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Letter from an Iraq-bound instructor

Ryan Henson
The Commuter

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

(The following is a mass e-mail sent by LBCC graphic design instructor and Oregon National Guardman Lewis Franklin as his unit prepares to head for Iraq.)

We are on the cusp of leaving the country, the actual day that we are
leaving is not important but it is soon. It has been a long three months
and it is time to get this party started. I say party even though things
are heating up a little bit in Iraq; I think we all knew that things
would not stay quiet especially as the Army uncoils from the country.

With any luck there will not be a word about Michael Jackson when we get
back next year but knowing the media, it will probably be in court. I
can tell that it is becoming real to the men now, it may be that we have
too much time on our hands that we often spend thinking. Certainly a
very dangerous thing to be doing when headed for a war zone. It is time
to shelf the people that we are and become what we must be to survive
the coming months. I think that is really the only way to handle things,
it worked well in Louisiana for Katrina as well. It is certainly much
harder for the young kids to make that transition when the time comes.

Ever forward

Well enough of the deep reflection, as I said, we have too much time to
think. The facility here in Georgia has been good and I cannot complain
about the barracks. I will say that the variety at the chow hall is not
great and I am growing very tired of the same meals. I do get the chance
to offset this with a trip to Starbucks for coffee, one of those guilty
little pleasures that get you through the daily grind. You forget what
day of the week it is, often loosing track of time during the day, you
just keep moving to the next deadline, and then the next.

The weather here is hot, very hot with a relentless humidity that
amplifies the temperature. We will have to see how much of a relief
Iraq’s dry heat will be. A nice but odd change this time is the
number of Macs in my unit. I still catch quiet a bit of crap for my
sandals and my moderate ways but there does seem to be a fundamental
shift in the makeup of the modern army. I will expand on that when I can
really quantify it better. We will be getting a bit of a pass around the
fourth of July to enjoy our last bit of Americana—for many, our
families—for many months to come. I have decided to stay in a bed and
breakfast in Savannah; I really want to experience the South. I will
likely even head on down to Lady and Sons (Paula Deen’s restaurant
here). I may even take an evening carriage ride, who knows.

All the kids are fine and I believe the animals are as well. My plants
are producing bundles of raspberries and my banana tree is getting huge.
It will be nice to get to work on my house again.

Well all, it may be some time before you hear from me so you all have a
great summer and please do not forget the soldiers who live bleed and
die for what they believe in. When was the last time you were actually
put into a position to die for what you believed in? Too much time on my
hands…

Lewis

Comment

Thanks, Lewis, for giving us all a tiny peak into what you and your fellow soldiers are going through. It helps to have someone on the inside who is willing to be real and remind us that we are lucky to live in a country that gives us the freedom to choose (at least most of the time).

Looking forward to your next message.

Lori
LBCC College Advancement

— Lori Fluge-Brunker · Aug 10, 09:49 AM · #

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