A Soldier Speaks: Jason Gunn

By Celina R. De Leon, AlterNet. Posted August 18, 2005.

Editor's Note: As of August 17, 2005, 1,852 American troops and between 22,500 to 100,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in the war in Iraq. Domestically, the bill for the war has reached $204.6 billion.

This is the third in a continued series of profiles of some of the tens of thousands of Iraq War veterans who have come home bearing the scars of battle -- emotional and physical wounds that may never heal unless the nation pays them the attention and care that they deserve. We at AlterNet believe it is the one issue that can and must bring us all together as America.

Jason Gunn, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania finished his eight-year contract with the Army at the end of June. He plans never to re-enlist.

Jason was stationed in Baghdad, Fallujah and Karbala. His unit, 137th Armor or "The Bandits," was responsible for the takeover of Karbala. He first enlisted with the Army in 1997 to help pay for college, and was deployed to Iraq in May 2003. Jason now works for a catering company, attends Veterans for Peace meetings with his mom, and goes to therapy for his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which he got from his service in Iraq.

He spoke to AlterNet on July 11, 2005.

What were you told were the reasons for the war in Iraq when you first began your duty?

I was told we were going to Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein and to help the people of the new Iraq rebuild themselves and the new Iraq.

What did you think about these reasons initially?

I didn't agree with these reasons in the beginning. And I didn't agree with these reasons even when I was over there.

How did you get and maintain the strength to keep fighting in a war you didn't believe in?

I made it through because of my friends ... I lost three friends, including two really close friends. One was killed in my truck, when we were hit by an IED [Improvised Exploding Device]. I was out of Iraq for four months recovering in the hospital. And then they sent me back. It was just a lot of terrible things. When you see that much death -- you know, I've seen enough death to last a lifetime. No one should have to see that much.

Did you ever express dissent?

I expressed my dislike for the war all the time. I would say that I hated it. I didn't believe it was the right thing to do. The whole country and the American soldiers should not be over there fighting a war for someone who wants to make a quick buck. I don't want to be hired over there to protect somebody else's assets.

Did any other soldiers in your unit express dissent?

All of the soldiers expressed the same beliefs. But we had to do our work. Either that or be dishonorably discharged.

Did you interact with any local Iraqis? How was that experience?

Some of the Iraqis are actually happy that you're there. Other ones are cut-throats. They say one thing and then turn around and stab you in the back another day.

Were you ever informed of an exit strategy?

They said the day we go home is the day we go home.

Do you think there is a need for an exit strategy?

There should be an exit strategy from the minute you get the order you have to be deployed. You should get a timeline of when you're leaving and when you're coming home. No extensions. None of that crap.

Why do you think there are extensions?

They have extensions because they are ill-prepared with everything that is happening. They have no idea what they're doing.

What do you think about Secretary Rumsfeld's projection that we could be in Iraq for another 12 years?

The only reason they say we're going to be there 12 more years is so they can have more time -- more leniency -- for how they're going to pull out. They're buying themselves more time so they can come up with a better strategy to get more money from that country.

Celina R. De Leon is a social justice journalist based in Brooklyn, NY.

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