The War in Iraq:
Our Soldiers at Home and Abroad

The Iraq War Chronology

On September 10, 2001, millions of Americans laid their heads to rest, not realizing that one of the most horrific events of their lives would not be a dream but a painful reality. The next morning, terrorism hit the United States in ways we could never imagine. We couldn’t have even fathomed the events that occurred and watching them as they happened in New York and DC or watching them live on television from homes and offices around the world was an experience that no one ever wants to witness again.

Could something like this happen again? If it does, in what capacity? What type of weapons of mass destruction would be used? Would the weapons be our own just like the commercial aircraft used in this attack or would it be weapons already produced by the terrorists? The US citizens and its government new something had to be done. After many months of reliving the events, grieving for the deceased, suffering from economic downfall and unemployment, the United States Government decided to take action. In October 2002, Congress granted US President, George W. Bush permission to wage war against Iraq. On March 13, 2003, Bush demanded that Saddam Hussein and his two sons, Uday and Qusay leave Iraq and end the diplomatic Iraq disarmament crisis. After 48 hours passed, the demand was not met. 250,000 US troops with the support of 45,000 British, 2000 Australian and 200 Polish troops invaded Iraq in what was termed as Operation Iraqi Freedom. On March 20, 2003, the US lead a bombing raid on Iraq.

The reason for the attack was made clear. The US would not tolerate any further terrorist attacks. Bush emphasized that the Iraqi regime had repeatedly defied the will of the international community since the end of the Persian Gulf War 12 years ago by violating numerous U.N. National Security Council resolutions demanding that it give up its weapons of mass destruction. Iraq consistently denied possessing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

On April 9, 2003, Baghdad fell to US Forces. Many Iraqi’s cheered, celebrating they were no longer under the rule of Saddam Hussein. On June 22, 2003, Uday and Quesay Hussein died in a firefight with the US troops. On December 14, 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by US forces.

As of September 21, 2003, no weapons of mass destruction have been reported as found. Today, coalition forces still occupy Iraq with sporadic guerilla fighting between the coalition and the Iraq Malitia. Iraq is very dangerous territory and with our U.S. soldiers on duty, keeping their promise to serve and protect our country, every day, they run the risk of losing their lives. Hundreds of soldiers have been killed, both US and coalition soldiers. Life in Iraq is a constant fear of death, death that can come any time and anywhere.

It is now 2005 and while our troops continue to be deployed to Iraq, we do not know when this will end, we do not know when they will be allowed to come home and stay home. But what we do know is that we love and care for each and every one of them and we pray that they all get to come home soon, for good.

A Soldier's Story

Benjamin Ferguson
On active duty for the Navy serving on the USS Higgins
- by Sandra Furguson

February 2005

My husband and I used to live in Cincinnati and skate at Golden Skates for years and now we live in San Diego. Rob Hunter knows us really well. We used to go to a lot of skate parties with Rob throughout the years. Anyway I am submitting this story on behalf of my husband, Benjamin Ferguson, who is on active duty for the Navy serving on the USS Higgins with 19 years of service. He will retire next year then we will move back to Cincinnati to live.

Ben was in Iraq last year from October 2003 to April 2004. He was in a very dangerous situation during those six months. Six weeks after he left Iraq, the team of sailors that took over for him were hit by a suicide bomber where four were critically injured and two died. These incidents do not always make the news, but as military families, we hear the stories. Ben is currently somewhere out on the ocean right now. We are not allowed to know his actual location for security reasons. He will be back for the month of April then he is going back to Iraq where he will spend another six months. We have a 2 1/2 year old son that rarely gets to see his father. Ben missed his first two birthdays and will miss the one this year too. It is really hard on our military men and women being out there. It is only our support that keeps them going. There are a lot of sailors that do not even have the support of family and friends. I personally adopted two sailors last year that did not have anyone to support them. You would not believe how much some candy and personal hygiene stuff means to them.

May 2005

Benjamin is currently on his way back to Iraq for another 6 months and we have begun another stressful time.
The press is NOT telling us all of the stories about our military. All we hear now is body counts for the dead and not even their names. There are so many injured military and they are not getting the assistance they need. I am appalled at the government and how they are treating these men and women. I see them out here in this military town with missing arms and legs with all kinds of bodily injuries. Our troops are truly suffering out there and I already see the trauma mentally. These guys are coming back with post war syndrome really bad. It is like Vietnam and Korea all over again when those soldiers came back so mentally shook up. I see it a lot more out here because San Diego is a military town and has good weather. There are hundreds of vets out here homeless and half out of their minds, not by their fault but by the trauma of their wars. I see this all of the time and it is heart breaking.

The soldier’s families are suffering too. You cannot image the stress of wondering each day if you loved one is dead or alive while taking care of your household and children as a temporary single parent. I think the last count of children that will never see their fathers or mothers again is over 2000. I listen to the news every day praying I do not hear the name of the ship that Benjamin is on. Every time I see an officer in full dress around my apartment I wonder if he is coming to give me bad news. I try to have faith that he will come home safely but the reality of just how much danger he is in will always unnerve me.
All we can do it support our troops AND their families. We can do that without having to agree with the war itself. If there are any fund raising events for our troops please support them.

Thanks for caring
Sandra Ferguson