Posted on: Friday, January 21, 2005
DISPATCHES FROM IRAQ
Officer calls his duty in Iraq 'greatest honor and privilege'
By Tad Tsuneyoshi
Aloha from Ramadi, Iraq. My name is Tad Tsuneyoshi. I'm a rifle platoon leader with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Air Assault).
Photo courtesy Tad Tsuneyoshi At 23 years old, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would see or experience even half of what I have. I serve with and lead 36 battle-hardened soldiers every day in an unforgiving city, and it has been the greatest honor and privilege.
With the coming elections, everything here has been uneasy. Reports of widespread attacks across the country continue to be filtered through "intel." However, instead of waiting in anticipation, we have gone on the offensive to seek out the "bad guys."
Many of these operations have been focused on fast, pinpointed targets. Nothing compares to the rush of rolling out of the wire and pushing through a quiet city. With lights out, we zigzag through the city blocks to our target. Once we're there, the technique is nothing less than explosive — from the breach of the gate and front door to the clearance of the house. The males and females are separated, and the search for evidence begins.
It is interesting how the city is formed, with the support of coalition and Iraqi forces split merely by streets and buildings. In one part of the city, we get rocks thrown at us and see faces of hate while we maneuver through the streets —not to mention the occasional "pop shots." However, crossing a school, we are greeted with smiles and offers to come into homes.
The people share our hopes for peace in the city and Iraq. We have all experienced the death and destruction of war, with our battalion alone being hit with too many deaths and countless injuries. However, it is good to know that our efforts are producing tangible results with kids going to school and playing in the streets. People "fear" us less and live their lives with a continued hope with our help. We hope that this state is not temporary. ...
We send our aloha and mahalo for all the support that we have received from back home. It fuels us as we push out of the wire every day. Our thoughts go out to our comrades who are back home, continuing the fight. And we will never forget those who have fallen... (Pfc. Jason L. Sparks, Sept. 8, 2004).
First Lt. Tad Tsuneyoshi was born in Hawai'i and his family lives in Mililani.
I graduated in May 2003 from West Point, and went through all the landmark schooling to be an infantry officer.
Writing from Iraq, lst Lt.Tad Tsuneyoshi says "all the support that we have received from back home" means a lot to him.
What formed in nearly a couple of minutes is developed from countless missions outside of the wire. Missions are focused on maneuvering through the city to develop contacts and sources; exposing ourselves to show that we are here, and we are here to stay; and spending countless hours talking with people about the importance of voting, standing up to the terrorists, policing up after their own neighborhoods, and discussing how we can make the city better. Most of the time, it is very difficult with discussions trying to convince them that we are not like our predecessors and that we are here to help.
Tad Tsuneyoshi
