Guard Infantryman, currently in Florida

365 and a Wake Up
Writer: Danjel Bout, Deputy Commander, currently in Southern Baghdad

Ma Deuce Gunner
Writer: Anonymous, M2 Gunner, currently in Kirkuk, Iraq

My War
Writer: Colby Buzzell, Army Specialist, currently in Brooklyn, NY

Armor Geddon
Writer, Neil Prakash, Tank Platoon Leader, currently in Iraq

A Line in the Sand
Writer: Chris Missick, Sergeant, Signal Battalion, currently in Westminster, CA

Doc in the Box
Writer: Sean Dustman, Navy Corpsman, currently in San Diego, CA

Iraq Calling
Writer: J, currently in Connecticut

Steven Kiel
Writer: Steven Kiel, Army Reservist, Staff Sergeant, currently in Iraq

Cat’s Space
Writer: L. Catalino, currently in Boise, ID

Learn more about communications from the front >>

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