To the Editor:
Each morning I scour the internet looking for news articles that may have been published on the Web in reference to Alabama's National Guard unit, 115th Signal Battalion, Florence, Alabama, which Jenn Buck's article discussed on April 12 ("In Iraq, war marked by endless contrasts.")
My step-son, an officer and an 18-year veteran with the 115th Signal Battalion is currently serving with this unit in Mosul in northern Iraq. While we find it difficult to realize that he is in such a dangerous place, we know that he and the other 481+ soldiers of this unit are helping to rebuild a war-torn country and unite the people in a democratic society.
I just wanted to offer my appreciation to your staff writer, Jenn Buck, for her contribution to the war effort, as well. Often the national news agencies only report the negative side of the war. Jenn Buck's article demonstrates both sides of the story, negative and positive. She gave an accurate account of the dangers that these soldiers face every single day, as they provide support and communications for coalition forces in the northern region of Iraq. On the flip side, Jenn Buck also reports how American soldiers are reaching out to the Kurdish people, in a humanitarian way, and how receptive the Kurds are to the help they are receiving by coalition forces. This, indeed, indicates the positive side of the war, as well as progress in the making.
Alabama families of the 115th Signal Battalion have witnessed their grandfathers, grandmothers, grandchildren, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends leave home to serve in Iraq. This is the first time since Dec. 25, 1959, that the 115th Battalion colors have been uncased on foreign soil and in a combat zone. We proudly salute our hometown soldiers for their courage and bravery as they serve their country and we pray for the safety of them as well as all troops fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Godspeed.
