Schofield officer sees Saddam's 'greed' firsthand
| • | U.S. declares end to combat in Iraq |
| • | Facts about the war |
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
Schofield Barracks artillery officer Capt. John D. Williams has seen firsthand the opulence of Saddam Hussein's lifestyle, but what really made an impact on him was the contrast to the daily lives of those he ruled.
Miranda Williams photo
"We spent the night in one of Saddam's palaces about a week ago," Williams, in Baghdad with the 101st Airborne Division, said by e-mail. "It was located in the city of the ancient ruins of Babylon. It was really something to see how one man can have so much, while his people are the poorest of the poor."
"We should be here overthrowing (Saddam) just because of his greed!" said Capt. John D. Williams, one of two artillery officers deployed from Schofield to Iraq.
"J.D." Williams, one of just two artillery officers deployed from Schofield to Iraq, said the photos he has are so amazing "that I think (they) could end up in a museum some day."
Williams was struck by all he saw in the palace, although he did not describe what was inside.
"After seeing that, who cares about the Sept. 11 connection or weapons of mass destruction," he wrote. "We should be here overthrowing him just because of his greed!"
Although the Pentagon yesterday declared the end of major combat in Iraq, life is only marginally more comfortable for soldiers like Williams, 28, who fought his way to the Iraqi capital from Kuwait.
"I wasn't sleeping during my first 10 days with the 101st. My only sleep came when my body would collapse, or if I was in a sitting position for a while my body would fall asleep," said Williams, a fire direction officer for the 3rd Battalion 320th Field Artillery. At Schofield, Williams is part of the headquarters and headquarters battery, division artillery. In Baghdad, Williams said has been getting a three- to four-hour "nap" at night in the passenger side of a Humvee, and another few hours of sleep lying down in the late morning hours.
Williams' wife, Miranda, said she's proud of her husband — and very relieved to be hearing from him.
"I'm just so happy he's been safe, and made it through all of this," said Miranda Williams, who is staying with her parents in Dallas while her husband is deployed overseas. Both Williams and his wife are from Texas.
"He still doesn't know, no clue, when they'll be home," she added.
Commanders of the 101st have warned their troops to stay alert — even though large-scale fighting appears to be over and a shift has been made to "support and stability operations" in Baghdad.
About 18 Hawai'i soldiers with chemical, armor and combat engineering specialities were with the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq, out of a group of about 30 soldiers that deployed in mid-March.
Another 80 Schofield soldiers — including Williams — left for the Middle East about a week later. Another artillery officer is with the 82nd Airborne Division.
Williams said in an e-mail that he showed up to his unit "just as things were going down. We spent about 10 days really taking it to the Iraqis. Now we are looking for weapons of mass destruction, finding those suicide-bomber squads before they find us, and engaging remaining pockets of resistance."
The Army captain said there are no PXes or stores "where we have been, where we are, and where we are going."
"Cash is worthless," he said. "The currency everyone trades in is cigarettes, toilet paper and Copenhagen (snuff)."
Marine Corps News, meanwhile, said that 4th Force Reconnaissance Marines from Kane'ohe Bay and other Marines last week drove from their camp south of Baghdad to the 82nd Air Mobile's position in Hamzah, then led the way to Diwaniyah.
Maj. Mark Hashimoto, a Force Reconnaissance officer from Hawai'i, said they were welcomed as they rolled into Diwaniyah.
"This was the first time the citizens felt safe enough to openly show support of the American forces," Hashimoto told Marine Corps News.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
